knee socks

chapter fifteen

"so, where do I start?" 

"how about you start reading 'The cruel advantage of hierarchy in wizarding families 'and i'll continue reading this one? you don't have to finish it, just read the first chapters, take notes of anything you find interesting or class worthy, and in about thirty minutes we can comment on them?" Alex suggested, and I nodded as I grabbed the book.

The half hour went by quickly, and I found that i hadn't even finished the second chapter "that's alright, let's see what you have so far" Alex said and got closer to me, so he could read my notes. I wonder if he could feel my heartbeat rise, or the rush of energy his shoulder just gave my whole body. 

after a couple of minutes of him reading my notes and me trying to breathe as normally and  inconspicuously as possible, he turned and smiled at me. I could see every freckle, every hair strand, ... "and frankly, I'm surprised you were able to do such a deep read" "um really?" I asked, kind of lost in my own thoughts and not very attentive "of course, I think this is very good material for next week's class. How about you go over the last chapters i've been reading, and you can give me your opinion on them" he said, handing me the big book he had been holding in his arms so carefully not even five minutes ago. 

I sat next to him, and opened the last pages. it consisted on a poetry book written by a warlock in the 18th century, and they were mainly poems that hid potion instructions, ancient spells and referenced important manuals.  It was hard to concentrate with Alex sitting next to me, and even more when I noticed he wasn't reading, and instead he was looking at me. 

(hello! calling Eve here. if this guy doesn't like you, he's crazy, cause why is he spending so much time with you? and he flirts with you and teases you... and don't worry about that Nina woman, every time you've seen her he ignores her.)

thank you subconscious delusional Eve, that was great advice. 

"what are you thinking about the book?" the deep voice besides me asked "um, I find it very interesting actually. I mean, i thought most of these old scripts were all myths, but the fact that this warlock can reference and quote them is obviously proof that they existed, at least sometime". when I finally looked up from the book, he was smiling at me, his eyes shinning. maybe I wasn't crazy?

"yes, that's what I found so incredibly interesting too!" he exclaimed, as he put his arm on top of mine and flipped some pages backwards "here, you can read the cautionary tale of Styx, which we had always heard as a child's tale" I found myself smiling, his contagious passion making me even more attracted to him. how was I going to survive these many afternoons?

Alex's pov

Lord above help me. she's way too beautiful and intelligent. the conclusions she arrived to were the same i made a year ago, after years of studying ancient texts. I caught her daydreaming again after reading some passages with her, and couldn't help myself to tease her "so, am I the only guy that makes you blush like this?" (okay, so i'm testing my luck here, because if she doesn't like me, then i probably just sounded like the weirdest creep in the world). she turned even redder and instead of even trying to mumble a retort, glared at me "I don't know Mr Turner, but I do wonder if I'm the only student you spend so much time out of the classroom with" she said in a sweet voice that made me slightly crazy. maybe she wasn't as shy as I thought.

"and what if you were?" I defied, the eye contact now being very fragile and the tension palpable. amazingly, we were both saved by the bell, meaning it was dinnertime. I heard everyone leaving the library, and Madame Pince walking towards the restricted section, which made us break eye contact "you two, Alex, need to leave, because I am starving and not letting my supper get cold because of you" she nagged and gave me a knowing wink. so maybe one time or another  I had gotten a bit busy in the library and forgotten at what time it closed and Madame Pince may or may not have walked into me and ...

enough backstories. that was seventeen year old me, not current me. although I could tell by Eve's raised brow that she was probably thinking the same as I was. We both picked up our things and left, saying our goodbyes at the door to go to the dinning hall. "thank you so much Alex, i had a very interesting afternoon" Eve smiled politely "I'm glad you thought so, see you on Wednesday. oh, and Eve" I said before she turned back "you never answered my question" I whispered in her ear and smirked  as I left the beautiful girl flushed and with furrowed brows. 

word count: 850 

author's note!! I just reread the story yesterday, and wanted to continue it. I started it 4 years ago, and even though i have edited some details (like Eve's age, which is now sixteen and Alex is twenty three) that seemed really cringy to me, I can't edit the whole story, so i'll try to write in my "more mature" style. thank you all for the votes and love.

8.1.2024