Donovan leaned against his kitchen counter, staring into his apartment, coffee mug in hand. Part of him knew he could play something, music, podcast, news to disperse the quiet but he didn't. None of those would be able to fill the emptiness of the apartment that seemed to grow a little more day by day.

Checking out Jefferson Private High School had been done and completed. The mold was real, and the reason for the switch in schools was legitimate. The situation with Miguel Alvarez had been dealt with. No problem there. The school alarm had gone off but it was only a test. No issues there.

The little sparks of interest in Donovan's life had flared and snuffed out quickly. He knew, he knew that he should be thankful. Life was better when it was boring. When there were no complications. Life was better. For Link, it was better that way.

Even Carter was turning out to be less of an issue than he first worried about. Almost a full week and she hadn't connected the dots between Link and the President. Donovan wouldn't let his guard down but he felt a little more stable that she might not see it.

But if she did... Donovan didn't feel completely certain what her reaction would be. A week with this girl and he felt as confused about her as he did in the beginning. Did she show signs of being a kind and caring person? Yes. Did she also show herself to be unpredictable, reactionary, and defensive? Yes. The combination of the two meant Donovan couldn't definitively conclude whether she was a threat to Link or not.

Would she share the information, if she knew? Again, he didn't know. She kept people at bay but she also relished having knowledge others didn't and pointing out that she had knowledge they didn't. Her intellect was one of many weapons in her arsenal.

Would she sell it? Donovan didn't know. Her clothes said she could use it. Her attitude said she didn't want it. That didn't mean it couldn't be a point of temptation for her if it was placed in her path. After all, it couldn't be easy was living around others who had so much more than you.

Donovan sipped his coffee which was cooler than he remembered.

He wished she made more sense. He wished she didn't aggravate him with how little he felt he knew about her, even after a week of knowing her.

He wished he could delete the image of her peering down at him and Link as they huddled on the floor.

He should have known it was a test. Of course, the school was running a drill. But he hadn't thought of that. He wanted action, something to make his blood race. Instead, he wound up feeling like an idiot sitting on the floor. Her smile... It had been both a smirk, teasing, and amused. It was infuriating. This girl shouldn't have the ability to make him feel stupid. Not when Donovan had years of dealing with girls. Why should she be the only anomaly?

The coffee Donovan drank was simply cold and he checked the time. Seeing how late it was, he set down his mug, grabbed his bag, and left his apartment. He didn't try to think about how long he'd stood there thinking about someone he should not be spending so much time thinking of.

But he was doing his job. Carter posed a threat, in the sense she was someone who could possibly guess Link's parentage, that meant analyzing her was necessary for his work.

After collecting Link, they headed to the metro. With needing to be at the Museum of American History, decided public transportation would be better than private. They found two open spots and sat though Donovan gave up his position when an older woman entered the metro. Taking hold of the overhead handhold, Donovan placed himself almost directly in front of Link, eyeing the quickly filling car. Though he knew after six years an attack out of the blue was the least likely thing to happen, Donovan still stuck to his job.

As he gazed over the faces of the traveling occupants, his eyes locked with another set. The girl looked about in her early twenties, with pretty features and an outfit that said she was an employee rather than a college student. She smiled a little at Donovan, in a way that told him she thought he was attractive.

In that moment, Donovan felt something that was so rare, he felt seen as Donovan Keller the twenty-two-year-old rather than Donovan high school student. Letting himself have the small moment of feeling like who he really was, he returned the smile.

The train swayed and the girl's eyes snagged on something on Donovan's chest. Instantly, he knew what it was: the school badge on his chest. The thing that marked him as a teenager. A high school boy. Someone not worth her attention. The girl's smile shifted to something more reserved and embarrassed. Donovan looked away and reminding himself that this was his life.

The train came to a stop at their station and Donovan tugged on Link's sleeve. They exited the train, Donovan never glancing back at the girl again.

They climbed the stairs, walking into the early spring air. Donovan guided them toward the National Museum of American History. Across the front steps was a large crowd of students most cloistered together for companionship as well as warmth. Rounding the mass, Donovan spotted Carter.

With her eyes closed, she was lying across three steps, hands shoved into the pockets of her coat. Despite in impractical way in which she was resting, she didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable. In fact, she seemed to savor the strangeness of the position as if thumbing her nose at the rest of the world. When they approached her, a smirk cut across her lips.

"You do realize that if you keep hanging out with me people will assume we are friends," she said, without opening her eyes.

Against his better nature, a flicker of emotion escaped Donovan and appeared on his face. Carter's eyes were closed and yet she had picked the two of them out. If he had to guess it was based on their walk, though it seemed far-fetched even for her. But then again this girl kept annoyingly surprising him.

"The thought did cross my mind, yes," Link said, as he sat down beside her. "How did you-"

"You always smell like soap and Donovan wears a subtle cologne," she said as if memorizing this was a small matter.

Donovan took a seat next to Link, that made more sense. With the rush of traffic and the noise from the students, picking out two sets of footsteps would have been difficult.

"How are you lying like that? It looks uncomfortable," Link said.

"This is nothing. Try sleeping on a rock ledge."

"Favorite pass time?" Link asked.

"My father's idea of a fun outing. Before the rock ledge, there was a twelve-mile hike with a pack that weighed as much as me. Let's just say I've learned to adjust to uncomfortable situations."

Donovan felt memories bloom in his mind. It felt strange to feel as if he shared more in common with this girl than he thought. Though having a NAVY seal for a father, Donovan should have expected it.

Mr. Philips stepped before the group, a clipboard in hand, and put his memories of his brothers, father, and him away.

"Everyone should be here now. I'm going to take role and then we will move inside," their history teacher said.

He started listing off names and receiving shouts of 'here' in response.

"Lucas Benton?"

"Here," a smug voice said.

Carter grimaced and Donovan caught the look.

"I hate when our classes are combined," she said.

Donovan vaguely wondered what conflict Carter had with Lucas. He couldn't imagine it was much different than the beef she seemed to have with everyone in the school.

"Link Evans?"

He raised his hand. "Here."

Mr. Philips continued down the role, talking over the whispered conversations.

"Maddy Hooper?"

"Here," a feminine voice said.

Link looked around, searching for the source of the voice. Donovan looked over as well. This girl had been the source of conversation since Carter had forced Link into helping her. But Donovan had since this before, Link developed a strong crush, tried to do something about it, and the result being hurt and rejection. Donovan feared for the outcome of his new attachment.

"Donovan Keller?"

His name being called broke him from his thoughts.

"Here," he said.

"Did you feel that?" Carter asked.

Donovan waited for Carter to continue, knowing now she baited with a question before reeling in with an observation.

"Feel what?" Link asked.

"Fifty sets of female eyes shifting to where we are sitting," Carter said.

Link started to laugh as he glanced around, but stopped. The reaction had Donovan looking around as well. Though it wasn't surprising that girls would be looking at him, Donovan found it unnerving that Carter could sense it without looking. A few of the girls met Donovan's gaze and one even waved at him. He didn't react. But he did feel a sinking in his stomach.

"How could you possibly know that?" Link asked Carter, astonished. "You weren't even looking."

Carter smirked.

"Because he's the new hot guy," she said. "And we are in open territory. I predict five seconds after the role is finished some girl will come say hi. They will also leave blushing when Donovan gives them his signature blank stare."

Link grinned and Donovan could tell he was almost laughing. He didn't find it all that funny, he'd be the one dealing with the girl, not Link. At this point, Donovan didn't understand it. It had been a week of ignoring all attempts, word would have gone around. Why didn't they give up?

"Carter Owens?"

"Present in body, but not in mind or spirit," she said.

"Understood," Mr. Philips said, before moving onto the next name.

Donovan studied Carter, eyeing her position, her reply. Even with how isolated she was from the rest of the students, her actions demanded that they not forget that she existed. Why wouldn't this girl make sense?

The final 'here' was said and Mr. Philips called everyone's attention.

"All right," he said. "We are going to take a tour through the museum. Stay with the group. If you are found wandering off, you immediately get an F on your essay. Is that understood?"

Heads bobbed and a few students muttered assent. Mr. Philip studied the group of students for a second longer than nodded.

"Okay. Let's go. Stay together."

He lead the way up to the museum. Carter stood and carelessly brushed herself off. The girl who had waved at Donovan sauntered over and placed herself right beside him.

"Hey, I'm not sure we've met," she said, in a bright voice. "I would love to get to know you. Walk with me?"

When she hooked her arm through Donovan's, he tensed his body instantly rejecting the unwanted physical contact. Donovan kept himself from jerking out of the girl's hold, not wanting to hurt her. Carter laughed and the girl shot her a glare. Despite her appearance, the girl's grip was strong and Donovan walked with her as he formulated a plan to get rid of her.

"I'm April," the girl said as they entered.

Donovan didn't care what this girl's name was, she was invading his personal space without asking.

"So what made you come to Hamilton Prep?" April asked her long-nailed fingers like a vice around Donovan's bicep.

Knowing that nonanswers weren't going to dissuade this girl, Donovan spun on her. Startled, her grip lessened but she still didn't let go completely. Donovan moved in close and she swallowed, all her composure gone.

"Listen, April," Donovan said, voice low. "It would never work out. You would be too clingy and I would resent you for trying to make this a relationship that everyone envied. I would eventually go looking for affection elsewhere and you would be left looking pathetic. I'm guessing this is a situation you never want to see, it's best if you walk away now."

Shocked, April let go of Donovan and he backed away. When he looked over the group, he couldn't spot Link and swore under his breath. The level of distraction from girls at this school was irritating. Finally, at the back of the group, he found Link and Carter.

"Did you kill the blonde and just stash her body in that closet?" she asked. "Because they do eventually find those things."

Realizing he had been frowning, Donovan gave her a blank look. She held up her hands.

"Just asking," she said.

*****************

"All right," the tour guide said. "Let's move to the next room."

As the group entered the next section of the museum, Carter branched off, looking over the displays. Link followed, which meant Donovan went along. Since Maddy had spoken in roll call, Link's attention had drifted over to her every minute or so. Though Donovan knew that helping her with calculus had not been a complete disaster, he knew Link's hesitation to step out again. After all, history had proven it did always go well.

"Just go talk to her," she said.

Clearly, his wandering focus hadn't gone unnoticed by her either. But Donovan didn't find this surprising, it seemed to him Carter spent more time observing others than anyone he'd ever seen.

"What are you talking about?"

The question made Carter glare, which made Donovan wonder if she was genuinely annoyed or putting it on. "You would think that a week would be long enough for you to learn to stop asking dumb questions like that."

Letting out a shaky laugh, Link pushed up his glasses.

"Right," he said.

Donovan saw how Link's gaze betrayed him, moving to Maddy again but his feet stayed firmly planted where he was. Donovan knew Carter was playing a losing game.

"It went well helping her with a couple calculus questions, didn't it?" Carter asked.

Link nodded. Helping with homework and having the courage to talk about more than math were two very different things.

"Then go talk to her," she said, waving her hand in Maddy's direction.

Link fidgeted but didn't move. Donovan wished he could join in Carter's encouragement. But he knew that it was more than talking to a girl. It was also knowing that getting close to anyone meant lying to them and a part of him still couldn't bear that.

"Link if you don't go talk to her now I will punch you," Carter said. "I should remind you, I punch like a girl. A girl trained by a Navy Seal."

Link looked at her and she raised a fist. There was nothing threatening in the gesture, it looked more like a sister trying to get her brother to do as she said. Besides, Link would know Carter's fist would never get close to him if she was honestly issuing a threat. Donovan would be there.

But still, it somehow seemed enough to get him moving. Donovan watched him go, feeling a trickle of dread and worry. Rejection was not what he needed right now. Part of Donovan wondered if he should stop Link before it could go bad.

But when Maddy smiled at Link when he stopped beside her, Donovan let out a breath. It was a good start. It could still go badly but a smile was a big positive.

"I still don't understand why you two are hanging out with me," she said, glancing over at him. "You do understand that I'm a social pariah, right?"

Completely wrapped up in his concern for Link, Donovan had almost forgotten Carter stood beside him. But not entirely, she wasn't the type of person to be easily forgotten.

"Of your own making," he said.

"What makes you say that? I could simply be a misunderstood person."

Donovan wanted to laugh but held it trapped inside. Misunderstood. That was the last word Donovan would use to describe this extremely blunt person.

"You talk too much to be misunderstood," he said.

"Then I'm an open book and people reject me for who I am."

Though it was a flippant comment, it held a grain of truth. From what Donovan had seen and a confirmation of what his mother had said, Carter's mission was to never be rejected and so she rejected first, saving herself the pain. The result being a very isolated existence.

"You're too blunt for people to get close to knowing you," he said, not willing to let her know his observations.

She studied him as if deciding whether he was someone worth her time or not. He found the scrutiny amusing since from his standpoint he would count as the only person with her time, From what he saw, no one else in the school could handle her. Donovan could, but that didn't mean he planned on it. Link liked her. She made Link feel comfortable. That was their only tie to each other.

"Well, maybe I'm too blunt, but that hasn't stopped either of you from hanging out with me. Bringing me back to the fact, that you realize associating with me will damage your prospects of friends." Carter paused. "Okay, it wouldn't affect you, but it will affect Link."

"What makes you say that?"

"Your good looks, athletic physique, and impassive, moody exterior will constantly have girls surrounding you." She crossed her arms and shrugged. "Apparently, they find it irresistible."

He knew this. The persona had been created and honed for that very reason. But the way Carter talked about it, she almost found it detestable.

"I'm moody?" he asked.

"You come off seeming moody. Which is not the same, but girls don't know that."

Donovan didn't speak right away. The facade he had built around himself for the past six years had never failed to convince people. Until Carter. The part of him impressed with her ability to see through it annoyed him. He needed to stay detached from her.

"You don't believe I'm moody?" he asked, genuinely curious what she thought she knew.

She let out a laugh. Students closest to them sent them odd looks, but she ignored them. It seemed she ignored most of what people sent her, but he wasn't convinced she didn't feel their isolation of her. She simply chose to act like she didn't feel it.

"I know you're not moody," Carter said. "You're too in control of your emotions for that. It's part of the persona you are conveying."

She knew. Donovan didn't find this surprising after spending a week around her. But he did find it unsettling.

"I convey a moody persona?"

"No, you convey a persona of being uninterested, in control and better than everyone else. Moody, to the unintelligent observer. The first part is faked, the other two are real."

Showing nothing, Donovan wondered what the repercussions of this would be. She knew it was a persona, but knew he was intelligent and observant. What could she possibly do with that knowledge? And could she honestly do anything at all?

"What makes you think that?" he asked, emotionlessly.

"I've studied people long enough to know when they are faking it, putting on false personalities. Seriously, I go to high school with politician's kids."

And with the amount of time she spent studying them, she would have years of being able to distinguish between the real and fake. That made sense. But Donovan needed to guide her away from questioning too much why he had his persona.

"Carter, did it ever occur to you that I'm a shy person and I'm not comfortable talking to people I don't know?" he asked.

"Not even for the tiniest of seconds."

The certainty in her voice spoke volumes. He wondered if there had even been a second where she wasn't tearing away at his personality, trying to find what was real and discarding what wasn't.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Shy people struggle with reading social cues and low self-esteem. You are neither of those."

"I'm quiet then."

Carter pointed at him.

"You didn't say quiet, you said shy. Which you could be, but something about it isn't real. Which leads me to believe you're hiding something."

There was a hardness in her tone that told him this was not an off-the-cuff question, secrets were a reality she lived with and hated.

"Do you have this feeling about everyone else, or just me?" he asked, needing to turn the tables on her.

"Oh everyone else is hiding something. What, is usually easy to see. With you, it's not." Carter cocked her head. "What are you hiding, Donovan Keller?"

She stared him down, her blue eyes battling his own. In that moment Donovan saw exactly what Carter was. She was like a jackhammer that was going to break down anything in its path until it hit something it could trust. At the moment, Donovan was the thing she was determined to break down and he needed to end it.

"Why do you force away friendships, Carter Owens?"

Though her face gave nothing away, he could tell that the question had hit home in the way her emotions flared in her eyes. Facing each other they were to opposing forces. Though they didn't move, Donovan sensed the tight energy of Carter gearing up to attack while he was nothing but controlled stone impenetrable to any blows she might hit him with. The tension between them grew, wrapping around them until it felt like the world might crack under its weight.

But when Link approached them and the tour guide called for the group to move on, the tension released.

"What did I miss?" he asked, looking between them.

Donovan took a step back, breaking eye contact with Carter but seeing the glimmer in her eyes that said she wouldn't forget this conversation.

"Nothing," he said. "We should move on."

Donovan guided Link to the group, needing space from the girl that could see more than anyone. A girl who might even be able to see exactly who he was.

**********************************************************************

Don't take step a closer!

Cause really you'll probably hit your head on your screen and that would just be embarrassing. For you, not me. I would end up laughing my head off.

There you have it, Carter cutting Donovan down and Donny not knowing exactly what to do with this girl.

Thoughts? Comments? Conversations?

You know how this next part goes, vote, comment, follow and leave some of your love behind, cause you know everyone needs to share a little love and get a little love! 😘