Chapter 4

The rest of the day I noticed Colin eyeing me in between classes but I was not prepared when he sat at my table at lunch with a huge grin that’d I’d never seen him wear. I gaped at him. He kept smiling. “Why so surprised?” he asked. I kept gaping at him. “What?” he said playfully. I noticed he was wearing a white long sleeved t-shirt and jeans. I shut my mouth and picked at my food.

“So what are we going to do today?” he asked more calmly, seeing my surprise no doubt. “We?” I managed to choke out. “Yeah, who else are you going to hang out with?” he said, smiling again. “W-well I was thinking more of just hanging out under the apple tree,” I said. At least I was talking. “Well you don’t want to be a…loner do you?” he said feebly. I shrugged. “I’m used to it,” I replied. “Kayla and Melissa get sick easily,” I said.
“Okay then,” he said and stood up to leave. I paused. “I want him to stay!” I was almost screaming in my head.

“Wait! Fine I’ll hang with you,” I said, admitting defeat. He smiled that smile again. “So what are we going to do?” he said. “Well I need to study for that math test. Oh! I also need to finish up that PowerPoint presentation on Nuclear Energy and-“ I began. “Other then academics?” Colin interrupted. I drew a blank on that one. “You don’t know do you?” He said. “No I don’t.” I sighed. “Well I have something so come on!!!” He said pulling my arm and dashing across the cafeteria. “You're fast!” I said. He turned his head and smiled that big smile of his then continued on.

****

We sat under our apple tree. I mean my apple tree. Colin looked at me then took out a sheet of paper from his pocket. “I thought up some ideas,” he said sheepishly. “Sixty seven ideas!?” I exclaimed, looking down all the numbers. I ran through the sheet commenting on a few things. “Run into walls and apologize to them?” I said rolling my eyes. He laughed. I gasped. This was the first time I’ve heard him laugh. He immediately stopped and looked at me.

“What?” he asked urgently. “Oh! Nothing never mind,” I said. “Colin?” I asked. He looked at me oddly. “Don’t call me Colin. Call me Lawliet,” he said quietly. “Lawliet?” I said quizzically. He looked at me, a small smile on his face. “It was what my mother named me when I was born. My father didn’t like it and called me Colin until he…” Lawliet trailed on in a thoughtful gaze.

I thought about it then gasped again. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to pry! How are you and your mother doing?” I said, shocked and embarrassed. “She too died. Along with my father. It was a fire and I was at a friend's house down the street. I was only six at the time. But to this day I still remember hearing that odd screaming at night. I was never quite sure what it was until my friend’s mother woke me up crying,” Lawliet added, seemingly comfortable with the whole topic.

I stared. I wasn’t able to speak. The whole subject of death frightened me. “Wh-where do you live now?” I asked, stammering. “A man named Watanuki. He’s very kind to me,” Lawliet said. He looked at me. “Are you okay?” he asked, in an almost soothing voice. “Yes. Death just frightens me a little bit,” I said. I laid down on to the sweet smelling grass. I heard the rustle of the leaves of the apple tree above me. “I love this place.” I said. “Me too.” Lawliet replied. I turned and smiled at him. He smiled back.