Page 103 of How We Began

I motioned my head to the book in his hand, thumb squeezed in the spine, holding his place.

“Very informative.” He smirked a little and then winked.

I stared at him in confusion, before going rash red and running to my room

Shit.

Did he hear what I said?

Was he just winking in an offhand manner, or was he trying to tell me that he’d heard me?

Oh shit.

Surely he had music on in his room?

Damn it. If he’d had music on, I would’ve heard it, no matter how low it was playing. My sad stalker tendency has left me with super-sonic hearing when it comes to anything that goes on his room.

He heard. He heard every single syllable.

Oh my god. He’s playing ‘Hey There, Delilah’ through the wall on his Gibson.

2nd March

“Hey There, Delilah,” is playing through the wall again as I’m trying to fall asleep.

I’ve no idea what it means.

There's a school trip tomorrow and all I can hear is ‘Hey There, Delilah’ over and over again in my head.

4th March

School trip sucked.

Even the fact I call it a school trip is probably a significant sign of how well my studies are going. I believe the correct phrase is Research Field Trip.

The Imperial War Museum was fascinating, but not as illuminating as watching Ben walk around the exhibits as he tapped his biro against his teeth and thoughtfully jotted things down in his notebook. He looked the epitome of a calm and cool student, highly intelligent and absorbing knowledge.

I battled my rucksack and sweated in my coat, unable to carry it and write notes at the same time.

Afterwards I suggested a drink at the pub we’d walked past on our way to the museum. Ben had plans.

He had plans.

Left us there.

He’s moved on. It’s official.

5th March

(10.50 a.m.)

Professor Johnson glared at me again. He’s not a fan of mine, that’s for sure.

I did have my head on the table during his lecture and I might have been involuntarily groaning, but, hey, at least I was there. Attendance is critical to successful learning.

“Right, then. Everyone, wake up!” Professor Johnson jumped off a table at the end of the classroom. “So I will number you all, one or two, and then you will pair up with your nearest matching number,” he announced. I blinked rapidly and stared wildly around. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t asleep, but I didn’t have a clue what was happening.

Johnson started to bounce around the room, slapping everyone on the head whilst shouting a number at them.