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She nodded in respect like we were sisters in battle. “As you should.”
Nathaniel was still there by the time I made it downstairs. His brows knitted in confusion, probably trying to figure out where I was if the lights of my office were still on, because clearly, I wasn’t moving around.
With the rain covering the sound of my approach, I easily snuck around the side and behind him until I stood only three feet away at his flank. His head still tilted back, watching.
I said, “I left the lights on, on purpose, in case you were wondering.”
The man yelped and lurched to the side, horror-stricken.
I pointed at my window. “What gives? Need to send me a love letter? Because I’m not taking applications at the moment. Unless you want to take me to a strip club—nope, scratch that. I didn’t mean to add that last part.”
“I, uh… um…” he stammered, his pretty, dark eyes fluttering with agitation.
“My name’s Isra.” I extended my hand.
He stared at it before cautiously clasping my palm and shaking. “I’m Nathaniel—um, obviously you know that, considering you—s-sorry for the…”
“Stalking,” I provided. “You’d think I’d be used to it by now. But alas.”
He frowned, not following, and carefully extracted his hand from mine. “I just, uh… I heard you were hired to help students with the attacks, and I guess I was curious.”
“I’ve been told that all the victims had been over-investigated and over-talked-to. So, why are you curious about me?”
Despite his display of shock, Nathaniel knew how to lock down his expression when he wanted to be careful. Not even a hint of emotion leaked through as he said, “I saw what you did with Cole and Ember the other day. It gave me a little hope. You’re not like the other counselors they’ve brought in.” He crossed his arms, the only indication he was uncomfortable. “You’re…”
“Grating?” I supplied. “Inept at interpersonal communication? Uncouth?”
“Helpful,” he said slowly, like I was a complete idiot. “I’d say helpful. Ember’s not the first person Cole’s harassed, and you’re the first person to stand up to him and not lose your job.”
“Oh. Cool. Not as bad as I was expecting.”
He looked at his shoes.
“That doesn’t explain why you’ve been stalking me.”
Nathaniel summoned a miniature water typhoon in his hand—no. Tornado. His air magic pulled the water from the rain and made the palm-sized storm. He stared past it and into another time. “This school is crawling with powerful people.”
“Hadn’t noticed,” I drawled.
“Even the counselors are too well connected. You just can’t trust people who go to cocktail parties with your parents.” The tornado grew wobbly, like lopsided clay on a potter’s wheel.
“That is problematic,” I agreed, understanding where this was going.
He flicked those dark eyes up.
“And you like that I’m a nobody.”
His gaping mouth was hilarious. “I didn’t mean it like that!”
Cackling, I insisted, “Don’t sweat it, Nathaniel. It’s not an insult. It’s a preference. Come on. Let me get you a coffee made on the surface of the sun itself.”
“That doesn’t sound healthy. And please just call me Nate.”
After a very short but strong-willed battle of glares with the barista, we won our drinks and settled on a table. The wind buffeted my hair and sprayed rain at us. Nate frowned in concentration and lifted his hand. Within five seconds, the air calmed.
“Handy gift,” I said.
He shrugged. “It’s fine, I guess.”
