Chapter 7

There was snow on the ground, but the sun was shining brightly, making the snow sparkle so brilliantly that both Elizabeth and Libby were entranced. "You know," Elizabeth said. "The Latin word for 'white' can also mean 'beautiful.' Nix candida. How appropriate!"

"Yeah," Libby agreed, absentmindedly zipping and unzipping her jacket. "If only it could get us out of school."

"I'll second that," Fejiro said from behind, making both girls jump. "Don't we have a French quiz today?"

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "Did you study?"

"No. I was counting on school being cancelled. What year was Marie Antoinette executed again?" This earned him a whack in the stomach from Elizabeth. "Ow! Elizabet!"

"My lips are sealed! It's your own fault you didn't study!"

Suddenly, Ben came up to them, talking on his phone. "Okay honey, that's fine. Yes, we're all set, don't worry. Of course I remember how to feed you! Look, I'll talk to you later; I gotta get to class. Yeah, love you too. Bye. Bye, Rose." He hung up and blew out an exasperated stream of air. "Women."

"Is my sister wearing you out?" Elizabeth asked with a laugh.

"You would not believe. She's called me five times today already!"

"Hey, at least you don't have to coordinate your 'ensemble,'" Fejiro said. "Honestly, who cares if I wear red and Libby wears pink? That's like bullshit."

"Hey, I'm right here!" Libby whined. "And watch your language!" A laugh burbled out of Elizabeth before she could stop it.

"What are you cackling about, Elizabet?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing." Elizabeth shook her head. "The only thing is that Libby used that word just last week, about our math homework."

"That was for good reason," Libby pointed out. "Those triangles were a bitch."

Magister Hirum's 11th period class found him in a state. He was desperately packing his bags and signing out of his computer. He appeared as if he had seen the Loch Ness monster. "Magister Hirum?" Elizabeth asked concernedly. "What's going on?"

"Treachery, treachery, Domina Elizabeth!" Magister Hirum moaned. "I am accused of smoking tobacco. I am asked, no, ordered, to leave school grounds immediately! Just got the notice on that wretched machine there!"

"But, but, no!" Elizabeth spluttered. "You can't! You couldn't have! Magister!"

"Be cheery, Elizabet," Fejiro said. "We probably don't have a quiz now."

"Fejiro!" She hit him on the arm. Mrs. Grufuld suddenly came into the room with a man who Elizabeth was sure was the new teacher. She seized her opportunity. "Mrs. Grufuld, you can't permit this! This is unjust!" The whole class starred at Elizabeth as she leapt out of her seat in a rush of outrage.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth hun, but rules are rules," Mrs. Grufuld said, trying to be comforting. "Mr. Hirum, do you have all your things?"

"I do," Magister Hirum spat. "Classe, discipuli et discipulae, I leave you now. Thank you for your conversations, your essays …" He looked over at Elizabeth, who was still fuming from her seat. "Your righteous enthusiasm."

"Come on, Hirum," a school policeman said.

"THE POLICE?!" Elizabeth screamed, standing up again. "You can't arrest him! It's unwarranted! Magister! MAGISTER HIRUM!" But Magister Hirum was already gone. Elizabeth sat down, defeated.

"Chill, Lizzie!" Libby hissed.

"Okay, students," the new teacher said. "I am Mr. Knox, and I'm here to teach you not only French, but the diverse cultures of Francophone countries."

"We're not gonna learn any French," Elizabeth whispered to Fejiro. "I just know it." Fejiro just shrugged; he knew Elizabeth was getting a terrible reputation as a loudmouth.

"First, we will learn about Mozambique …"

Elizabeth stood up yet again. "Excusez-moi, Monsieur Knox? Je voudrais apprendre francais, s'il vous plait." Excuse me, Mr. Knox? I would like to learn French, please.

"Well, um, mademoiselle, this is a French class …"

"You don't even know any French, do you?! Vous etes merde!" The better students gasped at Elizabeth's extreme language as she punched the wall with her fist, as if it was Mr. Knox. Immediately pain shot through her wrist. "Ah! I shouldn't have done that!"

Mr. Knox gave a gusty sigh. "Will someone please take … Elizabeth Thornberg to the nurse?"

"I will." All heads turned to see Fejiro Akelemo standing up boldly. "Shall we go, Elizabet?"

"Sure," Elizabeth mumbled. "Hold my wrist steady." On their way out, they did not notice that they bumped into a freshman outside the door.

"So," Fejiro started as they walked down the hallway. "Why did you break your wrist anyway?"

"Oh, just for the hell of it," Elizabeth quipped. "'Cause I was angry, that's why! Magister Hirum! You should be, too."

"Why is it that every time I see you, you are always causing some sort of commotion?"

Elizabeth sighed sharply. "I don't cause commotions; I am one." She laughed darkly at her own joke.

They made their way down the stairs. "That's for sure," Fejiro mumbled. Immediately he regretted it.

"Oh, so I should keep my mouth shut, is that what you think?!"

"Elizabet …"

"Do you think I want to care? Do you think I WANT to be this way?!"

"Bet …"

"Do you realize how much EASIER my life would be if I didn't?!"

Fejiro inhaled sharply. "Do you EVER let anyone else talk?!"

Elizabeth suddenly felt a little remorseful. "Sorry. But can I just say one more thing? You didn't have to take me to the nurse. You could've let Libby or someone else do it."

He scoffed. "So?"

"So," Elizabeth went on as they entered the nurse's office. "However self absorbed and shallow you pretend to be …"

"Excuse me!" Fejiro exclaimed hotly. "I am no play actor! I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallow!"

They sat down. "No, you're not," Elizabeth said, unsmiling and thoughtful. "Or you wouldn't be so unhappy." Fejiro had to keep his mouth from dropping open. No one had ever seen through his façade before, especially not a girl! And, now that he looked at her more closely, Elizabeth was kind of beautiful. Those brown eyes …

"Um … uh …" he stuttered. "Do you mind if I call you Bet?"

"Beth? Sure!" she replied. "Heaven knows, it's better than Lizzie!" As they laughed together, Elizabeth noticed how Fejiro's laugh sounded like an exotic melody. His grip on her injured wrist was firm, but gentle, and it was warm.

"So, what happened here?" the nurse asked, finally coming over to see them.

"Elizabet here lost an argument with the wall," Fejiro reported with a smile. "And now her wrist has a boo-boo on it." Elizabeth shot Fejiro a look of death.

"Yep, it's definitely broken," the nurse confirmed, examining Elizabeth's wrist. "You lie down now, and I'll cast it for you, but you should probably have your doctor take an X-ray, okay?"

"Alright," Elizabeth said, lying down on the bed. "Fejiro, you should probably …"

"I should probably head class to back," Fejiro said, grappling with English words. "I-I mean, back to class. I go back to class now."

"Alright."

"Goodbye, Bet!"

"Bye, Fejiro!" As he left, some power possessed her. "Wait! Fejiro!"

"He's already gone, honey," the nurse said in a consoling tone. "You just lie quiet now; I'm almost done."

Damn it all! He was everything Libby said and more! He was kind. Yes, Fejiro Akelemo had the ability to be kind to someone like her. And those dreads … Oh, good Lord! She had let herself fall in love! How could he possibly want someone like her? He had Libby Baldor, with her golden curls and fair, perfect skin. But she could still almost feel his warm grip on her wrist. No, Elizabeth, stop! You're not that girl. She was in a morose mood for the rest of the day.