Chapter 11:
(Rose's POV)
I watched my student as she studied; she seemed distant and disinterested the past few days. Perhaps she's sick or something. I don't know what to think, she won't talk about much of anything anymore. The woman used to be full of pep almost to the point of being somewhat childish. Chikane asked her what the matter was earlier in the week and she had received an almost standoffish reply, not like Heather at all. Captain Kuchiki had even stopped me a couple of days ago to ask if something happened. She must be acting weird around them as well.
"Heather?" I called her and her head lifted from the textbook that she has finally able to read. "Yes, sir?" she asked a little too quickly. "A lot of people, including myself, have noticed that you have been acting a little off lately. Is there anything wrong?" I inquired gaining a look of hesitation on her face. "We're all really concerned about you." I tried to coax her. My student sighed, "Nothing, I'm just acting stupid. I'm sorry." "Don't be sorry, talk to me about what's eating at you." I pressed softly, she's too proud for her own good. "You can come to me for anything." I continued. Heather gave me a half defeated look and tried to feed me the excuse, "I'm just homesick, that's all."
I put down the calligraphy brush that I was using and moved from my seat at my desk and sat on the couch next to her place on the floor where she was sitting. "What was 'home' like?" I inquired as I got comfortable. She looked at me curiously, like she was confused about the question. "Why?" she asked. I shrugged, "Just curious." Heather gave me a look as if she did not know what to think of me. "It's not like I miss much of it, just a couple people. I wonder if they stopped looking for me by now, my missing persons case must have gone cold a week in. I don't make friends with many people." she tried to explain. "So, you're basically very particular about people?" I tried to deduce, she was kind of rambling. She seemed to be dog-piled with many issues or trying to convince herself that no one would miss her. "I try my best, but what can you do?" Heather replied in a half smile. "I took you as a rather social person." I stated, I honestly thought that she was somewhat of a social butterfly. She looked back at me somewhat surprised and replied, "I guess I'm warming up to people a little bit." I straightened up in my seat and prodded, "So, tell me about yourself."
"I don't know where to start… I like music." Heather replied lamely which piqued my interest. "Really? What kind?" I asked and she laughed lightly, "Please don't make me choose a genre, there's too many. I had a whole phone full of different kinds of stuff that goes as far back as the fifties.""Back?" I mocked playfully. She smiled sheepishly and exclaimed equally playful, "I'm telling the story!" I chuckled lightly; I could sense that she was loosening up and feeling much more comfortable than she seemed earlier. "Well then, please continue." I prompted.
I have no idea how long we had been talking; but the more she opened up to me, I had confirmed to myself that she was not some weird alien that everyone seemed to think of her as. When I first heard her story I was skeptical, thought that she was just yanking our legs or she really was just a freak. When I saw her for the first time and spoke to us, it was obvious that she was human with a strange form of energy. I was curious about her to say the least and I thought we were on somewhat friendly terms until she decided to clam up for some reason. I couldn't help but feel that there was something else that she was not telling me on top of everything else. I didn't want to pry now that I got her to joke around now more than she usually did. She was comfortable again and I did not want to scare her back into her solitary state. It made the office a little bit livelier when there's someone to talk to. Maybe next time, we'll talk more serious. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the fun.
I looked at the clock and realized how late it really was. "Uh-oh." I stated and sat up closer to check if I was reading the time right. Eleven O'clock. We were here for a very long time. "What's the matter?" My student asked looking in the direction I was and jumped up. "Oh my God! I should have been back hours ago!" she exclaimed as she slammed her books shut and put them away as quickly as possible. I watched her scramble around; it was like a teenage girl afraid of disappointing her father. "Heather, settle down. Its okay, I'm sure Captain Kuchiki won't be cross. You're an adult, remember?" I assured causing the woman to stop in realization and let her head drop as she began to chuckle at herself. "You're right; I just never acted like an adult a day in my life." she admitted sheepishly. "Something tells me that you were never treated like one in order to act like one." I stated honestly and realized I might have offended her. To my surprise she nodded in agreement and replied, "Blame my mother; she never gave me an inch to breathe."
"Well, since it's so late out, would you like for me to walk you home?" I offered. Heather looked at me and asked in a joking manner, "Why? Afraid I'll be swept away into the night and never be heard from again?" I smirked in her direction; her and her jokes are one of a kind. "No, it just seems right to escort a lady home at night. Besides, I want to hear more about you." I replied. She gave me an expression that I could not recognize as anything distinct and replied, "Alright, you win."
I stood up and shuffled over to my desk and leisurely tidied up a little bit, "Are you ready to go?" I inquired she nodded and followed me to the door and let her out in front of me. We talked until we made it to the front gate of Kuchiki manor where guards were posted. "Well, here's my stop." Heather said with a sad smile. I smiled back; I was honestly enjoying her company too much to want her to leave. "I guess so." I replied and stopped in front of her. "I understand the students have a break now for about a week. I wanted to know if you would settle for a four day weekend." I asked her and she nodded, "Yeah, I can do that." I felt the need to lean in but stopped myself. Whoa! What was I about to do?! "Well, I'll see you on Monday, then. Goodnight, Heather." I dismissed myself. "G'night, Captain." she said and left through the gate doors.