His Secret

Chapter 12

Lyla

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Shooot! I'm late and I have to run again!

But I arrive, almost on time: The teacher was just about to close the classroom door.

Phew!

Henri is already seated. He looks like he's been here for hours.

I guess old habits do die hard!

I sit down, out of breath, in the only spot open: right next to Henri.

Mrs. Casanolia: "Hello everyone! Today we are going to work in pairs. No choice! Your tests were so bad that you are going to summarize the text I give you. Using your notes should help you to end the grammatical massacre in this class! Open your notebooks and study your lessons. It really is a shame that at your age you are having to review this stuff! What a shame! I am shocked!"

I give a skeptical glance at my neighbor... He hasn't yet had the pleasure of knowing my great talents in the language of Shakespeare.

I'm up a creek without a paddle.

Next to me, Henri is furiously scribbling in his notebook. He seems super inspired and just keeps working without saying anything to me.

Anything different would've surprised me.

I just watch him, completely lost about what to do.

Lyla: "I have no idea what to wriiite! I'm just so terrrible. What? Is that a laugh I just heard come out of your mouth?"

Henri: "You could say that I guess. You make me laugh."

Lyla: "Incredible! And you're speaking in complete sentences! But wait, it's not even my birthday today... This must be my lucky day!"

He smiles at me again... Finally. I love it when he smiles.

Lyla: "Actually... Thanks for the other day! With Enzo and all that..."

He acts surprised.

Henri: "You're not mad at me?"

I'm blown away.

Lyla: "Why would I be mad at you?"

Henri: "Well... I reacted so badly when you tried to help me. I expected you to have the same reaction."

Lyla: "Henri, it doesn't work like that. That was YOUR reaction. We all react differently."

Henri: "That's true..."

Lyla: "Actually... I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry for what I said that night you were getting cornered by the Tracksuits. I was just aggravated, I didn't mean to say all of those things and to behave like I did."

Once again, he looks surprised. Then he arches his eyebrow.

Henri: "The..."Tracksuits"?"

Lyla: "Oh yeah... sorry... I mean Enzo's gang."

He flashes a smile.