The Secret Legacy of Pan - English Translation

Chapter Eleven

STRANGE CONVENTIONS

"Okay, I'm expecting an essay on the last catholic king, James II., and why Catholicism irrevocably went down with him, from you to on the twenty-sixth. The British Library has a lot to offer on that subject." Mr Abbot looked at us over his glasses like a grandfather. However, his friendly grandfather-like appearance was a façade. The man was not to joke with. And he tolerated no sort of objection. Everyone remembered Thomas Hall, who had refused to sit with Marten-Max last year (for anyone who had smelled Marten-Max, a reasonable request). Thomas had barely passed R.E., even though he had always been the best in the subject.

I glanced at my bench mate. Lee was grinning lazily. He looked like a cat who had caught a mouse. It was almost frightening. If I had not known better, I could have sworn he had bribed Mr Abbot. Ruby behind me sighed. I turned around and saw her staring at Lee longingly, like a little boy looking at a locomotive through a shop window. His popularity with multiple girls had only increased. Everyone was admiring him. Everyone except me. I felt like the mouse.

And of all people, I was the one getting his attention. He was still sitting with me in all of our classes. During lunch, he had been sitting with us, rather than the Star Club, more and more often. Even outside of school we met up more frequently. He had gone running with me and Jayden four more times. Despite my worries I had to admit: He was a better teacher than Corey would have ever been. He had the patience of an angel – especially with Jayden, who was still wheezing like it was his first day.

That was exactly what perplexed me. Why was he hanging out with us when he could have girls like Ava and Felicity? To not feel like a complete klutz beside him, I had made it a habit to look in the mirror every morning to check my appearance. I felt pretty stupid every time I did it, though.

I, Felicity Morgan, the city, had become vain. I hated myself for it. On one hand. On the other hand, I blamed Lee. Before his appearance, everything had been just fine. Since then, my world view had been thoroughly messed with.

"Tomorrow at five?", Lee asked when we packed our bags.

"I can't. I have to help my mum." That was not a lie. She had asked me to clean the pub.

"What about today then?"

"I have an appointment at the hairdresser", I lied quickly. "How about you start? I'll research too and then we can compare tomorrow at lunch."

He shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. We have two weeks. We'll find a time that works for you."

I glared at him. "Today at five."

"At yours or at mine?" He looked like he had been waiting to ask that.

"At yours." Maybe he would cancel then?

"Okay", he answered to my distress and gave me the address.

Shortly before five o'clock, I exited the underground at Bond Street. The Berkley Square was only a couple of blocks south and I was surprised how green the area was. Lee had a view of a nice little park with a lot of different plants and tidy paths. Children were running around under the supervision of their mothers. Suddenly, I had the picture of women in massive, long dresses and skirts before my eyes. I quickly blinked a few times. No, not a vision, just my imagination. One that somehow suited Lee.

I climbed up the five steps to the terraced house and rung the bell. There was only one bell. Apparently, his family owned the whole building. Wow.

Lee opened the door, smiling. "Come in. I just finished making tea." He led me into a kitchen that looked like it was from the nineteenth century, had the shiny new premium-steel oven not ruined the picture. The kettle whistled on the stove. Lee turned off the gas and poured the steaming water into a prepared teapot.