Page 216

--donation bonus (day #9, post 5/5)--
“Hector!” said Sheryl, smiling. “How have you been?! We were starting to think you moved away or something!”

He averted his gaze as she cornered him against a wall and a line of lockers. “I, uh...” Garovel wasn’t awake to help him. He froze up.

“Is everything okay? Am I making you uncomfortable again?”

He definitely did not want to answer that.

She frowned after a moment. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I get it. Don’t worry. I’ll just leave you alone from now on.” She started walking away.

“N-no,” he said, gritting his teeth. “Please don’t... um...”

She turned. “What?”

“You’re not, uh... I mean... I don’t want you to leave.” He tried to look at her face, but her renewed smile was too much for him.

“So why haven’t you been around school, then? Were you sick or something?”

That would be a serviceable lie, of course, but he decided to stick with one story. “I got a job. It’s been, uh... very demanding.”

“What sort of job requires you to miss school? Like a family business type of thing?”

“N-no, it’s, um... well, it’s difficult to explain.”

“Oh yeah?” She looked at her watch. “Well, I do actually have to go. I’ve got tennis. Um. Tell me more about it at lunch, okay? I’m sure everyone else is curious, too.”

“Ah--okay...”

And she was gone again, disappeared into the passing stream of students.

‘Smooth,’ said Garovel.

Hector’s brow lowered. ‘You’re supposed to be asleep.’

‘I was awoken by the sound of you lying yourself into a corner. What the hell are you going to tell them, exactly?’

‘I have an idea... I think.’

‘Is that so? Don’t tell me, then. I want to be surprised.’

‘Go back to sleep, already.’

‘Fine. But wake me up at lunchtime.’

Hector smirked faintly. ‘Okay, I will.’