Chapter Five

“Your research would be on different topics, and you and your partner will have to teach the class, whatever your topic of research is. I hope I’m understood.” Mr. Davies said after he finished pairing us with our partners.

Some people responded while some just nodded in agreement with what he just said. Ellie wrote something in her book and closed it immediately and I wondered what she had been writing all along. Her partner was Ferdinand Jackson, one of the cutest boys in Sona High school, well Frank was the number one on my list though but it’s no news that Jackson was also wanted by girls too.

Well, Ellie was one of the girls who didn’t care about anything and I liked her for that.

“Why were you all flushed when Davies paired you up with Frank?” she asked me. Wow, I didn’t know that I was blushing or any sort of thing like that.

“Was it so obvious?” I asked her touching my face and smiling.

“Nah, but I noticed that something was up with you though. You like him right?” she asked then she looked towards where he sat with his friends.

“I’m not sure yet,” I replied and smiled.

“Well, the look I saw on your face back then…” she said before it was lunch break. “I should observe my break, it was nice talking to you.” She continued and stood up with her book in her hand while she carried her school bag.

As I was about to tell her that I could join her, I decided against it immediately, I don’t know why so I just nodded.

“Sure,” I said still nodding my head then she walked away. I was alone again but I didn’t bother to look back in Frank's direction, I could feel his eyes on me, you know, that feeling you get when someone is looking at you without you knowing, I don’t know if it applies to everyone, but I know when I’m being stared at.

I stood up and went out of the classroom as some students were already at the school cafeteria. I hated that place because I have bad memories of there, and I didn’t want to meet more douchebags who like to bully the poor kids or gossip about them while they eat. The school swimming pool area was usually quiet during these periods and it was my favorite place in the school. I just sat there with my book or lunch and enjoyed the serenity of the water. It made me feel at peace with the world.

Well, today is different because someone is in my favorite spot before me.

“Did you really have to follow me down here?” she said without looking up from her book. She was writing again, as usual.

“Well, how did you get to steal my spot because this is where I spend some of my lunch breaks. And I wasn’t expecting to see anyone here, especially you.” I replied before I sat down next to her and dig into my backpack for my lunch. When I offered her some, she rejected it and closed her book, well I didn’t look in. I was curious but I didn’t want to appear nosy because whatever she wrote in there was her private business and since she hid it from me, it meant that it wasn’t for my eyes.

“Have you met your research partner yet?” I asked, trying to raise a conversation between us.

“Not yet, but I’ll do that before the end of today.” She said then she brought out a sandwich from her backpack and dug into it immediately. We ate in silence and started at the pool. I think we shared this one thing and I could tell that she was here for the same reason I was. To feel what peace is like.

Just then my phone beeped as a message from Frank came in, distracting me from my thoughts.

He was asking where I was because he didn’t see me at the school cafeteria. Well, I wasn’t ready to share this place with one more person so I just ignored his text. I’ll meet him after school, he’s probably looking for a way to apologize because of what happened this morning or he wanted us to go to Mr. Davies's office to get our research topic. Whatever the case may be, I wasn’t available at the moment.

"I love the water," Ellie said and I looked at her. I wasn't expecting her to say anything because I thought she didn't even want company. 

"I love how peaceful this one is," I replied then I looked at her. She was still staring at the water then she took a bite from her sandwich again.

"Yeah, it makes me want to be underwater and absorb the peace it could bring to my soul." She finally said after munching the bite of sandwich she had taken earlier and I just stared at the water while I pondered on what she said.

She was troubled, I could see it in her. And all this stuff she did was try to hide the real Ellie. Showing off a different person than she wasn't at all. I'll make sure to be her friend, though she wasn't giving me the bright green light, I'll take what I can get. 

I wanted to ask her why she transferred from her former school before the bell told us that our time to attain peace for the day was up. 

"We should head to class right away." She said and I nodded then we finished our lunch and left for class. It felt good to have someone to talk to.