“Ira’s not with you?” Christina asked curiously, and Ray’s eyes snapped in her direction, narrowing at the question,
“No. She isn’t going to be here today.”
Christina nodded but it was Jack who asked, “Where is she?”
Even Angel shot him a tired look as Ray leveled a look and tipped her chin, “Somewhere safe.” She said. Luke cackled from beside him just as the other boy sighed and took a step back,
“Fair enough.” He muttered under his breath.
“So, what’s with the meeting?” she asked Angel, trying to stop herself from smiling as she saw his icy eyes snap to hers, “Do we have to–” paused to shiver as the wind blew past them again.
Christ, it was getting cold,she swore as she took a breath.
Regretted it immediately as cool air filled her lungs.
“Well, I guess we can head off by ourselves.” Mia’s voice was a surprise enough to snap Ray out of her freezing stance, “You guys carry on.”
Ray nodded in acknowledgment and Luke shot her a salute before turning away from her and walking away.
She turned to face Angel as the others followed, and fisted her fingers to keep herself from freezing as she started,
“Where do we need to–mph!”
She gasped as a jacket came hurling at her face, rearing back as she grabbed its edge and turned to glare up at Angel, who had obviously thrown it at her.
The other boy glared back at her, eyeing her shorts and her cotton T-shirt as if it had done him some personal offense. Ray’s anger faded, a small grin shaping her lips as Angel’s glare intensified,
“Put it on.” He said, his voice low and scratchy as if he hadn’t slept all night, “Your nose is fucking red.”
Ray couldn’t help the laugh that left her lips, but still put the jacket over her shoulders.
It did nothing for her legs, but at least she was half-warm. She opened her mouth to thank him, but Angel just muttered something under his breath and stormed away.
Shit,she thought as she saw him shiver with the violent wind and walk away,this was getting bad very fast.
It would tear their entire plan apart.
And yet, not a single part of her could care for the time being.
* *
Her laugh had followed him all the way to the hideous tent Kyle had asked them to come to. That and the sight of her shivering. Angel grit this teeth, annoyed that she’d gotten under his skin yesterday. That she bothered him even now.
Was he being childish?Maybe.
Did he care?No.
“Where is she?” Kyle asked when Angel entered the tent, ignoring the hideous gray cloth that draped across the poles. He frowned at Kyle’s question, but seeing as the boy paced restlessly from up ahead, he didn’t seem to care for Angel’s reaction,
“It’s been a second since I got here. Give her a minute.” He said and as if on cue, Ray entered behind him, wearing his jacket.Thank god,Angel thought and turned away from her,at least she’s listening to him.
“What’s up?” Ray’s voice was significantly chirpy, and it made him sulk even more as she jumped beside him. Probably a way to warm herself up.
“This is important.” Kyle said, stopping in his tracks to look at both of them gravely. A ball of dread grew in the pit of his stomach as he saw that expression in his green eyes.What now?
“Quit beating around the bush,” Ray snapped, shifting on her feet, “Just spit it out.”
Kyle glared back at her, his eyes going wide as he eyed her outfit but deciding to let it go for the time being. Angel let out a breath of relief, knowing that Kyle didn’t know that jacket belonged to him, but relieved nonetheless.
