LXXVI

Against all odds, Maxine's words give him a lot to think about.

Possibly it's because, deep down, he knows the girl is right—he has been unfair to Eleven and he has chosen to hide from her the anger he had felt only to later be unable to control himself and unleash it during their training. Putting it this way, it sounds even ridiculous in its childishness.

He rubs his temples using his thumb and index finger, seeking to relieve an incipient headache. "Because she cares about me?" he repeats then.

In front of him, Max nods. Although he can see that she fears him, he also discerns that she is determined to defend Eleven.

She is a good friend, he thinks. And a small part of him is happy for Eleven.

"I don't know what's going on. I can't comment on what I don't know, I'm just… I'm just telling you what I have seen. And what I've seen is that my friend is sad."

Because of you. He doesn't need to read her mind to know that's what she thinks.

"So… I'm going to go talk to her now," she continues. "I'm going to tell her about my mom and me. And then… Then I'll go home. And… maybe, if I'm not here, you can talk things over… calmly."

After uttering a weak 'okayijustwantedtotellyouthis' and without waiting for any response, the girl disappears up the stairs.


When Max's mother picks her up, the three of them greet her in the hallway. Her eyes betray she has been crying, but, even so, she finds the strength to smile at her daughter. Henry decides not to intrude on her thoughts—he has quite enough with his own right now.

Max hugs Eleven and then thanks them both for having her over. Henry assures her she is welcome anytime; Eleven simply hugs her.

Once mother and daughter have left, the silence is tense. Eleven, however, turns her back on him and prepares to head back to her room.

"Eleven."

"No."

"I think I owe you an apology."

That, indeed, stops her. She turns towards him slowly. Her arms remain crossed in a clear gesture of rejection and her expression is still icy.

And how bad, how incongruous it looks on her face.

"What I did was wrong. I'm sorry."

He can read her like a book: her muscles relax instantly. However, he notices, too, that she is making a deliberate effort to remain angry.

He cannot blame her for this. Not only because of her age, but also because of what he has done. Since she doesn't say anything, he understands that it's up to him to continue: "I acted… incoherently. And I hurt you. It was not my intention…"

"Yes, it was," Eleven snaps. "To hurt me."

Henry takes a silent breath and nods. "Indeed. I admit it. But it was a decision made impulsively."

Eleven weighs his words. Then, uncrosses her arms. Henry doesn't allow himself to get too excited about that small concession.

"When you get angry… you do these kinds of things. You're… You're mean."

It sounds childish and innocent, but Henry is aware that Eleven knows the right words to accurately describe him.

Her failure to do so is an act of courtesy.

Henry decides that the least he can do is take the rebuke seriously.

"You're right," he acknowledges and, although admitting something so personal makes him feel extremely vulnerable, he resolves that it is a fair price to pay if it helps him regain Eleven's trust. He runs a hand through his blonde hair before adding: "I guess… it's a defense mechanism."

Eleven's eyes soften instantly. "Henry…, no one is going to hurt you."

His first impulse is to laugh and respond that no, of course not, no one would dare hurt him, because anyone who tried would be dead before even touching one of his hairs.

However, Eleven's hands taking his bring him back to earth. "I'm going to protect you," she swears. "Always. So… don't act like that anymore."

Henry barely tries to think of an objection when Eleven offers him a shy smile. And that, in addition to the way her little hands hold his as if wanting to protect him from all harm despite the difference in size, disarms him.

"Alright. I will do my best not to subject you to my bad attitudes again."

"You promise?"

Seems as if all our conversations end like this, he tells himself, yet he can't suppress the smile that appears on his lips.

"I promise."