Lunch flew by and Mina was dismayed to find that Jared was in two more of her classes. How had he managed it, when Nan couldn’t even get her schedule to follow Mina’s? Thankfully, he didn’t try to start any more conversations with her. Maybe it was because Mina kept glaring at him and holding up her textbook like it was the Great Wall of China.
It was during the last period of the day, right before the bell rang, that he finally spoke up again.
“You didn’t bring it, did you?” he asked in a whisper.
“Bring what?” Mina kept her eyes glued to the sentence she was reading, even though she had already read it ten times. She had been unable to study since he sat down.
“You know what. Tell me you brought it.” He actually looked a little panicked that she might not have it with her.
“No, I didn’t.” Mina glared at him. “I was almost attacked and killed because I had it. I’m not going to carry it around with me everywhere. I wouldn’t be safe.”
Jared’s face became stiff and his jaw clenched in anger. “You’re not safe without it.”
“What do you care? I’m not supposed to live past the end of the week, remember? Your exact words.” Thankfully the bell rang and Mina stood up and stomped out of the classroom, leaving an opened-mouth Jared in her wake. He called her name, but she ignored him.
She made a beeline for her locker and was actually hoping that Brody had forgiven her and was waiting by it; thankfully, he was. Mina grinned as he reached over to grab her bag from her. A girl could really get used to this, she thought. She was preoccupied on the drive home that she didn’t even notice when Brody drove right to her front door.
“How did know where I live?” she asked quietly.
Brody nodded toward the Golden Palace and the mural of articles plastered with Mina’s face, the Wongs’ way of advertising that they rented to the town hero. “I did my own investigation. So you live in a Chinese restaurant?” Brody asked, his cheeks dimpling with uncontained mirth.
Mina’s own cheeks burned with embarrassment. “No, I live above a Chinese restaurant. Big difference, believe me.” She laughed hesitantly at her own lame joke.
Brody leaned away from the car, hands in his pockets. “Either way, I’m jealous. I love Chinese food.”
“You should try their pot stickers sometime. They are to die for,” Mina answered casually.
“Sounds good. It’s a date then.” He walked to the Golden Palace, opened the door and motioned for her to go in.
“I didn’t ask… er, I wasn’t implying that we should.” She stumbled on her words.
Brody smiled. “I know you didn’t. I did. I’m taking you out on a date. A real date, not just drive-thru burgers.”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” Mina felt as if her world was collapsing in on her. Could this be real? Or some impossible fairy tale dreamt up by the Story? Either way, she didn’t want it to end.
Brody paused at the entrance to the Golden Palace to study the crudely placed pictures and articles about Mina taped to the glass. He looked between the paper clippings, to Mina and back. “You know, those pictures don’t do you justice.”
Mina pushed him further into the restaurant and away from the newspaper mural. Mrs. Wong waved excitedly and motioned for them to take a seat. Mina didn’t know what to do with her hands so she kept fidgeting with the chopsticks on the table. By the time Mrs. Wong brought them over some ice waters, Mina’s nerves were so taut that she knocked over her ice water onto the table, some spilling into Brody’s lap.
“I’m so sorry!” Mina began pulling napkins out of the dented holder and flung them at Brody. She was so distressed that she accidentally pulled the casing off of the napkin holder, which flew across the floor and spun to stop by a wide-eyed Mrs. Wong.
Brody jumped up and began dabbing calmly at his thighs. When the table no longer looked like Niagara Falls, he excused himself to go clean up in the bathroom, laughing the whole way.
Mina groaned and pounded her forehead against the table repeatedly.
Mrs. Wong stormed up to the table as soon as Brody left, to voice her opinion. “OOOHHH, he a hottie that one. Meehna you keep that one for sure, bring him by more often! I will get lots of business.”
Mina tried to look at Mrs. Wong but a piece of napkin from the wet table was stuck to Mina’s forehead, obscuring her view. “You have got to be kidding. I doubt he will ever be seen in public with me again. I’m a walking, talking catastrophe.”
Mrs. Wong snatched the napkin from Mina’s forehead and started waving it in the air at her while she lectured Mina. “You leesten to me. He nice boy, will forgive real quick with kissy.” Mrs. Wong raised her eyebrows and bobbed her head at Mina encouragingly.
Mina groaned and pounded her head against the table again. When Brody came back, they ordered and sat silently while Mrs. Wong kept filling their bowls with all-you-can-eat pot stickers.
“You’re right, these are to die for.” Brody took another bite. “But does she always hover like this?” Brody cocked his head to a smiling Mrs. Wong, who continued to make smooching faces whenever he turned his back.
“Um, no. I think they changed the dose on her meds,” Mina lied, trying desperately not to look in Mrs. Wong’s direction. Pretty soon her husband came out in his white apron and joined in the charade of advice. His wife must have told him about Mina’s embarrassing spectacle because he shook his head in his wife's direction and mimed dropping a napkin on the floor. Both of them were miming different actions, perhaps trying to get Mina to crack.
Mina kept shaking her head "no" in their direction. When Brody saw Mina’s head shake and looked over his shoulder, the couple finally dropped their act and began furiously cleaning the counters. As soon as he turned back they went at it again.
“You ready to get out of here?” Mina asked desperately, looking over Brody’s shoulder.
Brody threw some money on the table while Mina stared daggers at the laughing couple, and they escaped into the crisp afternoon air.
They started walking the different districts with no particular destination in mind. Mina knew they needed to discuss what happened the other night, but she wasn’t sure she was ready. She found the Grimoire, but she didn’t know how Jared or the man with the wolf tattoo figured in, and she was running out of ideas. But she didn’t know if she could trust Brody.
As if reading her mind, Brody spoke up. “You know you can talk to me, right? I’m here for you.”
Mina kicked a stray piece of rock with her shoe. “How can I, when I barely know you?”
“I’m trying to amend that,” he said softly. He brought his hand down and cupped her small hand in his. Mina tried to pull away but he held on. “I’m sorry that I pressured you into going to the police after what happened, but you have to understand I was scared for you. I wanted to protect you.”
Mina shook her head, but Brody continued. “You’re right, I don’t know what’s going on. But I want to help you. I want to be there for you.”
“I can’t talk about it. I’m not ready to talk about it. I’m still trying to figure things out. But when I know more, when I’m ready, I’ll tell you.” It was the most she could promise.
