Chapter 12
Blue River Zoo - April 27th, 1994

It was an unusually warm Wednesday afternoon. The Londoners were out in masses, enjoying the sunny afternoon. Terry was coming back from a counseling session, which his father –pleased with Terry’s recent behavior- was now allowing him to travel to and from on his own.

The session had been quite fruitful and Terry felt good. Which was a relief after the drama of the past few weeks. His mother had been institutionalized somewhere upstate New York, and was following treatment for severe depression, acute paranoia and suicidal tendencies. The day after Kurt’s death, she had gone to the Seattle Police Department, demanding to meet a detective and making the accusation that Kurt had been murdered by Courtney who was furious about his plans to divorce and start a new life. Eleanor had claimed she did not feel safe and was terrified that Courtney would attempt to kill her as well, so that she would not reveal what she knew about Kurt. She had demanded to be placed under full police protection, with 24/7 surveillance at Jeff’s house were she was still staying as well as someone assigned to guarantee her safety at all times. The detective she spoke to had told her he would investigate the matter further and would get back to her. Profoundly dissatisfied with his answer, she had reached for his service gun and stated that since she was not taken seriously, she would much rather kill herself than wait for Courtney to do it. The detective had easily subdued her and she had gone into hysterics, screaming that the whole town was part of the conspiracy against her and that she was going to contact the FBI. She had consequently been taken to the psychiatric ward of Seattle’s Virginia Mason hospital, the footage of which had been shown countless times on TV, along with pictures all over the tabloids. She had remained there for a week before Jeff arranged for her transfer to a center for treatment of mental illness on the East Coast. Upon their arrival at JFK airport, several paparazzi had been there, trying to take pictures of a heavily sedated Eleanor, wearing over-sized sunglasses, walking with the support of Jeff and the private nurse hired for the trip. Jeff had started a heated argument with a photographer who kept snapping pictures, ignoring Jeff’s plea for some respect and privacy, notions obviously not on the photographers’ high priority list. It had ended in a ferocious fists fight, Jeff beating up the photographer badly. He was now serving 32 days in jail for it. Terry had not spoken to either one of them since the incident, which was absolutely fine by him for he had no desire to be dragged into the shit the journalists were busy stirring. He would much rather concentrate on himself and getting well, something he was convinced he could never achieved as long as his mother would bring her own crap into his life.

He wanted a cigarette really bad, and felt he deserved one for managing to stay on his best behavior for such an extensive period of time. Out of habit, he reached into his pocket but instead of the familiar pack, his hands felt the metal frame of the harmonica Cady had given him. Ever since that day, he had resolved to seriously try to give up smoking. Unfortunately, it was not as easy as Candy had believed it would be.

“Damn it!” He thought. “I just want one.” He had decided that not buying cigarettes anymore was the most efficient way to quit. Of course, he was quite often bumming one from someone but he had curbed his consumption drastically that way. He looked around him for someone with a cigarette and was happy to see a group of girls about his age, half of them smoking. He put on his most charming smile and approached them. A brunette quickly obliged and lit up his cigarette while looking at him intently.

“Hey, you’re Eleanor Baker’s son, aren’t you?”

“Me? Certainly not.” He inhaled deeply from the menthol cigarette, closing his eyes. It did not feel as good as he had anticipated. He took another drag before tossing it on the sidewalk, crushing it out with his Converse. “Thank you.” He left, ignoring the girls’ request to hang out.

It was 3p.m and Terry did not feel like going back to Saint-Paul just yet, not looking forward the homework he had yet to finish. Instead, he decided he would stop by the Blue River zoo to say hello to Albert, whom he had visited there a couple times before.

Terry enjoyed deeply the time spent talking with Albert, whom he found of pleasant company, even if he had trouble figuring him out. On their first meeting, Terry had assumed he was a rich American businessman, with some monetary interest in the zoo. Things turned out to be quite different.

Even though he seemed quite reluctant to talk about himself, Albert had let slip out a few things: he had a bohemian childhood, traveling around the globe at an early age, with his parents first, and then with his older sister following the untimely death of their parents in a car crash when Albert had been 8 years old. The siblings lived for a while in India, where their parents had started the construction of an orphanage mere weeks prior their death. Romy, Albert’s sister, had been very keen on supervising the project to honor her parents’ memory, and had insisted on bringing her kid brother along, much to the displeasure of their Aunt who was eager to send Albert to a prestigious boarding school and for Romy to marry. The pair eventually came back to the States where Romy ended up marrying a much older gentleman, who had a high rank in the army and was seldom home.

Albert was sent to a boarding school in Boston and was miserable. He hated the rigidity of it and could empathized with Terry’s feelings regarding Saint-Paul. He missed his sister and the contact with animals he had grown accustomed to during his travels.

Romy succumbed to cancer when Albert was 17, leaving him devastated. The day he turned 18, he dropped out of school and went to Africa as a volunteer with an American Animal Rights Organization. He fell in love with the continent, its people and animals.

Terry was fascinated by Albert. He had never met anyone quite like him, except maybe Eddie Vedder who shared the same passion about social equality, environmental defense and animal rights. Terry and Albert quickly bonded over similar life experiences, the loss of a much-loved sibling as well as a free spirit and a strong refusal to allow anyone to make decisions about their life. Terry respected Albert for the fact that even though- judging buy their first encounter - he seemed to be wealthy, he was not tied up to conventions and was still going as he pleased, living a very simple life and really trying to make a difference in the world. Terry guessed Albert to be under 30 and was amazed by everything he had already achieved at such a young age.

Albert was a fervent animal advocate and was at the Blue River Zoo at the request of the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to assess the situation of the two elephants living at the zoo. Albert had explained to him that in the wild, elephants can walk ten or more miles a day, while zoos commonly hold them in enclosures of a few acres or less. The lack of space for movement and hard surfaces, like concrete and compacted soil, wreak havoc on elephants’ feet and joints. These conditions, easily preventable if elephants were given the space and natural conditions they need, were more often than not leading to euthanasia in captive elephants whose physical as well as social and emotional needs were not met in a traditional zoo setting.

Albert was a renowned expert when it came to elephants, having spent several years in India and Africa, observing them in their natural habitat. He also had extensive hands-on experience as the creator and director of a major Elephant Sanctuary in the U.S, with numerous successes in obtaining the transfer of several elephants from US zoos to sanctuaries he had personally inspected.

Albert’s own Elephant Sanctuary in California –which offered a warmer climate more adapted for the animals- had surpassed zoos in the care of captive elephants. It provided thousands of acres of natural habitat, varied topography, ponds, and soft ground, giving the elephants a greater ability to express natural behaviors such as foraging, running, playing, socializing, and swimming. It gave the animals an activity level conducive to healing captivity-induced foot disorders and arthritis. The use of bullhooks and other forms of corporal punishment was prohibited, as well as chaining. Animal care staff lived on the premises –including Albert himself at times- and provided 24-hour monitoring.

The plea for the elephants was very touching and Terry admired Albert for devoting so much time and effort to such a noble cause.

Albert had shown pictures of the sanctuary to Terry who had been impressed. It seemed huge and looking at the picture, you would never have guessed it was in California for the natural habitat had been replicated to perfection, down to the vegetation.

Terry could not help but wonder how Albert had been able to raise the money necessary to achieve such results, for not doubt the place had cost several millions dollars to create and probably more than a few hundred thousands to maintain. Even if he was heir to a small family fortune, it was still a lot of money. When asked he had been evasive and said most of it came from private donors.

That was the one thing that bothered him immensely about Albert: he was always very talkative when his beloved animals were involved but kept mum about his private life. At times, Terry felt like he was hiding something. He did not even know his last name. Every one at the zoo seemed to know him only as Albert, the American elephant lover.

Terry reached Albert’s small office –which really was more like a glorified closet- and knocked.

“Come on in,” came Albert’s friendly tone. Terry walked in. Albert was sitting at his desk, a pen in hand. His desk was full of paperwork, but devoid of any personal touch. No framed pictures. Not even of his beloved sister. It offered no clue as to who the man sitting behind it was.

Albert looked up and welcomed his visitor with a warm smile.

“Hey Al!”

“Terry! What a surprise! How are you?”

“Fine. I was in the neighborhood so I thought I’d stop by. I also wanted to ask you if you are free on the 1st?”

“Let me see.” He reached out for a daily planner in the corner of his desk. “Sorry, looks like I have a previous engagement. A friend of mine is having a party at her school. Which happens to also be your school.”

“Oh, you’ve already been invited to the May Festival. That’s great! So I’ll see you there. I desperately need a friendly face in the audience as I’ll be playing a piece of my composition on the piano. By the way, what’s the name of this friend of yours, maybe I know her.”

“Now that would be quite a coincidence, her name is…”

Albert was interrupted by a firm knock on the door and a female voice that sounded slightly familiar to Terry was heard calling:

“Albert? Hello? Albert?”

“Excuse me Terry. Yes, come on in.”

“Surprise! Good day Albert!” Candy was standing in the doorway, holding a pet carrier, smiling a bright smile that instantly illuminated the whole little room. She was wearing some jeans and an oversized Chicago Bulls hoodie, her hair falling freely on her shoulders. She noticed Terry and her jaw dropped.

“Terry!” She said, unable to hide her surprise, which was shared by Terry.

“Candy! You are Albert’s friend from Saint-Paul!” Said Terry, smiling at the amazing coincidence.

“She is. Looks like you two know each other… ” Said Albert, sounding a bit uneasy but that detail went unnoticed by the two young people who were lost in the contemplation of each other. Terry had not seen Candy in weeks. They both had been busy with studies and the preparation for the festival, of which Candy, being born in May, was to be one of the Flower Princesses. However, they had talked on the phone at length, and Candy had agreed to be Terry’s date for the dance.

“Well, yes, we’re in the same school,” said Candy, who had obviously not caught up on Terry’s words.

Albert laughed.

“What are the odds? Lucky me! I happen to know the two most rebellious students of Saint-Paul, and here they are reunited in the free world, in my tiny office of all places!” He was trying to sound amused but it sounded fake.

“What do you mean by rebellious?” Asked Candy, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

“You are still the same as before, doing what you please and Terry only thinks about getting out at night to drink and fight!” Said Albert.

“So the person that helped Terry and brought him back that night, it was you?” Asked an incredulous Candy. “That’s how you guys know each other?”

“Yes,” said Terry, “and if he hadn’t, I don’t know how it would have ended. I owe you big time Al. Except for one thing…”

“And may I ask what is it, please?” Asked Albert.

“You brought me back to school alright but you had the wrong building, it was the girl’s dorm,” said Terry.

“And he came into my room!” Said Candy

“That’s a small world, isn’t it? Of all the rooms, he had to end up in the one that belonged to the only person I know there. So Candy was talking about you when I met her in the middle of the night, looking for a pharmacy?” Said Albert, who was getting quite morose. He somehow seemed bothered by the fact that the two youngsters knew each other.

“Yes, it was for me,” said Terry

“You were not afraid of fighting to save Terry, Albert?” Asked Candy.

“I don’t like to fight, and thankfully I did not have too. But I would have if it had come down to it,” said Albert

“So in your own way, you’re a rebel too, taking the side of a drunken teenager?” Said Terry, laughing.

“I am and I’m afraid I’m going to be one till the end of times!” Said Albert.

They all burst out laughing. The sun came in through the tiny window, and a small ray of sunshine shone on Terry. He closed his eyes and wished for time to stop. He could not remember when he had felt so good last, laughing with friends for no particular reason other than being plain dumb happy. The warmth and complicity that emanated from Candy and Albert seemed to take him in and he was enjoying it very much.

“What do you have in this carrier Candy?” Asked Albert, looking at Candy with a questioning look.

“Oh… Right. The carrier. It’s a turtle. Her name is Charlotte. She belongs to my friend’s Patricia. You must help me. Patricia had her in school but she got caught. Would you believe Mother Gray wanted to have her killed! So I… I… I asked her not to and she gave me the afternoon to dispose of it.” Candy finished her sentence quickly, looking down, visibly uttering a lie.

“What do you mean? That old hag just said “sure Miss Freckles, please do dispose of that animal as you wish. Thank you for your trouble?” Asked a teasing Terry.

“Well… Not exactly…”

“Candy, tell us what really happened, would you?” Coerced Albert, while taking the carrier from Candy and letting the turtle out.

“I… She… I kind of black mailed her….”

“You what???” Screamed Terry.

“I know it sounds horrible but what she wanted to do was worst! I figured it allowed me to be a bit devious...”

“Devious?” Terry could not believe his ears. That Candy was full of surprises.

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Candy! See, you’ll never change! Please do tell us the whole story.” Asked Albert, laughing heartily.

“It all happened after lunch. Patricia wanted to show me something. I was waiting for her in my room when I heard a commotion in the hallway. I got out and there stood Mother Grey with two other nuns, towering over Patricia who was sitting on the floor, holding something in her hands, crying for Mother Grey to have mercy. Elisa and her stuck-up friend were also there. As I got closer, I realized Patricia was holding a turtle. Mother Grey was telling her to surrender the filthy animal and asking one of the nuns to make sure it gets destroyed. Patricia was crying heavy tears by then. I asked what the big deal was and why commit such a horrible act for an inoffensive turtle. I was promptly told to go back to my room. That’s when I lost it. I called Mother Grey a heartless witch and…”

“A heartless witch! No? You didn’t?” Asked Terry, incredulous, unable to suppress the laughter he felt rising in his chest.

“Yes, I did. And she was not too happy about it as you can imagine. She summoned me to go back to my room, adding that she would deal with my insolence later on. To what I answered that I was not being insolent, only speaking the truth. She got so mad that I thought she would explode. But I was on a roll and kept going. I told her that if she did not let me dispose of Charlotte in a humane way, I’d call PETA -I have no idea what’s the name of the UK equivalent- and have her cruelty exposed for the whole world to see.”

“Holy crap! That was a gutsy move. And she agreed?”

“ Yep.” Beamed Candy.

“That’s wonderful Candy, I’m so proud of you.” Albert was beaming.

“Unfortunately, there is a price to pay. I’m expected back to school by 6pm. I have to report to Mother Grey who will take me to the meditation room-whatever that is- where I’ll be locked up till Monday! She’s banning me from the May Festival festivities!” Candy was red with anger.

“Damn that old bitch! She has not pity.” Terry was devastated. He had been looking forward the festival so much because it would have been their first official date.

“Patricia told me it was a very nice party, with nice dresses and flowers everywhere. There’s going to be singing, dancing, a play… And I’ll miss your Polo game. ” Candy carried on, her voice filled with regrets.

“Well, it won’t be the highlight of the festival so you won’t be missing much… But it sucks for the music and the dancing. There will also be a lot of food and sweets, it’s going to last till the evening, that’s the best part.”

“Candy, I’m so sorry.” Said Albert.

“So I’m afraid there is no point in you coming since I won’t be attending. And Terry I’m sorry for the dance. I was looking forward to it.” Her voice was cracking slightly.

Terry did not know what to say anymore. Albert picked up Charlotte that was exploring the room and announced:

“Well Charlotte, your troubles are over. I’m taking you with me. And Candy, you did the right thing.”

“Thanks, Albert.”

“Anytime little one. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take Charlotte to my place. Poor thing looks confused. I’m done for the day. Since you guys are here, you might as well check the zoo out. Have fun!”

Albert left, leaving Candy and Terry alone, in an awkward silence. Terry was pondering a blank sport on the wall while Candy was gazing at him, her back leaning against the wall. There were so many things he wanted to tell her but he could not get the words to come out. He felt his heart beating harder and harder, to the point where he thought it would burst out of his chest.

Not able to take it any longer, he stood up:

“Want to go for a walk, Candy?”

“Oh, yes! I’d love too” Came the enthusiastic answer.

They walked in silence around the Zoo. Candy seemed to be lost in a dream. Not knowing how to change the mood, Terry ran ahead of her and finally called out:

“Candy! There is someone here who looks just like you!”

“Let me see!” Candy arrived and looked at the enclosure where three monkeys were playing, chasing each other and climbing around the perimeter of the cage.

“When you make faces, the resemblance is stunning!” laughed Terry.

“Oh!!” Exclaimed Candy, her nose frowning in anger and disappointment.

“From now on, I’m going to call you Freckly Monkey!!” Laughed Terry. Candy was infuriated and noisily stuck her tongue out at him.

“You are making fun of me again! If I didn’t restrain myself, I would pull your eyes out!!” Yelled Candy, clenching her hand into a little fist she brandished above her head.

Terry ran away, laughing, and disappeared into the crowd. He could hear her scream at the top of her lungs:

“COME BACK HERE, TERRY!”

He went to one of the vendor scattered around the zoo and bought some cotton candy. He then went back to where he had left Candy and scanned the crowd, finally spotting her, sitting on a bench, sulking furiously.

“Candy!” He cried out, running toward her.

“Ah! There you are!” She exclaimed, frowning.

“Want a piece?” He asked, offering her the pink candy.

“Cotton Candy? Thank you Terry. I thought you had hidden because you were scared.”

“Me, scared?” Laughed Terry, shoving a piece of cotton candy in his mouth.

Candy did not answer and took a piece of cotton candy she shoved in her mouth.

“I love cotton candy. It reminds me of the county fairs I used to go to as a kid.” She said, licking her fingers.

“Me too. My sister used to have a cotton candy machine. We once made a giant one. We used like 3 packs of sugar. And made a huge mess. Cotton candy all over. Even in our hair. But we had a blast.” Terry’s voice was tainted with nostalgia.

“You miss her a lot, don’t you?”

“I do… But I really don’t want to talk about it….” Answered Terry, his voice wavering slightly.

“Sure, I understand. Sorry.”

They kept eating in silence for a bit then Terry asked what he had been dying to know:

“What’s your relationship with Albert?”

“I met him in the US. Before Mr. Andrew adopted me, I used to take care of the horses in Elisa’s house. He helped me when I ran away once… He saved my life.” It was now Candy’s voice that was tainted with nostalgia. “ We became really good friends fast. It’s like he’s always around when I need him, he’s very kind… I lived in the city of Lakewood, near Chicago. It’s a nice place…” Her voice was becoming very low. “Anthony’s roses must be in bloom…” She trailed off.

“This Anthony, who is he?” The words had escaped his mouth. “You mentioned his name the night you went on your sleep walking trip.”

“When I saw you at the airport, something about you reminded me of him. Anthony was very talented at growing roses, it was his passion. He was always so nice and friendly.” Terry could see the love in Candy’s eyes as she recalled the boy to whom Terry instantly took a profound dislike. The passion in her voice was like a stab to his heart.

“Does not sound a bit like me! A man who grows roses must be a wuss!” He said in frustration.

“How dare you!! Anthony was not a wuss!! He was strong, courageous and full of audacity!! He was a beautiful person, with a big heart! He had all the qualities a boy should have!” There was a quiver in Candy’s voice and her eyes were welling with tears.

“Sure, then what? He ultimately preferred to tend to his roses while you were crazy in love with him, huh? He did not try to stop you from leaving for Europe? Is that what happened?” He said in disdain.

Candy looked at him, her green eyes full of an anger she had trouble containing. She was about to speak when Terry cut her off.

“And don’t look at me like that! Face it. Your lover boy would rather take care of his roses than you. Get over it. There are plenty of boys in England, just as good as him. And less wussy.” He just could not control himself anymore. He knew he was being needlessly mean but he somehow found comfort in insulting this boy he did not even know.

“Anthony… Anthony is DEAD!!!! He fell off a horse and…” Candy’s voice broke down, her body started shaking and she burst into heavy tears.

Terry wanted to kick himself. What an idiot. Why did he have to be so rude! But he had been so insanely jealous… He was ashamed of all the horrible things he had said about a dead boy.

“Candy… I’m sorry… I was a jerk… I had no idea…. “ He put a hand on her shoulder and much to his relief, she did not push him away. She had her back to Terry and was still crying heavily, hiding her face in her hands, her hair falling over her face. Terry did not know what to do, what to say. He placed his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, kissing her hair lightly.

“I’m sorry… In case you’ve not noticed yet, I’m a bloody idiot. I just… I know it is no excuse but I was jealous… I was jealous of Anthony… Because…. Because I like you…. Very much.” Horrified by his admission, he buried his head in her hair.

They remained like that for what felt like an eternity, neither one of them wanting to move. Candy’s tears slowly turned into sobs and finally stopped. Terry felt her body relaxed against his and he wrapped her tighter in his arms, his head still nestled in her hair. It smelled like chamomile and it was intoxicating.

“Don’t feel bad. You could not possibly have known. My life is not as public as yours.” Her small voice broke the silence.

“That’s only because you don’t have a Mom who is a media whore.” He could not help to say. He was so sick and tired of the way Eleanor had always sold her private life –and theirs in the process- to the tabloids.

“Please, don’t talk about your Mom like that. It is not nice.” She said reproachfully.

“Well, if you knew her, you’d see she is not a very nice person.” He said bitterly.

She took his hands off her waist and slowly turned around, never letting go of his wrists. They were facing each other. Her eyes were red from crying but she had a smile on her lips.

“She is still your Mom.” She said quietly. “So… You like me huh?” She looked at him expectantly.

Terry felt like his life was at a turning point. He freed one hand and placed it on her cheek, slowly caressing it and going up toward her hair.

“I do. Freckles and all.” He said, while running his fingertips slowly on her nose bridge. “I know it will sound very corny and I absolutely forbid you to repeat it to anyone,” he added, placing his hands on her thigh, ” but ever since I met you, I’ve been unable to shake you off my head. It is like I’m possessed. When I’m around you, I feel things I’ve never felt before, things I cannot even explain. It’s like I’m with you in a fifth dimension, in a dream I’ve never had. I feel like we are not of this world but there’s a place for us: stuck inside this fleeting moment, tucked away where no one owns it, in our very own world. When you’re not around, I am so homesick. But it’s not that bad because I’m homesick for the home I’ve never had. I feel like you could be MY home.” He felt terribly embarrassed after making such a passionate declaration. He had never said anything like this to anyone but the words had just come out and there had been no stopping them. She was looking at him, blushing and avoiding his gaze.

“Did I creep you out yet?” He asked, wondering how many more minutes before she runs away.

“Of course not! This is just that I feel the same way but would never have been able to put it so nicely,” she said, her eyes meeting his. She gave him a smile full of tenderness and unspoken promises. She reached for his neck, tied her hands around it and slowly brought his face toward hers. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, both putting all their unspoken feelings in it. They had trouble taking their hands off each other and were stopped by the giggles and catcalls of a group of school kids, followed by their teacher’s reprobating voice.

“Please, behave yourself. You are in a public place. There are small children around. I’m going to report you to the zoo security. Come on children, let’s keep going.”

Without saying a word, Terry stood up, took Candy’s hand and led her back towards Albert’s office. They let themselves in. Terry locked the door behind them and pushed Candy up against it, pressing his lips onto hers, their tongues meeting eagerly. He wanted her so badly all his body was aching. He had no idea what he was doing and was functioning entirely on auto-pilot. Candy wrapped one leg around his, bringing him closer to her in an intimate embrace. He let out a small groan, and Candy moaned softly in return, only fueling his desire.

How he restrained himself from tearing her clothes off, he would never know. Their bodies were rubbing madly together, and he quickly ended with a boner, instinctively pushing through his jeans against her mid-section. His left hand had found its way under her sweatshirt and was cupping a breast through her undershirt. Terry had no idea how sexually active she was and did not dare to go any further for fear of scaring her off. But she quickly brushed his worries away by pressing her chest against his hand, demanding more. Terry gladly obliged, and gave a gentle squeeze to her breast, his hand going under the undershirt on to her cotton bra. Her nipples hardened at his actions and her hands proceeded to pull at his shirt, dragging her nails up and down his back, as their kiss became more intense and urgent. Terry felt her sliding and held her more firmly up against the door.

"Oh my god," she murmured as they finally broke apart to catch their breath. Terry abruptly let go of her.

“I’m sorry. I’m acting like a pig. I don’t want to rush things. Please tell me if you want me to stop.” He asked, much against his will but he really did not want to mess things up.

She looked at him, her face flushed from their kissing, her hair a blond curly mess and gave him a seductive smile. Without a single word, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him toward her for another passionate kiss that send them tumbling on to the cold tiled floor.

He was on top of her, his hair falling onto her face. She pushed it away and cupped his face into her hands.

“Don’t worry. I want you as much as you to. I need you. I want to feel alive.” She said huskily.

That was all Terry needed to hear. His captured her lips and kissed her deeply, his tongue mingling furiously with hers. He reached for the buttons of her 501, slowly undoing them. He felt goose bumps on her skin as his fingers came to rest just above the edges of her white knickers.

He looked up at her, his dark blue eyes nothing but a pool of desire. He was relieved to see a very similar look in Candy's green eyes, coupled with a heavy blush on her cheeks. He grinned up at her before going down to her stomach, lifting her shirt up and kissing her belly button area, trailing his tongue in playful licks. He then ever so slowly slid his hand in her knickers, brushing his fingers softly over her pubic area before meeting the wetness of her core. Terry's touch was hesitant at first, his long fingers awkwardly sliding into her. Candy spread out her legs in encouragement, and moaned loudly as two of his fingers slid further into her. He slowly moved them in and out, going deeper with each stroke. Candy’s eyes were closed, her arms were above her head and she was moaning loudly. Terry was overwhelmed by the sensation touching her so intimately were awakening in him. He had quite an extensive sexual experience but had never felt anything like it. When with most of the other girls he had always cut the foreplay short to fulfill his own pleasure as soon as possible, with Candy, it was completely different. He felt he could touch her for hours and hours and take his pleasure simply by watching her moan under his touch.

Suddenly, Candy sat up, a look of horror on her face.

“What time is it?” Panic was rising in her voice.

Terry looked at his watch.

“Why? It’s 5:30. Oh crap!” He said, realizing that Candy was expected into Mother Grey’s office within a half hour.

Candy quickly got up and proceeded to button up her jeans. She was in a full panic.

“Shit, shit and shit! I’m gonna be late!”

“Come on, let’s go.” Terry took her hand and they ran out. They rushed madly throughout the zoo toward the closest subway station.

Lucky for them, the line to Saint-Paul was a direct one. They had just reached the platform when a train stopped and they rushed in. It was 5:38. The train was full of people going back home after a day of work and they had to stand. Terry was holding on to a bar while Candy was holding on to his shirt.

“We should make it just on time. Don’t worry.” Terry said, trying to reassure her.

“I’m not worried. And even if Mother Grey gets more upset than she already is, which I truly cannot imagine considering how pissed off she was, it was worth it.” She blinked at him.

“Miss Freckles! I must say I am pleasantly surprised by your behavior today! It was totally unexpected.”

She looked at him, frowning.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you go around and talk back to our jail keeper, then you let yourself lose with me… “

“And what is so surprising about that? Did you think I was a stuck up goody too shoes or something?”

“Well… Most girls in Saint-Paul usually are…. “

“So you assumed I was like the rest of them?”

“Not really… Not after hearing you talk about Anthony…. It’s obvious you loved him very much…. “

At the mention of Anthony’s name, Candy seemed embarrassed and looked down to her feet. The train came to a stop and saved Candy the trouble to answer. They ran out and were at the school gate at 6:00 sharp. The gatekeeper let them in after scanning their school Ids. The scanner read 6:01.

They reached the main building, out of breath and stopped by the front door.

“Well, I have to go. Thank you Terry, I had a lovely time.” She said, holding his shoulder and putting a small kiss on his cheek. “You gave me something to ponder while I’ll be locked up in their jail.” She added with a naughty smile before disappearing into the building.

Terry stood were he was, a stupid smile on his face, till the first raindrops hit him. He proceeded to run toward the boys’ dormitory, still smiling. Once in his room, he grabbed a notebook, sat at the piano and proceeded to put into words what he was feeling: the lyrics that would accompany his tune had just come up to his mind.

Chapter 13