Vera Xavier felt that Nathaniel Nathan was being far too conspicuous. 'He just visited my house once,' she thought. 'Does that count as making things official? Is he planning on escorting me to and from school from now on?'
She turned to glance at Shirley Forrest. Shirley was usually such a cool and aloof girl, but right now, she was just standing there like an idiot. She hadn't even noticed the lollipop falling out of her mouth.
'It's true,' Vera mused. 'No matter how normal a person is, they become abnormal the moment they encounter Nathaniel Nathan.'
Carrying Vera Xavier's schoolbag for her, Nathaniel Nathan walked at a blistering pace. She practically had to jog to keep up with him. As they neared his car, he finally seemed to realize, rather belatedly, that she was struggling.
He slowed his pace a little, and she could finally catch her breath.
He gave her a disdainful look. "Your physical stamina is terrible."
