Check Mate

Chapter 5

Felix sat in his customary seat in the library. It was his free period, and while he would normally use the blessed silence to read or do homework, he despairingly discovered he was unable to focus on his novel.

It was a pity, truly. He had found the story increasingly fascinating.

However, it seemed his brain hadn't deemed it nearly as fascinating as his new raven-haired classmate.

He tapped a finger against the top of his table, staring blankly at the page while his mind wandered.

This morning he hadn't expected to see the formerly mentioned classmate once he had arrived at school. Honestly he hadn't been expecting anyone to be at the school that ridiculously early other than him. He had tried to be polite, really, but she just wouldn't move. He had asked politely perhaps three times, maybe four, but then he'd gotten irritated.

He couldn't stand ignorant people.

But at the same time he hadn't meant to knock her over. Then there had been the confrontation. Claude, Allan, and even Allegra had started getting angry with him. That was when the new girl, Marinette if he remembered correctly, got up and tried to intervene on his behalf. When truly the entire ordeal was because he was being an ass. He could admit to his own faults. But the most noteworthy part of the ordeal were these two things.

1. She held no memory of the incident whatsoever

2. She started apologizing to him

He didn't know what to make of the girl. She didn't make sense. He couldn't make an accurate conclusion about her. Her personality was a paradox! She had been completely spaced out. There had been nothing at all from her. No life, no spark. Just nothing. Then she had become some sort of fire. Blazing and determined and filled with some sort of righteous fury. Then she was a timid bumbling mess and apologizing and rambling. And then she had been sly, coy and witty. She could handle Claude like a pro, something Felix found impressive for a new student.

She made no sense and it bothered him.

And then he learned that she was their new dorm mate. He wouldn't say he was excited about that, excitement would mean he was happy with having a new person invading his personal space. But he could appreciate that it would give him more time to study her. If he couldn't satisfy the curiosity he felt building in him he might just explode.

He felt his phone buzz and pulled it out to check it, suppressing an eye roll when he saw it was the group chat.

KidMime: Are we going to talk about it

Mercury: ?????

Melody: What do you mean Claude?

KidMime: The elephant in the room

IceWizard: I haven't the slightest idea what you could be talking about Claude.

KidMime: Don't play dumb guys. As the person who's known Marinette the longest I feel obligated to talk about how she can't remember her encounter with Felix this morning.

KidMime: Like I know she said she spaced out but come ON guys this is Felix we're talking about:/

KidMime: No one forgets their first encounter with Felix, and especially not while it's actually happening! Something is off

Melody: I mean.... You bring up a valid point...

Mercury: Yeah no one forgets their first Felix encounter