Chapter 4:
Getting to Know Adam
Faith didn't see Adam again until Tuesday at lunch. Max had run ahead with Kiyoshi and Jeffrey to find a free lunch table outside while the nice weather lasted. Faith was walking with her tray when she spotted Adam sitting alone at a picnic table. He had a book open and appeared to be reading.
After several moments of contemplation, Faith finally worked up the courage to go talk to him. She took a deep breath and walked over. Setting her tray down on the table, she sat down and spoke before he could say anything.
"What are you reading?"
He didn't even appear to notice her presence. Then, "Not reading, studying." He answered without looking up from his book.
Faith raised an eyebrow. "Well, usually people read when they study, don't they."
That caught his attention. Adam looked up from his studying. His eyes still blue and intense, but now they were not as bright and clear as they had been last Saturday. Instead they seemed muffled and hazy. From reading, perhaps?
"Don't you usually sit with that Max kid?" Adam asked sharply.
"I thought I'd come over and say 'hello.'"
"You said hello, now you can leave."
Hurt at this remark, Faith could feel hot anger swell deep inside here. She couldn't believe she had actually thought she was getting somewhere with this kid! "The reason I wanted to say hello is because you're sitting out here all by yourself. You don't seem to have any friends, and it's no wonder considering that you greet everybody the way you just did me. Be lonely, for all I care."
But she did care, and that was just the problem.
She risked a quick glance at him to measure the damage. But instead of angered, Adam looked surprised. Then, the beginnings of a smile tugged at his lips, but he didn't allow it to surface.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." His voice had an edge of humor to it. He closed his book. "I'll try to be more polite when ever someone talks to me from now on." He held out his hand graciously, but he wasn't mocking her when he said sincerely, "Would you like to join me?"
Faith had no problem revealing her smile. As suddenly as it had darkened, her mood began to brighten again. "I already have."
"Oh. Well, then should we engage in some polite conversation."
"Yes, let's."
Faith started by asking about Gregory Campton, because Adam appeared to know a lot about him. He said that Gregory's father was American, and his mother was French. There were rumors that Gregory didn't really qualify to go to school there, that Gregory's rich father bribed the headmistress to allow him to attend the finishing school. In other words, Gregory was not a genius like his classmates. Adam personally believed these rumors, but he warned Faith for the second time to stay away from Gregory, who could ruin Faith if he wished.
Eventually, the conversation turned to more pleasant topics. Adam confirmed that he was indeed from Canada, and that he especially liked the rose gardens because they reminded him of home. Adam said his mother used to keep roses before she died.
Faith tried not to gasp. The fact had slid in so easily; it sounded almost casual coming from Adam. "I'm sorry," Faith managed.
"Don't worry about it."
Faith searched his face for any trace of emotion, but as usual, he was perfectly stoic.
At that moment, Max approached the picnic table.
"There ya been, baby. We were wondering where you could have gotten to. I'm gonna head to class early. Wanna come?" he asked.
Faith realized that during her conversation with Adam, she had somehow managed to finish her lunch, and the period had passed quickly. "Sure, just a sec." Faith turned to Adam. "Do you want to come with us?"
"No, that's okay. I'm going to finish up studying."
"Okay, then," she said, a hint of disappointment in her tone. "See you later, Adam."
"Bye," he nodded.
As soon as Adam was out of earshot, Max asked Faith what she had been doing with him.
"We were just talking," she answered truthfully.
The next day, Faith saw Adam at the same table again. She invited him to sit with her and the other three boys, but he declined. She asked him again the next day and the next. He always refused. But Faith never relented. She asked him day after day, until finally, he accepted.
Still she had to invite him, until after about a month, it became custom that he sat with them. So it was that the five young people would hang out together - at lunch, after classes, and when it got cold, inside the heated cafeteria. They all got along pretty well, except for an occasional disagreement between Max and Kiyoshi, but everybody was used to that. Max was always the first one to bounce back and forget about it, and that usually took up to a maximum of five minutes.
Spending so much time together, they all started to become better friends. Together, they made up the perfect survival team. Max was the happy-go-lucky clown of the group. Jeffrey was shy and serene and avoided conflicts at all possible cost. Kiyoshi was obsessed with perfection, but was wise in his own way. Faith was peacemaker and ever cheerful. And Adam was . . .well . . .Adam. He was usually quiet, but when he did speak, everyone stopped to listen. They all had an unspoken, mutual respect for him.
Although they were friends with each other, the rest of the students pretty much acted as if none of them existed. The most likely reason was that they refused to follow the crowd and worship Gregory Campton, praising every move for fear of going against him. Not to say that it didn't bring about trouble once in a while. But we'll get to that later. For the meantime, they didn't mind, because they had each other.
Now Faith got along with pretty much everyone. But Kiyoshi didn't seem to be very fond of her. Maybe it was because she was such good friends with Max, or maybe it was because she was a girl. Kiyoshi tended to have a closed-minded opinion about those sorts of things. He wasn't mean to her, but he often ruled (under his own jurisdiction, of course) Faith unfit to physical activities and things generally reserved for the male sex: such as basketball, which had come to be the friends' major activity during those first fall months.
One cool, cloudy day in October, Faith and the four boys were sitting on one of the many meandering brick walls on campus after classes. They were talking about technology class and how they hated it and, in the end, voted it a five to zero majority worthless. Then Faith asked if the school did anything for Halloween.
"Not Halloween," said Jeffrey, who was the authority on these types of things, seeing as he had gone to school there the year before. "Some people don't celebrate that holiday, so we have an autumn festival instead. I remember the one from last year. There were games, food, a cross-country race, all sorts of things."
"A cross-country race?" asked Adam. "About how long is that?"
"One and a half miles," Kiyoshi answered expertly, before Jeffrey could respond.
"Sounds hard," put in Faith.
"Especially on this unleveled land," added Max.
"I think the winner gets a prize," Jeffrey continued. "Last year it was seven free homework passes - that's enough to get no homework for one day."
"You'd expect something cheap like that from this school," stated Adam.
"Yeah," Jeffrey agreed. "I think it was Gregory Campton that won last year. In fact, I'm sure he did. He's been the only winner for the past three years."
"Figures!" Max said angrily. "There's no doubt that he won just because he'd have his followers beat up any one who'd try to pass him."
"True," said Jeffrey. "That's why I didn't race last time."
"He's probably going to go for four year straight, don't ya think Jeff?"
"I'd count on it."
"Well, I'm not going to let any stupid threat stop me," Kiyoshi said calmly, and everybody stopped and looked at him. "I'm going to enter that contest or race or whatever it is and I'm going to win." His limitless confidence never ceased to amaze them.
"That would be great," Faith started hesitantly. "It would be even greater if a whole bunch of people beat him, though. That'd put his ego down several notches. What do ya say, guys, should we all race?"
Before anyone could answer, Kiyoshi interrupted. "I don't know, Faith . . .racing's pretty hard. You probably shouldn't get mixed up in it, especially if there's a chance you'll end up getting hurt."
She probably could have taken it better if there had been any genuine concern in the statement. "Whadaya mean?" Faith was about to explode. "You're allowed to race and I'm not? I'm as good a racer as anybody. Who says I can't win?"
No answer, which only served to fuel her anger.
"Even if I'm not the best athlete in the world, it's my right to race or not if I want to!"
Kiyoshi looked at her doubtfully. No one else said anything. There was an uncomfortable silence. Faith could feel hot tears burning behind her eyes, but she held them back. There was no way she was going to let Kiyoshi see her cry.
Max leaned over and reached across Jeffrey to pat her hand. "Don't you worry about him, baby. He's just in a bad mood because I got a better score than him in government class." He shot Kiyoshi the meanest look he could manage, who glared back at him.
To everyone's relief, Adam asked changed the subject by asking Kiyoshi if he wanted to accompany him to the stables. Kiyoshi nodded and the two of them left. Then Jeffrey said he had better start on his homework, so he headed to the dorms, leaving Max and Faith alone on the wall. A cool breeze blew by, causing Faith the shiver.
Suddenly, she turned to Max. "Aaaaaarrggghh, I can't stand it! Max, why does Kiyoshi always insist that I'm no good at everything?"
"Oh, he's just that way with everyone. I wouldn't take it personally," he comforted.
"So then why do I keep getting this feeling that I'm not worthy? It's terrible. I've got to prove to him that I'm his equal and put a stop to this inferiority. Max, he's getting me thinking that I am inferior! I have to win his respect somehow."
Max scowled, visibly annoyed at how she was beating herself up about the matter. "Look, baby, you don't need his respect. I certainly don't have it, and I don't care. He's just a loser that gets by with making himself feel better by putting others down. You should care less about what Kiyoshi thinks."
"I know Max, but I'm not like you! I can't stand it when people, especially my so-called-friends, think I'm incapable. Max, you gotta help me! Now I have to enter that race, don't you see? I have to prove to Kiyoshi that I can do it, one way or another. Won't you please help me?"
Max scowled some more.
"Pleeeeeaaasssee," she begged.
Max sighed. He put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "We'll see, baby, we'll see."
He helped her off the wall and steered her in the direction of the dormitories. The sun was just beginning to set, and the twilight brought an ever-colder chill.
*A/N: Sorry this chapter is so boring. This is more like a 'setting up for action' chapter. Riiiiigghhht. I'll leave you to the reviews now! (And seriously, tell me what's confusing or what you don't get so I can clear it up for you.)*
Getting to Know Adam
Faith didn't see Adam again until Tuesday at lunch. Max had run ahead with Kiyoshi and Jeffrey to find a free lunch table outside while the nice weather lasted. Faith was walking with her tray when she spotted Adam sitting alone at a picnic table. He had a book open and appeared to be reading.
After several moments of contemplation, Faith finally worked up the courage to go talk to him. She took a deep breath and walked over. Setting her tray down on the table, she sat down and spoke before he could say anything.
"What are you reading?"
He didn't even appear to notice her presence. Then, "Not reading, studying." He answered without looking up from his book.
Faith raised an eyebrow. "Well, usually people read when they study, don't they."
That caught his attention. Adam looked up from his studying. His eyes still blue and intense, but now they were not as bright and clear as they had been last Saturday. Instead they seemed muffled and hazy. From reading, perhaps?
"Don't you usually sit with that Max kid?" Adam asked sharply.
"I thought I'd come over and say 'hello.'"
"You said hello, now you can leave."
Hurt at this remark, Faith could feel hot anger swell deep inside here. She couldn't believe she had actually thought she was getting somewhere with this kid! "The reason I wanted to say hello is because you're sitting out here all by yourself. You don't seem to have any friends, and it's no wonder considering that you greet everybody the way you just did me. Be lonely, for all I care."
But she did care, and that was just the problem.
She risked a quick glance at him to measure the damage. But instead of angered, Adam looked surprised. Then, the beginnings of a smile tugged at his lips, but he didn't allow it to surface.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." His voice had an edge of humor to it. He closed his book. "I'll try to be more polite when ever someone talks to me from now on." He held out his hand graciously, but he wasn't mocking her when he said sincerely, "Would you like to join me?"
Faith had no problem revealing her smile. As suddenly as it had darkened, her mood began to brighten again. "I already have."
"Oh. Well, then should we engage in some polite conversation."
"Yes, let's."
Faith started by asking about Gregory Campton, because Adam appeared to know a lot about him. He said that Gregory's father was American, and his mother was French. There were rumors that Gregory didn't really qualify to go to school there, that Gregory's rich father bribed the headmistress to allow him to attend the finishing school. In other words, Gregory was not a genius like his classmates. Adam personally believed these rumors, but he warned Faith for the second time to stay away from Gregory, who could ruin Faith if he wished.
Eventually, the conversation turned to more pleasant topics. Adam confirmed that he was indeed from Canada, and that he especially liked the rose gardens because they reminded him of home. Adam said his mother used to keep roses before she died.
Faith tried not to gasp. The fact had slid in so easily; it sounded almost casual coming from Adam. "I'm sorry," Faith managed.
"Don't worry about it."
Faith searched his face for any trace of emotion, but as usual, he was perfectly stoic.
At that moment, Max approached the picnic table.
"There ya been, baby. We were wondering where you could have gotten to. I'm gonna head to class early. Wanna come?" he asked.
Faith realized that during her conversation with Adam, she had somehow managed to finish her lunch, and the period had passed quickly. "Sure, just a sec." Faith turned to Adam. "Do you want to come with us?"
"No, that's okay. I'm going to finish up studying."
"Okay, then," she said, a hint of disappointment in her tone. "See you later, Adam."
"Bye," he nodded.
As soon as Adam was out of earshot, Max asked Faith what she had been doing with him.
"We were just talking," she answered truthfully.
The next day, Faith saw Adam at the same table again. She invited him to sit with her and the other three boys, but he declined. She asked him again the next day and the next. He always refused. But Faith never relented. She asked him day after day, until finally, he accepted.
Still she had to invite him, until after about a month, it became custom that he sat with them. So it was that the five young people would hang out together - at lunch, after classes, and when it got cold, inside the heated cafeteria. They all got along pretty well, except for an occasional disagreement between Max and Kiyoshi, but everybody was used to that. Max was always the first one to bounce back and forget about it, and that usually took up to a maximum of five minutes.
Spending so much time together, they all started to become better friends. Together, they made up the perfect survival team. Max was the happy-go-lucky clown of the group. Jeffrey was shy and serene and avoided conflicts at all possible cost. Kiyoshi was obsessed with perfection, but was wise in his own way. Faith was peacemaker and ever cheerful. And Adam was . . .well . . .Adam. He was usually quiet, but when he did speak, everyone stopped to listen. They all had an unspoken, mutual respect for him.
Although they were friends with each other, the rest of the students pretty much acted as if none of them existed. The most likely reason was that they refused to follow the crowd and worship Gregory Campton, praising every move for fear of going against him. Not to say that it didn't bring about trouble once in a while. But we'll get to that later. For the meantime, they didn't mind, because they had each other.
Now Faith got along with pretty much everyone. But Kiyoshi didn't seem to be very fond of her. Maybe it was because she was such good friends with Max, or maybe it was because she was a girl. Kiyoshi tended to have a closed-minded opinion about those sorts of things. He wasn't mean to her, but he often ruled (under his own jurisdiction, of course) Faith unfit to physical activities and things generally reserved for the male sex: such as basketball, which had come to be the friends' major activity during those first fall months.
One cool, cloudy day in October, Faith and the four boys were sitting on one of the many meandering brick walls on campus after classes. They were talking about technology class and how they hated it and, in the end, voted it a five to zero majority worthless. Then Faith asked if the school did anything for Halloween.
"Not Halloween," said Jeffrey, who was the authority on these types of things, seeing as he had gone to school there the year before. "Some people don't celebrate that holiday, so we have an autumn festival instead. I remember the one from last year. There were games, food, a cross-country race, all sorts of things."
"A cross-country race?" asked Adam. "About how long is that?"
"One and a half miles," Kiyoshi answered expertly, before Jeffrey could respond.
"Sounds hard," put in Faith.
"Especially on this unleveled land," added Max.
"I think the winner gets a prize," Jeffrey continued. "Last year it was seven free homework passes - that's enough to get no homework for one day."
"You'd expect something cheap like that from this school," stated Adam.
"Yeah," Jeffrey agreed. "I think it was Gregory Campton that won last year. In fact, I'm sure he did. He's been the only winner for the past three years."
"Figures!" Max said angrily. "There's no doubt that he won just because he'd have his followers beat up any one who'd try to pass him."
"True," said Jeffrey. "That's why I didn't race last time."
"He's probably going to go for four year straight, don't ya think Jeff?"
"I'd count on it."
"Well, I'm not going to let any stupid threat stop me," Kiyoshi said calmly, and everybody stopped and looked at him. "I'm going to enter that contest or race or whatever it is and I'm going to win." His limitless confidence never ceased to amaze them.
"That would be great," Faith started hesitantly. "It would be even greater if a whole bunch of people beat him, though. That'd put his ego down several notches. What do ya say, guys, should we all race?"
Before anyone could answer, Kiyoshi interrupted. "I don't know, Faith . . .racing's pretty hard. You probably shouldn't get mixed up in it, especially if there's a chance you'll end up getting hurt."
She probably could have taken it better if there had been any genuine concern in the statement. "Whadaya mean?" Faith was about to explode. "You're allowed to race and I'm not? I'm as good a racer as anybody. Who says I can't win?"
No answer, which only served to fuel her anger.
"Even if I'm not the best athlete in the world, it's my right to race or not if I want to!"
Kiyoshi looked at her doubtfully. No one else said anything. There was an uncomfortable silence. Faith could feel hot tears burning behind her eyes, but she held them back. There was no way she was going to let Kiyoshi see her cry.
Max leaned over and reached across Jeffrey to pat her hand. "Don't you worry about him, baby. He's just in a bad mood because I got a better score than him in government class." He shot Kiyoshi the meanest look he could manage, who glared back at him.
To everyone's relief, Adam asked changed the subject by asking Kiyoshi if he wanted to accompany him to the stables. Kiyoshi nodded and the two of them left. Then Jeffrey said he had better start on his homework, so he headed to the dorms, leaving Max and Faith alone on the wall. A cool breeze blew by, causing Faith the shiver.
Suddenly, she turned to Max. "Aaaaaarrggghh, I can't stand it! Max, why does Kiyoshi always insist that I'm no good at everything?"
"Oh, he's just that way with everyone. I wouldn't take it personally," he comforted.
"So then why do I keep getting this feeling that I'm not worthy? It's terrible. I've got to prove to him that I'm his equal and put a stop to this inferiority. Max, he's getting me thinking that I am inferior! I have to win his respect somehow."
Max scowled, visibly annoyed at how she was beating herself up about the matter. "Look, baby, you don't need his respect. I certainly don't have it, and I don't care. He's just a loser that gets by with making himself feel better by putting others down. You should care less about what Kiyoshi thinks."
"I know Max, but I'm not like you! I can't stand it when people, especially my so-called-friends, think I'm incapable. Max, you gotta help me! Now I have to enter that race, don't you see? I have to prove to Kiyoshi that I can do it, one way or another. Won't you please help me?"
Max scowled some more.
"Pleeeeeaaasssee," she begged.
Max sighed. He put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "We'll see, baby, we'll see."
He helped her off the wall and steered her in the direction of the dormitories. The sun was just beginning to set, and the twilight brought an ever-colder chill.
*A/N: Sorry this chapter is so boring. This is more like a 'setting up for action' chapter. Riiiiigghhht. I'll leave you to the reviews now! (And seriously, tell me what's confusing or what you don't get so I can clear it up for you.)*