"My dad actually works for the High Council—" Hayden scratched the back of his neck as he offered me a sheepish smile. First I scoffed. Then my eyes narrowed. Knowing that I was clearly about to lose my cool for him being so flighty about that stupid council and sending me off on an impossible quest, when they were literally his dad's employers— Hayden quickly shrugged and blushed just a tag while he flashed me an innocent looking smile.
Damn it.
I have no choice but to soften entirely and forgive all his trespasses after being given a cheesy smile like that. I don't make the rules. Ugh.
I exhaled the fury, and just shook my head. "So, what exactly does your father do then, for the council?" I tried to imagine Mr. Grahm doing something magical related in an office somewhere, but couldn't stop returning to a visual of Mr. Weasley from Harry Potter obsessing over rubber ducks.
"Well, you know how police use fingerprints to see who has touched what and been where, and to solve crimes?" Of course, I thought, who didn't know that. Everybody today has watched at least one episode of CSI. I nodded for his benefit.
"So, each person has a magickal signature; the way your body and mind react with the energy around you. If you have worked with magick long enough, you learn to identify these residual effects left on the environment by magick. If you observe or record the distinct variations long enough, patterns start to emerge, and it's possible to connect it to a person, to what person left what mark." He actually looked a bit excited to be telling me about something for once, and was not skimping on the details. Mental note taken.
"Each type of disturbance has a trail that can lead back to a specific person. My father can see who has cast a specific spell; he can see what spell they cast, or where they worked their magic. He is so advanced he has even begun to see what objects they touched, or used in their workings. It can be used to track a person, or identify the culprit of a negative outcome and just, stuff like that." This was kind of incredible.
Apparently my astonishment showed on my face. "Yeah, it's pretty cool." Hayden smiled. I could tell that he admired his father. It was kind of cute.
"So your father is like— a CSI detective for the High Council?" Hayden burst out laughing, causing me to jump a little.
"I had never looked at it that way, but yeah I guess you could say that. Man you are really smart; I have to remember that for the next time I explain it. My dad will get a kick out of that one."
I smiled; it made me blush every time he complemented me. I could feel the heat swell in my cheeks. "So this council pays your dad?" I didn't even really realize what I was asking, just trying to quickly shift the conversation to steer it away from this awkward moment and cease the blush from further creeping up my face.
"Yeah. They pay him, just like a regular job, it's their fault we moved here." He made a face that suggested he was not too happy about the move, and I couldn't help but imagine leaving all your friends behind on another continent would probably be pretty troubling. That panged at my heart a little. I hadn't realized that California was so horrible for him. He seemed like he was making fast friends, which I know can't ever replace the old ones, but in that moment, he looked truly miserable.
He seemed kind of lost for a second, all the humor and light heartedness of the moment dissipated and he pulled himself back to reality, but the mood had shifted. "Not that I don't enjoy your rounds of questioning Carlie, but I am going to head to class."
I wondered what else he was probably hiding. Oh well, not my business. I had to keep telling myself that even though we were friends, at least I think we are, but that doesn't make him mine. I may hate secrets, but I have no right to know anything about him and even less of a right to demand to be told anything. I realized that I was doing it again, being overbearing.
Damn it.
"Hayden, I'm not trying to force you to talk to me. I just found something that I haven't already checked out a million books on. This is kind of a new territory for me, and it's thrilling. It makes me feel alive. I can't help that I get overexcited. I can promise to try harder to rein myself in, but it won't happen overnight." I sigh and start to lose my confidence. Nerves quickly get the best of me which always leads to over-explaining.
Double Damn it.
"I like learning new things, and this is something that truly fascinates me. I want to learn more, but I want to be your friend more, cheesy as that may sound." His slightly confused expression started to show understanding.
"If I am irritating you, just let me know. I'm not a crazy, I can take a hint. However I am not a mind reader. If I am being too informal, or too erratic, just tell me, I get that I am a lot to take, okay? I've been with me since birth, so I'm used to having to restrain myself for the sake of those I want to be around, sometimes I just realize I need to until it's painfully obvious." I looked him in the eyes, trying to be serious and convincing. Feeling my cheeks turn slightly pink.
Hayden's expression softened. He suddenly looked a little sad. He reached out hesitantly and put his hand on my shoulder. Somehow looking into his eyes reminded me so much of the large hawk that had been perched outside my room. The grey in his eyes and the auburn color of his hair was so similar. However his piercing gaze is what made him truly look like the bird, in a way.
"Carlie you are by far the most intelligent and fascinating girl I have met since I moved here, if not ever, I would love to be your friend, I have no problem with you. I am just not used to anybody being interested in me, and my life hasn't really been an open book. Give me time to loosen up. I like being your friend. I don't want to lose the first real one I've made here in America."
He glanced at me and must have thought I looked concerned, because I probably did— because I kind of was, but he gave me a half smile and added, "Don't worry, we're still on for tonight, I'm just missing home. I'll see you after a while." His light Scottish accent made his words sound like gooey dialogue from an old movie. It was wonderful and made me melt like butter. I managed to snap out of it in time to respond before he walked away.
"Well, I'm glad you came here, for what it's worth." I offered him a gentle, sincere smile that he wistfully returned. I was also very glad that he finally decided to tell me some things. I swear I thought I was going crazy or something. We parted ways and as I replayed the conversation in my head I ended up grumbling to myself. "Teasing me with crazy secrets, you Scottish dork."
He smiled shaking his head, and with that he turned and we both walked silently to our respective locker rooms for gym class. I couldn't help but smile the rest of that class period.
I glared up at the clock on the wall in my last class and I counted the second hand until the bell rang. As soon as it did I hopped up into the air not even hearing my teacher's final comments. I bolted for the door and headed to my car, which was conveniently parked next to Hayden's, instead of my usual spot.
When my car was in sight I was shocked to see that he was already standing with his back against the driver's door, leaning and waiting for me to arrive. His head rose as I approached and he locked eyes on me, the way his face lit up made my heart skip a beat. This boy must have zero clue just how much of a hold he could have over me. I felt like I was almost having full on heart palpitations.
"Hurry up woman, I am hungry and my mum is making food." He grinned, trying to be more friendly It seemed, after our conversation earlier. I slid into my car and turned the ignition. After making sure my radio was on and my seatbelt buckled I waited for him to pull his car out of the parking slot, and then I followed.
His shiny dark blue Chevy Malibu sparkled in the sunlight, he must have just had it washed. We pulled out of the parking lot and I stayed as close as I could following behind him.