his hair. Thinking back to it sent chills up his spine. The look the man’s eyes had been disappointed and that made a lump in his throat rise.
Rubbing his eyes, he looked around the room. It was still dark, but the moons were higher. Getting out of the chair, he tucked the blankets tighter around Avian before returning the chair to its original position at the table. Then, he went back into his room and thumped down on the bed, lying diagonally across it. The room was pleasantly warm and it made him yawn. Looking at the open door over his shoulder, he closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.
~*~
Narrie woke him up with a hard shove, ending with him landing on the floor in a heap with his legs over his head.
“Oi! That hurt.” Rubbing the quickly forming knot on his head, he yawned. He looked up between his feet at the dark-haired woman.
She stood with her hands on her hips. “It’s 6:25. You have twenty minutes to get ready or we’re eating without you.” With that, she lightly nudged him in the ribs with her foot before leaving him alone.
Stretching from his position on the floor, he considered last night. Avian had been so kind to offer to get him a new cello. He hadn’t even done anything, but she acted like he’d always been there.
He got to his feet and went into the bathroom to splash some water on his face. His eyes drifted to the shower, however. That looks tempting…
In a quarter hour, he was showered and wearing a grey cashmere sweater that hung off one shoulder and tight, black jeans that fit him well but left enough room to move. His shoes had been substituted with black flat things, definitely woman shoes. Taking them in hand, he marched into the other room and slammed them onto the breakfast table.
“What’s the big idea?”
“Huh?” Avian and Narrie both looked up at him like he was crazy.
Mathieu motioned to his clothes and then the shoes. “These are girls’ clothing! Is this a joke?”
Avian grinned. “No, it isn’t. You were chosen because you are so feminine, giving you a deceptive edge. Wearing girls’ clothes makes you seem like a very flat-chested girl, which works well.”
He didn’t get it.
Narrie rolled her eyes. “Let me explain. You look like a girl naturally. Wearing girls’ clothes enhances that. That means you can go anywhere with her and people will assume you’re a girl. You’ll never be told you can’t follow her somewhere, meaning no one can get the drop on her.”
“I don’t look like a girl…” His lip stuck out in a small pout.
Avian cleared her throat. “I think they look lovely on you. Embrace it. You don’t get a choice.”
Huffing, he dropped into a chair and crossed his arms. He was not wearing the stupid shoes.
Smirking, Avian tapped the table, flicking her eyes between him and the shoes.
“I won’t do it!” He said indignantly.
“We burned your other ones…”
“What?!” He practically shrieked. “Not. Cool.”
Narrie wheeled in a cart of food. “Breakfast.” She handed out the plates: egg whites, bacon, and a pancake for Avian, sausages and waffles for him. The waffles were smothered in a local tangy fruit for him. Narrie had a simple bowl of oatmeal with berries.
The shoe dilemma quickly forgotten, he sniffed at it. “This smells so good.” Reaching for his silverware, he found it conspicuously gone. “Uh…?”
“Shoes first.” Avian said, dangling his silverware just out of his reach.
Mathieu’s eyes flicked between the food and the shoes. Damn it. I won’t wear them. But that food…screw it. Huffing, he took the flats and slid them on. Avian handed over the silverware and he dug into the waffle.
A groan of pleasure at the delicious, melt in your mouth, waffles rose in his throat. It was beyond anything he’d ever tasted. This was the life… The girls giggled at him and his reaction to the food. It amused them how the things they took for granted were so appreciated by him. It didn’t take him long to demolish the food that had been given to him. Drinking down his glass of milk, he sat back, looking at his feet. His feet fit snugly into the narrow shoes, but he wrinkled his nose.
He could see the strategic benefit of wearing girls’ clothes, but he didn’t have to approve of it. Pouting, he crossed his arms over his chest.
Avian yawned and got up. “Let’s go, Mathieu. Time for class.” She grinned