Over the few days, Cudia's appearanderwent a shock that prevented her from speaking about what happened on Sunday night, and she sought refuge among a close group of friends who surrounded her like a thick shield. This process repeated itself again and again.

  -Make sure to hand in your readi on the Industrial Revolution tomorrow, - the teacher repeated aloud.

  I saw Cudia's friend avert her gaze when Billy locked eyes with her. It had been a week sihere had been any sign of life from his best friend, and things had bee a bit plicated siheir kiss in the proje room. He still didn't uand what the problem was, what the issue was with Cudia, ae thinking that Cudia was a mature woman, she still acted like a child. Even in two lifetimes, he couldn't uand women.

  As he made his way to the art room, Cudia was o be found. He searched the dining hall but couldn't locate Cudia anywhere. He spotted her group of friends sitting and chatting at a table. As soon as Billy approached, the ughter ceased.

  -Hey, girls, any of you tell me where Cudia is? - Billy interrupted.

  -She doesn't want to see you, - ehe blonde girl in the er.

  -Well, I still want to see her. you tell me where she is? - he repeated, feeling a bit embarrassed.

  -It's not about what you want things to be. She's depressed, give her some space, - responded Hanna, a brue and part of the group of friends.

  -I'll decide only when I talk to her, -Billy insisted.

  -You're unbearable. Look for her oerrace, that's where she has lunow we have to eat without ag us, - Hanna murmured.

  Billy could only smile as if he had just pyed a prank. -Thanks, girls, - he said as he went to the terrace to find Cudia.

  On the way, he pondered how to calm her down. Cudia's temperament was usually very direct, and her charm y in that. But now it was the plete opposite—she had been evasive, avoiding versation, and at best, she would give him a hateful look apanied by words that shut down the versatioirely.

  There she was, holding her notebook in her hands, biting into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She was muttering something unintelligible to herself. The sun cast a white curtain of light onto her smooth hair from above. He saw her notice his arrival and try to stand up to escape, but she slipped on her suitcase beh her feet, falling to her knees on the rooftop grass and cursing.

  He couldn't help but ugh at Cudia's sorry state. However, it was not well received by her hunched posture. Her back oised to explode. Her body nguage indicated that she would hit him if he ughed again, or maybe not. God, it was impossible to tell.

  -Cudia, how are you? - Billy asked.

  He received no response, but he heard Cudia's sniffles in the distand regretted once again fhing.

  He approached her back, which hadn't moved in the meahat's maybe... well, he kept getting closer aly touched her back.

  Her back tensed like a cat.

  He fell silent for a moment. The words weren't ing out pletely. - All or nothing, - he thought.

  -Hey, I've missed you. I don't want us to stay apart. My csses have been b without my usual panion, and... I haven't found anything. I've lost my sleep schedule because I 't stop questioning if I did something wrong. Sometimes it depresses me not being able to tell you about my day, and if I keep this up, I'll go crazy. If you don't want to be with me, I uand, but e back, Cudia, - he whispered, almost pitying himself. Speeches weren't his thing. It had been a shitty week, and he had few emotional supports in his life. He had grown aced to hearing words of scolding or her bossy way of making him do things she felt were important for his life. He hadn't ehe affe of a woman for a long time. His mother had left early in this life.

  His father, though reserved, had shown some gestures of affe, but he expressed his feelings in other strong, rigid, and g uanding ways. He was demanding, tough in all his forms. He used to take him to the movies and buy him whatever he asked for, but it was different. The warm feeling that a mother produces is different from the resehat Cudia provides.

  -So, what do you say... I be with you again? -

  Cudia's bright eyes were red from tears, with sleep in them and a bit of peanut butter on the side of her mouth.

  -Of course, you idiot. I've missed you too, - Cudia said. -But you're a cold-headed empty vessel, and I hope the ime you e to apologize, y chocotes. - Her tearful voice trembled siderably.

  -Of course, I'll buy you chocotes for the whole week, - Billy said.

  -Don't waste your money on silly things. -

  -For two days then, how about going for ice cream after school? - Billy suggested.

  -I have homework to do and I anize my room. Mom will kill me; the st time, she grounded me for a month, - Cudia said.

  -Well, then I guess it will be another day. What are you drawing? - Billy asked, pig up Cudia's sketchbook.

  -You have some peanut butter on your cheek, - Billy wiped away a bit of peanut butter from her face. They were very close, almost a hand's breadth apart. Their breathing quied slightly. He leaned in and gave her a tight hug. The st time he kissed her, he earned her pt for a week... he hoped not to make the same mistake again. Time would give him an answer if they allowed kisses.

  When you start liking someone, you 't uand why suddenly everything about that person appeals to you—from their particur st, warmth, and voice, to eveeary eyes for an unknown reason. It's their sensitivity that attracts you; everything about that person feels fortable because it's gehe deep and reserved side is always kept for special moments and accumutes until it explodes only when it's right. He felt a shy happiness, almost unfettable, holding Cudia in his arms.

  -Stop squeezing me, yoing to make me disappear, - she said.

  -That's the st thing I want, - Billy replied.

  Her legs weakened, God, this damn guy does it on purpose. How he say such sweet things and be a robot with everyone else? This must be what the books describe, something s and magic that you fet your sadness, she thought. "But why doesn't he kiss me?"

  The young woman raised her eyes and saw Billy's smile. She rested her forehead on his shoulder and could feel him kiss her . The electricity surged through her body again, a strong shiver ran down her spine, and she looked up once more. She moved closer, stood on tiptoes, and pced her hands beh his armpits. She couldn't reach his mouth, so she stretched even more. But then she felt his lips on hers. The air shattered in her lungs and escaped in a surprised moan.

  Billy paused and gave her another kiss, a small one like the pecks baby chicks give while pig crumbs on the sidewalks. It was delicate and sweet, and a nervous ugh escaped her, which was met with aight embrace.

  -You're an idiot, - Cudia said.

  -I am, and I 't help it. We have a css to attend. Shall I meet you outside? - Billy asked.

  -You , in the front courtyard. Mom will pick us up. I'll ask her to give you a ride. -

  -After css, -Billy affirmed, smiling. Renewed by having Cudia by his side once again.

  The few days would only get better.

  ...

  ..

  .