XCVII

Ever since Henry had returned that Sunday and explained what happened with Angela, Eleven has been carrying a bitter feeling of guilt.

Although he has not scolded her, Henry has fallen into an unusual silence—at least, when it comes to her. It's not that he's brisk, but… he's been distracted. Contemplative. Not to mention that lately he spends more time in the attic or his office than with her.

On the other hand, she has discovered him observing Poe in silence.

Maybe he's mad at me because I kinda imposed Poe on him…?

That would be a problem, since she is not willing to deny the kitten all the happiness she is capable of giving him in his final days. If he is angry with her, however, he is not showing it in the usual way.

But he's not acting normally either, she thinks sadly.


On Monday, to her great relief, Angela is absent—Eleven assumes she is resting after… the incident.

However, she has enough problems without her: Mike's intense gaze, sitting beside her, seems to tell her "we have to talk".

Behind her, without her knowing it, Will's eyes go from Mike to her, from her to Mike, in a coming and going that seems to have no end.


"What's going on between you and Mike?"

The question Max asks her during PE time is innocent, formulated by a concerned friend, but Eleven feels like it digs deep into her heart.

However, she can't stop telling her.

"You hit Angela in the face?" Max's question does not seem to harbor reproach; on the contrary, she even sounds excited. "For real?" At her shy nod, she adds: "You are my hero, El."

She knows she shouldn't feel that way, yet she can't help but smile at the compliment.

"It was wrong… Henry had to go talk to her parents and… fix everything…"

Max gapes at her. "Don't tell me that bitch was going to report you…?"

"She did," Eleven confesses. "But Henry—"

Max shakes her head. "Please don't make me complicit in a crime."

Eleven rolls her eyes, a gesture she has learned from Max. "He… paid them to withdraw the charges."

This seems to take the redhead by surprise. "Eh… Seriously?" Seeing her nod, Max remains pensive for a moment before continuing. "Well, but if that's settled… What is Mike's problem, exactly?"

Eleven shrugs. "We haven't spoken… since that day."

"Oh. Uhm. Well, don't freak out, but… I think that's about to change."

She doesn't have time to ask her about it; she follows the direction of her friend's gaze just in time to see Mike walking quickly and steadily towards them.