The Secret Legacy of Pan - English Translation

Chapter Three

STAR CLUB VS. LOSERS

"I think that's it", Nicole said, looking over at the Star Club on the other side of the cafeteria. It sounded like a statement, not disappointed. Lee was sitting between Jack, Ava and Cynthia and was laughing and chatting with them.

"Please hit me if I ever start acting like Felicity", I said and watched as she, linked arms and all, hung on his lips longingly.

"Don't worry", Jayden said, "you wouldn't even act like that if Prince Harry himself confessed his undying devotion to you."

I looked at him in surprise. "Was that a compliment or an insult? You think I can't fall in love?"

Jayden kept eating impassively. "No, I just think you're too down-to-earth for that teeny crap. Like me."

I did not know if I should feel flattered or offended. Did my friends think I was that unromantic? Apparently, because nobody else reacted to Jayden's statement.

"Hey, just because I haven't met Prince Charming yet, doesn't mean I can't fall in love", I retorted energetically. As if I had just announced I would run for school president of Horton College of Westminster, everybody stopped whatever they were doing and stared at me. Phyllis was the first to pull herself together.

"Nobody said that. Of course you can fall in love", she said and patted my hand placatingly.

"What does your Prince Charming look like, then?", Nicole asked curiously. Corey and Jayden leaned forward, as if they were scared to miss out on something. Now I knew how a cornered rabbit had to feel.

"I'll tell you when I meet him", I explained and quickly resumed eating. Unfortunately, I had forgotten what was on my plate. I grimaced. Stew had never been my thing.

Between my last two periods, I visited the janitor to ask him to fix the broken keyhole of my locker. He was one of the only people at school that did not despise me. He promised in a friendly manner that he would get to it immediately and gave me a new key. I hurried to my next class and regretted that the janitor did not need my help to fix the lock.

My last period went like it did every Wednesday: History was an endless string of dates, presented by the monotone singsong of Mrs Crobb. If I had not read that the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, our teacher's endless monolog could not have told me.

As usual, I sat alone – Felicity constantly hovered over Lee.

But I was not disappointed. Really. It had been clear from the start that a boy like Lee would not hang out with losers like us. When the last bell finally rang, I lost sight of him.

"We need a motto for our next class with Mrs Crobb", Nicole groaned on our way out of the classroom.

"That woman lets the last of my fantasies die and decay", Corey said. "What do you say? Movie night at my place? You girls can decide the film. But please: no more vampires."

That sounded great. We all agreed and said our goodbyes.

"Where are you going, City?", Jayden asked as I walked in the direction of the hallway, not the exit.

"To my locker", I explained and waved to the others. "I have to wash my old T-shirts at home. See you later!" It took a while to get past the students walking in the opposite direction. Maybe I should have just gone home, because the comments I got on Corey's "Sex god" shirt were very vexing.

But soon the hallway was emptying out more and more, and I was almost alone moments later. Almost. Beside my locker, a couple was embracing each other in a passionate kiss. Felicity pressed her whole body up against Lee. She pressed him up against the lockers and it looked like she wanted to swallow him whole. I was sure I had not made a sound, but he suddenly looked up and directly into my eyes.