MAE AND HENRY had a chance to talk about what happened at camp because none of them wanted to stay mad at each other for too long. The boy apologized for what he said and she had accepted his apology. He asked her if it bothered her that he came from an aristocratic family and she didn't, and he assured her that it wasn't a problem for him and that he loved her. It made Mae happy.
He also got her a birthday present even after she said about not doing birthdays.
The girls were all sitting at the breakfast table while their head supervisor explained to them what was going to happen that day.
"Today is, as you all know, a very important day. We will have a visit from the Schools' Inspectorate. The school's entire future depends on this investigation. They are going to attend lessons and inspect everything we do. The ones who are being interviewed, you are to wait outside the principal's office at the designated times, and the principal will have you know that if you behave, there is a possibility that some restrictions may be lifted."
"Oh my God, maybe we'll get our cell phones back, guys!" Fedrika exclaimed.
"Are you nervous?" Madison asked Felice. They knew she was going to be interviewed.
"Yeah, I mean, a bit. Dad will be there because Mom says I'm not allowed to be interrogated without a parent present."
"Oh come on, honey, you'll do so great." Fedrika reassured her.
"Yeah, you don't have to be nervous, you'll be fine." Mae smiled at her.
★
The day went by very weirdly. The inspectors had visited the classes, the dining room, the library, to observe how the students were behaving. Whenever they were nearby, everyone acted weird, pretending to work or chatting about unimportant things. It was a relief when they left.
Mae and her friends were sitting at the library, asking Felice about her interview with them. "Did they ask about the initiation?"
"Yeah. I mean, yeah, of course, they did."
"So, what did you say?"
"Well, I just tried to say as little as possible."
"But you didn't tell them we have them, right?" Stella asked. "I mean, 'cause they wouldn't understand, you know."
"Well, no."
"Guys, guys, Valborg! We're gonna celebrate Valborg!" Niels ran into the library.
"For real?"
"Who said that?"
"The principal! No alcohol, but it's gonna be awesome!"
Bursts of joy were heard as everyone celebrated and began planning what they were going to do. And for all it marked the hope that perhaps soon, Hillerska would return to the way it was before.
★
"How is it going with mom and dad?" Mae asked her brother.
The two siblings were sitting on the couch, playing Mario Kart. Since it was May first, Mae had gone home to spend the day with Elio.
"Fine, I guess. They don't force me to do my homework with them anymore."
"That's cool." Mae giggled. "You can still call me if you need anything, though."
"Yeah, I know." the youngest replied.
Mae's character fell into the void and she lost the game. She dropped her head back in a dramatic movement that made her brother laugh. As they started a new game, Elio asked. "Are you gonna introduce Henry to mom and dad?"
"I don't know, we haven't really talk about it." she replied, quite surprised by the question.
"Are you in love with him?"
Mae smiled softly without looking away from the TV screen. "Yes, I am."
Elio nodded. "Cool."
"What about you? Any love stories I should know about?" his sister nudged him.
"There's a new girl in my class, she's pretty. We're friends."
"Do you like her?"
"I don't know. Can you like your friends?" he questionned.
"Well, I think you need to be friend with the person you're dating." the eldest replied. "You're supposed to be able to talk to them about anything, and you have to be able to laugh about everything with them, they're a bit like your best friend."
"I thought Elisa was your best friend?"
"She is, but you can have more than one best friend. Plus, the love I have for Elisa and Henry is very different. She's like a sister."
"That's true. Sometimes, I feel like she's my second sister, too." Elio nodded, making her smile. "But how do I know if I like this girl like you like Henry, or like you like Elisa?"
She laughed. "You just feel it, I guess. When I'm with Henry, it's like the world stops spinning. He makes me feel safe and understood and loved. Everything just feels right. But it's different for everyone, I suppose. And you're young, you don't have to figure everything out now. You can just... hang out with this girl and let time tell you."
"I guess you're right. Plus, I like our friendship that way anyway." the boy shrugged. "Does Henry know how you feel about him?"
Mae thought about it for a moment. She hadn't told Henry everything she had just said to her brother but he knew she loved him. And she loved him so much that it showed on her face every time he walked into a room. He must have noticed it, he probably had.
"I think he does."
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