LXXIV

The absolute silence that falls after such a lively conversation is suffocating. As Henry's blue eyes search hers for any hidden truths, Eleven is acutely aware of the warm but stiff hands holding hers.

When he speaks, his voice is barely a whisper: "You kissed him?"

"He kissed me. We kissed." Eleven makes a face. "It was mutual…" It sounds more like a question than a statement.

Henry takes a moment to process this information and finally nods. "I understand."

"You do?" Eleven asks. "Aren't you… upset?"

The man in front of her frowns and caresses her hands with his long fingers. "Upset? What for? We talked about this once, didn't we?"

Only then does she remember it. "Oh. Yeah, we did."

"And I only asked you for one thing, remember?"

Eleven nods. "You and me, first."

Henry smiles and squeezes her hands in his again. "You and me, first," he repeats. "In any case, I would ask that, just as you introduced me to Maxine, you introduce me to this Mike guy."

She has no reason to refuse such a reasonable request. "Okay."

Focused as she is on the kind gleam in Henry's eyes, she doesn't notice the curious look Max sends them from the kitchen.

The girls are watching a movie in the living room when a throat clearing behind them makes them turn around.

"Eleven," Henry says, "will your movie last much longer?"

"I don't think so?" she replies, casting a questioning look at Max.

"Oh, no, Asterix is about to complete the last test."

"In that case, I'll wait for you in the backyard."

Eleven looks at him with obvious surprise on her face. "But… what about Max?"

Henry glances at the girl who simply looks between them with a clearly disconcerted expression.

"She may come too. I'll be waiting."

Wordlessly, he turns around and leaves the room.

As soon as the movie ends, Eleven takes a moment to change out of her clothes into more comfortable ones—baggy blue pants, a Christmas-themed sweater, and a coat—and then heads out to the yard, followed by her friend.

Henry, standing in front of the trees, is already waiting for her.

"What is this exactly?" Max asks. "What are you gonna do?"

"Train," she answers with a smile. "Normally we practice reading minds and… perceiving distant places, but a few months ago we started practicing combat."

"Combat?" her friend repeats with a stunned smile. "Wow. That sounds super cool."

Eleven just nods and runs towards Henry.

Once she's in front of him, Henry places both hands in front of him, one on top of the other, and smiles at her.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. Will we start with projection or—?"

Henry takes a quick step forward, bending his knee slightly, and extends his hand in a rapid movement: Eleven is thrown backwards, but manages to plant her feet on the grass and, thus, avoid a fall.

"I wasn't ready!" Eleven protests as she straightens up.

"In real life, you hardly are," Henry reproaches her without losing his smile. "Come on!"

He repeats the movement, but she expects it this time; she mirrors his posture and confronts his attack. They both tremble from the tremendous effort and ignore the blood that falls from both their noses.

However, in the fight of both their minds, Eleven's is surpassed—she ends up hitting the ground with her back.

Eleven lets her guard down, assuming that, as usual, Henry will end the session. She can't hide her surprise when she feels a tug that drags her body across the grass and carries her towards him.

"Henry?!" she protests.

"What? You're giving up so easily?" His voice is caustic, and Eleven understands that she has misunderstood everything.

That they are still in the middle of training, and that she has given Henry a fantastic opportunity to subdue her.

"Ugh!" she groans as he forces her to slide across the grass and even makes her crash against the foundation of the house.

"EL!" Max screeches.

It's okay, I'm okay, it's nothing, she wants to tell her, yet she is completely focused on freeing herself from the strong grip that Henry has on her.

However, she does not achieve it in time; Henry lifts her into the air as if she weighs nothing, and, in that position, she can't even move her limbs. Eleven sheds tears of pain from the strong pressure that telekinesis puts on her muscles and bones.

"Remember what I taught you," he tells her with absolute calm. "Hold on to a sad memory, one that makes your blood boil…"

Eleven closes her eyes and does so.

She thinks…

Of Billy. Of the way she saw him treat Max. Of her friend's swollen cheek.

She thinks about it and feels the strength flowing through her veins.

"Very nice," Henry compliments her, although he does not relax his prey. "Focus on that. Face me."

Eleven screams and tries, really tries, and…

And it's useless. Henry is too powerful for her. It only achieves getting her some air to breathe, but it is not enough to free herself.

Once he understands that they will not be going any further, he abruptly releases her. Her body falls, inert, on the grass. As best as she can, Eleven props herself up on her elbows and raises her head to make eye contact with her teacher.

His blue eyes are icy.

Only then does Eleven understand something fundamental about Henry: he does not possess the control he pretends to have. He is not capable, either, of rationalizing everything as he would like.

And that's why he's been so hard on her today. Because he cannot berate her for developing a relationship that may jeopardize the bond they share.

Nonetheless, he can, in his own way, punish her for it.