𝒪𝓊𝓇 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑅𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒷𝑜𝓌

IV

The party ended after the last bus had gone by. I walked back home. At the end, my feet hurt. I promised to myself it was the last time I put high-heeled shoes. But it was not the first time I made this promise. My flat was on the third floor, without a lift. So I took my courage in both hands, and climbed the stairs. When I arrived on the landing, I noticed a man, who was unbolting the door next to mine.

'Hi!' I said, with a tired voice. 'You're the man who lives in the 3B?'

He looked hard at me. It was a tall and strong man, around thirty. His clothes released a smell of alcohol. I became intimidated. Finally, he answered.

'Yes it's me. Sean Harris. So you're my new next-door neighbour.'

'My name is Armance.'

'You're not a girl from there then.'

His tone was abrupt. He stepped forward.

'Listen to me Armance. It makes ten years I live there. So my neighbour across the landing must follow my rules.'

'Why? I follow the rules of the owner, but I have no reasons to follow yours.'

His face became red. I immediately regretted what I had said.

'You must be quiet. All the time. I hate noise. And if I hear music or something else, you will regret it, is that clear? And you have to be kind with me. Okay?'

I nodded yes. I was too scared to answer. In Sean Harris, I saw my father. When he came home from the bar and yelled after Maxime and I. Only bad memories. Even at first sight, I knew I would always hate my neighbour.

Eventually, Sean Harris returned to his flat. I was relieved. I hoped I would not have to meet him too often. It was the first negative point of my new life.

I stayed at home all the weekend. For the first time, I really felt alone. I missed the weekends with mum and Maxime, when we went to the park together, talking about school and teachers. It was funny. Or the Saturdays with Claire, my best friend when I was at university in Paris. We used to go to the library together. And when I went to the restaurant on Saturdays evenings with Sam... It was the good old days, when my parents were still together and when I had friends in Paris.

To stave off boredom, I visited the quarter, and did some shopping. I spent the Sunday morning cooking. Then I called my mother, for hours. Finding a new lifestyle was not easy, but I was sure I would manage.

On Monday, Sarah greeted me with her usual smile.

'We have no lessons between 11 am and 3 pm. Siobhan and James either. We could go to the restaurant. What do you think?'

'Yes of course!'

When I met Eamon in front of the library later that morning, I asked him if he wanted to go with us. He shrugged, and said 'Why not?'. It made me even more happy.

We reunited in front of the college at 11 am. Sarah welcomed Eamon, enthusiastic. We made the presentations. Then we chose an Italian restaurant, and all sat around a table outside. James sat in front of me. He was staring at me, as if I was something mouth-watering. I did not like that.

I told my friends about my weekend, and about my adventure with Sean Harris. They listened carefully.

'I'll smash his head in if you want' said James.

I figured out the scene, and pulled a face.

'Thank you, but it won't be necessary.'

James seemed disappointed. Sarah turned to Eamon.

'You study history, right?'

'Yes'

'What do you want to be later?'

'I don't know yet'

Sarah did not give up.

'What's your favourite period in history?'

'XIX th and XX th centuries'

Then it wasn't just me that Eamon spoke little to. I reassured me a bit.

'Where are you from?' Sarah continued.

'County Mayo'

I intervened, surprised.

'But your father lives in Boston, doesn't he?'

'He does. But I was born in county Mayo.'

The look he gave me clearly signified: stop asking questions about that. And because I did not want Eamon to become my enemy, I shut up.

Sarah steered the conversation towards how we found our lessons. When she asked Eamon about his teachers, he shrugged.

'My French teacher is a bit strange, eccentric, but it's okay.'

'You study French?' I questioned.

'That's what I've just said. Je parle un peu français. And I started learning German as well, as you know cause we're in the same course.'

Hearing my native language at 800 kilometres from home made me laugh. I appreciated Eamon even more.

'If you need any help with French, I can help you'

'It's really kind of you to offer, Armance.'

I smiled. I was happy, there, with my friends - except James who was a bit scary every so often, but as long as I had Sarah with me, I did not care.

We finished our lunch, and we returned together to the university. Eamon had class in a room not far from mine. So I went with him.

'It would be great if we spent more time together' I observed.

'Don't waste your time for me. You have other friends.'

'We said last week that we were friends. Friends spend time together. I can invite you one evening for dinner.'

Eamon squinted.

'It doesn't bother you?'

'Oh no! It would be a pleasure. I love cooking for friends.'

'Sure?'

'Absolutely sure. So you accept?'

He gazed into my eyes.

'Yes I think.'

'Tonight?'

'Okay'

When I repeated that to Sarah, she sniggered.

'Seems like you fell in love with this guy'

I shook my head. Was I in love with Eamon, this solitary boy who seemed to live fifty years back? No, I was not. I just wanted to discover his personality, even more since he had answered Sarah's questions at the restaurant. And maybe I had taken pity on him. That was all. I hated when people imagined more than the reality was.