Flicker by Arreyn Grey

murmur. She felt something on the top of her head and tensed for a moment, then realized it was his fingertips. She forced herself to relax, and after a few seconds genuinely started to calm down as he slowly, gently stroked her hair. “Poor little girl,” he continued softly. “The world is out to get you today, isn't it?”
                  “Mhm,” she mumbled as she shyly nuzzled, catlike, into his hand. Her stomach chose that moment to give an embarrassingly loud rumble.
                  His hand stilled, and she was glad her arms hid her blush. “Elise, did you skip breakfast since you were so very late?” he asked blandly. She nodded, her head still on her arms. “And you were too busy avoiding your parents to eat dinner last night?” His voice was growing stern, and she nodded again with a little trepidation. “Wait here,” he ordered.
                  She lifted her head as he strode across the cafeteria, and noticed as she watched him both the grace of his movement and the large number of heads that turned to look at him as he passed. She hadn't paid much attention before, but now it occurred to her that people were usually watching him. When he spoke in Latin class, both their fellow students and Magistra West seemed to lean towards him, listening intently. Elise certainly knew the power of his charisma, but it was interesting-- and reassuring-- to see how other people were drawn to him, too.
                  In a surprisingly short amount of time, Alex came back, and set a tray of food on the table in front of her. “Eat,” he told her severely. She made a face at him, but had to admit that she really was hungry: she took a bite of the school's lukewarm ziti, and even that tasted good.
    After she'd chewed and swallowed obediently for a minute, Elise glanced around, no longer able to ignore the other students in the cafeteria. “They're looking at us,” she grumbled. Alex chuckled.
                  Of course they are,” he said, sounding inordinately amused. “The new boy sitting with the girl who barely talks to anyone? They're probably wondering what my secret is.”
                  “The new boy sitting with the odd girl in the weird clothes, who has no friends,” Elise contradicted, looking at him like he was an idiot. “They're probably wondering what crime you committed in a past life.” The scrutiny was making her uncomfortable enough that pride alone stopped her from hunching her shoulders in an attempt to shrink herself beneath her peers' notice.
                  When she looked back up at Alex, he was frowning at her. “Why does it bother you so much?” He asked curiously.
                  Elise shrugged. “I just don't like being noticed.” Alex snorted. “Okay, yes, dressing weird will get you noticed,” she admitted. “But it's a different sort of attention. People look at you at first, because you're a novelty-- but then they just accept that you're weird, you're going to look weird and do weird things, and once they see you as predictable, things are normal for them again. The bigger thing is that once they get used to you, they don't want anything to do with you.”
                  “And that's a good thing?” Alex asked, and Elise could tell he was trying not to sound too incredulous.
                  “It is,” she said firmly. Deliberately changing the subject, she went on. “So, how are you liking the school, now that you've been here a few days?”
                  Alex smiled at her transparent attempt to distract him, but he played along. “Well, the classwork is simple enough. The teachers seem knowledgeable and generally not complete assholes, which is refreshing. I'd say my favorite subject is art: Ms. Thane has some truly inspired views on impressionism. My least favorite class so far would have to be