Chapter 4

I knock on the door, I hear a voice inside that lets me into the classroom.

I open quietly while ignoring the squeak of the door hinges, making me want to cover my ears. I feel all the confused looks on me, wondering who I am.

- You're late, Miss Filleule. - I observe him, Mr. Hales is not very prone to have sympathy with students who are late. After a few moments of silence, in which he taps his fingers on the chalk, he stops and points to my desk. - Sit down.

I duck my head, step through the backpacks and childish attempts to to make me trip. Someone, again, has drawn strange things and insults on my desk and chair. I put the backpack on the floor and take out my disposable towels. I clean the chair until I check that there is no trace of dirt. I take out a couple more and get to work with my table.

In the end, I toss the towels into the trash can, my feet stop at my gleaming desk, and I flop down. I take out the notebook with the chemistry notes, I dig around again, finding my book, that I had planned to finish yesterday. I open it to the page where I stayed and immerse myself in a world outside the primate class trying to learn the basics of chemistry.

A throat clearing makes me look up.

- Morning classes are over, Miss Filleule. - His eyebrows shot up at the cover of the book. - Nuffield? - He lets out a whistle that gets lost between the empty walls of the classroom. - I tried to read it, but it was clearly beyond my comprehension. Have you finished it?

I nodded as I closed the backpack.

- What did you think? -When asking that question, he closes his lips, knowing that I never answer, despite taking excellent exams. - Oh, I ...

- It's interesting ... - I let out in a quick whisper that leaves him stunned. As soon as he comes out of his reverie, the professor's gaze is locked on mine.

- It certainly is, I think I'll try to read it again, - His voice was high, almost screaming with false emotion. He is exalted, like a group of teenagers to see his favorite actor. - After all I did not pay the necessary attention.

I shrug my shoulders and, with a brisk step, walk my feet towards the school Library. I open the door with great care, no one notices that I enter. I walk to the counter, briskly, and return the book that has made me so famous lately. I walk between the shelves, my hands drop something between them that I have never dared to read, a genre for foolish people: Fantasy.

I leave it in place, return to the philosophy section and carefully choose a book by Tomas Hobbes, I did not know that the Library has such works. The Nuffield one had already surprised me, but this one has almost astonished me. I decide that this time I will choose Leviathan, I go back to the counter, the girl tells me to return it in a month.

I almost run through the grove, I want to start my book as soon as possible. My feet suddenly stop when I see Will in my place. I let out a tired sigh, change of course, go back to the rocks. I sit calmly, I put the backpack aside. I open the cover, this time it has a soft cover.

I let myself be carried away by the eccentric musings of a distant philosopher.

I've already read more than three chapters when I see him approach me out of the corner of the eye. His gaze has a strange glow. I see him catching air to recover his breath, at that moment, I agree with the girl on the hill. He needs to do more sports.

- I was waiting for you. - He drops, aware that I have heard. I shrug, somehow ... I have, no, I have to make this fucking feeling in my chest go away. - Why did you come here?

I look at him with annoyance, I look back at my reading.

- For me? -His smile is dry. - You are an antisocial girl.

I turn the page, try to ignore him with everything I have.

- Yesterday I was waiting for you. - I shrug my shoulders, I forgot. - And what a surprise to see that you had been climbing that fucking mountain.

I reread the page, with his words I can't concentrate.

- So I've decided I'm going to chase you until you give me my chemistry class.

I turn at the speed of light upon hearing her words. I blink twice.

- Yes, you heard right, - His smile has that strange curvature again, He's mocking me again. - so you can start ...

I grabbed the backpack and jumped onto the sand. I turn around to observe his face covered up with astonishment. I run up the mountain until I get to school, I don't want any more shadows in my life. I sit down at the desk, but instantly stand up. I take the towels out of the backpack, clean the chair and table again.

I look at my shoes for a moment, I decide that today I am too upset to be here. I grab my backpack tightly and leave the institution, nobody stops me. The Concierge greets me, I raise my hand and return the greeting in a crude robot gesture. However, my mind does not respond until I reach the hill from behind my house.

I sit on the same rock as yesterday, turning my head, checking that I am not alone. The same girl from yesterday is here, she looks like she's doing some stretching, but she stops when she sees me.

- Shouldn't you be at school? - She approaches at a brisk pace. - Hey, are you okay?

I nod and look back. I contemplate the small figures, ants that leave and enter the buildings, some that go to work, others that return. All busy, unaware of their surroundings.

- So ... - I don't know what's wrong with me, why do I suddenly attract attention? - why aren't you in class?

I shrugged my shoulders. Her hand startles me, I get up as she leaves it suspended in the air, at the height of my shoulder. I watch her as my heart pounds in my ears. Why is everyone coming closer? I don't want anyone to touch me.

She raises her hands in symbol of peace, I look at her as if she were an atomic bomb.

- Calm down, - She orders me, I take two steps back for each one she takes. - I just want to talk...

- Stay away. - My voice is small, soft, tremulous. I wish it sounded louder, less brittle. But my body does not seem to be the same as always. I feel like it's going to explode. I feel like they are back.

I turn my head in all possible directions.

I turn around and run home.

Safe.