The Professor's Secret

13. Not so Great Expectations

Now everyone marched happily back to the hotel – talking and jumping, letting out a crazy laugh here and there, rejoicing under the warm sunset across the beach back to Cyllage. Sycamore watched calmly, rarely adding his voice to the general glow – though he was leaving today, he seemed to be in no rush: he chose to accompany us back to the hotel, probably just wanting to make sure our way there would be an uneventful one. As for myself, I was in no mood for conversations, so I chose to keep a slow pace, one that kept me at a quiet distance from where I could appreciate their happiness without necessarily taking a part in it, while I lazily licked what was left of my ice cream and chewed on my thoughts.

I couldn't help but trace Sycamore's march a little too often though – and not only because he looked so handsome with his hands tucked inside his coat pockets and his hair blown back by the wind, squinting his eyes to escape direct sunlight... But also because he made a strange figure there, almost as thoughtful as me, like a sullen guardian accompanying us... I felt the mystery I first acknowledged in the candy shop grow, fed by his strange demeanor.

When we finally arrived at the hotel, then my lagging position truly benefitted me: The gang formed a sort of Indian line and, one by one, they slipped inside, waving a goodbye to Sycamore and disappearing before I could reach them. I got to the threshold in time to see Sycamore lift his eyes to the farthest windows and assume a peculiar expression: his eyes narrowed and his lips shrunk away from the ever-present smile, seeming both angry and worried. The muscles around his mouth quickly returned to their natural form upon beholding me though, flashing a casual smile.

"See you..." I mumbled a quick goodbye, much too unwilling to linger in his mysterious presence any longer.

He answered in the same fashion, but his eyes mischievously followed me as I went inside...I had barely had the time to appreciate how quickly he was cutting me loose, when he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me back.

"What are you doing?!" I yelled.

He took a second or two to regard his surroundings, then pulled me to the side wall of the hotel, where it faced the beach from the top of a small hill. A deep dusky shadow formed there, where the decaying sunlight couldn't reach us, so it was very likely no one could see us.

"What is this?!" I inquired, struggling inside his arms.

He pushed me against the wall and placed his arms at both my sides, keeping me from running in those initial rushes of adrenaline... Then he peered into my eyes and brushed his palm against my face, a very tricky combo that both soothed and intimidated me.

"Pardon me, dear: I still have a word or two to discuss with you, now that we're this alone. It won't take long, I guarantee..."

"You call this a way to start a conversation?" I added with annoyance, but was surprised by how my voice sounded much lower and milder than I intended in my rage.

His smile twitched, fully entertained by my resistance.

"And who is to blame for that? You escape me so eagerly nowadays, all I can do for myself is to capture you like the spooked critter you are..."

I felt myself blush quickly, and his fingers traced the contours of my cheeks, probably looking to feel their heat.

"Well, uhm... What... what is it then?" I struggled to concentrate, giving up entirely on my anger and settling for at least being able to form a proper sentence as he caressed my skin, pulling a strand of hair to the back of my ear.

"It is nothing of great importance... A small recommendation, at best..." He smiled conceitedly "Tell me first: Have you seen anything of that so-called Team Flare?"