Perfect School

Jonah:

“Jonah! You’re back! Where is Kira?” Kyra came up to the table, taking a seat next to Paublo. She seemed right at home here.

“Currently resting,” I said. Several eyes in the room were on her now as well, mostly male. This batch hadn’t come accustom to her yet.

She quizzed me about our trip and sought reassurance that Kira was merely tired and not hurt. I gave her answers as best I could. There was nothing secret about our assignment, but I kept details to a minimum.

Paublo:

I smiled up at Kyra but let her take the lead now while I focused on wolfing down the last of my food. I missed the times alone our team had once had. It had taken me a few days to get used to all the looks directed at Kyra as well as all the attention. In a way that made me smile at myself, I felt spoiled rotten.

"Must have been an intense thing if Kira is sleeping in. We went on that one thing where we had to stay up all night and she didn't sleep any extra after it." I remarked absently between bites.

Jonah:

Kyra looked up at him as he spoke and a small line formed between her brows. She turned to me again. “It was a different kind of job. A test of sorts. Strenuous work,” I said, somewhat defensive on Kira’s behalf. I didn’t want people to think she was weak.

“She did take her medicine?” Kyra whispered. I knew what she was thinking. “Yes. Don’t worry about it. She will be fine when she wakes.”

Paublo:

I blinked when Kyra whispered, looking up and paying attention to the conversation more while wiping my lips with a napkin. "I'm sure you could check on her Kyra, maybe bring her food later or something."

Kyra:

“I might just do that. After the students go out for their game maybe,” I said with a smile at Paublo. The other teachers may have used his idea, but I knew it had come from him. I sipped orange juice and started into my breakfast. Jonah looked tired. More tired than I could remember ever seeing him.

Paublo:

I grinned at Kyra, a silent thank you for her acknowledgement. I was rather overlooked at this point. Each of the teachers was skilled and while my size gave them all pause my skills weren't good enough to compete in any area for them beyond strength. But my team had never once looked away from me, and it was something that I adored.

Kyra:

After breakfast Paublo and I went to get the students ready for their game and Jonah left us to go back to his own room. It was another hour before I was able to get to Kira’s room with two parfaits in hand. I knocked and stood back waiting for her to answer, hoping she wasn’t still sleeping.

The knocking woke me, and with the large shirt falling off one shoulder I went to the door and opened it. I took one look at Kyra and turned around to go flop back onto the bed with my legs dangling over the edge. Working the drugs fully out of my system had been harder than I thought. Adrenaline was a hell of a thing as it suppressed the dose, but that only made the effects linger for longer. Or so I told myself.

In truth I didn't want to be awake, didn't want to think about the entire trip and the needles of emotions that lanced through me. Kyra would be distraction enough I felt that I finally rolled over and settled into a criss-crossed sitting position. I blinked up at her then wordlessly held my hands out for my treat.

Kyra:

I raised my eyebrows at her but I handed her the parfait anyway. I sat down on her bed without asking and started into my own. “Jonah said y ’all had a busy trip,” I said, looking her over. Like Jonah, she looked more worn out than usual. I was curious as to what had gone on. It occurred to me now that something might have happened between the two.

"Mmhmm. We had to assume a different identity, and make a mans death look like a suicide even while he was surrounded by guards. Marie made it into a test for us." I yawned before digging into my food. "Had a late night the final night. More strenuous than I was expecting it to be. But I haven't exactly done that sort of thing much."

Kyra:

“What did you have to do?” I asked. There wasn’t much that Kira hadn’t done, at least not in this field. The job should have been a piece of cake for Jonah and Kira together. It made me wonder if whatever it was wasn’t exactly job related…

"Clean up two bodies worth of blood, dissolve four bodies, and do it all without leaving a trace in our hotel room." I took a big spoonful of parfait after saying that and looking up at her. I raised an eyebrow at the expression on her face. After a few seconds I snorted and shook my head at what I assumed she'd been thinking.

Kyra:

I blushed a little at her reaction and wrinkled my nose at her description.  “That must have been unpleasant.” I looked down at my yogurt not knowing what to say now after she had caught the look on her face.  “Sorry, I just thought with the two of you alone…” I stirred my cup around.

"Our cover was a pair on their honeymoon. We had to be close and seem like we were madly in love for the whole trip." I picked at my parfait for a moment. Eventually I let out a long disgruntled sigh. "Since I know you'll want some more interesting news. We kissed."

Kyra:

“Oh?” My eyebrows arched up. So, I hadn’t been entirely wrong in thinking something had happened between them. “How do you feel about that?” I asked, reminded of our conversation before when she told me about her other experiences… While it seemed Marie was behind this too, it was different because it was Jonah. Kira and Jonah were close, that much was clear.

Kira:

I shrugged and took another bite to buy some time. "I don't feel much of anything about it. It was just a kiss. My first kiss I guess. But..." Shrugging again I tilted my head back to look at the ceiling while keeping the spoon in my mouth. "It was nice I suppose. He's decent but he's also had practice." I could feel the ghost feelings of his lips on mine for a moment and I looked at her with a slight tilt of my head. "But it was part of the cover."

Kyra:

I watched her carefully. “it was your first kiss?” I guess she hadn’t done that before with the people Marie gave her to. At least it was with someone she was more comfortable with this time. I frowned. “Was it just part of the cover?” I asked. It would have surprised me if Jonah had never tried anything on her. For those who were close to the two, it was plain that he wanted her, even if he treated her poorly at times. I shifted on the bed. It wasn’t the most pleasant thought thinking about my cousin being with Jonah. After all, I had watched him kill his first girlfriend right in front of me.

"It was. I believe for any kind of kiss." I finished the last of my parfait before flopping back on the bed and staring up at the ceiling. "Part of the cover..." I murmured softly. "I started it...Jonah didn't want to force me into anything I wasn't comfortable with. So I kissed him to make the cover more convincing." I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath.

"Is it bad if one feels sick for...doing things like that? At first it was all fine. But after a while..." I trailed off and gestured helplessly.

Kyra:

I frowned. “You didn’t want to?” I asked. It was the only reason I could figure that she would feel bad. But it wasn’t like Jonah to force himself on her. He may have been manipulative, but not forceful. “Or… you felt guilty?” I tilted my head. Maybe she did have feelings for him.

I waved a hand while keeping my eyes closed. "The last one." I felt the familiar rise of nausea as I thought back to the whole test we'd been placed into. Sitting up I puffed out a breath. I didn't want to think about it anymore. "Want to help me stretch while we talk? I've been sleeping long enough and should hit the gym."

Kyra:

“Uh, yes.” I said but sat still on the bed. “But there’s actually something I should tell you before we go.” I glanced up at her door. I had kicked it closed but there was still a sliver of light around the rim. I tossed my cup in the trash and went to fully close the door.

“Your parents want to talk with you.” I said quietly when I returned. “Krissy wanted me to give you this number, in case you wanted to talk with them too.” I pulled a scrap of paper from my pocket and held it out to her.

While she was closing the door I threw away my cup and spoon. Stretching up towards the ceiling while all my muscles burned pleasantly I almost didn't catch what she said at first. But as I settled back onto my heels I blinked at the paper she held out. "They want to talk with me?" I repeated her words as I took it gingerly and stared at the number.

Kyra:

“Yes. They want to get to know their daughter,” I said with a soft smile. IT was hard not to push the issue. I had to remind myself that it was her decision. My dad told me that I couldn’t pressure her. Andrew had agreed.

I slowly brought the paper close to my chest as I looked at her. "I'll call them..." I promised softly, a well of emotions bubbling through me. They wanted to know me. It was the perfect distraction to my earlier thoughts. "After I work out." Carefully setting the paper down on my bed I nodded once then began to undress even with her in the room. I went through my clothes and dressed again in something more suitable to work out.

Kyra:

I smiled at her agreement and nodded. I was already dressed to go to the gym. It was the sort of attire we all wore here. While we worked out and stretched I informed her of everything that had happened here in the last few days. It was different having to instruct young students, but I enjoyed it.