The Doctor's examination was brief yet I received no information whatsoever on my medical standing. Not that I needed it; clearly nothing was broken and I presumed my brain was functioning normally, judging from the boredom that tickled at the back of my mind, wriggling further and further forward as the days passed. Confused and sulking I decided to continue my preparations for the upcoming IQ examination, becoming panicked at the realisation of how far behind I would be upon my release. This was easier than expected, I discovered, when I solved the initial problem of supplies. It quickly became evident (after a few extreme requests) that I was to be treated like a VIP and receive whatever I requested as long as it provided no information on my whereabouts or communication.

The only visitors I initially received in the duration of my stay were Jeanine with her daily quizzes and doctor examinations every few days (along with my 'pills'); so when Alexander and his family crept cautiously into my room my heart leapt with excitement and anticipation. 'Maybe I was going home!'

"Caleb!" Alexander bounded past his parents and into my room before leaping like a gazette onto my surprisingly springy bed. His parents followed cautiously, smiles plastered to their faces like stiches. An awkward pause followed (well, awkward for all those over the age of 10 at least) as they avoided looking at me like a disease. As if the sight of me would strike them down, a bolt of lightning through their lanky bodies. Then again, knowing Jeanine, maybe it would. Alexander began to natter away pointlessly and I tried to draw my attention away from his sceptically cautious parents and focus on his needless rant; the simplest concept in the room.

"…Oh and Abby came by to see if you were ok, but you were sleeping and-"

"Abby? Who's Abby?" I finally tuned into Alexander's rambling, catching him in mid-flight.

"Oh Abby! She's-"

"Abigail Tamworth," Mr Rousche jumped in loudly. Suddenly present and attentive he met my eyes for a brief, suspicious moment before dropping back into his quiet demeanour. Alexander whirled in a confused circle to stare at him, disappointed at not being able to tell the story. "Abigail's a- a-," he scrambled for the appropriate word.

"-A friend," Mrs Rousche remarked, her husband sending her a silent thanks, "She's an Erudite born initiate, said she was present when you injured yourself." The polite correctness of their wording irked me and the blatantly fake smiles sent shivers down my spine. 'It's just so unnatural, something is definitely wrong.'

It took me a few precious moments for my brain to put two and two together and I jumped to attention when I realised 'Abby' was the girl who'd frightened me. She was the girl. Another moment passed painstakingly and I began to blush at the thought of her seeing me sleep.

'Oh," I finally said, trying desperately to hide my embarrassment, "um, that's nice of her…did she say anything?"

Mr and Mrs Rousche regarded me oddly, but Alexander was more than happy to respond.

"Nope!" His bountiful attitude highly contradicted my plummeting perspective. "Oh yeah! Wait, she did want you to stop by when you were let out, you know to see if you were ok and-"

"Really!" My sudden outburst threw me upright as Mr and Mrs Rousche's confused frowns deepened. I struggled to retain myself and blushed even harder at the obviousness of my growing crush. "Do you think I could head home now? I'm feeling quite alright."

Alexander's parents regarded each other once again and it made me more and more sceptical.

"Please!" Alexander appeared even more eager than I did!

I returned home that day with a loaded tin of pills and strict instructions to 'take it easy'. I was so thankful to be out of that claustrophobic inducing, pit of boredom I celebrated in what appeared the most logical way possible. I visited Abigail Tamworth.