Disclaimer: The main characters don't belong to me, but the rest does.
Dear Diary,
I have both very good and very bad news.
The good news first: Raoul likes me! As in, likes me in a non-exclusively-friendly way. He asked me out today! Officially! I was jumping with joy and grinning at everyone like an idiot and so happy I couldn't breathe until - the bad news.
The bad news: Mr. Destler hates me.
This morning, as we were hurrying to chemistry class, Raoul suddenly stopped walking and grabbed my arm. I was going to ask him what the matter was, when he said "Christine" in an oddly serious voice. I looked up at him to see that he was looking at me quite earnestly.
"Yes?" I asked, my voice quivering slightly.
The hallway we were standing in the middle of was strangely and conveniently empty. The bell would ring in just a few seconds. "Get on with it!" my mind screamed at Raoul, who was now hesitating. Finally, he spoke:
"Christine, I like you very much. Very, very much."
His eyes, always the same impossible shade of blue, were fixed upon mine.
I couldn't talk, so I just smiled as expressively as I could. Raoul smiled too, looking very happy and relieved.
He leaned in, and - the bell rang!
We ran to chemistry class, grinning all the way.
When we walked into the classroom late, there was an awkward silence and everyone just kind of stared at us while we beamed at them like they were presents on Christmas morning. The teacher didn't even tell us to get tardy passes.
When I walked into Mr. Destler's classroom after 9th, I was still feeling light and giddy ; I was walking on the moon, just like in the song.
As could be expected, Mr. Destler noticed.
"What is the reason for that smile, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Oh, it's -... nothing, really. I'm just terribly happy!"
"Well, it can't be the prospect of doing all that homework I assigned that's making you so 'terribly happy', now can it?"
He said that in such a friendly, good-humored tone that I let my guards down.
"You remember Raoul?"
"Yes."
"Well - he asked me out!"
He didn't say anything, so I went on.
"Oh, I know it sounds very silly, and that this can't possibly be of any interest to you, but you did ask!"
I smiled at him, and waited for him to tease me about acting like the lovestruck teenager that I was, or something like that, but no reply came. Instead, he just stared at his hands.
I opened my mouth to change subjects, but he spoke first:
"What did I tell you about talking to that boy?"
His voice was like ice.
"I know, I know, but I didn't think you were serious about -"
"I was!"
I said, as coldly as I could:
"You, sir, are not my father."
"Father? No indeed!"
"Well, then."
I thought that that would be the end of that, but he spoke again.
"What is so wonderful about that boy, anyway? I didn't think that you would be the kind of girl to become besotted with the first blonde poseur to show an interest in you."
"Why exactly are you being so unpleasant?"
"You deliberately disobeyed my orders!"
"Orders? You have no orders to give me concerning my private life!"
"Oh, really? I'll let you know that -..."
"Sir!"
He paused.
"I've always stayed out of your private affairs, and I'll ask you to do the same. Now, how would you like it if I started asking you personal questions? "What's up with the mask," for example?"
I shouldn't have said that.
His hand shot up to his mask and his eyes widened.
After a terrible silence, he spoke.
His voice was quiet and shaky, and there was something painful about the way his words came out, like it was difficult for him to speak:
"Please leave."
I wanted to say something, but instead I picked up my backpack and left without a word.
As I walked home, my concern for him was mixed with anger at him for ruining my good mood. How dare he make me sad on the happiest day of my life!
I felt like Hermione after Ron had been mean to her at the Yule ball. Yes, that's a very good analogy. That would make Raoul Viktor Krum and Mr. Destler... Ron, I guess? Except Mr. Destler couldn't possibly have acted out of jealousy - what an absurd idea!