Friends and Partners
�Geez, that chick has a glare that could melt paint.� Jess says in an almost theater whisper, automatically linking her arm in mine. I can�t help but smile. Today Jess is wearing her hair screaming red with blondish highlights, her eyes are blue flecked with gold, and her outfit is almost translucent...covering just enough not to be arrested. This is the first time Jess has even been on campus, but already she�s so relaxed it seems like she�s gone to school here for years.
�Yeah I know. That�s Britani. She�s in my acting class. I don�t know what she has against me.� I sigh. Talking about Britani always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, which is pretty good for a girl I�ve only known two days. Then I�m trying not to laugh as Jess whips around, catches Britani�s eye and sticks her tongue out before turning back to face me. Britani�s classically beautiful face scrunches up and flames.
�Screw the bitch.� Jess says loud enough I�m sure they hear her in the next classroom, but her body is now turned away and her eyes so innocent, I�m convinced only Britani knows who Jess was talking about. Jess is good at stuff like that, pissing people off and then leaving them without a target. I wish I had that talent.
I laugh. �So, how do you like Forge U.?�
�The scenery�s nice, but the wildlife leaves a lot to be desired.�
�Hey!� I throw her a mock glare. Anyone else would probably be getting a fist from me, but I know she doesn�t mean anything by it. Jess has never made fun of my problem, not in a way that didn�t include me in the joke. She�s the best friend I�ve got, which is why she was willing to come so far from her usual stomping grounds to meet me, even with her avowed lousy sense of direction.
We�re stepping out onto Empire Walk when she blurts out the question. �So what about this Maxis guy I�ve been hearing so much about?�
�Shh�� Now I�m blushing as my eyes dart around to make sure he isn�t accidently behind us or something.
�You�ve got it bad.� Jess shakes her head, her red curls bouncing and shimmering in the sunlight.
�Got what?� My chest tightens and my stomach turns to lead. �We�re just friends.�
�You�re broadcasting again, Lys.� Sometimes I think Jess is empathic. Not just because she�s so nice, but she�s always able to pick up on exactly what I�m feeling. Maybe that�s a part of being best friends. I haven�t gotten as good at the trick yet, then again, I haven�t had lots of practice in my life. She shrugs her shoulders. �So what happened to make you think he doesn�t want you?�
�Nothing.� I snap. Maybe she�s right. I hadn�t thought of it until now, probably because Maxis is so far from my type: ie: so good looking, charming and sweet I couldn�t imagine him wanting anything to do with me. Besides, he hasn�t shown the slightest interest beyond friendship, and that�s fine with me. I have a hard enough time making friends. But Jess isn�t just going to take that as an answer, so I figure I�ll just hit her with the evidence. �I watched a couple of martial art vids with him and some other friends on Sunday, dropped by Tuesday morning to return a vid he�d lent me and we flew together to class. That�s it.�
�And he gave you a blastboard and saved your life twice, right?� Jess says with the hint of a smile.
I shake my head. �That doesn�t count. He said he�d do that for anyone. Besides�� I lower my voice, leaning closer to her. �He knows about my problem.�
�So!� Jess laughs. �You make more of a big deal out of this than anyone Lys.�
�I can tell when someone�s not interested.� I say flatly. I don�t expect Jess to understand. Who would seriously want to be with someone who was half an animal? Whether it�s natural, like Maxis says, or there�s something wrong with me, or maybe a bit of both, there�s some things people just don�t want to get that close to. Like having a girlfriend who grows fur, claws and extra legs when she needs an edge. There�s only one person I�ve dated who found out, and that�s only because he tried to push things where I didn�t want to go.
Suddenly the air between us is filled with doves.
�What the hell?!� Jess exclaims. My breath catches in my throat. White flapping wings sound like a miniature tornado as the birds flock a couple feet away from us and spiral off into the air. The feathers fall and I see Blitz standing in the center.
�Good afternoon.� Blitz says.
�Umm�Hi Blitz.� I say, raising my hand into an absent wave.
�Oh, so you�re Blitz.� Jess steps forward, extending a hand as though she hadn�t been practically pissing herself just seconds ago.