Chapter 2 – After Class
"Williams. New girl."
Mr. Brown's voice cut through the last echoes of laughter like a blunt saw. "Up front. Now."
The room groaned in sympathy. Darius looked at T'ara; T'ara looked at him. For someone with gills—were those gills?—she sure could sigh like a human.
When they reached the teacher's desk, Mr. Brown fixed Darius with the expression of a man who'd already lost faith in the species.
"Son, we've had this conversation before."
"Which one?"
"The one about volume, enthusiasm, and keeping your hands to yourself."
"Ah. That one."
Mr. Brown pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're lucky this is the weirdest thing that's happened in this classroom since the frog dissection incident. I'm writing this off as cultural shock. Don't make me regret it."
"Yes, sir."
"Good." He turned to T'ara. "Welcome to the madhouse. Try not to encourage him."
"I will do my best," she said sweetly.
Her smile was radiant enough to make Mr. Brown squint. "Yeah, don't do that either. Dismissed."
⸻
They stepped into the hallway. It was strangely quiet—just the hum of fluorescent lights and the faint squeak of her wet footsteps against the tile.
"You, uh, handled that well," Darius said.
"I did?"
"Yeah. Smiling helps. Usually."
"Oh." She stopped walking, head tilting. "Then why are you thinking that I shouldn't be smiling?"
He froze. "What?"
"You're thinking, we're in trouble, she shouldn't be smiling," she said, repeating his thought almost word for word.
"Don't say stuff I'm thinking out loud!"
"Why not?"
"Because—just don't, okay? If we're doing the telepathy thing, keep it in your head!"
"I cannot control it well," she said, still perfectly calm. "The power is new."
"How new?"
She looked genuinely thoughtful. "From the time you touched me… until now."
He stared. "You're saying—me touching your arm turned on mind reading?"
"Yes. It was… unexpected."
"Yeah, you and me both." He sighed. "Okay, we're gonna need ground rules. Like, no broadcasting my thoughts in public, and no—wait, can you turn it off?"
"I am uncertain. I have never attempted to deactivate an ability."
"Perfect," he muttered. "We've known each other for thirty minutes and you're already in my head. That's—yep, totally fine."
She smiled, and the thought escaped before he could catch it.
Beautiful, he thought, right as she flashed that dazzling grin.
Her eyes brightened. "Oh! Darius. Am I beautiful?"
He turned away so fast his backpack nearly swung off. "Don't ask me that."
But the word beautiful echoed in his mind again—and suddenly her face appeared there, clear as day, before fading away.
"Beautiful," she said aloud, testing the sound.
Again, the word echoed, and her face appeared in his thoughts like she was leaning closer.
"Why do you keep saying that? Do you get a kick out of it?"
"A kick?"
"Oh right," he sighed. "You don't know what teasing is."
She tilted her head.
"She's reading my mind again, isn't she?" he muttered.
She nodded.
Don't.
She shrugged, then smiled.
"This could all be a lie," he thought.
She smirked—exactly the kind of smirk that said she'd understood every bit of it.
"Wait," he said, pointing at her. "Did you just master teasing?"
"I am… efficient," she said proudly.
He groaned. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."
She blinked at him innocently.
He sighed, half-smiling. "Aren't you supposed to be a fish out of water?"
"I don't under—"
"Just read my thoughts then."
"You said not to do that."
"Didn't stop you before."
She exhaled, a soft trill that might've been laughter. "Earth culture is so complicated."
"You're telling me. I still haven't figured it out."
She tilted her head again, focusing on him. A faint shimmer ran along her scales. "Hm. I see. It seems… challenging? It's unclear if you are dissatisfied."
"Right. I'm just an awkward guy. Socializing is hard for me."
"I disagree," she said. "Speaking is hard for you. Not socializing."
"…maybe."
"Your thoughts are clear, cohesive. Easy to follow." Her tone softened. "They make me feel—nice. It is pleasant to have your mind touch mine."
"Um."
Her eyes widened as she realized what she'd said. "Ah! It's not like that!"
"Sorry, that was a private thought," he said quickly, starting to walk again.
She fell into step beside him, cheeks still glowing faintly coral. "I will endeavor to improve my filters."
"Yeah," he said, trying not to smile. "Good plan."