10. 'Surreal'

*Song Meng POV

When I text Qin Shan, I get nervous. I don't know why, I only asked her if she was okay. But the replies 'who are you' and I laugh at myself. Of course she doesn't know who's texting her. Idiot. However I manage to carry on the conversation and end up agreeing to meet her after third class. Right after we finish chatting I leave theatrics. I don't want to be a moment late to seeing her.

As third class ends, I'm already at her building. I'm nervous, 'what if she doesn't want to see me. What if I can't find her? What if this is the wrong class?' But then, she is there. I look into her eyes and all of my worries disappear. I pick her up and ignore the stares from all of our classmates, she is the only one I am paying attention to. And it's up to me to gain and keep her trust.

We walk in silence towards one of the school's courtyards. Somewhere where our conversation will not be disturbed. It is nearly two o'clock in the afternoon and the rain clouds have long left. However the day remains gloomy. Good.

"What did you want to talk about?" Qin Shan says. She doesn't sound impatient at all! A big contrast from out last real conversation.

"Eh, how's your first day of school here?" I ask, dodging her question. She seems to understand because she stops walking and looks up at me. It's funny how much I tower over her, probably by almost a foot.

"It's been okay so far. I've gotten three encounters with the school ice prince so far and I don't know if that's even legal." She has such a sweet voice that screams innocence. However, both of us know the scars she's obtained. She smiles up at me

"Thank you again by the way." I'm momentarily blinded.

"No worries, those guys are real jerks. They take advantage of unsuspecting kids. Ugh." Suddenly she giggles. I smile automatically. 'Gosh, control yourself' I say to my emotions.

"It's nice to know that I got Senior Song watching after me." Her tone is light, joking. My brain is literally frying as the seconds go on.

"Can I ask you about your past?" I inquire quietly, knowing that this is a sensitive topic to her. She stiffens a little bit, but then relaxes again.

"Okay." She is fighting to keep her tone light and care free.

"Where are all the places in the world you have lived?" I ask. I need to see if she remembers anything about the Court. Anything that could be dangerous to her. Anything I would need to protect her from.

"Hmm...I lived in the United States for three years and then moved to Shenzhen. I later went to Beijing suddenly because my great aunt died and my uncle needed taking care of. That's where I spent secondary school, highschool. After, I moved to the U.S to start college at Yale but... well, as you know, some events happened and now I am here." She says it all in a matter of fact way. I pity her so much, she doesn't want to show that she is hurting. Honestly, we act the same way.

"Where are you from?" She asks politely, using the same light tone from before. I don't really know what to say,

"Being alive for so long has led me to many different places." I say with a grin. She gives me a returning smile and doesn't press. Good.

"Can we be friends from now on?" she blurts out suddenly. I must look confused because she adds "Nevermind, that was kind of random" with a smile.

"No, we can be friends." I say. She looks delighted which makes my heart soften.

"I'm guessing that you want to keep our friendship secret, right?" She asks quietly, like she is afraid of offending me somehow.

"For now, yes. But in the future, I'm sure everyone will know." Keep quiet for now. When everyone knows, they will see what happens to the ones who bother her. Who try to hurt her. Let them know what will happen to them if they harm the one I am protecting.

"Should we go back now? Fourth class will be staring soon and I don't want to make you tardy." She seems to be a little bit disappointed to leave.

"Do you want to go back?" I ask a question in response, playing with her a little bit. Her brow furrows and she seriously seems to be contemplating her answer. At last she looks up and says

"I don't think that I should make a habit of being tardy or absent to my classes on the first day. It would do destruction on my reputation." She smiles. I suppose she is right, though I really wish that she would stay with me.

"That's true. Wouldn't want the teachers thinking that your a bad boy like me." Sarcasm is just rolling off of my tongue. She laughs though which makes all my sadness dissapate into the air.

"Mmm." She replies and turns back to head to the main square. Before I know what I'm doing, I reach out and grab her waist and suddenly, we are hugging. I am holding her tightly and she is just, frozen in my back embrace. Surprisingly, she shifts and returns the hug to me.

"Thank you again." she whispers. "I'm such a bore to hang out with sometimes." She sounds really truly genuine and I am almost blinded by purple.

"You'll never be a bore to me." I say equally quietly. We keep in our embrace for a few more seconds before she pulls away. Her cheeks are flushed a light pink.

"I'll be leaving first. See you around Song Meng." Her voice is gentle yet I can almost hear her heart pounding. She looks and smells intoxicating. She truly is a flower.

"See you later!" I wave to her and she begins to walk back. I go into the shadows to ensure her safe arrival.

Getting to my Fourth class - mathematics, which I share with Wu He. He takes a sniff at me and my shirt before I pull away.

"What were you doing during break?" He asks with a sly smile. I don't feel like answering. I'm too happy and the moment is too surreal right now to have a reaction to his teasing. For now, my flower is safe and for now and hopefully forever, she is mine.