Seeking a Refuge (27)

The phone’s monotone rings didn’t announce anything good. Especially as Mrs. Smith had just arrived back home from shopping. Stephanie, who knew she couldn’t possibly go on like that, listened carefully to her mother’s soft, surprised voice:1

“Yes, of course she’s here. - No, she hasn’t left the house today as far as I know. - Sure, just a minute.”2

“Stephanie,” the woman called aloud. Her daughter knew when she had to give up: the L&U K, but Ares even more, had taught her that important life lesson. She came in the living room against her will, holding the receiver:3

“Hello?”4

“Oh, Steph!” it was obvious something had changed about Chris’s attitude towards everything and especially herself, but Stephanie was simply unable to understand how a week or so of break from seeing each other could ever change someone that much. The boy’s usual joyous tone was now replaced by a low, maybe apologetical one:5

“Why haven’t you been answering my phone calls? Is it something I did?”6

She took a deep breath and answered:7

“No. Look, I’m sorry. This is all about me and my... Ah well, it’s just... personal stuff,” she stressed, reddening. “Let’s just say it’s about... my boyfriend,” she unhearably muttered.8

“Oh, come on. You don’t have a boyfriend!” Chris shouted with pain in his voice. “You never did.”9

“And what makes you think so, Mr. Mind reader?” she mocked him, smirking though he couldn’t see her. 10

“I’m no mind reader, but I can understand several signs. First off, when you came to the library on the first school day, if you remember, you kept looking every direction you could in a distracted, free manner. Someone involved in a relationship is more conscious of their surroundings. I can’t tell you why but it’s the way human mind works. It’s like finding yourself a real life full of adrenaline. I can tell you haven’t. Besides, a person in love and who has all the reasons to feel loved back would look way happier than you. You’re intelligent, sweet and extremely sensitive - that made you comfortable talking to me, which by the way wouldn’t have happened if you had already had a boyfriend. Except for those moments... you are lonely, and your every move screams it. Also, if you had a lover, you wouldn’t have accepted those roses I offered you when you came to my house for the first time - how would you have explained their sudden appearance in your room? And, last but not least, a relationship changes you irremediably - even if you split up, you’ll never be the same again.”11

After his speech, Stephanie remained quiet, embarrassment staining every single inch of her body. So, what else did he know about her?12

“Chris...”13

“You don’t need to tell me anything,” he stopped her, playing the indifferent guy. 14

“I just meant to tell you something. Personally. Privately. Face to face. Sounds fair enough to you, princess?”15

Stephanie sighed as a lonely tear fell down her cheek that had sinned by bearing such liquid countless times before. She answered faintly:16

“Tomorrow, eleven o’clock, in front of the library. Ok?”17

“Ok.” He hung up the phone with a short, unmerciful click. The girl ran in her room, crying.18