Storm and Stone (23 page)

She looked adorable with her face all screwed up with her determination to defend him. ‘Fierce, aren’t you, tiger?’

‘My father taught me some neat self-defence moves. I’ll show you if you like, in case Adewale comes after you again.’

Kieran had already undergone a course of advanced self defence taught by a former marine, but the idea of Raven showing him her moves sounded very appealing. ‘I’d like that. And, um, Raven?’

‘Hmm?’

Red lines crossed, trampled, smashed through—boy, was he in trouble in so many ways, but logic had taken a holiday. ‘There’s the prom coming up. Do you want to go?’

‘Come again?’

He raised his eyes to the ceiling light. ‘You’re going to make me suffer, aren’t you?’

‘Absolutely. If you’re doing what I think you’re doing, you’ve got to ask properly or not at all, my mom used to say.’

He met her eyes. ‘Raven Stone, would you do me the honour of being my date for the prom?’ He kissed her fingertips.

‘Kieran Storm, it would be my pleasure.’

‘Thank you.’

‘But what about after—you and me? Will you tell me the truth?’

He bent his forehead to rest against hers. ‘Don’t worry—I’m working on it.’

‘You are?’

‘I promise.’

There was a crash in the kitchen and an oath from Joe. Raven giggled. ‘I think Joe just found out that the tin is still hot.’

‘Sneaking my hero brownies are you?’ shouted Kieran.

‘Yeah.’ Joe sounded completely unrepentant. ‘If I don’t get to make up in the hall, at least I should get a treat in here.’

Raven took Kieran’s hand, her slim fingers wrapped around his. ‘Let’s go have some before he eats them all.’

‘I’ll follow you anywhere,’ he said, only half joking.

After leaving Raven with her granddad, Kieran returned with Joe to the main building. He didn’t follow Joe to their room but took a left towards a different flight of stairs.

‘You OK?’ Joe asked when he realized Kieran wasn’t following.

‘Yes, fine. I’m just going to take a look about the place.’

‘See you back at base then. I’ll do a report for Isaac.’

‘Great. Thanks.’

‘You did all right with Raven—took a nice line, friendly but not too intense. Letting her down gently.’

Joe didn’t know about the kiss in the hall then. Kieran guessed Joe wouldn’t be so impressed if he knew how many rules Kieran had broken, and intended to go on breaking. Kieran’s career at the YDA would be toast if that came out.

Kieran waited for Joe to turn the corner then carried on up to his favourite spot in the castle, the battlement walk. Students weren’t supposed to go here but lock picking was one of the first skills taught at the YDA, and he needed somewhere to think without interruption. Easing through the arched door, he disturbed the pigeons occupying the slates. They flew off over his head in a shudder of wings. He knew not to duck. Pigeons’ eyesight ran at the equivalent of about two hundred and fifty frames per second; a normal film that ran at a tenth of that speed would seem like clicking through a slide show to them. The upshot of that fact was that they would move out of your way even if you thought they were on a collision course.

He leant on the crumbly parapet. Sandstone, heavily weathered. Some lichen—
Caloplaca flavenscens
if he wasn’t mistaken—that had taken at least two hundred years to spread its orange stain over the stonework. He took a breath, settling his brain for a good think in the twilight.

All right then. Facts established, now he could deal with the emotions.

He had known since his conversation with Isaac that he had taken a wrong turn. Isaac had said even Kieran couldn’t square the circle of his loyalty to the YDA and his attachment to Raven, but what was the point of having a brain like his if he didn’t use it on something really important for once? If anyone could do the impossible, it would be him—that wasn’t arrogance but awareness that he did have the edge over others in this at least.

He tapped the balustrade. Applying his brainpower to the problem, he could see that he mustn’t tell Raven about his mission until it was over in order to ensure her safety. But surely new rules kicked in when that was done? He had another year at the YDA then university. YDA students at college were given more freedom, as backgrounds were under less of a microscope in the loose mixed community of a university. He just had to convince Raven to hang on in there for a while until he reached that stage.

But a year seemed too much. If she went to sixth form college, some guy would snap her up and push him out of the picture. He couldn’t bear it if he lost the right to be the one to kiss her.

Of course. Kieran slapped his forehead, berating himself for his slowness. The conclusion was obvious. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it earlier. He just needed to pull off a few miracles and hope she really was the forgiving sort. But that was for later. His job now was to keep her safe so they could get to that point.

It would start with one very difficult conversation with Isaac; he was going to be annoyed Kieran had ignored his orders.

Weighing that up, with the possibility of serious consequences as Isaac hit the roof, Kieran decided it was worth the risk. Isaac also repeatedly told them that they weren’t his pawns. Kieran was going to find out just how sincerely Isaac meant that by making some gambits of his own. If anyone was going to walk away from the relationship, it wouldn’t be him. In fact, he was damned if he’d let Raven chuck in the towel over his lies to her without doing his utmost to change her mind.

Kieran decided that by far his favourite moments of the exam weeks were those when Raven took it upon herself to teach him her self-defence techniques. He enjoyed playing dumb as she clearly got so much pleasure from instructing him. It also gave him plenty of excuses to let her put her hands on him, which they both liked more than they let on.

‘Now this evening I’m going to show you how to leverage your weight.’ They were in the gym at dinnertime so had the place to themselves, crash mats out as Raven had warned they were going to get serious after the easy lessons on going for vulnerable spots—eyes, nose, groin, etc.

‘I thought leverage of weight was something hedge funds did for their assets by using sugar derivatives.’

‘Come again?’

OK. So Raven didn’t do financial sector jokes. ‘Nothing.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘OK, Mr Storm, stop making incomprehensible remarks that go over the head of mere mortals and get your butt here.’

He grinned, loving it when she got bossy with him.

She frowned at him, sensing he wasn’t in a serious mood. ‘Now try going for me—any way you like.’

‘But I don’t want to hurt you.’

‘You won’t.’

He made a fairly obvious attempt to grab her arm. She used a neat jujitsu move to defeat him, lunging down and bending her elbow towards him so he had to let go of her wrist. ‘And now I’d run.’ She mimed a dash for safety. ‘You try it. Pretend I’m Adewale grabbing you.’

He’d let her grab him anytime she felt so moved. ‘Do your worst.’

She darted forward and gripped his wrist. ‘Now lunge and break my hold.’

Where was the fun in that? Instead he pounced on her waist and lifted her off her feet. ‘Give up?’

‘Put me down! You’re supposed to be trying to get away!’

Not a chance. He spun her in a circle. ‘I am in your power.’

She batted him over the head. ‘Idiot! I’m in your power.’

‘Say that again.’ He kissed her chin.

‘No, never!’

‘Ah, a challenge!’ He dropped her on her back on the crash mat and began tickling.

She wriggled. ‘Stop it, no fair!’

‘Say it!’

She tried another jujitsu move, hooking his wrist, holding his elbow, trapping his foot, which was the first part of the manoeuvre to reverse positions, but her laughter stopped her following through. He started peppering kisses over her face. ‘Say it!’

‘All right, all right—I am in your power, you great heffalump.’

He stopped tickling her and stared down into the depths of her eyes. Nutmeg with dark chocolate streaks. ‘And I am in yours.’

Her smile wobbled a little. ‘Really?’

He twisted to bring her on top and on to his lap. ‘Yes. I just want you to put up with me for a few more weeks.’

She drew back. ‘I can’t just be a temporary amusement and you won’t explain what’s really going on so I’m worried we’re … screwed. I kinda thought the prom date was a goodbye—a sweet ending.’

That was what Joe thought too but Kieran wasn’t satisfied with that: he’d found his girl and no way was he letting her go. ‘I don’t mean it like that. I’m asking you to put up with me not being straight with you. Not telling the truth. In the summer holidays, when we meet up, I’ll explain anything you want to know.’

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity but an even heavier dose of doubt. ‘You mean about Isaac?’

He nodded.

‘And the YDA—and Gloria?’

‘Yes, the whole sad saga if you’ve got patience to hear it.’ He just hoped she wouldn’t walk away when she learned the details of his disastrous background. But Raven wouldn’t care about ancestry—he was fairly confident of that. One thing he decided he could straighten out right now. ‘The posh thing—that was just Joe pulling your leg.’

‘I have to admit I didn’t think Gloria looked like someone from the upper classes.’

‘Joe has an active imagination.’

She wrinkled her nose, smelling a rat. ‘And his druggie mom and imprisoned dad?’

That was for Joe to explain. Poor old Mr and Mrs Masters were the sweetest couple in Manhattan and Carol wouldn’t know her aspirin from her crack cocaine. Her expertise was quilting and pot roasts. ‘Can we leave that until August?’

Raven looked at his face for a long time, scrutinizing his expression. Somewhere along the way, she had learnt not to trust and he had unintentionally reinforced the lesson. She took a breath, coming to a decision. ‘OK, my man of mystery, I’ll reserve judgement. You’re making me act against my instincts, you know?’

‘But I’m worth it?’

‘Yes, you’re worth it.’ Raven twirled a lock of hair. ‘I’m in your lap.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’ He thought that was obvious.

‘No, Kieran, I am in
your lap
.’

‘Oh yeah.’ He got it now. ‘And I was right about my deduction: our height issue is cancelled in this position.’

‘So what are you going to do about it?’ She looked up at him through her lashes.

‘I’ll show you one of my self-defence techniques.’

‘You mean aside from tickling?’

‘Yes. This one is called distraction. If you are still thinking about attacking me when I’ve finished then I’m not doing a good job of it.’

‘And does it go something like this?’ She leant forward and kissed him.

‘What? You know this one too?’ He pretended surprise.

‘I do. But I don’t think I’m very good at it yet.’

‘Ah. I beg to differ. But they do say practice makes perfect so I think we’d better try for perfection.’ He closed the distance between them.

Kieran found Joe studying hard when he got back to their room.

‘How was self defence?’ Joe asked.

‘Perfect.’ Kieran smiled into the depths of his cupboard as he put away his sports bag. He didn’t like keeping his renewed relationship with Raven from Joe but, if he told his friend, then he would be asking him to hide it from Isaac, introducing a conflict into Joe’s loyalties. Kieran had every intention of telling Isaac himself. Eventually. When he had got his miracle in place.

‘Don’t want to be a buzz kill but Isaac has told us to call as soon as you get back.’

A few days ago Kieran had asked for Isaac to consider his proposal on miracle-making. Isaac had said he would think about it and put the phone down on him. Kieran wondered if this was the reason for the unscheduled call now. ‘Let’s get it over with then.’

Joe put through the call. Isaac’s face filled the screen. Kieran knew he wasn’t the most astute at reading expressions but even he could see that their boss was beyond angry. He hadn’t somehow found out about the resumption of his relationship with Raven, had he?

‘Hey, Isaac, it’s us.’ Joe tugged a chair alongside his so Kieran could share the screen.

‘Boys.’ Isaac gave them a nod. ‘I received an email from the head teacher today with that promised report on you two.’

Relief swooped through Kieran. So it wasn’t about Raven—not yet.

‘What have we done wrong now?’ asked Joe in a resigned tone.

‘As far as I’m concerned, nothing. No, it’s her who has really wound me up. She sent me a letter about your forthcoming enrolment in the personal development course.’ Isaac shook out the pages he had printed off. ‘She wanted to make sure it was crafted to my specific requirements. There follows a detailed character assassination—sorry,
analysis
—of each of you with suggestions of areas in which you might improve. You mentioned the possibility of them fabricating evidence for blackmail, Kieran—well, we’ve just hit jackpot.’

‘Sweet!’ Joe cracked his knuckles. ‘OK, what’s wrong with me?’

Isaac smiled sourly. ‘She was complimentary about most aspects of your character—good team player, cheerful disposition, intelligent—but you lack, and I quote, “suitable deference for authority” and “will to succeed”. Here’s the killer: you also drink and drive.’

‘Do not.’

‘I know—but here’s the police report, all typed up and official looking. You took one of the school buses for a spin apparently. If I thought there was a shred of truth in it, I, as your concerned and corruptible godfather, would be eager to keep that off your criminal record.’

Isaac chucked the page aside. ‘I could’ve told her about your lack of deference myself. She asked me for any additional suggestions so they could be included in your personalized training programme.’

‘I hope you told her you couldn’t improve on something that was flawless.’

Isaac laughed darkly and turned to a second, much bigger printout. ‘Kieran, I’m afraid Mrs Bain isn’t a fan of yours.’

Kieran folded his arms. ‘I take that as a compliment.’

‘She suggested that you might need a longer and more intensive treatment.’ Isaac leafed through the six pages listing his defects. ‘Odd. Here she praises your academic achievements, especially in Dance. What’s this?’