Creation Mischief: Part 16 ***missing part added***

I timidly knocked on the rough door. A fourth year student ushered us in with a raised blond eyebrow. I frowned at him as we walked into the cluttered space. The fourth year left and shut the door quietly.1

Mastercreator's straight back was what we were left looking at, as we approached the high counters. Tall stools were pushed beneath and we pulled them out to sit. The legs grated along the ground. 2

I watched as Kyle sat down without making a sound, laying his forearms on the scarred tables. I took my place beside him, crossing my arms around my middle. The sunlight streaked through the recently cleaned windows, giving Master Ruben an angelic silhouette. In his arms he held a book. A slight movement of his elbow gave the impression he was reading.3

I cleared my throat.4

"Quinn has been reported out wandering the planet." Rubin's smooth voice answered the unasked questions. "What information have you acquired?" He went on without waiting for our reaction.5

I looked at Kyle, my eyebrows raised, silently asking him to take this. He shook his head. "Not much sir," I said, giving Kyle a frown to show my disappointment.6

"And have you visited the third level?" he asked, laying the book down on a side table.7

It was Kyle's turn to give me the questioning look.8

I shook my head, then realized Master Ruben couldn't see the gesture. "No sir, I haven't. I had an unexpected problem. Nothing that will get in the way in the future." 9

He turned to us, smoothing down his wiry mustache. His brows were drawn together and I squirmed on the stool. "I surely hope that the kiss experienced between the two of you will not stop you from doing what needs to be done. Before you go, please visit Quinn and ask him to refrain from scaring the rest of the planet."10

My mouth dropped. Mastercreator Ruben knew we kissed. I had thought Carmen was the only person that knew, but that didn't mean she wouldn't have told anyone.11

"Sabrina, please close your lips. Tread lightly children. Now, go." He dismissed us while picking up his book again.12

My lips were pressed together, making it seem like I didn't have any. We started to leave. I stopped with my hand on the side of the door. "Mastercreator Ruben, sir?"13

"Yes, Sabrina?" He stopped smoothing his mustache and looked up from the pages.14

My hand slid down the door, feeling the rough texture of the poorly sanded wood, before I folded my arms over my chest. "Last night, after supper, I was wandering around the common area, well I had a,” I stopped talking, not sure how to precede. "I guess it was an encounter."15

Kyle paused down the short hall. He looked back at me with a lopsided quizzical grin. 16

"Go on," Master Ruben urged.17

"Well, you know the path leading from the common area to the girl’s dorm? I was on that. I had been looking for Kyle, and I-"18

"We'd had a fight earlier, so I was hiding," interrupted Kyle, his cheeks were pink with embarrassment.19

"Why were you hiding?" I asked, facing him as he came to stand beside me. 20

"I was mad."21

"Yes, yes, back to the point." Ruben brought us back on focus.22

I looked away from Kyle , and back to Master Ruben. "At the blackberry bush it got dark and then a voice told me to stop looking."23

I stopped there unsure of how to express my concern, It didn't make me afraid but it had put me on guard. Both Master Ruben and Kyle were quiet for a bit.24

"Come back and sit." Master Ruben flapped his hands around ushering us to take our places again. "Please tell what happened."25

So I did. After I had related my tale, Master Ruben replied, "you need protection."26

I shook my head vigorously and stood. "No! That will call attention to myself. I want to do this without someone following me, questioning me, or getting in my way."27

"I'll watch her." Kyle piped up.28

I glared at him as he stood up. "You!" I cried, surprised. "You can't even take care of yourself. How on this green orb are you going to watch over me?"29

Kyle's hands had settled on his hips with his legs, shoulder width apart, a fighting stance.30

"Name?"31

"Name what?" I took up the same stance. If it was a fight he wanted, it was a fight he wast getting.32

"Name an instance where I needed help." He challenged.33

I didn't waste any time. "Library." One word was all I needed to say.34

"That's no fair. I hardly go to the library and Carmen was eager to help!"35

"Too eager." I lowered my voice and crossed my arms.36

"Your jealous," he said evenly. Kyle had dropped his hands from his hips.37

"Enough!" boomed Master creator Ruben's voice. "Kyle will accompany where ever you go. That is final. And Sabrina." He stopped me before I could argue. "Be careful."38

*****39

I stormed ahead of Kyle. Students and visitors carried on conversations, as they hurried past, their words buzzing around me like a swarm of angry bees. A lone Jay perched on the sill of a window, screeching its complaints to the passerby. The bird's color of dark blue distracted me briefly as it flashed by.40

Between the arching branches of the aspens, sunlight spotted the ground before me. I passed through the shafts of light, the warmth skimmed my skin, raising small goosebumps on my arms.41

I licked my lips, they were dry and the rough texture graded against my slick tongue. I tasted the saltiness of my sweat.42

"Sabrina!"43

I ignored the call. Instead focusing on the path at my feet. 44

"Sabrina, stop please!"45

I slowed my steps and let Kyle catch up. We walked in silence, each absorbed in our own thoughts. I wondered what had tempted Quinn into leaving the safety of the lake and why someone had wanted me to stop my research. I wasn't sure what Kyle was thinking, but it gave me pause. Was he thinking of Quinn? What was in the third level library? Who threatened me? Who had told Master Ruben? Or our kiss? My bet was the kiss.46

Or maybe I just wanted it to be the kiss. I really wanted to kiss him again. His lips were very distracting and I tried not to stare at them.47

I knew then that our relationship was going to be a distraction. 48

Kyle grabbed at my hand, missing it twice. I giggle under my hand at the clumsiness of it.49

"What's so funny?" he asked seriously.50

I shook my head slightly. My hair felt feather soft against my warm cheeks. "Nothing really. I was just running through everything that had happened. And how Master Ruben knew we kissed. Did Carmen say something? I'm confused. What do you think?"51

Kyle was silent for a bit. His long blond bangs hung in his eyes and I watched his fingers brush them from his face. "I really can't think beyond our kiss. I've been dreaming about it a long time." 52

He stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his rough trousers. "I'm sorry, I know you need me to help with the problem, but all I want to do is run with you, hide you. It's not helpful or logical."53

I stopped him. "I love that you want to protect me, but it's not going to help." I patted his cheek. The whiskers rubbed against my palm, tickling them.54

"I'm not sure what I can do? Or what you want or need me to do?" he said, honestly.55

I continued to walk towards the jump circle, but I slowed my pace slightly. Did I really need Kyle? Probably not, but I needed more information before I dismissed him. The volcano wouldn't have happened if Kyle hadn't been there. Maybe, maybe not. To get rid of him now would be premature. More information was needed. And Master Ruben assigned him to my protection detail. 56

"Kyle," I said sweetly. "Let's go see Quinn and then head to the library."57

"As you wish."58

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