Seven
Diego
Shade felt so good against me, and I wanted to keep kissing him. If I could get away with it, I'd spend the whole night just making out.
Unfortunately, it was a school night, and I had work tomorrow. As much as I'd love to drag him to bed anyway, I couldn't afford to be half-present tomorrow. Being sleepy and blind on a busy street—or in a classroom full of eight-to nine-year-olds—was never a good idea.
With one last soft press of lips, I pulled back, our breathing harsh and the only sound in the otherwise silent room.
Pixie meowed, and I smiled as she rubbed against my leg, clearly annoyed I hadn't given her any attention for so long.
I ran my fingers through her silky fur, then turned my face toward Shade. "I have school tomorrow. "
"I should go," Shade murmured, and I knew he was right, but I didn't like it. I didn't want him to leave.
"Could you...could you stay for a while? Just until I fall asleep?"
Shade was quiet for a moment; then I felt him lean closer. His lips brushed against mine, and I exhaled softly. "I'd love to."
As fast as I could, I took the dirty dishes back to the kitchen, then went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth before returning to my bed.
I lay down, smiling when Shade joined me. No more hiding under the bed for him. He wrapped an arm around my waist, his shadows tickling my arm and face.
"Good night, Diego," he murmured softly, and I made a happy sound as I snuggled into him.
"Night, Shade."
He was gone when I woke up the next morning, which made sense because the light would've hurt him otherwise. I wished I could've woken up in his arms. Maybe I could stay over at his place on the weekend?
Yawning, I sat up as Pixie raced into the room. She had my schedule down pat, and was adamant the most important thing I could ever do right after waking up was feed her .
Because I did not want her waking me up early for breakfast, I ignored her demands after a few pets, and took my time in the bathroom.
Once I was clean and feeling a lot more refreshed, I made my way to the kitchen and finally put her favorite tuna food in her bowl.
She also had a dish of kibble she liked grazing from throughout the day, but her wet food had to be on time, or she revolted.
Once the beast was sated, I made myself some toast and coffee, and had my breakfast leaning against the counter as my thoughts drifted in that lazy way they did before you really started thinking for the day.
My phone announced the time, and I quickly washed up, then went to my bedroom to change, gathering my things and leaving Pixie in charge as I left the house.
The school I taught at was a twenty-minute drive from my apartment, but since I couldn't drive, I had to walk ten minutes to the bus stop so I could take the school bus.
I didn't really mind, especially because the school didn't charge me in any way for using the service.
It was one of the reasons I'd taken a job, even if it'd meant moving to a completely new city.
The other was how inclusive the school was.
The library had Braille textbooks, they had an interpreter for any classes with a Deaf or nonverbal student, and they taught basic ASL in all their classes.
I made it to the bus stop on time, and didn't have to wait too long before the bus rumbled in.
"Hey, Mr. Sánchez," Mila, a kid from my class, called as the bus came to a stop, and I smiled as I climbed in.
She'd started doing that two days after my first class with her, apparently deciding it was her duty to make sure I 'got on the right bus.
' The two times she'd had to take a sick day, she'd come up to me during the lunch break to make sure I hadn't struggled too much in her absence.
She was sweet, and one of the many reasons I preferred interacting with kids than people my age.
"Hey, Mila," I greeted once I was on the bus, folding up my cane and using the bars over the seats for guidance.
"I saved you a seat!"
Once I'd settled down, she spent the thirty-minute journey—we had a few more stops—regaling me with tales about the butterfly she'd spent an hour watching in her backyard.
The butterfly hadn't done much of anything except snack on some flowers, but the way Mila described it, I could almost see it in action.
She painted a beautiful picture with her words.
"You know, Mila, you're a wonderful storyteller. You could be a writer someday."
Mila paused, giving it some thought. "Like Mr. Wick? Mom reads me his stories every night. I can see them in my mind."
I chuckled, unable to help smiling at the way she described things. "Yes, just like him. Would you like that?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed instantly, then paused. "But you wouldn't be able to read it." I could almost hear the pout in her voice.
While I taught all their classes, Jess was the one who checked their homework and assignments since I couldn't, and Mila knew that.
"Eh, we'll just get someone to translate it to Braille for me," I said, and she was happy again.
When we reached the school, Mila walked with me all the way to class, keeping up a constant stream of conversation. While I knew I wasn't supposed to pick favorites, she was definitely the one.
"Go take your seat. We'll start roll call in a minute," I said, and she gave me a cheerful "Okay!" before racing off to her friends .
Hanging my bag on the chair, I folded up my cane and stuck it inside, then turned to the class.
"Hey, everyone! Good morning."
"Good morning, Mr. Sánchez!" The kids greeted me as one, making my smile widen.
"Let's do a check. Then we'll do a roll call. Are your desks lined up?"
"Yes!"
"Is there anything on the floor around you? If there is, can you pick it up, and throw it away if it's trash?"
"Yes!"
This was something I'd started doing after my third time tripping over a wayward piece of stationery, and it kept both me and the kids safe. It was also a good way to start the daily routine and switch the kids into a 'we're in school' mindset. Win-win, really.
"All right, let's start the roll call. Adam?"
"Here!"
Shade
Leaving a soft, sleeping Diego behind had to be the hardest thing I'd ever done. Or maybe it was having to wait until sunset to see him again.
I could go to his shadow and watch him teach his class from there, but I didn't want to be creepy, and I felt like that was toeing the line since we hadn't discussed it yet. Maybe I could ask him permission to do it this evening?
A knock at my door pulled my attention, and I blinked. How had I not noticed them when they opened the outer door? Was I really that unaware when I was thinking about Diego ?
"Come in!"
Liam poked his head inside, grinning when he 'spotted' me.
He couldn't actually see me; no one could.
All they saw was a shadowy, human-shaped person.
They couldn't see the color of my eyes or my skin, because I had none.
It was all black, so I could hide away perfectly in any shadow.
I wondered if there was a light-being out there somewhere, someone who needed light to survive like I needed the dark.
I couldn't decide which one of us would have it easier.
"Hey, Shade! Are you busy?"
"Not at all. What's up?"
"Well, I've been talking to the headmaster about how you could take part in the wedding," he started, and I blinked. Shit. I'd forgotten all about his impending wedding. Was I a shitty friend? "And he thinks he could set up a portal-type thing so you can watch everything that happens from here."
"Oh, that would be nice!"
Liam grinned, nodding rapidly. "Right? I wish you could be there, but this is the next best thing."
"It is. And you can come see me after so I can give you both big hugs," I said, making him laugh.
"For sure! Haruto wanted to come with me to tell you, but Jacinta has him trapped while he decides on the menu," Liam said, then snorted.
"And I mean literally trapped. Haruto kept dodging them, so he's now standing there with Jacinta's tentacles wrapped around his legs until he tells them everything they need to know. "
I snickered, imagining Haruto in the clutches of the cecaelia who ruled over the Sanctuary kitchen with an iron fist—iron tentacles ?
"Oh! I also wanted to give you this." Liam dug into his pockets, then pulled out a small, rectangular something and held it out to me.
I took it from him, eyeing the device. It had a small screen on top, a big button surrounded by four smaller buttons—two on each side—and ten buttons underneath numbered one to nine, and then a zero at the bottom.
Even though I'd never used one, I knew what it was. A cell phone. A very old model with no light on the screen, which meant it was something I could use.
"I found it on eBay, and Draven tinkered with it a little to make sure it'll work. I thought you could use it to talk to Diego while he's out. I added his number in the contacts."
Draven was a dwarf, and an expert at mixing human technology with magic. He also loved taking care of the people at the Sanctuary, even if he never acted like it.
I stared at the phone, then pressed a few buttons, going to the contacts. Everyone in the Sanctuary seemed to be listed there, but at the top was Diego's name with a star beside it.
"Uh, do you like it?"
Instead of replying, I enveloped Liam in a tight hug, my shadows sliding over him as my joy bubbled over. I could talk to Diego now, even during the day. Even when he wasn't right in front of me.
"Thank you," I said as I stepped back, and Liam shook off the stunned look on his face to give me a smile.
"You're welcome. I just remembered how much I missed Haruto when we first started dating, and I thought I could help."
I imagined it wasn't as easy to find this phone as he'd said, since the phones today seemed to be all screen and no buttons. Liam had still put in the effort even while he was already busy running his newly purchased shop and planning his wedding.
"You're a great friend."
Liam looked surprised at my claim, though I had no idea why. He shrugged, looking somewhat embarrassed. "You and Diego are my friends. I just want you both to be happy."
"Thank you. I will truly cherish this gift," I promised, holding the phone to my chest.
When I first moved here, phones couldn't be used in the Sanctuary at all.
But then Draven came up with this half magic, half tech device that let us get a signal from the cell tower nearest to the place we're 'anchored' in, and made it possible to use phones.
Since I didn't have anyone I knew outside of the Sanctuary, I never tried to find a phone that could work for me.
I'd forgotten models like these even existed, but Liam had clearly remembered.
Liam smiled, then waved toward the phone. "Diego has his lunch break in twenty minutes. Call him then. He'll be happy."
I nodded quickly, and Liam left, probably off to rescue his mate from Jacinta.
I sat down on the ground with the phone in my hands, counting down the minutes until I could call Diego. Would he be as excited as I felt?