Ashton did her next move and shook her head as she observed aloud, "We have the strangest conversations, Allen. Not that I'm complaining. " She opened her water and took a healthy draw on it that caused the plastic bottle to crinkle loudly until she broke the suction she had caused with her drink.
~~~
Dyrus was quite as he fiddled with his keys. "What about the ones who weren't in those situations? Who had the happy home and the Hallmark experience?" He asked playing devil's advocate.
~~~
Dimitri was gouging a groove in the edge of his desktop. He was so focused upon the clock and the eventual end of this cauldron of torment. He was fighting a torrent of mixed emotions. Territorial range, a fair amount of jealousy, a hurtful betrayal and a perceived indifference. Everything he'd been certain of was now an uncertainty. Was he really this guy? So strong physically, but would be brought low by such a tiny house cat. He stole a glance in Alexis's direction and saw her staring at Ares. It sickened him to the point he stood and walked out of the classroom. Consequences be what they may. It wouldn't be the first time he was in Ioan's office and it probably wouldn't be the last. He just wasn't a team player and if he was still in that room when class let out, they'd have to put him down to get him off that male. Yeah, fleeing was a good thing in this instance and it wasn't from cowardice.
"Strange, but mildly interesting," Allen said. "Right?" He chuckled as he took his turn. At least, he found them interesting, in all their weirdness.
• • •
"Oh you're bad," Haley teased. "Here I was, going for the 'look on the bright side' point. I suppose for the ones you speak of, they will just have to search harder for a happiness to keep them alive here. Ryker clearly isn't going to let anyone go, especially the ones with buckets of complaints."
• • •
Alexis glanced behind her in time to see him get up and walk out. Without giving it a second thought, she slid out of her seat and hurried after him. Geez he had long strides. She caught up and, tugging at his sleeve before he had time to dismiss her, pulled him aside. "Dimitri," she snapped, "look at me." If she had been six inches taller she would have taken his face in her hands to better guide his attention. But she wasn't. So a snappy tone would have to do. She locked her gaze on his face before diving into what she had thought and planned to say to him should this happen.
"You can't pick what parts of a person to ... love—" she paused, shook her head and continued through in a quicker tone"—and what parts to not. It's all or nothing. Now, I don't know why, and your silent brooding certainly isn't helping, but I trust you. A lot. You're the only thing I've got to trust here, and because of that I'm going to do every dang thing in my power to keep it that way. I'm sorry about that, in the classroom. I didn't intend to hurt you, or embarrass you. That was me six years ago—I was a flirt, and a very inconsiderate one at that—before everything changed. Ya know? I didn't mean to let that side come up again. I didn't even know I had it in me. Apparently I still got it, but I don't like it, and you obviously don't either. For that, for you, I hope to change." She took a deep breath, ran her hand lightly down his arm. "I need you to know this, to know my reasons for my actions, even if you won't tell me the reasons for yours. It takes two, Dimitri. In any kind of relationship. But if it's just going to be one, so be it. I'd be sorely disappointed to lose the one thing I've got keeping me here." His face blurred more so than usual behind tears that wet her eyes. Heavens, she loved that face. She'd kiss it right now if she didn't worry about what he may think, considering her behavior just moments ago. She allowed her gaze to shift and looked down at the linoleum floor, looked away before she did something stupid, biting her lip anxiously as she waited for the impact of her words to sink in.
