Eire.(chapter 24)

The world was so beautiful. I woke up this morning after a wonderful weekend and for the first time, I was so happy it was Monday. Back to school had never been so beautiful. N. had grounded his parents; they found out about what happened at the Centre. His mom is cool, but his dad is crazy about N. getting expelled. He was at the top of his class, and now he could be expelled because of his hotheadedness. But they can't stop him from going to school, can they? We spent the whole weekend texting. I mean, he complimented me, like old times, only now they seemed so sweet. But something still told me to be careful. I was afraid of what was happening; we hadn't spoken to each other for a while, and now I'd forgiven him so quickly. I told him I needed to check if he was lying, and I was already throwing myself into his arms. What's wrong with me? I need to slow down a bit. Oh, what love does to a person!

Piotrek knocked on my room door.

"Ulalala, little one, just don't overdo it, or your parents won't let you leave the house. N. likes you just the way you are, don't be like Rosin..."

I felt a pang in my heart, the smile vanished from my face, oh yes, Rosin, that bitch... But then a thought flashed through my mind, I'd won, N. is trying her best for me. But I was right, she's a doll with makeup.

"Sorry, I just wanted to let you know that if you get wallpaper on your face, you won't leave the house.

" "I know, I just paint my eyelashes and that's it, happy?"

"Listen, Mom's asking what tea you'll be drinking.

" "Raspberry." Piotrek...

" "Yes?"

"Remember what I asked you, no one except Anne, she already knows.

" "I don't understand you. You make needles out of needles, you get together, and that's it, why hide it?"

"Because I want to avoid gossip, I'm tired of Imer constantly reminding me that I stole someone's boyfriend (chapter 22). And besides, I don't know if he's still there, why go back together? Maybe he hasn't changed at all?

" "Sure, okay, I won't tell anyone, but you'll see, it'll get out.

I looked divine, or maybe it's because I felt like I was flying, floating again, floating on the currents of love. I felt wonderful, I walked into school with a smile on my face. He was already sitting with his friends, and when he saw me, he stopped talking.

*

"Guys, so what if it was Tazz if I'm grounded? No parties, no dates, nothing! Practice and studying, nothing more. I think I'm crazy..."

"...I'm crazy about her," he added quietly. Viki entered the school, and she radiated joy, a ray of sunshine illuminating his thoughts. He no longer cared about being stuck at home when he could look at her at school. She was so close again, now he couldn't lose her. How to approach her without others noticing, how to talk to her without anyone finding out. How to behave without offending her? The guys would say, "Oh, these girls, who understands them?" But Viki wasn't just any girl; she was as tough as a nut, but he knew that inside that protective shell lay the golden mean. He looked at her, she smiled, her eyes sparkled like stars, and her hair was a shade he'd never seen before. Her hair was natural, not like some girls who dyed it a bright blonde or had highlights. Her hair was a dark gold, but it changed with the seasons. In summer, they were like wheat, in autumn, a shade of young, light chestnut, and in winter, a dark gold. That was how he liked them best, although Piotrek told him that Viki had a complex about them because they darkened from lack of sun. He couldn't understand her; she was beautiful, she had nothing to be ashamed of, she was like the brightest star in the sky. Suddenly, N. realized how poetic he had become since meeting her. What was happening to him? Once, the girl he'd noticed had long legs and a shapely butt. But Viki couldn't be described in a single sentence consisting of two adjectives. She was... extraordinary. You didn't meet girls like her every day. Piotrek laughed that it was because she was Polish. He was right, she was different from Irish girls, well-groomed and all. But there was something about her that made him know there was no other like her in the world. He loved every millimeter of her body and soul, which she so hid from him. He knew he had to start trying, but there was something to it.