Like Minds - To my beloved Maraclea

Chapter sixteen - A little peace and quiet

Nigel:

Nigel smirked lightly and shook his head in response.

"First of, you wouldn't have believed me. Second, you wouldn't understand because of your denial. Read the book, then I'll explain."

He nodded and turned around, leading the way. He went outside, over the square you had punched him the day before. The sun was shining brightly, which was a given. He walked past the square, though, and off the school's terretoria, into the forest.

"It's not that far," Nigel guaranteed. After a few minutes of silent walking they got to a clearing, beautiful and peacefully.

"If you ever want any place to clear your mind.. This is the place," Nigel said softly, walking to the middle. He crouched down in front of a herb that grew from the ground and plucked it for his collection, careful not to damage the leaves.

The other nice thing about this place was, no one else was there to see them, no one to judge Alex or anything like it.

Alex:

He was right, probably. I wouldn't have believed him anyways. Now I still didn't believe him, not really, though. I just followed him because he ruled my life now. I wish he wouldn't stop disturbing me if I would do what he wanted me to.

I followed him down the square, narrowing my eyes because of the bright sunlight that was shining in my eyes - quietly irritating. Again a few students were staring at me - mostly all of them - and I hit my eyes so I wouldn't have to look in all those faces. Just like I mentioned before: I felt worthless. I was a dog who followed anyone who fed him.

When he told me it wasn't going to be far away, I nodded lightly, trying to keep a little distance between us so it wouldn't really look like I was following him directly. Some students were staring frightened at me, like they thought I was going to kill any of them - or Nigel.

When we reached the place Nigel wanted to show me, I pursed my lips lightly while looking suspicious around me. I didn't really believe that was his only way why he brought me here, to be honest.

I glanced up at Nigel with my head lightly chocked.

'It's neat,' I replied him.

I rolled my eyes when I saw him plucking a herb, treating it like it was a precious thing - or a baby. I licked my lips and came closer to him, bending over his body to look what he actually plucked.

'Is this the only reason why you brought me here?'

Nigel:

He shook his head as he put the thyme carefully in his pocket, ever so gently.

"No.. And yes. I just thought you could use a little peace and quiet."

He reached out his hand to grab some more thyme, but his hands stopped, as he discovered a small fallen rose, lost along the herb and dying. He cocked his head and picked it up carefully, cradling it in his hand and softly mumbling up a verse he remembered.

"Oh rose thou art sick,

The invisible worm,

That flies in the night,

In the howling storm,

Has found out thy bed

Of crimson joy;

And his dark secret love

Does thy life destroy. "

He smiled to himself and dropped the rose again, looking up at you surprisingly friendly, squeezing his eyes slightly because of the sun.