almost apologetic, then he tilted his head toward the building. "Wanna show me what professor I need to strong-arm?"
She followed him back to the overhang to grab her backpack. Only then did she realize that her panic attack was gone. She paused, mentally reviewing every function of her body. Jason met her eyes and lifted one shoulder ever-so-slightly like he knew exactly what she was thinking. What had this guy been through to make him able to help her unwind so easily?
Together, they headed to her next class. He never stood too close and, unlike most college guys, he was mostly quiet. When he did talk, his voice was soft, almost tender, like he was sorry she even had to hear it. He wasn't shy, not with the way he'd shoved his nose into her business back there, but it felt like he was nearly invisible. He stayed just behind her shoulder. Not behind her, but in that spot at the corner of her vision where the mind liked to play tricks. He also walked just out of reach, never crowding her, but also never leaving her completely alone.
And he moved like a cat. Her feet splashed with each step. His simply sank into the ground. Glancing back, she expected to see that even his footprints disappeared once he was gone, but they didn't. Heavy combat treads left their mark, proving that her savior was as real as he seemed, maybe more so.
Once inside the math building, she paused to absorb the heat, then gestured to the right room. Students were just starting to trickle out of their classes, the halls slowly filling as people tried to decide if they wanted to brave the weather or head home for the day. That was when he moved before her, parting the river of bodies with just his presence. A few doors down from her calculus classroom, he paused, slipping his bag off his shoulder.
"Keep an eye on that for me? I'll be right back." He flashed her another of those almost-smiles, his eyes piercingly serious, then walked right into the room.
A few seconds later, he walked back out with the professor beside him. Her new friend was shockingly handsome, in a classic sort of way. Basically the kind of guy who didn't talk to crazy girls - yet he had. Zara watched them discuss something in hushed voices. Jason moved between her and the professor, passing him what looked like a business card. The professor lifted his eyebrows in shock, nodded, then offered Jason his hand. They shook, and as soon as Mr. Bringam returned to the room, Jason headed back to her.
"Yeah, ready to come meet Crysis?" he asked.
Her mouth fell open, and she huffed a half chuckle. "What the hell did you tell him? We have an exam today."
"Mm, yeah. That's awkward." He grabbed his bag and tilted his head for her to follow, making his way back out of the building. "You have to be freezing by now."
She hurried to catch up. There was something about this guy. Something strange but good, like he didn't play by the same rules as the rest of the world. It was tantalizing. Everyone wanted to be different, but Jason acted more apologetic than arrogant about it. Trotting along beside him, this time moving with the flow of traffic, she studied his face.
He had that look - the strong jaw, carved features, and hard body - that came with military guys, but he didn't have the swagger. He blended. He flowed. He didn't push. In fact, he didn't seem to use his strength for anything. It was his eyes that made him memorable, and the desperate look deep inside them. Just as she thought it, he turned them on her, then pushed open the door, holding it politely.
She stepped past him and into the soft drizzle beyond. "So, you're not going to tell me how you just got me out of class?"
"Not till you talk to my dog."
"And then?"
He smiled. "Then you won't want to kick my ass."
Zara laughed. "Yeah, I have a funny feeling that wouldn't happen."
He blinked and shifted his eyes to her again, but his head never turned to follow. "I'm harmless. A close friend I have says I'm weird as shit, but I'm pretty harmless."
"Nice friend," she mumbled.
He ducked his head slightly, but didn't reply. The look on his face was amused, though. It stayed for most of the first block, then slowly faded as he gave her