Ksnyatin Point, Part 18
Writer's note: I <3 Jack
September 22, Wednesday
Ksnyatin Point High School
"Hi, Lucia!"
It was still weird to hear her talk to me nicely. Normally, I would expect Maggie to ask me to sit somewhere else and claim that this table was her territory. I think that she's even called me Lucifer on some occasions and, obviously, wasn't the kind of a person that I was looking forward to having a conversation with. On that day, at least.
"Maggie? I was kinda hoping that you won't... I mean, hi! Sarah told me that you have pneumonia".
"Oh, that applies only for Mr. Goofy".
Goofy was our Maths teacher.
"Why don't we chat a bit, whad'ya think? What did I miss during these 2 days?
***
"So it's true that he doesn't date, huh?"
"Err, sorry, who?"
"William, of course! It's William that I've been talking about the last ten minutes. Not that I am really interested in dating him, well, maybe... But what are you thinking about, Lucia? You don't seem to care about my troubles at all".
"I was just... trying to concentrate on the wall, that's all", I decided to say the truth, but it wasn't enough for Maggie. Her expression was asking for more. Something interesting, shocking, flagrant... "I swear, I don't know anything about William".
"Yeah, you've already said that", Maggie seemed a bit bored as well, "Many times, actually".
"Hey! Lucia, that's Maciek. Maciek, that's, well, obviously, Lucia. Why don't you join us?"
Even if I had no idea why Maggie felt obliged to introduce us despite the fact that we were having classes together for more than ten years, I felt relieved. "At last", I thought. "I won't have to listen to her babbling anymore". During our talk in the bathroom, Maggie sounded like she knew something interesting about William and maybe Jareth, but now I was beginning to doubt it. Well, unless you could label Williams' shoe size as interesting.
"Oh, Maciek, please, let's go out somewhere tonight".
"Somewhere? Sure, there's plenty of places to choose from. Besides, I am kinda busy, I..."
"Oh yeah? So what are you doing tonight, polishing you, dunno, motorbike wheels again or what? ..."
Maciek and Maggie were discussing their plans and I drifted away into my own world.
Sure, Maggie knew a lot about William, but none of her knowledge was useful to me. He likes Guns N' Roses, mechanics and football. There's a rumour that he can't read, but it's not true. William studies business in some university and isn't interested in Maggie at all, maybe doesn't even know that such a person exists. Can this help me to decide whether to believe his warning about Jareth or not?
"Stay away from Jareth", said William. "Stay away from him", seconded Rose's expression. But I just... didn't want to? It's funny that he had to commit a murder to make me realise how much do I need him.
"Lucia, are you asleep or simply dead?"
"What?"
"We're talking to you, wake up!"
"I am awake, could you repeat, please?"
"Repeat, oh boy!", and Maggie burst out laughing.
"Thanks god you didn't hear that. I would feel bad for William if you did", said Maciek.
"Well, that's very nice from you", I mumbled, not sure whether he was trying to comfort me or simply making fun. "By the way, Maggie, last time you mentioned something about William and Jareth being in some sort of gang, didn't you?"
" A gang?", Maggie looked surprised, or at least she was trying to, "Are you sure? Maybe I was talking about some band, or, dunno, bang and you misheard me?"
"Then are they... in a band?"
"Well, no, as far as I am aware of. Are you sure that...."
"Yes, Maggie, I am absolutely positive that you said gang".
"Then you're wrong. But in case you find out something about this whole gang thing, I would be really interested to hear that."
And she turned to Maciek to continue their conversation about their plans for tonight.
Was she trying to keep this gang thing secret from him?
***
2 hours later
Somebody was standing by my locker.
Jack.
At first I wasn't even sure whether he remembers me at all and if I should say "Hello" or not, but then he waved me to come closer.
Jack: "Why are you wearing you hair like.. that?"
Lucia: "Like what?"
"Your hair was loose last time I saw you."
"Yeah, but this time I decided to tie them. Is there something wrong with tying your hair?"
"Did I say something like that? You should tie them more often, really."
"Well, thanks.. I guess.
Lucia: "So... waiting for someone, huh? Aren't you a bit too old to hang out with high school girls?"
"It might one of the teachers that I am waiting for."
"Oh. Right. That must be it."
"Anyway, I was waiting for you."
"Waiting for... me?"
"Well, there's only one you, right?"
" I guess so."
A short strange silence fell between us. It seemed that Jack had forgotten that I am there with him.
"So... Why were you waiting for me?"
"Jareth wants you to come to my place. With me. Now."
"Why would he want that?"
If you will ever be looking for a word to describe what was I feeling during this conversation, I suggest not using words "excited" and "fascinated".
"He wants to meet you there. Later in the evening, he's going to come there himself."
"But why didn't he come there himself?
"So you don't trust me, is that true?"
It was so true that I didn't know what to say.
"Would it be enough if I told you that... I know something about the boy you saw on Monday?"
"What? I haven't... to anyone..."
"And I know what Jareth did this Sunday."
"All-right. Do you live far from there? I am not a fan of motorbikes, ya know."
...and I thought to myself, "Maybe riding somewhere with this guy isn't entirely safe, but it's going to be interesting, at least."
September 22, Wednesday
Ksnyatin Point High School
"Hi, Lucia!"
It was still weird to hear her talk to me nicely. Normally, I would expect Maggie to ask me to sit somewhere else and claim that this table was her territory. I think that she's even called me Lucifer on some occasions and, obviously, wasn't the kind of a person that I was looking forward to having a conversation with. On that day, at least.
"Maggie? I was kinda hoping that you won't... I mean, hi! Sarah told me that you have pneumonia".
"Oh, that applies only for Mr. Goofy".
Goofy was our Maths teacher.
"Why don't we chat a bit, whad'ya think? What did I miss during these 2 days?
***
"So it's true that he doesn't date, huh?"
"Err, sorry, who?"
"William, of course! It's William that I've been talking about the last ten minutes. Not that I am really interested in dating him, well, maybe... But what are you thinking about, Lucia? You don't seem to care about my troubles at all".
"I was just... trying to concentrate on the wall, that's all", I decided to say the truth, but it wasn't enough for Maggie. Her expression was asking for more. Something interesting, shocking, flagrant... "I swear, I don't know anything about William".
"Yeah, you've already said that", Maggie seemed a bit bored as well, "Many times, actually".
"Hey! Lucia, that's Maciek. Maciek, that's, well, obviously, Lucia. Why don't you join us?"
Even if I had no idea why Maggie felt obliged to introduce us despite the fact that we were having classes together for more than ten years, I felt relieved. "At last", I thought. "I won't have to listen to her babbling anymore". During our talk in the bathroom, Maggie sounded like she knew something interesting about William and maybe Jareth, but now I was beginning to doubt it. Well, unless you could label Williams' shoe size as interesting.
"Oh, Maciek, please, let's go out somewhere tonight".
"Somewhere? Sure, there's plenty of places to choose from. Besides, I am kinda busy, I..."
"Oh yeah? So what are you doing tonight, polishing you, dunno, motorbike wheels again or what? ..."
Maciek and Maggie were discussing their plans and I drifted away into my own world.
Sure, Maggie knew a lot about William, but none of her knowledge was useful to me. He likes Guns N' Roses, mechanics and football. There's a rumour that he can't read, but it's not true. William studies business in some university and isn't interested in Maggie at all, maybe doesn't even know that such a person exists. Can this help me to decide whether to believe his warning about Jareth or not?
"Stay away from Jareth", said William. "Stay away from him", seconded Rose's expression. But I just... didn't want to? It's funny that he had to commit a murder to make me realise how much do I need him.
"Lucia, are you asleep or simply dead?"
"What?"
"We're talking to you, wake up!"
"I am awake, could you repeat, please?"
"Repeat, oh boy!", and Maggie burst out laughing.
"Thanks god you didn't hear that. I would feel bad for William if you did", said Maciek.
"Well, that's very nice from you", I mumbled, not sure whether he was trying to comfort me or simply making fun. "By the way, Maggie, last time you mentioned something about William and Jareth being in some sort of gang, didn't you?"
" A gang?", Maggie looked surprised, or at least she was trying to, "Are you sure? Maybe I was talking about some band, or, dunno, bang and you misheard me?"
"Then are they... in a band?"
"Well, no, as far as I am aware of. Are you sure that...."
"Yes, Maggie, I am absolutely positive that you said gang".
"Then you're wrong. But in case you find out something about this whole gang thing, I would be really interested to hear that."
And she turned to Maciek to continue their conversation about their plans for tonight.
Was she trying to keep this gang thing secret from him?
***
2 hours later
Somebody was standing by my locker.
Jack.
At first I wasn't even sure whether he remembers me at all and if I should say "Hello" or not, but then he waved me to come closer.
Jack: "Why are you wearing you hair like.. that?"
Lucia: "Like what?"
"Your hair was loose last time I saw you."
"Yeah, but this time I decided to tie them. Is there something wrong with tying your hair?"
"Did I say something like that? You should tie them more often, really."
"Well, thanks.. I guess.
Lucia: "So... waiting for someone, huh? Aren't you a bit too old to hang out with high school girls?"
"It might one of the teachers that I am waiting for."
"Oh. Right. That must be it."
"Anyway, I was waiting for you."
"Waiting for... me?"
"Well, there's only one you, right?"
" I guess so."
A short strange silence fell between us. It seemed that Jack had forgotten that I am there with him.
"So... Why were you waiting for me?"
"Jareth wants you to come to my place. With me. Now."
"Why would he want that?"
If you will ever be looking for a word to describe what was I feeling during this conversation, I suggest not using words "excited" and "fascinated".
"He wants to meet you there. Later in the evening, he's going to come there himself."
"But why didn't he come there himself?
"So you don't trust me, is that true?"
It was so true that I didn't know what to say.
"Would it be enough if I told you that... I know something about the boy you saw on Monday?"
"What? I haven't... to anyone..."
"And I know what Jareth did this Sunday."
"All-right. Do you live far from there? I am not a fan of motorbikes, ya know."
...and I thought to myself, "Maybe riding somewhere with this guy isn't entirely safe, but it's going to be interesting, at least."