Chapter 15

                        Chapter Fifteen

Wicked gusts of wind careened off the buildings, down the closes and whipped through Kate’s hair as she hurried up the street toward her grandparents’ hotel. She mentally kicked herself for forgetting a ponytail holder. Today, of all days, she didn’t want to be delayed. Kate had stayed up late thinking through all she knew and assumed she knew about her parents, and felt the only person she could talk to about it all was her grandmother. Staying up even later, she had carefully composed a note letting her know she wished to spend time with her after school. She was hoping to drop the note off at their hotel before school started and as usual, she was running late. She rounded the corner, her hair flogged her face and whipped her eyes. She accidentally body-checked someone, and knocked them to the ground.

“Oh, I am so sorry!” Kate said blindly. “Please let me help you.”

Her hair still in her face, she couldn’t see her unintentional victim. She reached out and grabbed the first thing that felt like a hand and pulled. She felt a slight tug and then a bump. She brushed her hair away from her face and saw Gavin standing in front of her.

“Katie? I was just on me way to get you.” He regarded her while the wind attacked her hair and clothes. “Here, come out of that wind.” He pulled her into a doorway and away from the blustering wind. “Better?” She nodded while she swept her hair out of her eyes and wrangled it into a knot at the base of her neck.

“I’m fine. I just don’t know what I did to the wind to make it so mad at me?” she exclaimed.

Papers danced madly down the street at the mercy of the wind. People clutched at their coats and hats, determined to keep them from flying away. One poor soul chased a piece of paper past them.

“Tavey!” Gavin called.

“Can’t talk. Essay!”  Tavey pointed toward the escaping piece of paper.

Gavin and Kate laughed as they watched Tavey madly chasing his paper down the street.

“I don't think the wind is mad at you. I think,” he peered out at Tavey, who was ricocheting off of people and buildings in his attempts to capture his paper, “the wind might have a score to settle with him, and you are an innocent bystander,” he laughed. “Where are you off to?”

“I'm sorry, I’m just trying to get to my grandparents’ hotel to drop off this note for my grandmother before school starts.”  She held the note up for him to see then shoved it into her pocket as the wind threatened to snatch it from her hand.

“I’m glad I literally ran into you. I would have hated missing you and I really would have hated missing Tavey chase those papers down the street. May I walk with you?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He took her hand and they crossed to the leeward side of the street, where the wind wasn’t quite as bad.

“How did it go last night?” Gavin asked.

“How did it go? It went...not so well,” she said.

Gavin squeezed her hand, “That’s the reason for the note, huh?”

“Yeah, I really need to talk to my grandmother. She just seems to get a handle on these types of situations easier than I do.”

“That's because she's a witch,” Gavin offered.

“Or it might be that she is outside the situation and she can see it clearer than I can.” They walked in silence. “Or it could be because she is a witch. I can’t rule out anything anymore.”

They dropped the note at the hotel's front desk and after a hurried journey, arrived at school just as the first bell rang.

“Glad I finished Mr. Corkin’s homework last night. I would hate to not turn in an assignment and have him upset with me during defense,” Kate said.

“What do you have to be worried about? You are the real brains behind the class. I think Mr. Corkin should be afraid of giving you a bad grade for fear of what you could do to him.”

“What are you two talking about?”  Kenzie found them walking in the hall towards math class.

“Mr. Corkin’s homework. Did you get it done?” Kate asked.

“I’ll do it over the weekend,” Kenzie said nonchalantly.

“Well aren’t we little Miss Lackadaisical?” Kate teased.

“What lackadaisical? He said it was due on Monday because he was out of town today. Something about a funeral.”

Kate smacked her forehead.

“I forgot. I have been so preoccupied with grandparents and parents. Man!  I could have had a night off.”

“Well, look at it this way:  Now you have the whole weekend off,” Gavin clarified.

Kate raised her eyebrows while she considered his point. Nodding her head she said, “Unless I have other teachers who like to give out homework?” She looked over Kenzie's shoulder, “Good morning Mr. Dougall,” she said.

“Good morning, Miss Thorn. Nice to see you bright eyed today.” he replied.

“Sir?” said Gavin.

“Yes, Mr. Ashby?”

“What are the chances of homework assignments today?” Gavin asked.

“I would say, depending on our class today, twenty five percent” he said in complete seriousness.

“Thank you sir,” Gavin said and turned to Kate and Kenzie, “There. Two down with no homework. What will we do with our free time?” he said to no one in particular.

“No homework. I would love that!” said a voice floating in from behind.

They turned as Boyd joined their group.

“That would give me some time to finish up my chores so I can hit Arthur’s Seat with you,” he finished.

“I thought you were definitely going?” Kenzie sounded a little upset.

“I am. I just needed to get me chores done before I can come. You know how me Dad is?”

“All work and no play makes, Boyd a dull boy?” Kate chimed in.

Gavin and Boyd busted out laughing.

“What was that for?”  Kate scanned their faces and realized they had never heard that old saying before either.

“Oh, I see. Just another 'You’re not in Kansas anymore' thing.” Kate said sheepishly.

“Missouri,” Gavin corrected her and they shared a secret laugh.

The second bell rang and cut their conversation short.

After class, Tavey, Frazier and Duncan cornered them in the hall.

“Hey Kate, since Mr. Corkin is not here for the rest of the week does that mean that defense is canceled tomorrow?” Duncan asked.

All eyes locked on her. She hadn’t thought of that. If she canceled the class for Friday night she would have more time to talk to her grandmother. She thought of Kenzie and how heartbroken she would be not to have that time to talk to Boyd. Mairi and Frazier wouldn't have any time together either, but it would also give Boyd more time to do his chores so he could go with them on Saturday. A hike would be more of an all-day thing and defense only lasted forty-five minutes. She weighed all of these considerations quickly and came to a decision.

“I think we can skip Friday and pick up on Monday. That all right with everyone?”

The group nodded agreement, but Kate saw Kenzie’s face fall. Tavey and Frazier said they would spread the news and headed off for their class. Duncan disappeared into the doorway behind her and Gavin and Boyd followed. Kate linked arms with Kenzie.

“I know what you are thinking, but wait. I figure this will give Boyd more time to finish his chores and be able to spend the whole day with you on Saturday.”

Kenzie looked up as smile spread over her face.

“I knew there was a reason I hang out with you,” she said. “The whole day.” she sighed to herself.

The day seemed to drag, but everyone at the lunch table agreed that there would be no homework this weekend. Kate thought that was a good sign, if you believe in signs.