"I don't understand why you're hanging with that nerd all the time," Ana says as Emma awaits me from across the little park in front of the University.
"She's nice, Ana. You never got to know her actually," I defend my only close friend out of all my fellow students. Emma might be a nerd, but I don't see the problem with that. In contrary, I venerate her discipline and ambition.
"I don't plan on it," Ana states flatly. "I'll see you later, then?"
"Sure." I roll my eyes at the thought of the dreading self-defense course which is today again.
"Alright, see ya." Ana smiles and I head over to Emma. She asked me to come with her looking at the posters that students of older semesters prepared. They inform you about previous projects, internships and research. Emma hugs a stack of books pressed against her chest as I approach her and we walk over to the Marine-Biology-Institute. I pull the door open and find Marc in the foyer heading for the exit.
"Oh, hey Zoe, good that I see you here," Marc says, "I fixed your laptop, but you really should think about buying a new one. I think it's just about time to get rid of the old boulder. I wanted to tell you earlier already, but I lost my cell phone and Luis told me you weren't on Facebook, so sorry, but...now you know." He flashes a crooked smile, showing his guilty conscience. I'm surprised and feel almost flattered that Luis told him about me not having a Facebook account.
"Don't worry, it's alright. I'm just glad you could fix it and yes, I'll buy a new one, eventually," I add, knowing that I'll delay it anyway. Marc's eyes take notice of Emma and he shoots her his charming smile.
"What are you guys up to?" he asks us. I notice Emma's cheeks shading light pink.
"We want to take a look at the posters in the foyer," Emma quickly responses to him.
"Cool. Well, I gotta go," Marc says to Emma and me.
"Who was that?" Emma's eyes are glowing as she swirls around to me and her glasses slide down her nose a little.
"You mean Marc?" I ask her and she nods wildly. "He fixed my laptop that's how we know each other." Noticing Emma's grown interest in Marc, I tell her more about him. "He studies IT and lives in a beautiful apartment at the harbour. Sometimes he works as DJ, so you might want to check out his music on a party next time." I wink at her.
"He's good-looking," she admits sheepishly, her cheeks are deep red now.
"Yeah?" I wriggle my eyebrows at her.
"Oh god," she mumbles and puts her hand against her forehead like she has fever. "What am I gibbering?" she asks and we burst out giggling.
I get tired of reading the all-looking-the-same-posters quickly, but Emma observes every single one hanging on the walls with meticulous precision and I decide to sit down on a bench.
"This poster is genius. Wow, these photos are great!" she exclaims enthusiastic and I think it's just another of the many, but I jump to my feet as my eyes spot the photos that look known to me, a bit too known. My suspicion is proven right as I get closer and I recognize my photos from the Egypt-excursion.
"These are my photos! Somebody used my photos!" I exclaim in disbelief and in the exact moment as my mind wonders who the cheeky person was that stole my photos, I catch up and know it must have been Luis, because he was the only one who had access to them when I left my laptop in Marc's and his' apartment. My face pales at the thought of Luis scrolling through all my photos, but embarrassment is quickly replaced with anger.
<><><>
"I couldn't imagine to spend my afternoon any better," I answer with dry sarcasm when we have a short break.
YOU ARE READING
BREATHE
Teen Fiction"He makes me question every promise I've ever made to myself and he makes me open up when I don't even want to let myself in. He helps me to breathe when I forget how to."
