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Iris slept surprisingly well, the evening walk seeming to have helped her confused mind. She woke to her 5:45 AM alarm and prepared for the day: Packing her bag, changing, eating a quick breakfast of a croissant with jam, and heading to her first class, biology. It was always 'refreshing' to wake up and dissect frogs or cow eyeballs, but she enjoyed the class well enough. . After biology, she trooped from one room to another, greeting the teachers and trying to avoid the other students. The bell for the hour break for lunch rang, and Iris went back to her room to grab a snack before heading to the library to study. Her literature teacher, Mr. Polk, had told them that a 5,000 word essay was due by Friday, only three days away, and Iris was a little worried about it. . She didn't see Caden at all throughout the day, but found herself looking for him. Though it made sense that he wasn't in any of her classes, since all her teachers spoke English and talked way too fast for him to understand well. Iris sighed and flipped to another page in the book she was studying. |
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Caden stumbled through all his classes, holding his head in his hands as he considered not going to the dumb tutoring that didn't even help. But he'd see her, so he would go. He stood, slinging his bag back over his shoulder as he started walking over to the room. The man waited until it was the actual time, considering last time he was early there was a book group or something going on. He shivered at that thought, never wanting to do it again. Eventually Caden pushed open the door, lighting up a little as he spotted Iris. "Priv- Hey," He corrected himself, still feeling the more English he learned, the more of his life he was replacing. ~ * ~ Caden hated himself for it, it was a language, nothing else. Yet, he still felt it. His usual greetings? Gone. Replaced by 'hello' and what not. No more веселье, only boredom. Most times when he called a friend back home and started speaking Russian, looks were tossed his way which was why he always ended those calls short. At this point he was forgetting the language he was native to, and even what home looked like. Caden didn't know whether he was imagining or not but, It seemed he was forgetting himself. |
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(Wowza that was a good post!) . Iris made it through the rest of her classes without fault, though she did get a look from one of the more prominent bullies, which she brushed off by holding her head higher and ignoring her. By the time she had sat down, ready to tutor Caden again, she was looking forward to getting away from everyone. But if everyone was gone and Caden was still there, that would work too. Iris realized what she'd been thinking and shook the thought from her head, focusing on the task at hand. . She noticed Caden acting stranger than he had yesterday, more distant and irritable. But the session was good, and Iris was pleased to see that he was resorting to Russian less and less. . Once they had finished, Iris asked about tutoring him in math. "When do you want to do that? If you still do, I mean. I have time now if that works for you, but I'm almost always free." This was true. The only things Iris ever set aside time for were schoolwork and getting groceries, which she really only did when she was very close to running out of food. . She was glad to realize that, once again, she was feeling less awkward around him now. Hopefully it wouldn't happen again, but after everything that had happened yesterday, she couldn't be sure what she wanted. |
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Caden pushed through the lesson, comprehending her question for a moment before answering. "Uh, today's really my only open day-" He paused, ridding his accent to where he sounded almost like he was from America and always grew up there. "so if we can fit it into today that'd be great." He explained, keeping a steady pace of speaking. |
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Iris nodded. "Okay, that's fine." She reached into her bag for her math textbook and scratch paper. "So, uh, what book are you using?" She was at one of the highest levels the college taught, and decided it would be a good idea to start where he was. She fumbled for a pencil and fiddled with it for no good reason. . (Sorry for the short one, my mind died >-<) |
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(lol mine too xD) [gonna make up some random one] "Which book? Advanced Calculus by Sternberg." Caden explained, math being one of his particularly favorite subjects which lead to him excelling in it quickly. "Taught myself a little, teachers talk too quick half the time." He chuckled, the sound tight. |
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(Wait I thought he was bad at math? Looking back, I'm realizing I just assumed that. Never mind lol) . Iris nodded. She was glad he wasn't too far below her. If she recalled right that was the one she'd used last year. She opened her notebook, ready to write. "Okay, so, if you flip to the lesson you did last..." . They worked on that for 45 minutes, Iris explaining things as well as she could in English and drawing diagrams of what she couldn't. Once she was satisfied with the session, she closed her notebook and put all her things back in her bag. "Well, those were pretty good sessions! Take this," she handed him the second chapter of the English workbook, "and finish as much as you can tonight. For math, just do what your teacher assigns." . "Same time tomorrow? If you're not free we can set up another day." Now that they were done working, Iris was getting anxious again. She looked down at the table, tapping her foot on the scuffed floor. |
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Caden grinned when she said he did well, nodding at her instructions and taking the book from her hands. He bid her goodbye and left, almost hesitating at the door as he continued on to the courtyard. He grabbed his sketchbook from his bag, just drawing little doodles as his mind raced with everything. The man was forgetting himself, had America really been the best decision? Caden grabbed his phone and looked at flights back home, seeing there was one exactly a week from now. He decided he'd stay there for a week then come back, maybe. |
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Iris was almost disappointed when he left, though she didn't know why. She sighed, both angry at herself and exhausted from thinking so much. She finished gathering her things and headed back to her dorm. She was walking through the courtyard when she noticed the same bully from earlier, leaning against a tree. She made to walk past confidently, but the tall woman blocked her path. "Where do you think your going?" She asked, voice deep and menacing. . Iris looked defiantly up at the woman, though she was feeling less confident then usual. Being anxious just a few minutes ago didn't help, and her mind was spinning almost out of control, so she could hardly think. "Wow, is Ivy tongue-tied? That's new." The woman chuckled. "Now, be a good girl and let me copy your Spanish homework." She spoke in a sickly sweet voice, eyes thinning to slits. . "It's IRIS," she said dumbly, looking around for a way out. But the woman was clearly ready to fight, and Iris was out of comebacks. She was stuck. |
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Caden saw her, shaking his head. He walked up behind Iris, calling out. "Iris!" He called, settling his arm over her shoulders. "You two have problems or something? If you're that desperate to not even attempt the work then just go on Google Translate, gives you all the answers." |
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Warming, with Sleet and Heavy Icing
