Fangirl

Chapter 2 Martha

'Phillip, would you be so kind as to open the window, please.' The professor of Spellcraft asked.

Phillip got up and went to the frame. He grasped the handle and pulled it open in a familiar motion. The frame didn't budge. Phillip froze for a moment, and pulled harder — with the same result.

'It must have jammed, Konstantin Vasilyevich.' He answered in a low, melodious voice after he'd tried again. 'I'm afraid the glass won't stand a more serious impact.'

The professor paused, looked over his glasses at the window, put aside the manuscript of the lecture, and stood up.

'Indeed, it doesn't give in.' He said in a genuine surprise, having made a great deal of effort himself. 'Yesterday everything was working perfectly well. Vladislav...' - The professor called the student across the two tables. 'Open the window next to you, please.'

The boy got up quickly, but he also came across with a failure — the sash next to him didn't want to open either.

'What does it suppose to mean?' The professor tried to open the windows one by one, moving to the back rows. 'Some kind of a prank? You know, I'm not a appraiser.'

Only the last window in the corner, where no one was sitting, deigned to open.

'Finally.' The professor exhaled with a relief. 'I'll deal with this situation later and the guilty will be punished, but now let's not waste any more time and go back to the lecture.'

I wasn't worried about being punished. The professor had a great memory when it came to spells and a terrible forgetfulness when it came to administrative routine, because of which he had repeatedly quarreled with the head of the housekeeping department.

I had no problem coming to the classroom earlier with a hammer and a bunch of nails and hammering the unfortunate sashes shut. Even if they look for an intruder on the magic trail, they won't find anything. And they couldn't hear my efforts, for the wing was empty at this early hour.

If Phillip had really thanked me that day for such a small thing, then I had seriously underestimated the size of the inconvenience. The cold must have worn him down considerably, if such a trifle was the reason for contact with the outcast like me. The draughts around Phillip had to end.

I bet the professor wouldn't take care of the problem anytime soon, now that the window at the back of the classroom was open. And then winter would come, and the need would be gone until spring.

Forgetting to be careful — no one was ever interested in me — I smiled at my own ingenuity. Earlier I'd already given myself a mental slap for inattention to Phillip. I'd have to be more focused from now on. Nodding to my reasoning, in a burst of determination I shifted my gaze to the object of my adoration... And froze.

Phillip was looking at me over the shoulder. Unbeknownst to the others, it was as if he'd reclined into a comfortable writing position, half-turned, and was watching me.

For how long?!

I panicked and immediately snickered. I lowered my chin, sheltering behind the hair that had fallen over my face.

No, he couldn't have guessed. I could have been thinking about anything? Most probably I look weird, but it was okay for me to look weird, because I was considered to be weird. Floating around in my fantasies in the middle of class for me is no big deal.

I looked up slowly, to see if Phillip was still watching. He was. I frowned guiltily, unable to put on an indifferent look or any other complicated grimace. I could do it, of course, but I had no wish to deceive Phillip, even with my facial expression.