The bell rang, cutting of the teacher. Chairs scraped against the floor. Students rushed out the doors, their chatter filling the hallway. I stayed behind as usual. No real reason to rush. And the more time you use the less people will be left.
"Not leaving?" a voice - which had become familiar in just a few hours - asked. I glanced up. Just as I had expected there he stood. Elian. Instead of joining the others, he leaned against the desk besides me.
"Why do you care?" I muttered shoving my notebook into my bag. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question. Though I doubt there was much thought behind it. Then the same unshakable smile spread across his lips.
"Because you seem interesting."
'I really don't get him.' Through the whole lesson, he had continued to try and talk to me. And even when I ignored him, he didn't back down. And now here he stood in front of me telling me I am interesting. The word wasn't one people usually used to describe me. They would use weird, creepy or crazy. Never interesting. I must have looked shocked because Elian was trying to suppress a chuckle. 'Yeah, I really don't get him.'
I turned my back on him, swung my backpack over my shoulder. But when I began walking towards the door, he fell into a stride besides me, as if it was the most natural thing.
"Do you always draw during class?" he asked casually. I didn't answer, thinking he would just give it up, but by now I should know that giving up wasn't a function he was programmed with.
"You are good at it," he added "I especially liked the crow. The way its wings spread and how its eyes felt almost alive." My steps faltered momentarily. I hadn't realized he had been looking at my drawings. Nobody paid much attention to them.
Before I could respond, a group of students passed us, whispering a bit too loudly.
"There he goes again. Poor transfer kid, stuck with him."
"Bet he won't last a week."
"He will probably begin to skip school soon."
I had grown accustomed to those rumors, and Elian had heard some earlier too. And once again I could see the way his hand curled into a fist, while his face remained with a bright smile.
"Do they always talk like that?" he asked softly, once the others were out of range.
"Yeah" I replied, "everyone talks about everyone here." Even though I said that most of the whispering around the school was about me, and now also Elian. They mostly only talked about him because he was new and "stuck" with me, even though in truth it was the other way around.
Maybe sensing that I had lied, his voice turned sharp. Maybe even cold. "Or maybe they just need to learn to shut up."
For a fleeting moment I thought I saw something deep within his eyes. Something darker than that friendly fake smile. Like a cloud concealing the sun.
I brushed it off. Whatever it was it had nothing to do with me. In a few days this guy will learn nothing comes of being around me, and he will leave. Easy as that. Or at least that was what I told myself.