Perfect Sacrifice by Jack Parker Page B

However, she would never admit it. Her pride was too strong.
    "Look Ray, it's not like I want a 'thank you' or anything," he told her calmly. "I just wish you'd be a little more civil towards me."
    "I could've handled it," she told him, still sitting on the ground. Leon was starting to get frustrated now, and he quickly lost control of his temper. Talking to Ray often had that kind of effect on people.
    "How stupid are you?!" he shouted at her, drawing her full attention. "What if they hadn't been after your money, Ray? What if they had wanted you ? What would you've done if they had tried to…to…" Ray's eyes widened slightly as she saw the worry wash through Leon's dark lavender irises. He still had his hand out; his offer to help her up still stood. Ray reached out and took his hand, surprising him a little.
    "Well?" she asked him when he made no gesture to help her. "Are you gonna help me up or not?" Leon didn't say anything as he pulled her to her feet. She began to dust off her clothing, straightening her shirt in the process. She then brushed a hand through her hair, making sure each lock was in its proper place. She smiled brightly when she was done.
    Since it was obvious that this incident was over, Leon turned around and began to walk away, his hands in his pockets. Ray just watched him for a while, struggling through an inner battle. She owed him, and she knew what he wanted from her. However, saying it went against her pride.
    "Hey Leon!" she called out, finally making up her mind. He stopped and glanced back at her. "Thanks." A smile crossed his face as he once again started walking away. "Hey Leon!" He stopped for the second time and turned to her once more. She had her head down, looking at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
    "What is it?" he asked her.
    "Could I maybe follow you?" she asked him meekly, as if she was embarrassed at her own request. Leon just gave her a warm smile. He was kind of happy she had asked. He really didn't want to go about his day alone like this.
    "If you want to," he told her as he began walking away again. Ray ran to catch up with him, easily falling into his pace. She was happy to hear that he didn't mind her tagging along. She had been worried that he would say no. After all of the bad things that had happened to her in Torran, the last thing she wanted was to be alone right now.
     
    Ray and Leon were sitting on a bench near one of the small cafés in the middle of the city. They both had sandwiches, but Leon was already done with his. Only its plastic wrapper remained. He was now just sitting patiently, waiting for Ray to finish.
    "I can't believe you were serious about not having any money," he told her. When she had told those men that she was broke, he had assumed it was a lie. She just shrugged in response to him and took another bite of her sandwich. Leon had ended up buying her lunch since she had honestly forgotten her wallet at home.
    They sat in silence for a while longer, not having anything to really talk about. Neither one was good at striking up a conversation, especially since they didn't really know each other. They were still partial strangers. Leon was currently just glancing at Ray out of the corner of his eye.
    "Hey Ray," he began, catching her attention. "I saw the battle tournament." Ray smiled brightly at the mention of the tournament, despite the outcome it had had for her.
    "That was so much fun," she told him. "Until those guys showed up, that is." Leon leaned back on the bench, stretching his arms a bit. Now that he had succeeded in starting a conversation, he was determined to keep it going. That wouldn't be hard. He had a few questions for her.
    "I thought you said you didn't have anyone on your team," he said, changing the subject just a bit.
    "I don't," she said as she finished her sandwich.
    "Then what about those two people, that girl and Brian?" Ray glanced at him, slightly confused.
    "Abby and Brian?" she