Storm (Elemental 1)

“Wow. This sounds like a friendly table.”

Becca snapped her head up. Chris Merrick stood there, beside Quinn, holding a lunch tray. He wore an unbuttoned plaid shirt over a blue tee. The swelling around his eye had subsided, but the bruising along his cheekbone was downright spectacular. His hair barely covered the scabbing at his temple.

Actually, he looked surprisingly good, considering the damage he’d taken. The shirt made his eyes look bluer, sharp and intuitive and fixed on her face.

Her heart kicked. “Um,” she said. “Hi?”

He dropped the loaded tray beside Quinn, then swung a leg over the bench to sit down.

Every person at the table stared at him.

He picked up a fry, glancing around. He offered the physics kids half a smile. “ ’Sup.”

Quinn dragged her eyes back to Becca’s. “Why is Chris Merrick sitting next to me?”

Chris popped the cap on his soda. “You know I can hear you, right?”

Becca couldn’t stop staring at him. “What are you doing here?”

“And what the hell happened to your face?” said Quinn.

He raised an eyebrow and straightened. “I was mostly being sarcastic with that whole ‘friendly table’ comment, but I can take a hint... .”

Becca shook her head quickly. “I just—I meant—you weren’t here this morning.”

“It was a rough night.” He shrugged and picked up another fry. “Michael let me sleep it off.” He looked down at the table, apparently noticing for the first time that he was the only one eating. “You guys are already done? I barely made it through the line.”

Quinn took a swig of her water.

Becca glanced away. “We didn’t feel like braving it.”

“Here.” He held out his apple. “I can’t eat while you’re just watching me.”

Quinn snorted. “The symbolism here might just kill me.”

Chris grinned, withdrew his arm, and took a bite. “I’ll eat it then.” He pushed the fries off his tray and into the space between them. “You eat the fries.”

Quinn gave him wide eyes. “But ... whatever will you eat?”

A pear, two pieces of pizza, a cup of applesauce, and a Styrofoam bowl of macaroni and cheese still sat in front of him. He shrugged. “I’ll make do.”

Quinn took one, almost hesitantly. “Seriously. What are you doing here?”

“I came to apologize for my dickhead brother.” He took another bite of his apple, his eyes intent on Becca. “And to thank Becky for last night.”

“Becca,” she snapped.

He smiled. “I know.”

Oh.

Oh.

Becca blushed and hated herself for it.

Then she realized Quinn was staring at her, a kind of shocked dismay on her face.

Crap.