Free Amber Frost by Suzi Davis Page B

full table. They all wore matching expressions of disapproval; whether it was her fault or not, my mother had made a scene and they certainly wouldn’t want to be associated with it. It should keep Clarke away until at least after the speeches and dinner were through. A smile tugged at my lips as I watched my parents leave.
    “Are you pleased with the turn of events?” Sebastian asked from beside me.
    “It certainly has made for a more interesting evening,” I answered, somewhat carefully. I looked quickly at the Jensons but they were whispering together quietly, giving Sebastian and I some privacy. “You shouldn’t have said that to my mother though, it was rude,” I scolded.
    “She didn’t hear me,” he dismissed with a cheeky grin. “Besides, she was being rude to you. And she was wrong – you look exquisite tonight. Your beauty outshines all else.” I shrugged uncomfortably. It wasn’t the type of compliment I was used to – the words sounded the same but the genuine, intense emotions behind them were unfamiliar.
    “She was just trying to look out for me. She likes me to look my best, she’s proud of me, in her own way.”
    “You shouldn’t make excuses for her, especially ones you don’t believe yourself,” Sebastian quietly replied. I tried to glare at him but there was no real anger behind the look. He just stared back at me with his soft, dark gray eyes. I looked away, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I watched the waiters circulating around the room as they began to serve the appetizers. Each moved confidently, with obvious years of experience.
    “So what’s the story behind your tattoo?” I asked, changing the subject.
    “What do you mean?” He was frowning slightly as if he didn’t like the new direction our conversation had taken. I was happy for the attention to be off of myself.
    “What does it mean? How long have you had it for? Does the school know you have it? And why don’t you get in trouble for having a tattoo, or for your earrings, or the way you wear your uniform?” The questions tumbled from my lips, gaining momentum after I got the first one out. He appeared to be amused by my sudden enthusiastic interrogation.
    “I don’t want any trouble, so there isn’t any,” he answered cryptically. He watched my reaction curiously. “And my tattoos… I’ve had them for a very long time. I’m sure each has a different meaning but it’s very hard to explain…”
    “They’re personal?” I guessed, trying to follow what he was saying. I often found myself struggling to decipher his words, grasping for meaning in his convoluted statements.
    “I think so.” His eyes clouded over as he became lost in thought.
    We sat in silence for a while. Conversations around the room were beginning to die down as the first speaker approached the podium. I turned my attention to the small stage, mentally preparing myself to feign rapt attention and interest in the boring speeches that would run through the course of our meal. I was in for a pleasant surprise. Once the first speech began, Sebastian snapped out of his introspection. He leant closer to me to add his own running commentary to the speeches in his low, musical voice. His thoughts were both entertaining and intriguing and I soon found myself pulled into various whispered debates and discussions with my strange new friend. The evening flew by and before I knew it, the last speaker was being applauded as our plates were cleared and the musicians began to set up on the side of the dance floor.
    “What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked, a touch of concern to his lilting voice.
    “Nothing,” I answered, suppressing a sigh.
    “You’re really not as good a liar as you seem to think you are.”
    “Who says I’m lying?” Sebastian silently arched a brow at me. I hesitated, debating on whether to speak truthfully or not. “My parents will be back soon. And Clarke’s making his way over here now. I’ll have to go speak with his