Monday morning I wake up, wondering how I'm going to get to school, when there's a quiet knock on my door. Alfred's still asleep, so I limp over to answer it. It's Ivan, and he's here early.

"Uh… sorry I'm here so early. I figured you'd need help getting downstairs and such." I smile sleepily at his offer and hold up a finger, wait a moment please. I get my glasses and rejoin him, closing the door quietly.

Ivan eats breakfast with me, asking simple yes or no questions, trying to get to know me. Afterwards, he helps me hop back upstairs and I finish getting ready for school, waking up Al so he won't be late.

Ivan then walks me to school, pleased that I can sort of walk on my own, "I see you're getting better." I nod, writing on the whiteboard (which I brought so I can talk at school) 'yep ^-^ thanks to your care, I should be healed in no time!'

"I wish you had your voice, so you could really talk to me."

'I should have it by the end of the month.'

"How? Why can you not have it now?" Ivan asks. I just shrug in reply. When we make it to the main school building, Ivan says, "I will meet you after school and walk you home. Okay?"

I nod and go to my first class.

My day goes by slowly as I explain to every teacher that I can't speak. By the end of the day, I'm about ready to collapse.

Ivan walks me home as promised, and actually stays, sheepishly asking for my help with his homework. "I know you are ahead of your class, and I was wondering… would you help me with my homework." I nod and he pulls out a book. It's got a cover on it, so I don't know what subject it is. 'What subject?'

"It is history. Right now we are working on North America. Canada, to be exact."

I can't help but get excited as he opens the book.

The next couple of days are like this, and I think that maybe he's starting to like me, but on Thursday, Ivan never shows up. Maybe he's sick, or slept in, but there's no call to confirm it. I begin to lose hope. Now that I can walk right, maybe he thinks he'll just leave me alone.

On Friday, he shows up for homework help. "Sorry I was gone yesterday and today. It is complicated."

I shrug it off and help him study Canadian history, paired with a bit of a Russian history lesson for me. Before he leaves for the evening, Ivan asks hurriedly, "Would you go on a date with me?"

I nod in surprise.

"I will pick you up here tomorrow at ten and we will go for breakfast wherever you want." Then he's gone, leaving me flustered.