Ahmed could not believe his best friend Rishabh was dead. He had called Rishabh several times when he did not arrive to prom two days ago and even called Rishabh's family to check if they knew anything about it. He had then gone to check at the station only to find some teenager had committed suicide and the platform was closed as a result. Never in a million years could Ahmed have imagined that the teenager was his buddy Rishabh.
He had spent the rest of the night simultaneously trying to contact Rishabh's family, get Alice's attention (who ignored him and focused on her dancing and illegal drinking) and entertain his date and have a good time until he finally saw the news article. His date snooped over his phone to read along with him. As soon as they finished reading, Ahmed's eyes welled with tears while his date started talking about the conversations she had overheard between Alice and Matilda during prom. As if any of that mattered to him once his best friend was gone.
Ahmed roamed the school corridors like a zombie, haunted by memories of the break and lunchtimes he had spent with Rishabh. The way he soothed Ahmed whenever his grades were lower than his peers. The way he encouraged him never to give up. The way he was there for him every step of the way only to leave him stranded right before the end destination.
Ahmed was just about to pass an Art Room when he heard Rishabh's name being mentioned from inside the room. He could recognise Alice's voice but wasn't sure who the other person was.
"Are you alright, Alice?" asked the other person, "you must be devastated hearing about Rishabh. You should have taken the day off..."
"No, I'm fine." said Alice.
"It's Ok." urged the other person. "You don't have to put up this façade in front of me."
"It's not a façade!" screamed Alice. "I'm fine! Just leave me alone. Why did you have to drag me away from my friends like that? I was having such a nice time with Mat!"
Ahmed silently edged forward to see who the other person was and found the new young, shy, and geeky art teacher shaking her head in disbelief. "Are you telling me you are already moving on merely two days after your boyfriend's death?" asked Miss Cook.
Alice winced. "Stop saying that word!" cried Alice. "And stop harassing me! You bring me here to console me only to find me already consoled. Why is that so disappointing for you?"
"I'm not disappointed." stated Miss Cook. "Only surprised, or rather shocked, to see how lightly you are handling it. That too only after two days..."
"What has the actual lapse of time got to do with it?" asked Alice. "If you are master of your own emotions, you can end a sorrow as easily as you can invent a pleasure. I don't want to be at the mercy of emotions, I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them."
"What the hell has happened to you?" asked Miss Cook. "You were never like this before! It's that Matilda, she is corrupting your mind. I have to tell you that she is a bad influence. All the teachers talk in hushed tones about the horrible things that have befallen to everyone that became close to her."
"I owe a great deal to Matilda, Miss Cook," said Alice, "more than I owe to you. Besides, if you really want to help me, help me forget about the whole thing. Let's talk about art. Why don't we?"
"Ok, if that is what you want." said Miss Cook, defeated, "I did want to ask you about that portrait I made of you and if it would be possible for me to exhibit it as one of my works in an exhibition in Paris this summer. It's going to be so good for me to be exposed like that as an artist. It is really one of my finest works."
"Do you have fish memory or something?" asked Alice rudely. "Didn't you say the portrait belongs to me, and you don't want to exhibit it just months ago?"
"But this is a great opportunity for Paris to see the artist I am!" squealed Miss Cook. "Surely you wouldn't object knowing my career is on the line?"
"I'm afraid I have to, Miss Cook." replied Alice. "I can't..." she sighed.
"Ok, ok." said Miss Cook, "I was the one who handed its ownership over to you, and I must respect that now." she bowed her head in sadness untill the idea sparked in her head. "Can I at least take a look at it? I will just take a picture to see if I can recreate it."
"No!" screamed Alice, her eyes bulging in horror. Then trying to calm her demeanor, she said, "I have to go." and stomped out of the room.
Ahmed turned back just in time to clear the path but not swiftly enough to get out of sight. Alice gave him a menacing stare before contuing down the corridor.