Chapter 79: Unwanted Attention
Upon opening the front door, the twins found Ayanami in front of it about to ring the doorbell.
"…" Rei said a little surprise from seeing them not dressed similar. The female features of Rana were more pronounced in the girl's school uniform giving greater difference between them.
"Good morning Miss Ayanami," Shinji said with a small bow.
"Good morning Ayanami," the female twin said with a small surprise from seeing her there.
"…good morning Ikari and Rana," the First Child replied going back to her neutral face. Both twins stepped out of the doorway and closed the door.
"How are you today?" he asked.
"I am…well…how about you?"
"I am well though still adjusting."
"I see," Ayanami commented then looked at the female twin. "How are you Rana?"
"…I am nervous," the female twin said with a small smile. "I have never been to school before."
"…" Rei stated with a nod. "It is nothing to be concerned about."
"I hope so. Is Asuka coming with us?" she asked looking down at the apartment door down the walkway.
"…" the First Child answered not really caring about her fellow pilot. "She was still getting ready when I left."
Just as she said that, the apartment door opened and the Second Child came out. She looked worried for a second then glanced down the walkway. Seeing them, her expression changed to irritation. Putting her hands on at her sides and raising her nose a little, she walked toward them with her school bag in hand.
"Good morning Miss Souryu," Shinji said with a small bow.
"Good morning Asuka," Rana stated with a small smile and wave.
'…I still can't get use to seeing a female version of him,' Asuka thought feeling her irritation wane a little.
"Morning. Did this idiot do anything to you during the night?" she asked standing in front of them.
"…?" the female twin replied blinking and tilting her head. "No. Why?"
"You can never trust boys. They are willing to go after anything. Isn't that right Third?" the Second Child declared with a smirk looking at him. The blackout glasses did help her not get the creeps from not seeing the reaper eyes.
"…" the male pilot replied. Blinking, he felt one of the scars on his body heat up a little. However, it didn't last nor was there any emotional or psychological meaning to it. Thinking about the statement as is, a thought came to him as he began walking toward the elevator.
"There is possible truth to that statement Miss Souryu."
"See," the Second Child stated with a smirk walking beside Rana as they followed him. "Even he agrees and he is a boy."
"I-I see," the female twin said not too sure what the redhead was driving at.
"…" Rei commented. Feeling the grip on her school bag tighten a bit, it was from a growing irritation at her roommate. Sighing through her nose, she followed them.
"By the way Third," Asuka asked when they were about to enter in the elevator. "Aren't you going to cover yourself from all the scars on you?"
"I haven't been ordered to conceal them…so no."
"You know that you will be a buzz at school with your death appearance."
"That is possible," he said as the elevator doors closed them and went down.
The four walked together to school with Asuka leading a little ahead. She was informing Rana about all the things to look out for, what to do, and how to act at school. The First Child walked next to the male pilot and tuned out the redhead's rambling. With his blind glasses on, he constantly surveyed his surroundings. Hearing all the sounds around him without voices in his head was still different and new.
Rana kept listening to Asuka while looking back at her male twin. She didn't see him or sense him tensing up or becoming paranoid. Turning back forward, she wished she had his passive confidence to lower her anxiety. Not many people glanced at the group as they walked on the sidewalk. Arriving at the school, there weren't many students in their line of sight. Heading toward the staircase, the twins stayed on the ground while the other Eva pilots were about to climb up.
"Make sure you take her to the admin office," the redhead ordered looking at him.
"…very well," he said with a small bow and started walking in the direction to the office.
"We will head to our homeroom and see you shortly," the Second Child stated.
"O-Okay. See you two soon," Rana said with a small wave then jogged a little to him. "Hey Shinji, wait for me."
"Hard to believe that this is her first school experience," Asuka stated out loud watching them walk side by side.
"…" Ayanami mentioned and walked up the steps to the classroom.
'Wondergirl is fussy this morning. Must be her time of the month,' she thought with a small smirk then walked up the steps as well.
Entering the classroom, Rei went to her seat and sat down. Seeing her stare out the window as usual, Asuka waited for Hikari to arrive. After sometime, the classroom became half full. Both the Second Child and Class Rep were talking to each other near the front entrance door when a lone male student stepped in. Seeing the redhead glance a little behind her and pause, Hikari turned around to see a familiar face.
"Ikari!" she said in surprise to see him. Smiling, she walked toward him. "Welcome back. How are y-!?"
"Good morning Miss Horaki," he said turning to her and bowing a little. "I am doing better. How are you?"
"…!?" she said looking at his neck scar and others on his arms. The aspect that he had blind looking shades on added more to her shock and worry about him. Two other students got up from their desks and were heading toward them.
"Miss Horaki?" he asked in his stoic voice.
"…oh my god…what happened to you?" she asked walking closer to him. The elongated scar that went the length of his neck looked deep and painful.
"…" he said seeing the Second Child staring at him hard. "I was involved in an accident at NERV that left me in their medical facility for some time to recover."
"Dang Shin-man. You looked like you got in a knife fight or somethin'?" Toji asked walking up to them with Kensuke.
"…" he said blinking behind the shades. "These occurred during an accident at the NERV."
"What kind of accident was it? An explosion?" Kensuke asked concerned and excited from hoping to get more information of NERV stuff.
"…" Shinji said turning his head toward the bespectacled student. "In a way, it was an explosion Mr. Aida."
"What's with the shades man?" Toji asked reaching and taking them off. "Are you blind now or something?"
The three students jumped hearing quick movements in the classroom. Asuka instantly walked over to them and snatched the glasses out of the jock's hand. Ayanami walked quickly to be next to him. Both of their expressions were tense for some reason.
"You idiot stooge! His eyes are still recovering!" she yelled at the jock.
"…?!" Hikari, Kensuke, and Toji said blinking and looking at him. His eyes were closed.
"Are you alright Ikari?" Rei asked.
"I am fine."
"Here," the Second Child stated pushing the blackout glasses to the male pilot's hands. "You need to take better care of yourself idiot."
"…?" the three students commented. Watching both female pilots go back to their seats, the male pilot put on the dark tinted shades.
"Geez man. Why she blow up at me for?" Toji stated annoyed.
"My apologies for their reactions Mr. Suzuhaura. My eyes haven't yet recovered from the accident."
"Can you see?" Hikari asked worried.
"Yes, I can," Shinji said looking down for a moment then looking back at them. "I am just over sensitive to light at the moment. The doctor stated the sensitivity should fade over time."
"That's good to hear," Kensuke stated relieved. "Anyway, welcome back."
"Thank you," he said then slightly bowed to them. "Also, thank you for the get well box. I appreciated it while recovering."
"You're welcome!" Hikari replied with a smile.
Toji and Kensuke gave a smile and thumbs up. Suddenly, the teacher walked in and the remaining students came inside. Getting to their seats before the first bell rang, roll call was made. Everyone prepared for another boring lecture when the instructor made a rare turn around to face the students. He looked at the Third Child.
"Ikari," he said causing the male pilot to stand.
"Yes teacher?"
"Why are you wearing sunglasses in the classroom?"
"I have a medical note from NERV stating I must not take them off during the daytime."
"Let me see it," he asked watching the boy walk toward him. Stopping near him, the male teen pulled out a piece of paper from a breast pocket. Handing it to the instructor, he read it.
"Hmm…alright. You may be seated," the teacher stated handing back the note.
Shinji put the note back and bowed a little. Turning around, went back to his seat and sat down. After a short while, there was a knocking at the classroom door followed by it opening up. The teacher stopped talking and saw a staff member with a female student.
"…!?" he said doing a double take then looked at the male pilot. Adjusting his glasses, he turned to the students and cleared his throat.
"Alright, listen up. Seeing as my class is attracting transfers, we have a new student that transferred from another school. Be respectful and accept her as you all did with others," the instructor said then looked back at the door.
"Alright, come in."
The moment the new student stepped in, a wave of shock, surprise, and bewilderment swept the classroom. By the time she reached the center and turned to face them, some had their lower jaws on their desk. Others were already whispering to each other from the spectacle at the front of the classroom. The teacher saw that the new student looked like she was at a loss of what to do.
"Well, introduce yourself."
"Oh, a-alright. H-Hi, I am Rana Ikari," the female student stated and gave a short bow. "I am Shinji's twin sister. I, um…hope to get along with you all."
Neighboring classrooms suddenly heard an uproar from the known classroom that had the Eva pilots.
"Twin sister!?"
"My gosh, they're like identical!"
"What's it like living with Ikari!?"
"What are your hobbies!?"
'No way,' Toji and Kensuke thought at the same time looking back and forth at the twins. 'This feels weird.'
'So that's what Ikari would look like as a girl,' Hikari thought gawking at the female twin.
"…" Rei said glancing at Rana. Looking at the male pilot, he hadn't moved or said anything. She turned back to the window.
"…" Asuka commented and smirked a little from the reactions from students around her. However, the aspect that both her and the Third Child were mirror images of each other kept making her feel surprised.
'Still can't believe it,' she thought internally shaking her head.
"Alright alright! Settle down! Go ahead and find an empty seat," the teacher said trying to calm down the rowdy classroom. Nodding her head and looking around the classroom, the back and middle seats were filled. The only ones available were in the front row. Seeing one vacant next to the male pilot, she sat down there.
"Class Rep, make sure to inform the new Ikari about the duties and other responsibilities after break."
"Yes teacher," the freckled student stated with a nod.
The teacher turned back to the board and began with lecture. Rana looked at what Shinji had on his desk and gathered the same items that were in her school bag. Observing that he was taking notes, she began taking notes; however, the act of writing and feeling the friction of pencil on paper were new. There were so many new things that the senses were picking up that it kept her focused.
"Damn…even Ikari's sister is taking notes of the teacher's lecture," Kensuke whispered to Toji while observing them. Almost half the class was whispering back and forth regarding the new transfer student.
"Bet she the brains of the two," Toji whispered with a yawn.
'…?' Rei thought seeing that the Third Child was taking notes by hand instead of typing them. 'Strange…why is he writing?'
Moving her hands and waking up her laptop, she started to type a message. About to send it, she looked up and noticed something odd. Both of them were writing in-sync. She noticed other students were watching and whispering to each other on how both of them were copying each other's hand movements as well. After a few more minutes, the first break bell rang. Rana was about to turn to Shinji when students surrounded her. Rapid fire questions were stated causing Rana to feeling surprised, confused, and lost.
"Alright. Break it up. You all will get your chance later on," Hikari stated outside the swarm of students with hands on her hips. The students grumbled and walked out of the way. She looked back at both and saw a startled face on the female twin's while the other still had a stoic expression.
"Hello. Sorry for all of the students startling you," she stated putting her hands to her side.
"Do…do they do that to every new person?" Rana asked looking at the freckled student.
"Not normally. It is probably that you are related to Ikari and him being an Eva pilot."
"Oh, okay."
"I'm Hikari Horaki. I am the class representative. It is nice to meet you," she said with a small smile.
"Yes," the female twin said standing up with a small smile and bowing a little. "It is nice to meet you too."
'Her atmosphere is so different compared to Ikari's…but her eye color combination is a bit unique,' Hikari thought staring a little.
After explaining what was expected and required from each student and seeing that she understood, the next period started. During the following breaks, a couple of students would come to her and ask questions regarding herself and the relationship between her and Shinji. Answering them as best as she could, Rana found that she seemed to attract more during the next breaks. When the lunch bell sounded, a good portion of the students hurriedly vacated the classroom. Blinking in confusion, Rana looked over to the male Eva pilot standing up.
"Why did all those students leave quickly?"
"It is the lunch period," he said turning toward her.
"Something going on?"
"Cafeteria is having a sale special."
"Now that you mention it, there was a sign earlier saying of a special," she stated watching him getting out his lunchbox. Getting out hers and standing up, a couple of female classmates approached her.
"Hey Ikari," one of them asked. "Would you like to join us for lunch?"
"…" Rana said blinking in surprise. In her peripheral vision, Shinji did not turn or look in their direction as he was looking at a piece of paper. Thinking about what the classmates asked, she gave a small smile.
"I would like to…but…could we do so tomorrow? I'd like to have lunch with my brother first to catch up on things."
"Sure! No worries!" the female classmates stated smiling and nodding their heads. Watching them leave, Rana closed her eyes and sighed in relief internally. Opening her eyes, she flinched a little seeing the First Child near him.
"Greetings Miss Ayanami, is there something we can help you with?" Shinji asked stoically.
"May I join you for lunch?" she asked with her lunchbox in hand.
"I do not mind," he stated.
"Sure," Rana said with a small smile.
The three headed outside and went to a concrete bench that squared around a tree. As they ate their lunch, the Third Child sat between them. Rana sat next to him while Rei sat one person space away from his left. As time passed, an awkward environment was brewing around them. Glancing up, Rana noticed students were slowly walking by while staring at them. Some stopped to glance back and forth between them with contemplative expressions. Some of the murmurs that they heard caused her to be confused.
"…" Shinji said not expressing anything as he continued eating.
"…" Rei said felt uneasy from seeing so many students gawking at them. However, she kept a stoic face and focused on her lunch.
"…why…why are they staring at us?" Rana whispered feeling uncomfortable.
"Probably due to the similarities between us," Shinji said taking another morsel in his mouth. While chewing, nothing was altered or grotesque which made him almost enjoy eating. However, his paranoia was a learned behavior to always expect something rotten in it. Even if he cooked it, it was an automatic assumption that the food was tampered with somehow.
"What do you think Ayanami?" the female twin whispered without looking up at the crowd.
"It is possible we share physical similarities," the First Child stated then ate another morsel from her lunchbox.
Hearing a familiar voice, the three turned their head to the source at the same time. More murmurs from the crowd increased in volume. After the lunch period, PE was the next class. The girls were doing swimming while the boys were at the basketball courts. Both Kensuke and Toji, through their special services, were requested to get photos of Rana from a number of students. Though they treated it as another job for lunch money, it made both feel off.
"You getting some good shots?" the jock whispered in the small walkie-talkie he had while scanning his surroundings.
[Affirmative rogue leader] Kensuke messaged back with clicks from a camera.
"How does the twin look?"
[Mmm…I give her passing marks.]
"Who can compare to her?"
[W-Why are you asking me?!]
"Just asking. I feel a little bad doing this to Shin-man's twin sis," Toji said hearing his partner climbing down from the lookout spot.
"Well, why not we ask him if it is alright?"
"What!? You crazy man! No way!"
"Well Toji, he is pretty neutral and overly level headed. He wouldn't lash out or anything."
"Hmm…ya got a point there. Ain't like he—" the jock said then turned around to see the male pilot standing a few feet behind them.
"…" Shinji said moving his head to what the bespectacled student have in his hands. Both students followed his line of sight and felt sweat develop on their foreheads.
"S-S-Shin-man…w-why you creepin' up on us!?" Toji stated nervously.
"The PE teacher asked me to find you gentlemen. He wants us to do some cleaning."
"O-Oh, that's r-real friendly of ya!"
"…" the Third Child said bowing a little. "Please follow me."
Turing around and starting to walk in the other direction, both students followed and looked at each other in semi relief. However the walk back was not comforting to both male students. They had a foreboding feeling that something was bound to happen to them. A suspicion came that the male Eva pilot was planning to beat them up from taking photos of his twin sister. However, he didn't say or do anything to them.
When the three reached the basketball court, the PE teacher interrogated both stooges. Toji more than Kensuke put up an indifference attitude toward the probing questions. As quickly as the teacher started, the interview was over with the instructor sighing in irritation. Giving them the cleaning orders, he left saying a derogatory comment about the youth under his breath. Once out of sight, Toji made a face at the back of the teacher walking away.
"Got out of the hot seat," the jock said looking smug at Kensuke who just sighed. Both heard another set of footsteps walking away which was of the Third Child. Their relief feeling was being replaced with a guilty one watching the pilot walk to the cleaning designation assigned to him.
Sitting next to the chain-link fence in her usual spot, Ayanami was not participating in the swimming activity today. There were too many people in the pool. Glancing at one end, Rana was generating a lot of attention from the other female students. The twin didn't know how to swim in which a couple of students were helping and bombarding her with endless questions. A small sense of mirth generated inside the First Child seeing her expression becoming strained from the non-stop conversations in the water.
Observing the other students, Asuka was generating her usual attention. They were attracted by her outgoing behavior, athleticism, confidence, and her being an Eva pilot. The small sense of mirth died away as Ayanami resumed her stoic expression. Suddenly, there was a commotion below at the basketball court. Listening, it sounded like the PE teacher was yelling at a couple of the male students for one reason or another. Hearing wet footsteps getting closer to her, the First Child blinked and looked at who it was. The female twin stopped in front of her looking a bit tired and frustrated.
"Hi Ayanami," Rana said then sighed. "May I sit next to you?"
"I do not mind," Rei replied watching her sit relatively near her. She copied the same sitting position that she was doing: knees up a little and placing their arms around their legs.
"How come you are here by yourself?"
"I don't feel like swimming at the moment."
"Do you know how to swim?" the female twin asked and saw the female pilot nod her head.
"Really?! Could you help me learn?" Rana said then leaned closer to whisper. "A couple of students said they were going to teach me. But they were more interested in everything about myself, Shinji, and other stuff. They weren't teaching me at all!"
"I see," Ayanami stated not backing away from her leaning closer to her. "Wouldn't Pilot Souryu be a better choice?"
"How so?"
"She seemed eager to inform you about school norms and social perceptions and conduct this morning."
"That's true," Rana said looking back at where the Second Child was in the pool. "I think I'd drown from embarrassment with the amount of people staring."
"Understandable. Why not ask Ikari?"
"I would ask him if both boys and girls were swimming together. But since we are separated, I thought I ask you or Asuka first."
"I see…I can if you would like," Rei said turning her head toward her. Rana smiled and pressed her hands together.
"Thank you Ayanami!"
"…" the First Child said nodding her head a little. She then saw the female twin turn her head toward the fence and look down.
"What's going on down there?" Rana asked hearing an adult using a loud voice.
"Teacher correcting students," Ayanami stated staring back forward. The First Child heard a soft sigh emit from the female twin.
"There you are," she said softly.
"…" Rei said glancing at her and seeing a look of interest on her face.
Blinking and following her line of sight, there was a male student that was walking passed a set of outside gym bars. The individual was identifiable based on the dark tinted glasses he was wearing. A smile crept onto the twin's face while she put her hands on the chain-link fence. Gripping it a little, her fingers curled onto it. Oddly, the expression and body language Rana was giving made Ayanami feel alert and stare at her hard.
"Hey Ayanami…may I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," the First Child said evenly.
"Do you think…it's strange to have feelings for a sibling?"
"…" Rei said blinking then thinking about it. "It depends on the feelings. What kind of feelings?"
"Maybe," Rana said turning toward her and looked a tad embarrassed. "Maybe something more than being just siblings."
"…" Ayanami stated having more certainty about what feelings she was suggesting.
An immediate objection came to her mind. However at the same time, she had no sibling or family experience to say the twin's feelings were wrong or right. Other than having the Commander as a guardian and leader figure, she never saw him as a father. As she got older, the feelings morphed into wanting to become more involved with him. However, there seemed to be social norms and ethics that frowned on that age discrepancy between them. Currently, there was also the recent recovery of Dr. Ikari in which seemed to preoccupy the Commander's mind and attention.
"..." Rei mentioned as bitter thoughts came when thinking about that woman and what she could bring out of Gendo.
"Have you felt this way towards someone Ayanami?" the female twin asked turning back to looking at the male student.
"…" the First Child answered blinking then looking down at the same student as well.
"Someone that is close and makes you feel whole," Rana stated feeling red come to her cheeks. "At the same time, there seem to be obstacles and standards in the way of being able to go further with them?"
"…!?" Ayanami said feeling her eyes widen and looked with her eyes only at the female twin. She saw her let go of the fence and turned back to her. Hugging around her thighs, Rana leaned forward to rest her head on her knees. Only her eyes moved and looked at the First Child.
"Have you experienced that feeling Ayanami?"
"…" Rei responded and slowly went back to her stoic expression. Turning back to staring forward toward the pool, she thought about the question and who came to mind.
"Yes…I have," the albino student stated as the PE teacher called everyone to go get change and get ready for their next class.
The remaining periods went by for the day. At the end of the last period, Shinji was assigned the cleaning duty of the classroom. The Class Rep stated the ending day classroom procedure and dismissed the class after the teacher left. As the students went out, the remaining students left were the Eva pilots, the Class Rep, and Rana. Shinji had already put his things back in his bag and began moving desks to start cleaning.
"Do you remember where the cleaning room is Ikari?" the freckled student asked him before taking her leave from the classroom.
"I do Miss Horaki. Thank you for asking," he replied turning around to face her.
"Would it be alright if I help Shinji with cleaning?" Rana asked. Both Hikari and Asuka reacted with surprise from seeing the sibling's support gesture. Rei kept her stoic face, but gripped her school bag a little.
"You can, but you aren't obligated to since it isn't your cleaning day."
"That's okay. If I learn it now, I won't have to worry when it is my turn. Thank you," Rana said with a smile that made the Class Rep blink in surprise.
'The differences between the two are like black and white,' Hikari and Asuka thought looking back at the male pilot to see his stoic expression in contrast to his twin sister's friendlier atmosphere.
"Hey Shinji," the female twin said getting next to him and smiling. "Could you show me how things are done?"
"…" he replied keeping a stoic expression and blinking. "Very well. We will need to move the desks and get cleaning supplies."
"Show me," she continued and reached out and gently grabbing his right arm. "The supply room first."
"I will show you," Ayanami commented stoically and appearing to Shinji's left side. Only he didn't recoil or look in surprise to see the First Child standing there.
'I didn't even see her get up or walk…how did she do that?!' the Class Rep thought gulping.
'Damn it!' Asuka shouted in her mind shaking off the surprise. 'I swear, Wondergirl has to be freaking related to that psycho idiot!'
"…" Rana said turning her head toward the First Child. Seeing her have an expressionless face, the twin matched it before turning it into a small smile.
"O-Okay," the female twin stated. Letting go of him, Ayanami escorted the female twin to the cleaning supply closet. Watching them leave, Horaki felt her arm being pulled by her friend.
"Come on Hikari. Third can take care of cleaning by himself."
"Oh…okay," the Class Rep looking back into the room seeing Ikari giving a small bow. He turned around and began moving the desks to the wall. Out of the corner of her eye, a pair of faint red orbs was seen reflecting on the window. Though she would have stopped to look at it, Asuka kept pulling her in tow. Shaking her head, she continued walking with her friend.
"Such a small room," Rana stated as Ayanami pointed out the various mops, buckets, and other cleaning supplies.
"When finished cleaning, bring everything back here."
"Got it. Thanks again Ayanami," the female twin stated smiling.
"…" the First Child said nodding her head. Turning back and beginning to leave, she stopped. Thinking about when the female twin was talking to the Third Child, how she talked, and touching him earlier, the small sense of anger was still there.
"Something wrong?" Rana said while grabbing materials needed to clean the classroom and placing them in a bucket.
"…no…" Rei said shaking her head. "Goodbye."
"Bye. See you later."
Leaving the cleaning storage room, her homeroom was coming up. Stopping at the doorway and looking inside, the Third Child just finished with desk stacking two rows. Beginning on the next row, she just stared at him. Recollecting what Rana stated during the PE period, she became lost in thought. Hearing someone call to her, she blinked.
"Miss Ayanami?" Shinji stated in front of her making her flinch a little and blink again in surprise.
"…!?" she said seeing his passive face and blackout glasses. His materialization and murkiness made the hairs on the back of her neck rise a little.
"Something the matter?"
"…no…I was just…thinking about something."
"I see," he said with a blink. Looking down in thought for a second, he raised his head.
"I am sorry for being a bit late to say this," Shinji started then bowed toward her. "Thank you for the get well gift and your kindness for visiting me in the hospital. I appreciate you doing that Miss Ayanami."
"…" Ayanami stated blinking in surprise again. Thinking about what he said, a warm tingling sensation occurred in her chest that made her feel better. It made the corners of her mouth turn up a little. Watching his face come up, he still held a neutral expression.
"You are welcome Ikari," she said feeling her arms tingle. An urge of wanting to reach out to him suddenly came.
"Shinji, I got the cleaning supplies!" Rana said entering the classroom from the other door.
"…" Ayanami said not moving her arms and staying in the doorframe. Watching him turn his head and nod at the female twin, he turned back and gave a small bow to her.
"Excuse me Miss Ayanami. Have a nice day."
"Bye Ikari," she said watching him go back to moving desks.
Rana set the cleaning supplies down nearby and helped him with moving desks. Both females made eye contact in which the female twin smiled and gave a small wave at her. Feeling no ill from her, the female pilot nodded her head a little and turned around. Exiting the classroom, she only went down a couple of steps till she stopped. The feeling of loneliness crept back into her again; however, it seemed stronger than usual.
"I…" she whispered looking back at the classroom before continuing down the stairs. Remembering the feeling of being appreciated, the warmth from it, and the times of being comforted, her impulses and urges seemed harder to control. Reaching the bottom of the stairs and walking to the school exit, she placed a hand on her chest. The organ seemed to be beating a little faster than at a normal resting rate.
"…want more of this feeling," she said to no one continuing to walk home by herself.