Finding Sky by Joss Stirling

the first time anyone had ever given me flowers. I felt less nervous in daytime, knowing my parents were just upstairs. I could cope with this conversation if he felt the urge to apologize. Tina would probably think it worthy of its own newsflash if she knew that the great Zed Benedict had stooped to humble himself to a girl.
    Zed juggled with the cafetière. ‘How does this thing work?’
    I took it from him and showed him how much coffee to put in. ‘You’re not very at home in a kitchen?’
    ‘Family of boys,’ he said as if that explained it. ‘We’ve a coffee maker—does great filter coffee.’
    ‘And she’s called your mum.’
    He laughed. ‘No way. She gets waited on hand and foot in our house.’
    OK, I could do this. We were having a normal conversation about normal things.
    He took his mug and sat at the breakfast bar. ‘So tell me something about yourself. I play drums and guitar. How about you?’
    ‘Piano, sax, and guitar.’
    ‘See, we can talk without me freaking out on you.’
    ‘Yeah.’ I chanced a look at him; he was watching me like a bear crouched over a hole in the ice, ready to hook a salmon. ‘You … you like all music, or just jazz?’
    ‘All, but I like the freedom to improvise.’ He patted a place next to him on the bench. I sat down, keeping a space between us. ‘I like to cut free of what has to be. For me it’s a kind of free fall with the notes as the parachute.’
    ‘I like that too.’
    ‘It’s musicians’ music. Not so straightforward as some but really repays when you get into it.’ He gave me a look, asking me to understand there was another meaning below his surface words. ‘I mean, you’ve got to be really confident to launch into an off-the-cuff solo and not make a fool of yourself. Everyone can make mistakes when they rush something, go in too early.’
    ‘I suppose.’
    ‘You really didn’t know.’
    Oh God, he was going to raise that savant stuff again.
    He shook his head. ‘And you’ve not the faintest idea why I warned you that day. You think I’ve been trying to scare you.’
    ‘Weren’t you? All that stuff about knives and blood.’
    ‘I didn’t mean it like that.’ He rubbed his thumb across my knuckles, clenched on the table between us. ‘It’s funny sitting with you. I get so much from you, like you’re broadcasting on all frequencies.’
    I frowned. ‘What does that mean?’
    He stretched his long legs out, gently bumping mine. ‘It’s difficult to explain. I’m sorry I’ve been rude to you.’
    ‘Rude? I just thought that you had some weird allergic reaction to economy-sized English girls.’
    He looked me over. ‘Is that what you are?’
    ‘Um … yeah.’ I stared at my feet. ‘Still waiting for that growth spurt Sally’s been promising since I was fourteen.’
    ‘Your height’s perfect. I come from a family of giant redwoods; a bonsai makes a pleasant change.’
    Bonsai! If I’d known him better I would have dug him in the ribs for that one. Too shy, I let it pass. ‘So you’re not going to explain what’s been the problem with me?’
    ‘Not today. I’ve messed it up once; I’m not going to risk spoiling it a second time by rushing. This is too important.’ He picked up my hand and punched himself in the side with it. ‘There—I deserved that.’
    ‘You’re crazy.’
    ‘Yep, that’s me.’ But still he didn’t explain how he knew I’d wanted to do that.
    Zed released my hand. ‘OK, I’ll head out now. I don’t want to push my luck. It was good meeting you, Sky. See you around.’
       
    I didn’t trust this reformed-bad-boy behaviour, but Zed clearly wasn’t letting this go. On Monday at the end of school, he was waiting for me by Tina’s car.
    ‘Hi, Tina, how’s it going?’
    Tina stared at him, then looked at me, eyebrow quirked. ‘Fine, Zed. You?’
    ‘Great. Sky, ready to go home?’ He held out a motorbike helmet.
    ‘Tina’s giving me a lift.’
    ‘I’m sure she won’t mind if I do