Belonging

I walk into my form class earlier than most people. For the first time this week I'm happy when I see Ian already there, sitting behind his desk.

"Ian." I say, coming to stop in front of him.

He looks up at me. He smiles. "Hi."

"Uh.. can I talk to you at break?"

"What about?" He asks.

"Uh.. just.. can I?"

He furrows his eyebrows. "If you want. Where?"

"Maybe in English. You can't tell anybody, though." I don't want Zoey to find out I'm trying to talk to him, or to potentially run into Demian either, so we have to be discreet.

"Why?"

"Because you just can't." I say.

"Okay." He responds, looking at me oddly.

"Don't look at me like that." I frown.

He laughs. "Sorry. You're just a bit weird."

My frown deepens.

"Not in a bad way." He's quick to amend. "More in a like.. unique, I never know what you're doing, you keep to yourself, type of way."

I walk away from him and go over to my seat, glancing around nervously.

The first two lessons of the day go by quickly. By the time break rolls around I'm walking back to English eagerly. I see Ian lingering by one of the seating areas waiting for me, and when he sees me he smiles again.

I rush over to him.

"So, what did you wanna ask me?" He asks, putting his hands in his pockets as he looks at me expectantly.

"When did Miss. Margaret die?" I ask.

"Uh.. I don't know exactly. Like a month ago, or something." He tells me, "you can probably search it up and find the exact date. There's a bunch of news articles about it."

"Really?" I ask.

"Yeah, I.. uh.. do you know him?"

"Know who?"

"He's blonde.. older.. storming toward us.. looks like he wants to hit you. Maybe he wants to hit me, actually. Oh, yeah, definitely me." He grimaces a little bit.

I feel a heavy hand clamp down on my shoulder. "The hell did I tell you?" Demian says, his voice like venom as he leans down to my ear.

I look up at him as he narrows his eyes toward Ian. "Don't think I don't know who you are. You have five seconds to fuck off."

My eyes widen. I look at Ian.

"Uh.. see you later, Anastasiya." He says, backing away from us.

"No, you won't." Demian replies after him.

When Ian is gone he spins me around to look at him. "Is something wrong with your hearing, or do you just not listen?"

"I was just asking him something.." I whisper.

"Asking him what?" He arches a light eyebrow.

"Just about homework.."

His eyes narrow further. "How many times do I need to say it before it gets into your head? Don't. Go. Anywhere. Near. Him."

"I already know about Miss. Margaret." I whisper.

"I don't care. It still stands." He tells me. "If I see you around him again I'll tell grandad and not Aleksander next time."