Here we go, lets talk about our class which is a good class in a way, but can be annoying, like any others. We are 24 students, 8 boys, and 16 girls. Many of us know each other from 6em, or 5em, or 4em.

Before the X-mass holidays we are going to go to Ireland, with our

"professeur principal", Mr Trummer and ms Baulland.

We have not yet elected our delegues, but shall be done soon enough for you,

attentive readers to know.

The night is coming down on France's famously great 3B; the wheel of time is

turning continuously on its enormous centre. Maybe this class used to be in the middle of it, not moving very much, but

it might change now. They have been attracted to the edge of it, and their

lives will be now changing quicker than ever.

Right now it is not in my power to tell you how it will evolve, good or bad,

fantastic or sad, high or low, I don't know.

Nobody knows whom of me or you will know the end first. It will be a

surprise for each and everyone.

The year might end, but their lives will continue.

I want to invent a story where there would be no end, where it would end

with a "they lived happily ever after"...... a true story, a love story, maybe

my love story. I know, you must think I'm crazy, or a bit wacko in the head,

but it's just me so if you don't appreciate, just buzz off. Its mine, its

personal.

Lets say that we are already gone to Dublin, it is the first day of our

stay, and we could never have imagined that it would turn out like that.

Well it isn't quite true, I never thought it would turn out like that, but

maybe Mr Trummer knew and maybe Olivia and Arietta and a few others could

have guessed too. But not I! I hadn't a clue of what was coming ahead of us.

We were separated in 12 groups of two, I wanted to be with my friends, but

of course it had to be a girl and a boy, for most groups, but a few girls

would have to be together, and we hoped to be those lucky ones since the

teacher was supposed to like us.

But apparently not enough to have our wish granted. Four groups were only of

girls, and that was not us! Arietta was with Ludovic, and we laughed at her

because at one point last year we supposed them to be in love, but knew

quite well it was not true. Olivia was with Didier, she was very happy

because they know each other from 6em, and are great friends, going to

concerts together and all. And I was with Baptist. No commentaries. I

didn't really want to go, and that didn't help.

We had to go by boat to Ireland because it was cheaper, and that we had

worked for the trip to be the less expensive possible. We had done over 9

bake sales with the students, and the teachers. It took time, but it was

alright since it was for a good cause. On the boat we were separated,

boys/girls. But as the girls were very numerous, we were split into 4

bedrooms, 4 girls in each. It was better.

We had to sleep on the boat because we took it late in the afternoon, on

Saturday the 13th.That was our teacher's idea so that we didn't miss too

many classes. Anyways, the boat was tangy, and we had some problems to

sleep. Anne felt ill and it really was horrid. Barbara wasn't able to come because she had departed for Florida a few weeks ago. Apart from those small

problems the boat trip was alright. But when we arrived, it really started:

"Alright boys and girls, get into groups so I can see if anyone is missing."

"Maybe we forgot Forester? Oh no, he is here. I am sorry, you are so small I

didn't see you!"

"Poor Ariette, I blame you for being with that awful person! It's so low to

mock Forester because of their relatively small but still existing height

difference." said Rosa while looking with a smile in Didier's direction.

"I am luckier than you. Didier isn't that dumb."

"Yeah right, very encouraging! You can be so nice sometimes!"

"Not sometimes, always!" now that was me, with a grin for Olivia. That is

always how we treat each other, it is a kind of friendly mocking around.

"Right! And look with who you are! I suppose I could pity you for you

colleague of family, but I am too smart to lower myself to your level." That

was exactly what I was talking about.

"Quite now!" he never said; 'quiet' like he should have and Olivia and I

always had fun with this mistake.

"Do calm down or we will never be able to drop all of you before midnight."

Taking in hand a situation that was sliding away, that is because everyone

was talking, and doing anything else than listening to him, but we all

stopped, everyone was eager to meet the families that would be their homes

for the next week. The excitation turned to a full ear to him.

"We will all go into the bus. Then when we will arrive in front of the house

you are supposed to stay in, we will call your names, and you have to come

immediately and take your suitcases. We will leave you there, and pass in

the morning at 10h to collect you." Everyone groaned at hearing the time. We

all thought it was holidays a week earlier, and that didn't include getting

up before 10h.

The bus was finally packed 30min later. We travelled to Dublin, 2h route.

There we took the time to eat some kind of quick lunch in a fast food.

Afterwards was the long waited for, parting with friends, and meeting of the

families. Took us ages, and we were the last ones with Olivia. She came

before; we hugged, promising not to suicide ourselves during the night, at

least to wait for another look, another sight of each other. I noticed we

both had a little tear in the eyes. I know it looks stupid, and that you are

only supposed to see that in romantic watery films, when the heroine is

separated from somebody dear. This was a little bit the case. But it was

mostly the stress of the whole thing. And let's get back to the story.

After a last hand sight, the bus went away. Now there was only Baptist, ms

Baulland, mr Trummer, the driver, and of course myself.

A few minutes later we arrived in front of the house. Tall, Victorian style,

large windows, stylish double doors, a grand building. A lady, dressed with

taste that I guessed to be the women who would be in charge of us, ms

Joystriple. My heart was thumping so hard I thought it would burst. I took a

side glance at Baptist, he seemed fine. But I started to know him better,

and to see if he is stressed you look at his fingers, they were quivering.

So I was not the only one!

We took our luggage, and walked, hesitantly and behind on my side, but

perfectly casual and unstressed on his part.

"Welcome to Ireland. We hope you will enjoy your stay at our house." The

pretty lady showed us in, and after we left our bags in the corridor, she

offered us a snack, telling us her husband would be coming late, so we

would eat before, and if we would just let her help us getting our things

upstairs in the bedrooms. Because luckily they had a big house, and we

didn't have to share a room. That would really have been it.

The rooms where spacious and well-decorated, I supposed that she had done

the arrangements. I had largely the time to unpack my things, and to doze on

the bed, reading a book I had no care for at that moment.

And then Baptist knocked on the door, he was a bit bored, and actually he

missed his friends. So we played cards until ms stylish called to ask if we

could please come down now so we could have diner.

Once diner was ended, she left, us to clean around, not wanting us to help.

She said, we could go and watch the television that's in the living room. We

did as we were told. Baptist got hold of the remote control first, but I

did my sad face and of course he gave it to me, feeling remorse for having

already separated me from my friends.

At the end of the film, she came back and asked us many things about France,

Paris. She told us her husband had a brother living there, who liked it a

lot, and that themselves had gone a few years before. Her husband would come

very late in the night; we would only see him in the morning.

It was already 22H30, so we went to bed. Having had a long day, I decided to

take a shower. The only problem was that I had to share the bathroom with

him, and of course I always take my time, so he was angry at me for using it

for, as he said, an eternity. Anyways, I went to sleep immediately after

having pulled the sheets over my head.

It was 2h30 a.m. when I next woke up. I sat up feeling totally refreshed, and

actually very curious to get better acquainted with this house. So I got up,

put my sleepers on, and off I was, walking alone in the dark corridors of

this unknown place.

Downstairs, several rooms, I opened the doors without a creak. The dark

around me was tense, and I regretted not having waited for the day's light

for the visit. I didn't know the way back to my bed, which was now the only

place I intended to go to now.

I knew it was upstairs, so the first steps I found, I climbed without

hesitation. On top, it was even darker, and to advance without tripping I

had to follow the wall with my hand. Suddenly, I saw in front of me, a big

and blacker shadow. Thinking it was a pillar, which I thought had nothing to

do with the rest of the house, but you never know. I touched the shape with

my fingertips, to surround it.

All of a sudden I a thought struck me, the "pillar" was hot, soft, and

didn't feel "stony" like the rest of the walls. At the same time, a shadow

coming from the first, lightly stroked my hand. I stood silent, horror

stricken, wandering what on earth could that be.

"Emma, is that you?" So it was not a pillar after all. It was only him.

My hand instantly came back to me, as if being burned my hot iron. And I

stood back to seek his features through the dim corridor.

"Yes it's me! Who did you think it was you donkey?" I felt more confident

now that the unknown thing was actually known to me.

"Well you never know who might be travelling in this house during the

night."

"No really, it's not funny. And what are you doing here anyways?"

"Well, I heard a noise, coming from the stairs and wondered what it was. And

you? What are you looking for on this side of the house, your bedroom's the

other side?"

"Well I..." my voice trailed. What was I supposed to say? That I had wanted

to look around on my own, in the dark? Hardly believable, but then I could

have pointed out that his was not very probable either since I hadn't made

any sound.

"Well we'd better be getting back to sleep. Do you need any help finding

your bedroom?" He was making fun of me, I hated it, but he enjoyed. I

started walking away, from where I came from. Losing myself a second time

was far better than having his mocking eyes on my back.

"It's the other way!" I turned around .And smiled obligingly.

"Thanks. You must be very quick since I see that you are already dressed."

I smiled, happy enough of my revenge. And we both hurried back to our own

rooms.