Julia Lelieveld and the fifth element
~6~

The rest of the week everything went a little better. I got to know Eva and also her brother. She had a twin brother. He had the same jet black hair as Eva, only Bas had it trimmed. It suited him very well. He was a head taller than Eva and had the same twinkling eyes. They were very nice. I got on well with them. At noon I also sat at their lunch table, it was always a lot of fun. Everyone at our lunch table hated Sandra too, so that worked out well.

Fortunately, the other teachers were not too bad. I had no more problems. And when I had math, I kept quiet and aloof. Sandra still wanted to provoke a reaction in me as she kept tapping my chair, but luckily I could ignore it now.

My home situation was not discussed, so I didn't have to worry about it. I hadn't seen Lucas again, I'd seen him walking the corridors a few times, but I hadn't seen him again during detention.

Fortunately I had not spoken to the principal again and he had kept our agreement, for which I was very grateful.

At lunchtime Friday afternoon, Eva had a large stack of envelopes. Everyone looked expectant.

"Yes, yes, they're back. The invitations to our Halloween party tomorrow." She laughed at the faces.

Everyone was probably aware of the party that Eva and Bas would throw. They started smuggling with each other and talking about costumes.

I looked questioningly at Eva and laughed, because the atmosphere was very contagious.

"Oh, sorry, I completely forgot to say. Bas and I throw a Halloween party every year, everyone is always prepared for it. I hope you enjoy coming?" She handed me one of the envelopes that bore my name in graceful letters. I looked at the beautiful letters for a moment. I have to say I was a little moved. I've only known her for a week and I'm already allowed to come to her party.

"Thanks, yes, I'm really happy to come, put me on the list." I smiled at her.

"Great, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. You can immediately get to know everyone a little better." She enthusiastically continued handing out her invitations.

"And do you already know what you're going to wear?" Bas looked at me with his twinkling eyes. "I have to think about it for a while, I still have a costume somewhere, but I'll go into town anyway. You?" I looked at him curiously. He was a nice boy, I'd only known him for a week, but it seemed like I'd known him a lot longer. "You'll see." He looked at me mischievously and then smiled. I smiled back. We interacted with each other in an approachable way, and that was nice.

The rest of the day was devoted to the infamous Halloween party of Eva and Bas. Nobody could stop talking about it.

On my last detention afternoon, I was thinking about what to wear to the party tomorrow. I decided that tomorrow I would just go to the shops to find something nice. If I really didn't succeed, I would always have a somewhat sexy soldier's suit lying around. Last year at school I performed a skit with three friends. I was a female soldier and the other girls were a policewoman, nurse and a firefighter. I'd see what I'm doing.

Suddenly I heard a huge noise in the detention room next to me. A few loud screams and bangs. What could be going on? I was about to get up when the door suddenly opened. A heated Rob entered and a boy was dragged along by him. The boy looked furious, holding his right hand in his left. The knuckles of his right hand looked bloody.

"Now it's over. I've had it with you", Rob said angrily. "You sit here and don't move until I come back, agreed?" The boy sat sullenly at the front table that Rob had pointed out. Rob turned to the door and suddenly saw me sitting there.

"Oh, Julia, you're here too. Sorry about all this. I'll be right back." And he strode out the door. I could still hear other students in the room next to us talking busily. What was going on here?

I looked at the boy sitting diagonally in front of me. He was big for his age. He was in the other detention room, which meant he was probably a sophomore. But he really looked like 17. Maybe he stayed put. His short blond hair fell limply over his head. It looked as if he had been fighting from his hand. Well, that was nice, there I was.

The boy's phone rang and he looked at the screen, probably a text message. Suddenly he shot up and knocked over his table. "Damn, you bastard!" he shouted loudly. I was so shocked that I could only look at him. "Yeah, what are you watching, bitch!" He turned and came towards me. I quickly got up and walked to the back of the room. Unfortunately, the door was between us.

"I don't know what's going on, but take it easy," I told him. Geez, this had to happen to me again. "Take it easy? Take it easy? How can you say that, that jerk betrayed me at the principal!" He pointed his finger at me. "So I don't have to be quiet!"

Jesus, now I started to pinch him anyway. There was only 1 table between us. Like crazy I tried to remember the actions of the self-defense class I had taken over the summer. I stood with my back against the wall and he was less than a meter away from me. "I'm very sorry about what happened, but can you keep me out of it?"

He looked very angry at me, but thought about the words he just heard. "Fuck!" he shouted loudly, as he called that he threw over the table I had just sat at and turned and walked back to his seat. At that moment the door opened. It was Rob. He seemed to take in the scene. Several tables lay on the floor. By now the boy was back in the front of the room and I was still nailed to the wall at the back of the class.

"What the hell is going on here? Olaf?" He walked briskly toward the boy. Olaf sat down at a table and buried his face in his hands. I don't know what happened, but that boy was really upset.

"Um, Rob?" He turned and looked at me.

"Geez, I'm sorry, are you okay?" He walked over to me and looked me up and down for a moment.

"Yes, nothing's wrong. Is it okay if I go? I think it would be wise for you to talk quietly for a moment?" Rob looked at me for a moment and his face calmed down a bit.

"That probably isn't a bad idea at all, thanks."

I grabbed my bag and walked to the door. I saw Rob sit down at the table next to Olaf. I closed the door softly and headed for the stairwell. I saw that the other detention room was already empty.

When I got home I saw that Dad's car was in the driveway. Geez, I hadn't seen him all week. He only came home when I was already in bed and was gone in the morning when I got out of bed. I quickly put my bike in the garage and entered through the kitchen.

He sat at the kitchen table with a thick police file.

"Hi Dad, nice to see you again." I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi sweetie, same thing."

He looked tired.

"Are you okay, Dad?"

"Yeah fine girl. It's just a madhouse at work. Sorry I'm not here for you, I feel really bad about it. Unfortunately I will have to work again this weekend." I saw that he was really having a hard time with it.

"Better next time." I tossed my backpack aside, grabbed a bottle of water, and sat down at the table with him.

He looked at me for a moment. "You're late," he said.

"Yes, I had to stay in detention all week, you'll get a letter from it."

"Detention? You've never been in detention, what happened?" He looked at me questioningly and somewhat reproachfully.

"The teachers here have very different rules. I forgot to call a teacher by name and answer his question directly. He is known as an annoying teacher. Nothing serious." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Oh, well, it can happen." He gave me a wink and a pat on my hand.

"That's how it is." I smiled at him.

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I've been invited to a Halloween party tomorrow night by Eva and Bas. I'm in their class, they're brother and sister. They are very nice. I'd like to go there."

I saw him look doubtful, he would never have been so difficult, if only he knew where I was. He probably saw from me that I really wanted to.

"You can go, as long as you're careful. Where do they live?"

"Oh, the address is on the invitation, wait a minute and I'll get it."

I picked up the invitation with the pretty letters and looked up the address. "It's in the Hill Park."

"Let's see?" I gave him the invitation. "Yes, you are right. Wait a minute, I know that name, Rondebal?", he seemed to think aloud for a moment. "Oh yes, of course, that's a doctor in the hospital, a nice man. And he does have twins, he told me."

"A doctor in the hospital? But why did you speak to him?" I looked at him questioningly. "Oh, I had some questions about an autopsy report."

I just nodded.

"Hill Park is a chic neighborhood. You probably need this invite to get in. Look, it also states that you must be able to identify yourself."

I took the invitation from Dad and it was indeed there.

"I'm going to the shops tomorrow to see if there is still a nice costume for sale. Are you coming?" I looked expectantly at Dad. He looked at me for a moment.

"Yeah, fine, but then I'll have to work on this case for a while." He pointed to the thick file on the table and started reading it.

That evening I made a stew and my homework for Monday, so I wouldn't have to do that over the weekend anymore.

My father was completely engrossed in his work. I went to watch a movie on the couch.

"Julia?" Papa called from the kitchen.

"Yes Dad, what is it?"

"I just saw that the coffee is gone, and I still have some work to do. Would you mind getting some coffee at the convenience store?"

I looked at his tired face. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Dad, wouldn't you just go to bed on time?"

"I'd like to, but this is really important." He pressed his index fingers against his temples and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Are you okay?" I sat down next to him and grabbed his hands so that he looked at me. “This case brings out emotions in me. It is in a different context, but it is also about fatalities in the event of abuse."

"Oh, Dad." I hugged him and gave him a tight hug.

"Can't you be put on another case?"

"I can't keep avoiding it, Julia." He looked at me with sad eyes.

"If there's anything I can do for you, tell me."

He nodded.

"Okay, I'll go get some coffee. It's that shop I pass by when I cycle to school, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right sweetie, thanks." He gave me a kiss on the head.

It was already dark outside. I got on the bike and rode down the street. It was quiet on the road. About 10 minutes later I was standing in front of the store. I leaned my bike against the wall and walked into the store. Before I knew it I bumped into someone.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry." I looked up and saw Lucas standing there with a big smile on his face.

"If you'd like to see me, you can just call me." He winked and laughed.

"You would certainly want that," I teased him.

"You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" he asked, a little unsure.

"No, I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"I can take a beating. But what's a girl like you doing here so late in the shop?"

"A forgotten errant, what about you?"

"Me too." He held up a paper bag.

"Can I ask you something?" He looked at me seriously. For a moment I was startled by his look and felt a little uncomfortable. I looked at him for a moment and saw that he meant it.

"Yes." I looked at him expectantly.

"Well....." he looked at his feet for a moment and sighed deeply. "You were quite shocked when you were called to the principal. I didn't talk to you after that, I was wondering if it all ended well?"

It looked like a waterfall coming out of his mouth and he looked expectant and slightly concerned. It was touching to see him like this and very sweet that he was concerned. It did me good that someone was watching me. Especially if it was a nice boy. I didn't hope he would see my blushes.

"It all ended well. And sorry about that response, my mind was elsewhere."

He seemed relieved. "I'm glad it's going well, but I have to go home because they're waiting for me." He held up the paper bag again.

"I will see you again." He winked and turned.

Before I could say goodbye, he was around the corner. So that was fast.

I bought the coffee and went home. When I got home I was exhausted and went straight to my room. Lucas still haunted my mind. He was a nice boy and certainly attractive. A boy I could come to like. Of course I couldn't control it, but maybe it was better not to have such contact. I didn't want to burden anyone with my mood swings.

Sᴇarch the FindNovel.net website on G𝘰𝘰gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.