Page 11 of Quiet
Isa noticed when Briar stepped back from the crowd, rubbing the side of his head and wincing. Eventually, Isa managed to wrap the duck in his outer shirt—he’d already lost part of a sleeve, he might as well let the duck have the rest of it—and tuck it into the cage. Once it was inside, he unwrapped it and left the shirt behind.
“Okay everyone, the spectacle’s over. You can go back to class.”
“Do you have somewhere to keep it?” a tall, copper-haired boy asked.
“I have a single room, so if I’m sneaky, I can keep it there for a few days while it heals.”
“Do you need help getting it there?”
“No.” Briar’s voice made something low in Isa’s body shiver. He lifted the cage before Isa had a chance to answer.
“We can take it from here, but thank you,” Isa smiled at the boy in apology.
“Here, let me give you my number in case you need—”
“Late.” Briar took Isa by the hand and dragged him toward the art building.
“Wait, I need to drop off the duck at my room.” Isa pulled on his hand, but it was in a vice-like grip.
“Later.”
Briar was much chattier than yesterday. Maybe he liked ducks.
“But won’t he bother you?”
Briar didn’t answer. Instead, he held onto Isa’s hand all the way to the studio like he was afraid the boy would escape. It was probably for the best Briar wasn’t much for talking. His rough, deep voice kept doing things to Isa’s nervous system he was better off not thinking about. If his family knew where his train of thought was going . . . Isa shivered and directed his mind to focus on happier things. Like his new duck.
When they got to the studio, Briar didn’t let go of his hand—something Isa was keenly aware of and trying his best not to be. But his overheating ears told him he wasn’t having much luck with that.
“There you are, Isa. When you didn’t show up, some of us got worried so Briar went out to find you.” Bea fussed.
“I’m sorry to make you wait, but I had a duck mishap.”
“A what?”
Briar held up the cage and presented the duck.
“Is this okay? I tried to take him back to my room, but Briar was insistent.”
Bea eyed their hands. “I can see that. Briar, did you drag this poor boy all the way here?”
Briar nodded with a self-satisfied smile.
“You’ll need to let him go so he can get changed.”
Briar looked puzzled, and Isa gave a tug on his hand. The tall man looked down at their joined hands and surprise flashed across his face. He dropped Isa’s hand.
“Changed?” Isa asked nervously as he rubbed his hand in an attempt to soothe the empty sensation left behind at the loss of Briar’s hand.
“Yes, I’ve set up a curtain over here for you to change behind. Unless you’re more comfortable changing in the bathroom. Though you’ll have to walk down the hall afterward. I thought you might prefer not to.”
If Isa was changing into nothing, he imminently preferred not walking down the hallway. “It’s okay! Changing here is fine.” He purposely kept his gaze far away from Briar. If he was laughing right now, Isa was sure he would explode into a burst of embarrassed mist. “Oh. What should I do with my new friend?”
Briar pointed to himself and carried the duck cage over to one side of the room. He took out the water dispenser and filled it from a sink cluttered with an assortment of drying paintbrushes.
“Thanks,” Isa said softly. Briar definitely liked ducks. Did he like other animals too?
“Come with me, Isa. I’ll show you what we want you to do.”
