Nope. Evan totally misjudged. Lucy wasn't looking at him at all. He just hoped she was. In reality, she was asking Mrs. Maaargh if she believed in monsters, and Evan almost embarrassed himself once again in front of the entire class. He was fully ready to ask Lucy how she knew about the Monster Blood. Thank God he was cut off by Maaargh before that could happen.
"I don't know. I think monsters can be an interesting metaphor for the horrors we face everyday in our society. Or sometimes the monsters are the most sympathetic characters in their stories. Take Frankenstein for example. The monster was the true victim." Mrs. Maaargh explains.
Evan scoffs. Victims? Didn't they know monsters hurt and ate people? That they would just keep growing no matter how much they consumed and destruction they caused? That they dogs, hamsters and people into giants? Sure, you could make the argument the Monster Blood never had a brain to begin with, but the chaos it caused was real nonetheless. Nothing anyone could say would change Evan's mind on that matter.
But Lucy nods. "I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Maaargh."
He begins to question if maybe he was wrong about Lucy. What did she know about monsters? But then he looks at Lucy's face again and feels himself melting. You have issues, Evan. He was sure Andy would tell him that, and she was right, but he doesn't care. He was going to learn more about Lucy, even if it killed him.
The rest of class continues like most first days, and with first days come the dreaded icebreakers. You know, all that "tell me a little about yourself" and "what did you do over the summer?" type shit. Reluctantly, Evan fills out a sheet of information, thinking Mrs. Maaargh will probably never read it anyway.
Favorite color? Anything besides green.
Film? He hardly watched those anymore. Last time, he fell asleep in the theater while watching the League of Good Guys movie. Why did the director give the Galloping Gazelle a gun?
Favorite childhood memory? Watching an evil witch get eaten up by her own cursed Monster Blood. Yeah, now that was satisfying, Evan chuckles to himself.
But then Evan sits in boredom as Mrs. Maaargh has everyone read off their sheet and listens to everyone rattling on about how great their summer was. How they went to Niagara Falls, Disney World, HorrorLand, Los Angeles, Camp Jellyjam, and so on. How nice for them. At least Evan's days babysitting Kermit were over. His cousin had already graduated college thanks to his high IQ and was currently developing projects for the US Military with the power of science. Or so Evan had been told. No, now Evan's summers were pretty boring, which was perfectly fine for him. The last "exciting" one was when Andy took him around town as she left graffiti all over the city. They had almost been arrested that night, but Evan had to admit he liked the thrill of it.
He listens as the rest of the class introduce themselves. The blonde guy who interrupted Lucy earlier, his name is apparently Jerry Hawkins. He says he's big into baseball. Something about good hands? A shy, nerdy-looking kid with wavy dark hair tucked under a gray beanie says his name is Ricky Beamer. Evan hadn't even noticed him sitting at the back of the room. He probably prefers it that way. The last name Evan hears as his mind drifts off to fantasy land is Amy Kramer, a smaller girl with tan skin and brown hair. She tells the class she's really into Reggae music, and has been trying to become an artist like her older sister.
Evan sneaks a glance at Mrs. Maaargh and wonders what she's thinking right now. She still look as if she's surveying everyone here, her eyes full of the same hungry look one would look at a piece of meat just before they chomp down. Evan hopes he's not the next meal.
As the bell rings, Evan finds himself following after Lucy, barely keeping up with the girl's surprisingly fast walking speed. Eventually, he catches up.
"Hey. Lucy? I'm Ethan." Evan says, before realizing his mistake. "Shit. I mean, I'm Evan."
He hopes maybe his slip-up will make Lucy laugh, but the girl doesn't really react, she just stares.
"I know exactly who you are, Evan." she says.
