Evie nods, not raising her eyes.
“Could you stay a few minutes after class?”
She nods again, turning to gaze out the window and just… disconnecting. Like someone unplugged her from everything and everyone in the room.
My hand still rests between her shoulder blades. The thundering heartbeat has settled, slow and steady. Her eyes trace the path of a gull gliding across the campus, playing in the updraught between buildings.
The teacher hesitates a moment, then moves back to her former position.
Evie stays silent for the rest of the lesson. She doesn’t even look at the board, keeping her attention on the view through the window, watching the sparrows fighting or flirting in the nearby trees.
I grab her hand again, enjoying the flood of sensation into my palm. I don’t touch people, normally. It’s weird how much I enjoy it, not even doing anything, just holding onto her, feeling her tiny movements as she adjusts inside my grip.
When the bell for final lesson rings, Evie stiffens, taking back her hand to wrap her arms around her torso, hugging herself hard with those skeletal arms as we walk towards Ms Kaihe’s desk. “Yes?”
“Maddox, do you need to get to your next class?”
I guess that’s my cue to go but I can hardly leave when Evie is ready to implode. “No, I’d prefer to stay.”
“Okay.” She doesn’t seem upset by the decision, turning her attention back to Evie. “Your dad’s Ward Mansen, is that right?” When she nods, the teacher says, “I was so sorry to hear about his death. Is Antony your brother?”
“Ant, yes.”
“I had him in my class a few years back. He was quite brilliant, but I guess that runs in the family.”
Her smile is broad but given the tension radiating from the girl beside me, she might as well be a shark baring its many rows of teeth.
After a moment with no reply, Ms Kaihe pushes across a large envelope. “Right, this is the packet I usually give to students who transfer in from other districts. It’s to make sure everyone has the same base knowledge.” When Evie still doesn’t respond, the teacher switches her eye contact to me. “You should see she gets one of these for each class. It’ll help her get up to speed a lot quicker.”
I pick up the envelope, and nod. “I’ll ask.”
“Good.” She turns her smile back to Evie. “It was really nice to see you in class today. I hope you keep coming back. I think with a few more lessons, you’ll fit right in.”
“Thank you.”
“And tell Ant I said hi.”
Evie nods, already drifting towards the door. “You don’t have any more classes today?”
“Just a study period, so I’m at your disposal.”
“Don’t you need to study?”
“Desperately. My marks are atrocious. There’s also a matinee starting at the movie theatre down the road. If we hurry, we’ll be able to load up with popcorn and ice creams and only miss the ads.”
Worry pinches her expression as she shakes her head. “I don’t really like movies. They’re too loud.”
“We can stop off and buy you some ear plugs.”
But the suggestion appears to alarm her. She switches her weight from foot to foot, anxiety pulsing from her in waves until I become nervous.
“What about tv? You can have the volume control.”
“If we’re not staying at school, can I go home? I want to check on my brother.”
She’s already turning, like she plans to leave on foot the moment I give her the okay. Desperation seizes me. I don’t want her to go. I don’t want this to be the end of our time together.
“Let me drive you.”
