Chaos Theory by Penelope Fletcher Page B

SafeZone.
    Blue had even pointed out the beginning of the OutRim, and
that had given her a thrill.
    “ You did a great job here,” she pushed when he only blinked at
her. “I’m quite wooed.”
    “ I searched the IntraWave on courtship. I have a list in my
head.”
    She reached for another segment of apple, but Blue beat her to
it. They had a bit of a wrestle until she gave in and ate from his
fingertips. The hard sugar coating stuck on her lip, and she licked
it clean.
    “ I’m curious.” Kali fed him another piece of dessert. “What
else is on this list?” He was quiet for such a long time she
wondered if she had embarrassed him. She touched his jaw, smiled
when his prism-like gaze wandered to her. “You spaced
out.”
    Blue’s fingers slid across hers. “I like you,” he said
quietly. His brows plunged together as a dark look came into his
eyes. “I researched all day. The ritual of HiCaste and what is
expected.”
    “ You look concerned.”
    He gave her a considering look. “You aren’t.”
    “ Should I be?”
    “ Someone like you wouldn’t be.”
    “ What do you mean someone like me?”
    Blue tipped his chin. “HiCaste.”
    “ So I’m HiCaste. Why would us having a relationship not worry
me?” Kali was getting flustered. “Wait. Why am I worried in the
first place?”
    “ Are you genuinely unaware of what people would say? Especially
if they saw us like this.” Blue brought her hand up in his. He was
spellbound by their difference in skin tone. “You wouldn’t be
accused of punching above your weight. You must have noticed the
looks we got last night.”
    “ We’ve had a miscommunication. I don’t judge by birthright or
by how much credit someone has in the bank.” Kali slipped her hand
from his and placed it on her lap. By reminding her of what was
expected of her as a HiCaste female, he’d made her feel awkward. “I
don’t expect to be judged by those things either.”
    “ And genetics?”
    “ My parents won’t expect a match by genetics alone,” she said
confidently. “I’m free to be with whoever I want. I have no
marriage contract or betrothal agreement. If I did, I wouldn’t be
here. I’m not that kind of girl.”
    Blue exhaled slowly. “You are a Loklear.”
    “ Yes.” She hesitated. Kali was beginning to fear he would stop
seeing her if they went too deeply into this, but honesty was
necessary, and maybe if he had a better understanding of her
origins he wouldn’t worry. “I’m adopted.”
    He blinked. “What?”
    Blue didn’t socialize in the HiEco circles she did. He
wouldn’t understand what an outcast she was. “I didn’t stutter, I
was adopted. Not that it matters, or is any of your business. That
is why you shouldn’t feel like you’re,” Kali made quotation marks
in the air, “punching above your weight.”
    Blue felt the discomfort that had sprung up between them
because of the subject. He could tell by the set of her shoulders
and the tension in her face this was a sensitive issue for her.
Strangely, he did feel better. He’d looked up HiCaste courting
rituals and had felt his hopes to impress her and her family
diminish.
    If Kali were more traditional, he wouldn’t have had a chance
as a suitor because of her standing in society. He’d be lucky if
she even glanced at him.
    “ Thank you for telling me,” he said quietly.
    “ It’s not a secret.” She picked at the blanket, eyes downcast.
“The nanosec you met my parents you’d of known.”
    Feeling more awkward and out of place by the moment, she
leaned back to put space between them. Her face locked into a
pleasant non-expression she’d cultivated after withstanding years
of difficult situations.
    Blue’s legs tensed either side of hers. “Don’t do
that.”
    Kali judged the best way to disentangle totally.
“Hmm?”
    “ Your happy face hides the sad. I’m being honest. You have to
admit the chances of your parents seeing me and approving are
unlikely. I didn’t mean to insult