That stopped the girl from saying whatever it was she was going to say and think. It had been a long time since she had spoken to someone in that stubborn tone of hers and actually have them answer back with the same force – even if his voice was unusually calm – let alone have an argument that made her stop and think.

She readied herself to make a retort, but what came out was “Can I come with you?â€?.

At which he turned around and stared at her as if searching for something, then he made a slight nod towards her and continued walking. She assumed that meant yes.

They had been walking for a while, and the girl saw no more point in talking to this boy who seemed anything but normal, so she bit her tongue whenever the urge struck her to ask him the questions that were buzzing around in her mind, making it hard to think. She had been trying to engage him in conversation for the past half an hour without success.The only real emotion she could recognize in his face was something like amusement when she asked-