The love of Curupira ( Valley of Portal - Book 1 )

The Pursuit of Stone - Chapter XVIII

The Valley of the Portal 

Chapter XVIII 

The Pursuit of Stone

Clara was late to her class, so she rushed off without having a breakfast. Her host mother still tried to make her take a sandwich to eat on the way but she didn't wait for. The girl took her bike in the garage and pedaled fast through the avenues avoiding the main streets.  

She was at the final exams week and especially today it would be the only one she could be late at all. They were so rigid at school and she was quite disciplined. Clara barely could believe that three months has gone since she arrived at Salt Lake.  

Initially her parents thought that her choice was a bit weird. They bet she'd rather to be at Florida or New York or whatever famous place, but Clara has chosen to be nearby mountains. Utah was famous by its natural beauties and was a beautiful city. Clara sympathized with that cozy place immediately and she was very welcome at school.  

Since she arrived, the girl had done only few friends and lived exclusively to study. Most part of time she avoided to think about Valley and everything she left behind, except her parents and Joshua who she always talked to by internet or phone. Her host mother lived alone and was so nice all the time. She and Clara have become good friends.  

On June, the semester would be ended, but probably she would stay to do some summer course until August. Clara didn't want to admit but she was afraid of be back to the forest because her feelings have no changed a miserable inch.  

There wasn't one single day that she went to bed without thinking of him or that she didn't wake up wishing to see him even for one minute. He was turned twenty-two at last week and that made a mess in her emotions. Clara was making a big effort to forget him but she's never got completely. It was as if he was locked in a dark and old basement where nobody could get in and she had stayed outside. She knew that the door never would be opened again and he would be inside forever. This basement was her heart.  

After class all students followed to the snack bar. Normally Clara would have gone home, but this time she decided to stay and eat something because she was starving. The animist spent on hour over there talking to her colleagues and after that, she took all her stuff to go home.  

She had agreed with Elizabeth, her host mother, to go to the market together and didn't want to let her wait for. So, she put her bag on the shoulder and went down the small steps towards the bike's parker when someone drew her attention. 

"I can't believe, but is Clara Jordani studying at Salt Lake?" 

She turned curious and was surprised to see Tibor, the black jaguar, stopped in front of her. 

"Gee, Tibor what are you doing here?" 

"I should ask you, because I am from here, have you forgotten?"  

Actually, Clara didn't remember that detail. To be honest she didn't think about him since he left from Valley. The last time he provoked Rico, at Colonial House, the elders-leaders had decided to send him back home and nobody has heard about the guy anymore.  

But now, she remembered perfectly that he was from Utah but didn't know that he has lived at Salt Lake City. Of course she wasn't hearty or receptive to him but tried to be polite even wanting to go home and never see him again.  

Tibor brought her memories of Rico and she didn't feel like starting from scratch precisely when things were under control in her life.  

"Sorry Tibor but I can't talk to you now. I am late to my commitment."