Now everyone marched happily back to the hotel – talking and jumping, letting out a crazy laugh here and there, rejoicing under the warm sunset across the beach back to Cyllage. Sycamore watched calmly, rarely adding his voice to the general glow – though he was leaving today, he seemed to be in no rush: he chose to accompany us back to the hotel, probably just wanting to make sure our way there would be an uneventful one. As for myself, I was in no mood for conversations, so I chose to keep a slow pace, one that kept me at a quiet distance from where I could appreciate their happiness without necessarily taking a part in it, while I lazily licked what was left of my ice cream and chewed on my thoughts.
I couldn't help but trace Sycamore's march a little too often though – and not only because he looked so handsome with his hands tucked inside his coat pockets and his hair blown back by the wind, squinting his eyes to escape direct sunlight... But also because he made a strange figure there, almost as thoughtful as me, like a sullen guardian accompanying us... I felt the mystery I first acknowledged in the candy shop grow, fed by his strange demeanor.
When we finally arrived at the hotel, then my lagging position truly benefitted me: The gang formed a sort of Indian line and, one by one, they slipped inside, waving a goodbye to Sycamore and disappearing before I could reach them. I got to the threshold in time to see Sycamore lift his eyes to the farthest windows and assume a peculiar expression: his eyes narrowed and his lips shrunk away from the ever-present smile, seeming both angry and worried. The muscles around his mouth quickly returned to their natural form upon beholding me though, flashing a casual smile.
"See you..." I mumbled a quick goodbye, much too unwilling to linger in his mysterious presence any longer.
He answered in the same fashion, but his eyes mischievously followed me as I went inside...I had barely had the time to appreciate how quickly he was cutting me loose, when he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me back.
"What are you doing?!" I yelled.
He took a second or two to regard his surroundings, then pulled me to the side wall of the hotel, where it faced the beach from the top of a small hill. A deep dusky shadow formed there, where the decaying sunlight couldn't reach us, so it was very likely no one could see us.
"What is this?!" I inquired, struggling inside his arms.
He pushed me against the wall and placed his arms at both my sides, keeping me from running in those initial rushes of adrenaline... Then he peered into my eyes and brushed his palm against my face, a very tricky combo that both soothed and intimidated me.
"Pardon me, dear: I still have a word or two to discuss with you, now that we're this alone. It won't take long, I guarantee..."
"You call this a way to start a conversation?" I added with annoyance, but was surprised by how my voice sounded much lower and milder than I intended in my rage.
His smile twitched, fully entertained by my resistance.
"And who is to blame for that? You escape me so eagerly nowadays, all I can do for myself is to capture you like the spooked critter you are..."
I felt myself blush quickly, and his fingers traced the contours of my cheeks, probably looking to feel their heat.
"Well, uhm... What... what is it then?" I struggled to concentrate, giving up entirely on my anger and settling for at least being able to form a proper sentence as he caressed my skin, pulling a strand of hair to the back of my ear.
"It is nothing of great importance... A small recommendation, at best..." He smiled conceitedly "Tell me first: Have you seen anything of that so-called Team Flare?"
His eyes gravely gazed into mine. I nodded a "no", and they relaxed.
"Ah! I'm glad..." He breathed, almost relieved. "We shall want to keep our distance from them, shall we not?"
"We?" I frowned, failing to understand.
"By that I mean you, of course!" He laughed as if I was being silly.
"I don't get it...."
He playfully flicked my nose and smiled:
"I wish you to stay away from Team Flare, and that is all."
"What?!" My eyebrows tensed, and I moved forward – his body quickly pinned me against the wall again, holding me by the shoulders. "Why?!"
"They are potentially dangerous!" He pursued, his voice low and calm "Unpredictable... it would be utterly reckless of you to ever follow after them!"
I frowned, swearing he had said the exact opposite to the rest of the guys just a while ago.
"That's not what you told Calem and the rest!"
"Is it not?" He breathed against my face, leaning closer "I plead guilty of offering the young lady a softer side... should it still surprise you?" His lips lurked closer, not really intending to kiss me, but teasing the idea into my inflamed brain.
"But you said that we should..."
"I know what I said..." His thumb touched my lip, silencing me with an edge of impatience "It's just that... Team Flare's no business to a young thing such as yourself... Specially not when you make for such a favorite... student." His eyes teased me "so leave it to the boys, will you?"
"So it is dangerous?" I pursued.
"To a certain degree, most definitely..." his voice sounded almost thrilled.
"And you're sending my friends against them?!"
"Dear me, I am not sending anybody!" he sighed "I merely wish to guarantee the welfare of my keenest lamb, is it such a crime?"
"It is if you expect me to turn my back on them!!"
"My, my..." He drew back and examined me with a mocking expression "Such a passion is bound to make me jealous, if you keep defending it so energetically! Just do as I say, dear, and it will be alright..."
He moved my chin upwards and kissed me in the forehead with wet, warm lips... I froze in his fingers for a second.
"Now hurry up inside and enjoy a good night's rest. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
He unhanded me, moved to go... I stayed, glaring at him.
"? Anne...?" He eventually asked, looking back and realizing I hadn't moved. "Go inside, do? It's getting pretty late..."
"You're not my boss..." I murmured.
"Come again?" He turned back my way.
"I said you're not my boss!!" I repeated, my voice picking up.
He regarded me with a slight surprise, then.
"I am merely opining that you deserve a long sleep, dear..." He laughed lightly "you don't have to..."
"I'm talking about Team Flare!" I interrupted, fed up with his mockery.
"Oh..." He understood, and began to move closer again. The wall behind me felt harder...
"I mean that..." I pursued, seeking back my own resolve "...that... I won't turn my back on them..."
"And I'm not your what again?" his eyes narrowed – I wasn't sure if they were really annoyed, or just happy to wring a reaction out of me. In any case, he smiled...
"Not my boss!!!" I repeated angrily, giving him a laugh.
"It is true: heaven forbid I ever own real authority over this little thing..." he enigmatically observed, quickly brushing his palm against my face "but I am the head of the very research you are conducting, young lady... And a shepherd might as well choose to leave out a rebellious lamb, if not outright punish it..."
Close as he was to my face, the disparity between our heights was made ridiculous – it was hard to face him when he towered over me like this, but I strove:
"I don't believe I'm such a big contribution to it anyway..." I grumbled between my teeth, too eager to defy, but still a bit scared of what outcomes it might render me.
His eyes widened in raw astonishment for a very brief second – then, noticing I could judge it as well as he could judge every single trace of fear in my face, Sycamore quickly recomposed.
"Not enough to scare you? Perhaps I should call your mother then..."
"My mother?" I frowned.
"You must remember the letter I entrusted her with... Pleading to protect her precious daughter during the entire tutorship." His eyes went cold "Maybe I can order a house arrest for you?"
"Maybe I can sue your ass off!" I thought to myself, but decided not to say it: his efforts to buy my silence seemed to only get me into deeper trouble; I wouldn't want to stir them any further.
"So? What will it be?" He called, interpreting my silence as a sign of victory "Do I have your word that you will stay safe?"
I glared at him angrily, my muscles twitching in rage.
At last running out of patience, he grabbed my wrist and placed it high against the wall; his body pushed forward, his legs encircling mine and his nose touching my nose in a bold, unashamed proximity.
"Alright, I'll do it!" I quickly replied, looking away and shutting my eyes before his hypnosis kicked in. "Now, please, let me go..."
He laughed lightly and did so.
I straightened my clothes and he just stood there, watching me with a pleased, victorious expression that only made me annoyed.
"I'll be the coward you want me to be... Thanks a lot, Professor!"
He smiled, neutralizing my sarcasm. The sun shone in his now too placid brow, and there he stood like a frozen statue until I went inside.