Colin and Ingrid

Then, there are the awkward girls in life. Some of them are pretty cute. Others are a little bit of both. Ingrid happens to be both. Like the other two girls from the previous chapter, I can’t figure her out. She barely even talks to anybody in the academy. I don’t even think that she teaches here. Noiz happily takes her in along with the other girls. Yet, I can’t help but wonder why Ingrid’s here in the first place. For two weeks, I have tried to figure that one out. Naturally, I have been unsuccessful.

Today, that’s going to be different. I’m armed with enough information about where the teacher’s lounge is. I pushed open the doors to the student lounge. This one and the teacher’s lounge are stacked on top of each other. I eyed the stairs. She’s there today; I can see her sitting off to the corner up there. She’s alone again today too. I nodded to myself.

Okay!, I thought. I made my way to the stairs and I marched right up them. Ingrid didn’t even look up as I walked over to her. The first thing I noticed was her Green Day t-shirt. I smiled as I found the right hook to draw her in. I pushed her on the arm. She looked up at me with those emotionless eyes of hers. I smiled at her.

“I like your shirt,” I said. She only stared at me in silence for a moment.

“Oh,” she said.

“Mind if I sit down?” I asked. Ingrid just looked away. I took a seat next to her, anyway. I looked all around me. I have never seen so many bright colors together in the same place. It’s almost like an acid trip. (Not like I would know about that or anything. I’m just saying…)

“Nice place,” I said. Ingrid didn’t respond. I glanced over at her.

“So,” I said. “What exactly do you do here?” She didn’t turn to me.

“I manage the collections here,” she mumbled. I paused, curious.

“What?” I asked.

“I manage the collection here,” she repeated a little louder. I gave a strange look.

“What’s that mean?” Ingrid turned around to me.

“Everyone writes here, yes?” she asked. I nodded a bit.

“I’m assuming yes?” I asked. Ingrid shook her head at me.

“Don’t assume,” she said. “Everyone writes here, yes?”

“Yes?” I said.

“Well,” Ingrid told me. “I collect the files and keep them on record.” It all began to make sense to me as I nodded at her.

“Oh, so that’s it,” I said.

“Why yes,” Ingrid said. I smiled at her.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you speak,” I said. Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

“Oh,” she said. “Is that bad?” I shook my head at her.

“No,” I said. “It’s perfectly fine.” Ingrid looked down at her lap as she fiddled with her hands.

“Wow…” she mumbled. I sat there smiling at her. However, I happened to look up and notice Miho and Noiz watching me from the other side of the level. My first period teacher had a cold glare in her eyes at me. The headmistress, however, had a curious look on her face. Something told me it was because I got Ingrid to talk. Does she want me to keep going with this? Well, it couldn’t hurt, right? I turned back to Ingrid.

“So, have you eaten yet?” I asked. Ingrid looked me in the eye.

“No,” she said. “Why?” I wrapped my hand around hers.

“Let’s go to café and pick up something to eat, okay?” I offered. She didn’t seem to know how to answer and I didn’t give her the chance.

“Let’s go,” I whispered. I gently tugged her to her face and took her along with me down the stairs to the dining hall. I think this is the first time I’ve made a real move on a girl here.