-JANUARY

Pressure.

This only had two outcomes.

If Alekay scored this free-kick, he would be the most popular kid in school (at least for a while) AND win the game for his grade.

If he missed-- he quickly brushed that aside.

Pressure.

Alekay's body was shaking with adrenaline.

Apollo obviously noticed and approached Alekay.

"Alex, are you sure you want to take the free-kick?" he asked.

Alekay looked at him with disgusted confusion. Then he looked at the ball.

"You bet your sweet boots I do."

Apollo laughed a little and backed off from the spot.

"Then get us a goal, innit?"

It was The Year 11s vs. The Year 12s on a cold Sunday afternoon. The sun hid behind long, gray clouds and chilly winds swept the field. The girls had come to watch as usual. They sat on the side benches, watching The Year 11s losing 1-0. The field where they played was situated a walking distance from Redwood High School itself so it was always a rush after school to see who would get there first. There was a fence that separated the football pitch from the road to the school so any wild shots were stopped by it.

Alekay surveyed the field. A chilly wind bit his bare shin. If he scored, it would be 1-1 and The Year 11s would be closer to beating The Year 12s than ever before. He cleared his mind and stepped up to the ball: far enough to see over the wall but close enough to pose a serious threat.

Some of the girls cheered some encouragements from the side but The Year 12 fans drowned them out. This wasn't just the girls. This was the whole school watching from the side. A loud group started to chant:

"O-VER THE BAR! O-VER THE BAR! O-VER THE BAR!"

Alekay took a deep breath. And started to run to the ball. He took one step, two, his every step force-feeding his stomach butterflies and adrenaline.

He swept his foot under the ball. It was honestly a beautiful swipe. If it was for American Football.

The ball pathetically flew wide of the goal.

Alekay dropped to the floor. The jeers of the Year 12 supporters seeped into his tired mind. He had given it his all. The game was almost over and that free-kick could well have been their last chance to get back in the game. Apollo walked over to Alekay and lifted him up.

"Get up mate, it isn't over until the fat lady sings."

Alekay got up, wondering what that meant. Apollo was always a little bit crazy beneath his serious game face. He rubbed out the grass from his hair and prepared for the goal-kick.

The game ended shortly after. 1-0.

\*

"Never have we been so close, Paris!" he exclaimed, walking his friend from the other class, Paris Lejayin, to the bus stop where she was going to catch a bus home from.

"Well, you had a good game" she said. "You should have seen the way you - uh! And yeah! And kicked the ball to your teammates- man I wish I could do that!" she added, pathetically impersonating his football skills. He smiled. This was cute.

"What you looking at?" she asked. "Wanna fight me?!"

She was smiling. Her light brown skin somehow accentuated it all. She slapped Alekay.

"Yo what was that for??" he shouted, even though he was laughing too.

"Just for fun." she replied. "Hey let's go over to that slide. I have something to tell you." she said, pointing to a huge slide at a playground they were passing. Alekay followed her. She was going to go even if he didn't follow. It was getting late and it was still cold. Paris wore a heavy furry coat that reached the middle of her thighs and warm blue sweatpants with thick boots. She ducked under the gate that closed the play park until the next morning.

"Hey, Paris, this place is supposed to be closed." said Alekay. Paris rolled her eyes. She was already on the other side. She winked at him and beckoned him with a single finger.

'I have something to tell you' she mouthed, exaggerating every syllable. Then she ran off to the big slide. Alekay smiled.

This was why he liked her.

He ducked under the gate. He was still in kit mostly, save for his football boots which he put in his mini backpack- the type specially made for boots. He had changed into sneakers. Paris was already inside the slide. She poked her head out from the top and shouted: "MEET ME AT THE BOTTOM!"

Alekay fiercely gestured with a finger to his lips.

"Do you want us to get caught??" he asked, speaking with that sort of angry whisper loud enough to come off as normal speech. Paris clenched her teeth.

"Sorry!" she whispered back. "Meet me at the bottom!"

Then she slid down.

When Alekay got to the bottom Paris was already there. Hot butterflies pumped into his stomach.

Does she want me to... get into the bottom of the slide? With her.

Alekay climbed into the rectum of the slide, where people were spat out onto a large furry cushion (which was packed away at that moment). He had to fold his legs up close to hers and keep his head low. She was so close. It didn't take long for him to react to the intimacy of what was happening.

Does she... ?

Alekay's heart beat faster.

"So yes. I said I have to tell you something." she said.

"Actually, me too," he replied.

'Do you want to go firs-"

"No no, you go,"

"Okay come, let me whisper in your ear." she said, forcefully grabbing his ear. "But you have to swear not to tell anyone!" she was twisting his ear now.

"Okay okay! I won't! I won't!"

"Good."

She leaned in to his ear so close that it felt like she was kissing him. Her breath was hot against his chilled right ear and her finger now only gently held it closer.

For a moment she was absolutely silent.

"I like someone in your class and I really need you to be my wingman for the rest of the term."

Alekay's heart dropped to his stomach. It was still hot- with shock. He was doing all he could not to react. Tears warmed up at the sides of his eyes. It was going to be a long night.

"Why are you still quiet?" she asked. She stepped out of the slide, and he did too.

"I'm just trying to guess who it is," he lied, "since you obviously won't tell me."

I thought...

I was a fool to think that...

They got back onto the footpath to the bus stop.

Alekay strapped his backpack higher and pushed back the tears. His heart felt like it was suffocating.

"I'll tell you I'll tell you!" she laughed.

How could she be laughing?

"But you have to promise me- once I tell you, you won't give up on my very pathetic flirting skills until he's mine." she added, offering a pinky finger for a pinky promise.

"We've reached the bus stop." said Alekay.

"PROMISE!" she demanded, putting her pinky in his face.

Can't you see? Why can't you see?

Alekay locked his pinky with hers and promised. Then she ran off screaming:

"We'll talk at lunch tomorrow! Let's sit together! I'll tell you everything!"

Alekay begun the long walk in another direction to where his driver would wait. Alekay had never made his driver go all the way to the school parking lot on pick up trips because walking back with Paris was always the highlight. Today, it just didn't feel worth it. He stopped at a payphone and dialled his driver's number.

"Jonah, could you please come pick me up from a different spot today?"

"Sure- where are you?"

\*

Alekay got home and slumped straight onto his pillow face-flat.

Wingman?

This day- is the dregs.

The sound of a crowd of uncontrollable students chewing and chatting filled the cafeteria. It was more of a hall than a cafeteria; tables for four were dotted across the floor all the way onto the outside veranda: only the elite Year 12s ate outside.

It was the lunch break at Redwood High School and most students had already collected their portion. Some lined up for seconds: "some" referring to Paris Lejayin. She got her second serving of the main meal and the dessert and restarted her meal like it was her first.

Alekay sat next to her and their friends Mordecai Fin and Tressa Parker sat together. Paris wildly gormandised her meal while her friends sat chatting about how their classes went.

"I wish I didn't take art." said Alekay.

"You can say that again!" Paris mumbled between mouthfuls.

"I just feel like it's unnecessarily difficult to pass but then you look at what's in art galleries and it's-"

"TRASH! Rubbish! Those people would never pass an art class!" interrupted Mordecai. "Those people spend like what? FIVE minutes drawing a few squares or painting some absolutely random shape and get world famous!"

Paris didn't even look up from her plate. Tressa was quietly tracing the circumference of her dessert bowl with a disposable spoon.

"Why are you so quiet?" asked Mordecai. Tressa looked up.

"Me? - I just wouldn't know. I don't even take art. Well at least- not like you guys."

Tressa was in the year below. Year 10-M. At Redwood each Year Group had between two and three randomly separated classes of 15 students per class.

"The art my class does is mostly notes and writing stories." she added.

"Oh my gosh, why?" asked Paris.

"Not sure."

"Who's your teacher?"

"Mr. Liwei."

"Eesh!" exclaimed Mordecai. "Mr. Liwei is the worst! Why is he so strict for no reason?"

"Right? Did somebody break his heart?" added Alekay, laughing now. "Sometimes I just wonder why he's got to be so sour!"

Paris's eyes opened wider.

"I could use him to make lemonade!" shouted Mordecai in mid-laughter; but unfortunately, right at the moment when the whole cafeteria chose to have a mini moment of silence.

Nobody laughed. Mordecai's laugh fizzled into embarrassment.

From their tables, mobs of students stared at him blankly.

Mordecai buried his face underneath the table. They continued with their meals.

"Should have just kept quiet." whispered Tressa. "Serves you right."

"He's soooo fat though!" said Alekay.

Paris gestured for him to stop. He didn't pick it up. Tressa slapped her forehead.

"Imagine what it was like to be preggo with a baby that would grow to be that big - it'd be like.." Alekay trailed off as a curious finger rapped on his shoulder.

"Go on, tell us. How would it be like?" asked a sinisterly serene voice from behind them. If the witch from Hansel And Gretel had a son, it would be Mr. Liwei. A short finger rested on Alekay's shoulder, sinking it into the floor. There was no mistaking it; the flagitious finger of Russell Liwei: Year 9 and 10 art teacher. Alekay looked over his shoulder, a small part of him wishing that nothing was there. They locked gazes.. or something like that- Mr. Liwei's disparaging stare scorched right through Alekay. Alekay awkwardly chuckled. It was the last of his dignity packing up.

"Umm, exactly how much of that did you hear?"

\*

"Do you know why you've been called into my office?" asked the principal, Ms. Saunders. Alekay remorsefully nodded his head.

Ms. Saunders let out a thoughtful "mhmm" sound.

"Then you know what you did wrong." she said calmly. Then she lost it. "WHY must it be you TIME and AGAIN! WHY must I always have to speak to you EVERY SINGLE DAY! What - you want me to call your parents for you? Is that what you want??" she bellowed. Alekay was quiet. "Tell me!! Is that what you want??!"

Alekay swallowed back his fear and held his hands together.

"Ma'am, thi-thi-this is my first ever visit to your office."

Ms. Saunders paused and thought deeply.

"Are you sure?" she asked, in the sort of manner that made Alekay doubt his own honesty.

"Yes ma'am." he replied, quite unsure of himself at this point.

Ms. Saunders massaged her bare chin as if to mimic a principal with facial hair.

"Well.. That's fortunate for you. You should have seen your face though!" she laughed, mimicking Alekay's remorseful demeanor. Then in an instant, she switched back to seriousness. She stood up from her table and walked right up to him.

"I'll run a check on you, Mr. Robinson, but if I find a bad record I will call you back into my office. And you don't want to pay me a second visit. Trust me."

For half a second, Ms. Saunders' youthful smile poked out from beneath her professional behaviour. She was about to laugh. Alekay was pressing his advantage, he knew it, but he couldn't hold back.

"What would happen if you see me in this office again ma'am?"

"If I see you in this office one more time young man, I will... I will devour you." she said, sounding a little lost for words at one point. "Don't underestimate me, Alekay!"

Devour? thought Alekay. What???!

Now he was really going to laugh. This principal was the cats pajamas.

"Yeah, right!" he laughed.

Ms. Saunders face straightened. She did not laugh.

"Did you just 'yeah, right' me?"

"No- I was- I-"

"--- Come after school for detention."

\*

"Did you get detention for it?" asked Paris, sitting next to him in afternoon class. Alekay buried his head in his hands.

"No- and yes."

"Huh?"

"Just don't ask about it."

Paris patted his back.

"So no football this afternoon?"

"Nope."

"Unlucky. I wanted to come watch you."

Alekay's heart skipped a beat.

"Just kidding." she added, "I wanted you to start helping me today after school."

"Helping you with ...?"

"Grades... Pencils..."

Alekay rolled his eyes.

"The boy I like." she said, finally.

"Which is...?"

"PARIS! ALEKAY!" shouted Mr. Porter, the English teacher. "What did I just say?" he asked.

Paris and Alekay looked at each other.

"You two have detention immediately after class."

Paris shrugged. She opened the side of her mouth and whispered to Alekay:

"We'll talk after class!"

*GA-LING! GA-LING! GA-LING! GA-LING!

Four resounding rings of the school bell formally brought classes to a close. Paris and Alekay packed their bags. Double English on a Monday afternoon ALWAYS dragged.

"Ay! You two are staying with me." declared Mr. Porter. He wrote the word "detention" on his white board. Paris and Alekay sat down.

"Unpack your English books."

Paris and Alekay unpacked their English books and set them open on their tables, in unison.

"Let's talk." said Mr. Porter. He brought a chair to the front of the class and sat with the chair between his legs, facing them.

"Do you two not understand how serious what I am teaching you is? ... Do you think that just because it's the start of the year you can... slack off and I'll excuse you?" He paused and took a deep breath. "You're not tenth graders anymore. Do you think that time will just- wait for you to realise that?"

The question gave way to a silence too thick to cut with a knife.

Mr. Porter's lectures could convince a person that the world is a cube. It was all in the way his face cooperated with his immaculate and articulate choice of words; the way his eyebrows furrowed when he asked questions- as if to impatiently probe for an answer; the way his voice calmly penetrated one's eardrum and inveigled it to accept whatever point was put across.

Alekay and Paris shook their heads. Mr. Porter took off his old fashioned, round-framed spectacles. He still had a healthy mop of brown hair that he regularly trimmed on the back and sides to reveal short gray hairs blended in with the brown in resonant unity of age and youth. He put his glasses aside and stood up.

"Don't think of this as detention, think of it as 'catch up'. I'm going to test you on what I taught today"

The kids were quiet. Mr. Porter's face was a composed pale. You did not want to make it pink.

"Now?" asked Paris, not sure if she had asked the question loud enough. Mr. Porter nodded.

"Give me a second, I'll be back."

Mr. Porter left the class.

It's just me -and her.

Paris seemed truly remorseful as Mr. Porter left but quickly, she metamorphosed into her usual self. She took off her hairband and let her curly hair free.

"We're sharing answers?" she asked, the question itself sounding more like a declaration than a request. Alekay shook his head.

"What do you mean no?" she asked, in total shock.

Girls like boys that can say no to them.

He shook his head again. His mouth wasn't functioning. Paris grabbed his hand with one hand and put her other on his cheek.

"What do you mean no?" she asked, again- this time with female manipulation powers.

Alekay ignorantly brushed aside the possibility of Mr. Porter returning. Paris was within kissing distance. His heart was racing. His left hand was comfortably cushioned in her warm right and her left hand was softly caressing his chin.

I should tell her I like her.

I should tell her I like her.

I should tell her I like her.

Paris smiled.

"We're sharing answers, right?" her eyes squinted a little as she slowly smiled the last word out.

My heart.

"RIGHT??" she asked, again, impatience edging her normally gentle voice. She was slowly getting closer, almost mounting him. Paris was a hunter, a hungry vixen. Her curly hair dangled in his face, it smelled of - her. There wasn't really a replacement for it. It was just - unique; It was just - Paris. He breathed it in like he'd replaced oxygen.

She stared at him boldly, daring him to defy her. He looked straight into her bold, brown eyes with his heart in his eyes. He looked into her eyes like he'd never let her go. He looked into her eyes like he wanted her; he looked into her eyes like he needed her; he looked into her eyes like he would even take pride in just how desparate he was for her; he looked into her eyes like he would defy her. His stomach churned with heat and butter.

What is this girl doing to me?

Alas, they were at a stalemate.

There she was, for the taking. At this point, if somebody walked in, from a lot of angles the whole situation would easily be... misunderstood... unless.. unless it was what it felt like.

Does she know what she's doing?

She has to. Does this mean she knows I like her? Or better still, the boy she said she likes is... m-

"EXCUSE me,"

The authoritative voice of Mr. Porter sliced through the room. Paris scrambled back into her seat and sat absolutely upright, pretending to be putting back her hairband.

Mr. Porter was holding two papers. He walked in, disappointed but not surprised.

"No need to pretend, I already saw everything." he placed one paper on each desk. "And it explains a LOT."

He took a seat at his desk and woke his PC. "And you know the rules about Acts Of Public Affection on Campus."

Paris's eyes widened.

"Mr. Porter! I'm afraid you've misunderstood! That's not what it was!" she laughed.

"Still laughing," noted Mr. Porter, writing it all down. "Well no need to explain to me." he said. "Explain to yourselves. If it was anyone else, you'd both be in the Principal's Office for - whatever you two were doing before I came. But anyway, we have wings so we can fly I guess." he said submissively.

Ms. Saunders poked her head through the door. Mr. Porter looked up from his PC.

"Well, speak of the devil,"

"And he arrives," said Ms. Saunders, finishing his sentence. She invited herself into the classroom.

"Quince, I'm here to collect this young man here. He's in trouble with me."

Mr. Porter nodded. Ms. Saunders beckoned Alekay towards her.

"Go with your paper," ordered Mr. Porter, "leave it outside my office in the early hours tomorrow."

Alekay picked up his paper and neatly placed it between two books in his bag.

"Oh and- if you fail, I will call you back here tomorrow so I can teach you the topic again."

Mr. Porter didn't mention anything about what he had seen.

Good dog.

\*

From the school parking lot, you could see the school gates. The parking lot was a fresh space of new concrete and clear paint. Each parking spot was immaculately thought out and marked. Although, the parking lot was surrounded by trees, there was seldom shade on the parking spots themselves.

Alekay's task was to sweep all the leaves and dirt off the lot. Ms. Saunders supervised from the shade of a camping chair set up underneath a tree on the lot's perimeter. More wind came and blew leaves onto the lot. The time was 4:33 p.m. on Alekay's watch.

Alekay dropped the broom.

"Ms. Saunders, can I go? It's 4:33!" Alekay shouted across the lot.

"Yeah, right!" was the response. Alekay rolled his eyes. What did that even mean? He kept sweeping.

"Doesn't feel good, does it?!" shouted Ms. Saunders. "Ha! Revenge is ss-weet! Ha! Ha! Keep sweeping, sweeper boy!" Ms. Saunders burst into laughing fits at her own words. "Sweeper boy? How do I come up with these things?"

Alekay picked up the broom and started sweeping again. After about twenty minutes, Paris made her way past the parking lot to the school gates: she was going home.

"Kid?" asked Ms. Saunders.

"Yeah?"

"Why were you in trouble with Mr. Porter?"

"Um, talking in class." Alekay didn't stop sweeping while talking. He was upset.

"Talking... to that girl?" she asked.

"Yep."

"Oh okay. By the way, she went home just now. I don't know if you wanted to know but- just putting it out there." said Ms. Saunders.

Alekay stopped sweeping.

"Her and I are friends so I usually walk her to the bus stop." said Alekay. He continued sweeping. "-to make sure that she's not absolutely alone if-- any strange person accosts her on the way there." he added, lying; he just walked her to the bus stop because it was enjoyable but he also really wanted to leave.

Ms. Saunders smiled.

"You're such a sweet kid."

Alekay stopped sweeping the floor for one second and smiled back. Then he continued.

"Yeah. I guess,"

Ms. Saunders stood up and walked over to him.

"Tell you what? I think you've learned your lesson. Never ever, ever vandalise the school."

huh?

Crickets chirped through the silence that followed.

Alekay paused, not sure if correcting her would wind her up.

This principal is totally cuckoo.

"Yes ma'am I won't vandalise the school again," he said, agreeing with her for the sake of leaving.

"Huh? You weren't serving a detention for vandalism."

Alekay was stuck. If he said he was serving a detention for vandalism, he was lying and if he said he wasn't, he would expose that he was lying at first.

"Oh I thought- that was what you said just now so-"

"Noooooo, I was testing your honesty! Look at you! So eager to leeeavve! Why are you so desperate to leave huh?? You wanna chase your GIRLFRIEND??"

"Ah?!"

"You haven't denied it! So you admit it?" asked Ms. Saunders.

"I deny!" shouted Alekay.

Ms. Saunders was laughing fully.

"But look at you! You're smiling so much!!!" she laughed, clutching her tummy to hold in the laughter. "So what if I say her name now, will you smile?"

"What?"

"Paris."

Alekay smiled.

"What? You smiled!!!"

"No! I was already smiling. Try again!"

"Paris."

Alekay smiled. Ms. Saunders burst into laughter.

"It's because of the way you're saying it!!" he cried.

"Just- just go!" she laughed. "Don't embarrass yourself any more."

"No but-"

"You've lost kid. Chase your girlfriend before somebody 'accosts' her." said Ms. Saunders, finger quoting the word "accost".

Alekay rolled his eyes.

"Right."

"Get out of here before I change my mind. Three... two..."

Akekay took off before she reached "one".

"Mmmm! You're running so fast!! Slow DOWN!" she shouted; but he was long gone.

She laughed to herself.

"Hmph. Cute kid."

\*

Alekay had never felt faster. He glided through the school gates and onto the long stretch from the school to the suburban areas. Not stopping once, he stole away to the streets of the suburbs. His arms pumped up and down with steady ease as his energy flowed from his torso, to arms, to legs in swift and continuous motion.

Bursting past the streets, Alekay passed the neighbouring high school and entered the town square. He checked his watch. 5:12 p.m. She could already be at the bus stop. The town wasn't very busy at this time. Strangers threw bewildered glares at him as he sprinted past shops and dodged walking strangers to catch up to her. The busier side of the town fizzled out into the side that needed business, where green grass, tall trees and foot paths dominated the land. The sky was greying. It was going to rain. The next stop was the playground.

He saw her. About 100 metres away.

From the distance, Alekay could see her curly brown afro tied into two puffs and her smooth neck making a minute appearance underneath it. She was wearing a grey-white bag with the white shirt and burgundy skirt of Redwood High School.

The last stretch.

He was panting heavily but she couldn't hear him for some reason. Nevertheless, it was for the better. He clenched his teeth and forced his body to go faster even though it felt like he was slowing down.

She stopped and looked at the ground- for long enough for Alekay to catch up to her.

She was a little shocked to see him. She took her earphones off of her ears. He checked his wrist watch. 5:36.

Whoa.

She stopped again and looked at him. Creeped.

He was panting so heavily that he couldn't stand upright.

"Do you - want some water?" she asked, kindly offering him a plastic water bottle from her bag.

He snatched it out of her hand and collapsed onto his back, voraciously ravaging the room-temperature liquid inside.

"Ewww don't put your lips on it!" she whined.

He stopped drinking for a moment and gave her a maniacal eye twitch. Then continued.

"Geez. Thirsty much?" said Paris, kicking the side of his bum.

After Alekay had hydrated himself, he stood up and offered her back the bottle, sucked dry and temporarily deformed because all the air had been squeezed out.

"I apologise for my recent inappropriate conduction of myself, ma'am. In exchange for your forgiveness, I will offer you the pretext that I had been utilising my limbs to manually mobilise in pursuit of your--"

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? WEIRDO!" shouted Paris, but she was laughing. Alekay laughed too.

"And you can have your bottle back," he said.

"It's okay. Keep it. You've already indirectly kissed me with it anyway."

"You didn't have to catch up to me or walk me home everyday," she continued. "I'd be fine going home on my own."

He laughed.

"I know." he said. "But just in case."

"Bruhh."

She slapped her forehead.

"Why do you have your phone?" he asked.

Paris put a finger to her lips to gesture silence to him. He rolled his eyes. "You're not allowed to bring them, you know?"

"Shh-Shh-Shh!"

"YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING THEM, YOU KNOW!!!" he shouted.

Paris grabbed his lip shut with her fingers.

"This is why I don't like talking to you."

Alekay knew she was joking but it kind of hurt for some reason.

I'm just over thinking.

"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask," he said, feeling a little awkward, "who's the guy you like?"

She smiled.

Is it me?

"Text me when you get home and we'll talk." she said. Alekay scratched his head.

"Well um, I don't have your number," he replied shyly, "you and I only ever talk at school," he laughed a little to dilute his accusative tone but it just sounded awkward. 5:50 p.m. The sun had set and it was getting cold.

"Okay then. I'll tell you tomorrow." she concluded.

"No!" he shouted, then realised that he was shouting. "I mean, no. Can I .... hvyrnmbr"

"What?" laughed Paris.

"Can I hvyrnmbr?"

"Stop mumbling!"

"Can I have your number." he said, loud and clear this time.

"Do you have your phone with you?" she asked

"No."

"Exactly. Talk tomorrow." she concluded.

"Wait!" he said.

"Alekay! We've been standing in the same spot for so long! I think I've even missed the bus!"

I love it when you say my name.

What? Bro relax! Don't be creepy. She'll notice it.

"Oops."

Alekay gritted his teeth.

He shrugged. "Well since you've already missed the bus anyway. I can give you .. my number right?" he asked.

She gave him her phone.

"Sure."

Amidst the temptations to save his name as 'BABY xox' in her phone, he settled for: 'Alekay💙'

He handed her back her phone.

"Lol! Why'd you give yourself a heart?" she laughed. "Imma remove that real quick." she said.

Alekay frowned as she typed on her phone.

She obviously doesn't like me.

"But you'll text me right?" he asked, aware of how desperate he sounded. She scratched her head with one finger.

"Umm, if I remember."

Alekay nodded.

"Hey but, where's your bag though?" she asked.

Alekay's neural system imploded on itself. He felt his back. He looked around.

It's still at school.