I was speechless, looking at the paper Mira handed me. The register was empty. There was hardly any information about her origin, nor any data to explain her presence at the school. Just a series of blank fields.
"And... now I have to agree with you, this is all very strange."
I commented, surprised by everything I saw... or rather, what I didn't see.
Mira didn't respond immediately to my comment, but nodded, agreeing with everything I had said.
It took me a while to understand what had caught Mira's attention so much about this boy we barely knew. The content of the paper was intriguing, to say the least. Interesting would be the right word, but even that seemed insufficient. And, in the end, we left there more confused than when we had entered to look for some information.
***
[Mira's POV]
I arrived at school earlier than usual, something I often did to maintain my façade as a dedicated student. However, anyone who really knew me knew that I was far from being the most punctual or responsible person in the world. But yesterday's situation had affected me in a way that even I couldn't explain.
The only thing that went through my mind when I saw that scene right in front of my eyes was: 'What a mess. Somehow, that moment - new students wandering around, clearly lost - made me uncomfortable.
It was no secret to anyone who knew me that I hated crowded places, especially in a situation like that, where anyone could bump into me at any moment.
In the midst of all the disorder, I finally spotted my friend Astrid in one of the corridors. Without thinking twice, I started walking quickly towards her, who was staring at the crowd with a restless countenance.
As soon as I got close, I asked my question, with a curious look on my face because of her expression.
"Did something happen, Astrid?"
I asked, with curiosity evident in my tone, trying to understand the reason for her uneasy expression.
She didn't turn to look at me, she just sighed and replied with obvious discouragement:
"Nothing much. I was just thinking how right I was to leave the student council this year... Thanks to that, I won't have to help anyone with anything."
I gave her a lopsided smile, crossing my arms as I leaned against the wall next to her.
"I understand. Leaving the student council was also the best thing I ever did. Just remembering that I won't have to help almost a thousand people at the same time gives me a certain joy."
Astrid let out a low laugh, still keeping her eyes on the confusion in the corridor.
"True. You seemed to enjoy it at first, but it wasn't until you saw what it was really like that you left."
"Don't blame me."
I replied, crossing my arms.
"We spent more time calming down people who didn't even want to be there than doing anything useful."
Astrid finally looked away from the corridor and gave me a wry smile.
"That's right. And to think that, even so, there are always people fighting for a place inside. As if it were the greatest privilege in the world."
I laughed briefly, shaking my head.
"Privilege? Little do they know that it's more like a sentence. Seriously, I feel sorry for the new class."
"Well, I don't feel sorry for them."
Astrid retorted, as she slung her backpack over her shoulder.
"Let them learn the hard way, just like we did."
"You're right."
I agreed, shrugging.
"Now it's no longer our problem. Let them manage."
Astrid let out another low laugh, only this time it was lighter, as if the conversation had relieved some of the discouragement she was carrying.
"Yeah, and you know what? I don't miss you at all."
"Neither do I."
I replied promptly.
"Our lives are complicated enough as it is with so many people getting on our nerves. And having to deal with the chaos of the council... that's definitely not for everyone."
Astrid looked at the movement in the corridor again, but now with a calmer gaze.
"At least now we can just watch from afar."
"Exactly."
I added, still smiling.
As Astrid continued to watch the crowd with that uncomfortable look on her face, I realized that, without even realizing it, I had begun to glance at her.
Astrid had an unparalleled beauty, the kind that drew attention wherever she went without any effort. Her slender body was the stuff of envy, but it was her short hair that added the final touch to her charm. While one part of her hair fell loose, the other formed a side braid with a few blue strands. Our school's red and gold uniform, with the classic blue skirt and the name "Ashford" printed on the chest of the shirt, completed her look perfectly.
Noticing that Astrid also wanted to get out of the crowd, an idea popped into my head.
"Astrid, what do you say we go to the classroom? If we're lucky, there might not be anyone there yet."
I suggested, hoping to get a positive confirmation from Astrid. After all, she didn't want to be in that place as much as I did.
As soon as I asked that question, Astrid, who seemed a little off, blinked a few times before coming back to reality and turning to me with a slight smile on her face.
"Fine by me. I can't take the noise anymore."
After Astrid's confirmation, I nodded and started walking alongside her, dodging several students who seemed to be going nowhere. The school corridors were busier than usual, with new students mingling with the veterans.
As we approached our room, both Astrid and I had a little surprise: that same boy, who had caught my eye in the principal's office the day before, was there, sitting in a chair at the back. Curiously, Ashford used to adopt the student partnership program, so each table had room for two more people, one on each side.
However, the place where he was sitting was terrible, but to get an escr... oops, I mean a friend, it would be worth the sacrifice.
When I saw that boy alone in the room, I couldn't contain the small smile that formed on my lips.
"What great luck."
I whispered to myself as I smiled innocently again, trying to hide my feelings, even if Astrid wasn't paying attention.