What If? Talent of Truth

Tutorials

But once you have friends who accept who you are, you learn to like being different.

The teacher starts teaching, and I take notes like I always do. Eric just nods politely once in a while. Another student walks in. It's Clair, the girl from next door. Eric looks down.

*Do you like Clair?

He's nervous, even telepathically I can tell. *What? What are you talking about? No way.

*C'mon. It's as obvious as if you rode a bike in school.

*...I like her?

*duh. Wait... did you not notice yourself? C'mon.
You've liked her since fourth grade, now that I think about it. Did she do something to you back then?

*...

*Hey, I won't force you to talk if you don't wanna.

*Nah. S'okay. See, one day I saw a kidnapper. He targeted a lady so the Lord would pay a fee to get her back. The Lord ignored the fact his wife's life was in danger. His money was more precious to him. Clair came by. She gave money from her own allowance, all she had, and both the kidnapper and the kidnapped cried at her kindness. At first, I thought she was shopping for favors, but I saw her by chance later, getting beaten by her father for what she'd done, and it struck me just how brave she was.

*...wow. I might fall for her too, if I saw that. But even if I did, I think I would leave her to you. You've loved her longer for one, and two, what are my chances with her?

*point taken. He says, teasingly.

*Hey! I say, mockingly offended.

Tutorials end and students start to swarm in by the dozen.