As Kai took the handkerchief from the girl, their hands touched briefly, and he felt a spark of surprise.
The girl's hands were soft and gentle, a stark contrast to the rough, calloused hands he was used to.
He looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers, and for a moment, he felt like he was drowning in their depths.
The girl's eyes were like Wren's, but they weren't the same.
Wren's eyes were like a stormy sea, unpredictable and wild. This girl's eyes were calm and soothing, like a still pond.
As the girl helped him clean his nosebleed, Kai couldn't help but notice the way her hair fell in soft waves down her back.
It was a dark brown color, almost black, and it seemed to shine in the dim light of the bus. He felt a pang of curiosity, wondering what her story was, what had brought her to this place.
The girl's hands moved gently over his face, wiping away the blood, and Kai felt a sense of calm wash over him.
It was a strange feeling, one he wasn't used to. He was always in control, always the one in charge.
But with this girl, he felt...different.
As he looked at her, he couldn't help but think of Wren again.
Wren was a force of nature, a whirlwind of energy and passion.
This girl was...soft. Gentle. Kai's nosebleed seemed to slow, and he felt a sense of wonder at the girl's touch.
She was like a balm to his frazzled nerves, a soothing presence that seemed to calm the storm inside him.
The girl finished cleaning his nosebleed, and Kai took a deep breath, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her.
"Thanks," he said, his voice a little softer than usual.
The girl smiled, and Kai's heart skipped a beat.
She was beautiful, in a quiet, understated way.
And for a moment, he forgot all about Wren.
"I am Lavinia by the way." The girl said, as she sat down back at her seat.
Kai nodded having no intention of introducing himself.
He did want to go closer to her, as he felt it was very dangerous too, she was danger he didn't want exploring.
Only one person had him feel vulnerable, and that was Wren.
And he planned on keeping it that way, even if he didn't like it he didn't want more weakness.
Lavinia on the other hand, didn't faze at Kai lack of attitude instead she went back to her book engrossed completely in it.
The words seemed to dance on the page as she read, her eyes moving swiftly over the lines.
She was a quiet and reserved person who kept to herself, and found joy in solitude. The silence was comforting, a shield that protected her from the world.
She was surprised by her action earlier, as she wasn't someone who meddled in someone's affairs, although she was kind she was naive.
But seeing Kai desperate, and helpless, she felt a pang of sympathy ignite in her.
And anyone who made her feel so, were danger and she didn't want danger around her.
She had grown up in harsh conditions, building her up to be ruthless towards emotions.
While she may appear soft and gentle, she was actually cold and indifferent at heart. Her eyes seemed to hold a depth, a complexity that was hard to decipher.
She could see a cat drowning and do nothing about it. She could see her brother in desperate need of his medication and still do nothing about it.
It wasn't that she didn't help, she didn't feel like it.
But today, after ten years of living she helped someone, it was a miracle.
Yes, she was ten, a year older than all the nova class students, a secret she failed to tell anyone.
And she liked to keep it that way, been older she knew she had to be more mature.
Meanwhile, the bus came to a halt, and staring at the surroundings, everyone recognized it as harbour.
The sound of seagulls filled the air, and the smell of saltwater wafted through the windows.
"Alright kids, get down in pairs and get to the boat."
The driver announced, opening the bus gates.
The children nodded, getting down with their seat partners.
Lavinia walked out, with Kai trailing behind with slow strides.
His long legs seemed to struggle to keep up with Lavinia's quick pace.
"Stop walking like you got no bones mister, you would keep us waiting."
Lavinia turned to reprimand Kai for been so slow.
Her voice was firm, but not unkind. She didn't know of Kai rumors in the academy, and didn't know of his ruthlessness making her speak to Kai in such manner.
And she seemed like she didn't want to find out. Her eyes seemed to challenge Kai, daring him to respond.
For a moment, it seemed like he might react badly to her words, but then something shifted in his expression.
He looked down, his eyes dropping to the floor, and started walking again, his movements slow and deliberate.
The other students gasped in shock, their eyes wide with surprise.
They knew Kai's reputation, knew that he wasn't someone to be trifled with. And yet, here he was, walking behind Lavinia like an obedient puppy.
It was a surreal sight, and one that left many of them wondering what was going on.
Lavinia, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed by the reaction she had gotten.
She turned back to Kai, her eyes still flashing with annoyance, and gestured for him to keep moving. "Come on, let's go," she said, her voice firm. "We don't want to be late."
As they walked towards the boat, the other students couldn't help but stare.
They were all curious about Lavinia, about who she was and how she had managed to get under Kai's skin.
Some of them whispered to each other, their voices barely audible over the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
Kai, meanwhile, kept his head down, his eyes fixed on the ground.
He didn't seem to be paying attention to the other students, didn't seem to be aware of the whispers and stares.
But deep down, he was seething. He didn't like being told what to do, didn't like being treated like a child.
And yet, there was something about Lavinia's words that had struck a chord with him.
Maybe it was the way she had spoken to him, like he was a person rather than a legend.
Whatever it was, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that he had just been played. And he didn't like it one bit.
As they reached the boat, Lavinia turned to Kai and gestured for him to go ahead of her. "You can go in first," she said, her voice softening slightly. "I'll go in afterwards." Kai nodded, his eyes still downcast, and climbed aboard the boat.