História That's why I stay (a Holmes child) - Minor workers of the British government

I finish my copies right after the end of class bell. Nobody moves, what means that our class room was the same for all teachers. I don't dare looking back, no fast moves, not attracting attention was the main objective there.

- Miss Holmes? - the teacher calls me while puts his papers on a side purse. How that man could be in that place? He was the last military man I've already knew - Come with me, hum?

I stand up to obey, noticing how short he is, way taller than me, of course, I was a tinny kid, but he was smaller than average, what made him more adorable, at least for me, who was used to giants. Uncle Myke was a titan himself.

I don't look to my colleagues while wait for him. Part of me don't know if following him to the corridor is a good idea. He could be a killer, some psicotic criminal hired against uncle Myke, but I don't let that thought go, I couldn't let the paranoia take control.

Standing on the corridor is a man who I assume is the next teacher. He doesn't say anything, just pass through us, calmly, impeccable uniform, grey hair cut very short and face full of wrinkles, but the backs as straight as they were in the first world war, probably. He waves at Pasteur and enters the classroom. I imagine that's my permission to stay out a bit.

- You have a lot of talent - he keeps the same sweet smile as before, as he knew more than me of something, some dark secret. The idea that maybe he doesn't get affected by the morbid around him because he is morbid too, strikes me -, not just with chemistry, I believe. Well, we have a program here, to help keep talents as yourself focus on studying, usually turned to competition. It works like a support group on the afternoon - he puts his hands on the pockets, and shrugged, with a "it's actually silly" face - I want you in - my eyes got wider, any teacher, never, had ever donne something like that. Last time someone tried to putt me in an advanced class the math teacher felt threaten by my methods - We have to mark the day of the week and the hour... And, no, you can't deny it - he opens a pretty and sarcastic smile - Military school, you know?

- I understand, teacher - I open a smile - I wasn't going to deny, it's actually very exciting - my hands shake while the right words don't come, if the wrong ones come out he might hate me faster - My week is, in fact, very easy. All my days are free except Thursdays and Thursdays. And I have to let my uncle know, define everything exactly.

- Of course - his laughter makes him throw his head behind, letting go a sight - Mycroft Holmes and his amazing control issues he is never going to change - the shine on his eyes is unsettling, is, at the same time, angry and happy, full of something alike sorrow, but dusty... How does he knew my uncle? - Well, I'm waiting for our answer tomorrow, today you have to get used to the school. And, Louise? - his face turns kindly sad, admiring my face - I am very pleased to meet you.

- Thank you, sir - and turn to the door, unable to keep my hands from shaking. I don't know what to think, what to feel about him.

- Oh, god, Louise - his disappointed voice makes my heart fall and I need all the straight in my body to look back at him. The strange man still was with his hands on the pockets, but straighten back, military pose, the only military thing on him. Big white smile on the pretty face - Don't call me sir, it gives me the shivers - the smile gets wider and, strangely, I fell my on face smiling too, almost without wanting it.

When I sit to copy more disciplines, my mind start to wonder. What was that place? Children who knew too much about the British government, teacher who knew too much about my family... Uncle Myke probably wasn't telling me something.

The teacher was a cold and full of medals colonel, and, like Pasteur, he tested me, but, even if with right answers, he doesn't called me outside after class. Strangely, he seemed to give special attention to a group of students, calling them by their batism name and smiling proudly everytime they gave a right answer. Maybe his advanced group.

In the next class the same happened, the sweet and calm history teacher test me, but, after my correct answers, she just makes a lovely face and turns her attention was on her on group of favorites.

Apparently I could only belong to one group. I resist the idea of turning back and look to my colleagues, wondering who were the other of my group. Such an odd school, segregating students like that.

On the break, all the students stand up and start leave. As I don't know anyone and hunger wasn't a problem to me, my solution to spend time is solving chemistry problems. Soon enough I was alone in the silence, if all day were like that, I would be very pleased, nobody coursing me or being cruel, no opportunities for me to answer with more cruelties and no teacher would hate on me because of it. Uncle Myke would be proud of me and John would only hear good stories in our meetings.

- Kids, this is Louise, your new friend - I rise my head wondering if my celebration was too early. Ian is standing at the door surrounded by four girls and one boy, staring at me - And I think she is studying! On the break! - he lets his head fall to the side and start walking to me. I can easily compare him to a bird or some kind of reptile who found something looking like food. The ideia makes my hands shake, being observed by a crow wasn't the funniest thing.

- She is.... - he run his eyes through my notebook, the dark and gentle eyes unsettle me, they had something cold on then, emotionless. I turn my look to the group behind him.

The boy was very skinny and tall, with a dark hair and eyes, vey asian like, but some European traces. His hands were put on the shoulders of the two girls in front of him. They were twin's with a very beautiful curly and high, with freckles on the dark skin and light-green eyes, as skinny as they're friend, but way shorter. The other two girls were so alike that they could be sisters too, same hair, same role of glasses, same height, even the same way of standing. Part of me sounded the "enemy attack" signal, they fitted my pattern of cruel and rich girls.

Over the years I gattered enough material to deduce they're whole life. Informations pop in front of me, an unhappy life, problematic rich family, cruelty being used as a way to feel better... I stop, not just because I promise not to deduce in school anymore, but because that informations only applied to one of them, the one with green eyes. They're lider.

- My name is Sabrina Bons - she walks towards me, smiling and holds my hand. Her perfectly painted red nails matching the glasses and the garter-tie. She had the the soft skin of someone who had never done anything rough in life, but I smile, trying to push away the stereotype and hating me for thinking this way. Perhaps she was even nice! - These are James Black, Katharine and Suzan Dickson and Alice Tennant.

- Louise Holmes - I shake her hand, ignoring their smiles broadening while they recognise my name, that was not even possible. - I am very pleased to meet you.

Ian has a satisfied and nasty smile, beautiful, of course, but a little scary, I wonder what he is planning.

- You are all going to be friends, I'm sure - the pulls on of the chairs and sits besides me, and the kids follow him - How about knowing each other better? James, why don't you tell a little about yourself?

- Yes, Ian - he turns the dark eyes to me and smile - I'm very pleased to meet you, Louise - My father is a minor worker in a middling British bank - he opens a sweet smile and let his head fall a little to the side, as if asking if I understood. I let the corner of my mouth rise handling my head, confirming - I've always studied here, and some day I'm going to be a great journalist.

- I am sure you are going to be a great pianist too - the words scape before I notice and part of me want to disapear right there. No deducing on school, Louise! But none of them have a negative reaction, in fact they look astonished, in a good way. My body relax, and I almost allow myself to be hopeful, maybe they were not going to hate me!

Ian observes, calculating, our interaction, for a moment I stop to notice his face when he is serious, the sparse beard makes him a little older, and, behind the coolness that shone in his eyes, I see a certain gentle glow, loving. He was weird, definitely weird.

I take my eyes off him and focus on Sabrina. We stare at each other for a fraction of a second and feel that if she had that power, I would be fulminated on the floor. But why? Instead of letting my eyes on her to deduce, what would probably put me in trouble, I turn my eyes and focus on the twins, who smile at me, the green eyes are gentle and the freckles make their smiles lovely.

- Our mother occupy an unimportant role on the Prime Minister's security - they speak in unison, the voice are like little bells ringing with laughter. They look like two fairies, and I like them immediately - We don't play and musicals instruments.

- But I'm a black belt in judo - the one on the right makes a small bow, smiling.

- And me in krav maga - complete the left one, smiling, and it raises the head, jokeful.

- We are going to be diplomats one day - they say together, broad smiles. I notice a proud look from James on them, an attentive admiration. I look away again, preventing myself from deducting more.

- Of course you will! - I smile at them, letting it get to my eyes, that might mean I like them. I don't know if this is good, maybe for them it is, if I was a good company, but surely for me it was not. When they hated me, what would happen soon, I was just going to regret - Where do you plan to work?

James restrain his laughter as Sabrina rolled her eyes, and Alice shook her head, rebuking me. I wonder if that was my first mistake. The twin in the left says animatedly: Brazil. And the other almost shouts: India.

I rolled my eyes on the faces around me, Ian watches his own nails, trying not to pay attention to the situation, probably didn't want to get involved in that situation, and once again I go back to them. They both stare at each other for a few seconds, serious, then they turn to me, cold, determined stares, my heart shakes a little, maybe it really was the wrong question.

- We are still deciding - they smile shortly to me, with I reflect, a little unsettled.

- We are still going to hear a lot of fights until then - Sabrina tosses her beautiful hair back and looks botherd, her snub nose makes my stomach twist - you'll get used to it, sweetie - She smiles, engaging, and stretches herself over the table to grab my hand. I force a smile, but noticing the reactions around me and I feel like I'm falling into a trap.

The twins hold expressions of disgust, and disguise it gently, smiling to Sabrina. The only one who keeps a closed and natural expression is Ian, this time his eyes are on me, heavy and full of meanings, I realize that he expects something from me, a will to deduce everything around me almost overwhelms my control, but I only look at Alice.

- My grandfather occupy a silly place of no importance on a noble household - she speaks fast and I realize how she does look at me in the eyes while speaking, her hands shaking on anxiety - I want to be an engineer, studying in Spain - she rise her profundly dark eyes to me and smile. Strangely I feel my lips following her, I'm certain she should smile more, it's beautiful - Did you know that some seaweed produces electricity? If I can understand their composition and how they do it, we can have clean and unlimited energy - her excitement make my smile wider, and I realize her hands aren't shaking anymore.

- That's amazing! - I hear myself saying.

She smiles and looks back at any place other than my eyes, the others have a sweet smile, I feel some gratitude in them, but I do not know what that might mean.

Sabrina forces a smile and leans in my direction, allowing the glasses to slip to the tip of her nose. I stare into her eyes, allowing a slight fear grown invade my mind.

- My mother occupies a small seat in the British army, and my father an unimportant position in parliament - She let go a smug smile when realise my raised eyebrows. That was probably the highest post among them, maybe inside the room, well, not as high as Mycroft Holmes... - I will pursue my father's political career, you know? He told me about you. He said that your uncle is Mycroft Holmes, everyone in this room knows well who he is - She opens a beautiful smile that does not reach her eyes, I let my coldest expression show, how did they know? - We're going to get along just fine, aren't we?