I knew that I looked like an idiot, shedding tears like a bathtub. But I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop. He placed his arm around me, his fingers playing with my still drip dropping hair. "It's alright. I'm here. I'll protect you." It does really sound classical, but I felt so much safer now; not being alone, and being with him. I lifted my head a little bit, just enough to see he did care. For once, there was some real feeling on his face. I hide my face under his chin. I felt so great. Sitting up, I looked into his eyes, they were more green than brown now. We were now so close, our noses touched. We turned our heads sideways. I felt a soft feeling on my cheek, his fingers. We were now so close our breaths mingled, our stares too. It was too hard, intense like it had never been before. I closed my eyes, it was easier. His fingers travelled near my temples, on my watered eyelids, descended on my cheeks, taking their time, and they arrived on my lips. I softly pressed them on my lips with my hand, as one would to say good-bye, and kept his hand in mine. A shiver penetrated me, but it was too late. My mind and conscience had already vanished. I advanced my face, meeting his. His lips found mines. In my shut eyes, a huge and magnificent firework startled me. It was the first one. My first kiss. It seemed to last forever, the time stopped, my heart too. I though I would really die, the feeling was impressing, and wonderfully exciting. I backed away, a few millimetres, and looked at him. But my eyes were sore, my heart beating in my head, I couldn't see him. The world was all troubled. He got up, and helped me to stand. The floor was damp, but we could now walk without falling over. My frozen hand into his warm one, my heart was about to explode, I flushed. He guided me to the party's room. The sky was clear, the night peaceful. The moon was bright, looked like a cheese some people might have shared together. The water ran along the boat, the light shone on its now perfect surface. With a last knowing look at each other, we opened the door. I was immediately separated from him by Olivia and Arietta who had had their go at champagne. They were red and excited too, but very different reasons I dare say. Everyone asked me what had happened, where was I, and why hadn't I stayed at the party. I responded coolly that I had slept, he had found me, and brought me back. Of course none of it was true. But they were too drunk to realise that. And in the morning, they had totally forgotten about my trickling wet hair and clothes, and the glances we had guiltily exchanged during the end of the night. I learned later, that Olivia had not had a so peaceful night as I first supposed she had. It seems that she and Didier had been especially close. But that is not my affairs. Right?

We arrived at Cherbourg, in the morning, and drove all the day to Paris, arriving at the school at 6h30. We then all had to go to our houses, meet our families, and get prepared for the next day. The morrow was a Friday, the 19th, and we were to go to school to take our work for the holidays.