Alice glanced up, grimacing before strategically placing her hand on her forehead in such a way that blocked the trio from her view. Carol, Eric, and Gau entered the library. Much to her displeasure, they looked happy and content. She, on the other hand, felt frustrated and grumpy because the thesis and closing argument weren't flowing. If I have to listen to her melodious laugh . . . I will kill her.
Eric rested a hand on the table on either side of her as he leaned in to rest his chin on her shoulder. “So, how's it going?”
Alice flipped the page. “Fine.”
He sniffed, sniffed again, and then straightened. “Nice. You took a shower.”
Alice tried to ignore him. To her credit, Carol took hold of his arm to lead him toward a table on the opposite side of the small library. However, Gau continued to stand at the end of the table, ignoring Carol's attempts to get him to follow.
Holding her place in the encyclopedia with a finger, Alice looked up. “What’s the matter, Gau?”
He crouched beside her, eyes studying the grain of the floorboards. “Why want this thing so bad?”
“What?”
He lifted his eyes to hold her gaze. “Why want go from home and friends? You say for help of Veldt, but is really?”
“Yes, Gau, it is.” She couldn't remember wanting anything so much as healing the Veldt.
He looked away. “You help just as good here as away. Better if you study Veldt like you say you want. You go? Then you forget what learn here. You forget friends left behind. You forget the 'why'. Why you study.” Gau shook his head. “This not good.”
Alice blinked. “Are you asking me to stay?”
He didn't look up. “No. I want only make look inside. To see if what do is best. To see if be honest with self.”
“Gau, I've wanted to study at the Figaro Academy ever since it was established two years ago.” She rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, and she smiled. “I want to do this. Really.”
He examined her face before standing to move toward Eric and Carol without a word. Alice watched him go, pressing her lips together when Carol greeted him with her infamous siren smile. When Carol laughed, Alice cringed and focused back on the encyclopedia.
Dutifully, Alice attempted to write another closing statement. The only problem being her eyes kept drifting toward the table across the room where Carol, Gau, and Eric gathered over a tattered art history book. Both Gau and Eric smiled as Carol explained her take on art's evolution and how it affected mankind. All was done with a serious expression and anecdotes that only a fellow fashion-conscious young woman would understand. Then why do they look genuinely interested? They never look like that when I explain about the Veldt. Of course, she didn't talk to many others about the Veldt.
Alice lowered her gaze back to the encyclopedia when Carol smiled up at Gau. Apparently he had made a fascinating point. A fascinating point? Gau is a fascinating point. She glanced toward him out of the corner of her eye. He's sweet, intelligent, and he understands a whole lot that no one gave him credit for. If it wasn't for his wild tendency to do crazy things, no one would know he'd been raised on the Veldt. By himself. Alice tore her gaze away. I guess Carol and he make a great couple--Oh, shut up and work on your paper!
Risking one more glance toward the table, she quickly looked down when Eric peeked over at her. Then Carol giggled and Alice heavily sighed as she wrestled with her temper. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .