I am so sleepy at the moment. I can't seem to keep my eyes open for more than five minutes. This is probably the result of staying late yesterday completing that physics assignment. I had to submit it a week ago but didn't have the time to, so the teacher gave me some extra time and today is the last day to submit it. I didn't want my marks to get deducted due to this so I did everything I could and finished it yesterday. 

  The moment my last lecture for the day gets over, I meet Troy at the front of the main school building. With only a week left for exams to begin we have to do whatever we can, to do our best in them. 

  "Hey, there you are. Let's get something to eat first. " He says. 

  "Is that all you think about? And can't we eat something at your place?" 

  "It's not all I think about, " He whined indignantly, "and there's no one at home so unless you want to eat my inedible cooking…"

  "Okay, okay, let's not waste anymore time and get going. "

  "Sure."

  Troy doesn't have a car but he has a scooter, so we get on and drive to a nearby cafe for a light meal. 

  "What are you having? " Troy asks me, while looking at the menu. 

  I pick one up and browse through it. I usually go for burgers 'cause they're my favorite so I decide to have one now as well. 

  "I think I'll have a burger as usual. "

  " 'kay then, " Looking at a waiter, he said, "excuse me I'd like to order now."

  Once the waiter arrives and asks for our order, I say, "I'd like a chicken burger with fries and a coke. "

  "And chicken wings, a cheese and ham sandwich, tuna salad and a strawberry shake for me please. "

  I raise my eyebrows at him. I can see his mouth watering as he places his order. This guy would be a pig if he didn't workout. 

  "What? I like having a big meal."

  "I didn't say anything. "

  "You can order more if you want. It's on me. "

  "No thanks. "

  In ten minutes our meal arrives and our table seems like it's set for at least five to six people. After we finish the meal we head straight to Troy's place and start studying. I am glad that he actually seems to be paying attention and is hardly getting distracted. 

  After about an hour or so I suddenly remember about the cut-out that has gone missing and think of asking him. He knows how important it is to me. I decided that I'd ask him just before leaving his house. 

  Suddenly I notice that Troy has zoned out. Instead of solving the problems I'd asked him to solve he is staring out the window. I call out once and he doesn't seem to notice. Then I call out again, a little louder this time. He still doesn't hear. I wonder, is there  a problem with his ears, or is it my voice?! 

  When I throw the eraser at his head, he finally snaps out of it. He blinks for a while and then says, " Don't you think all these robberies that are happening are weird? "

  "What do you mean? "

  "I mean, the police suspected the Masked Bandit to be up to something big because of his disappearance and then he commits one of his regular crimes. Then again, the two major robberies come right in between the time of his absence. This has got the police so confused. The police think that the Masked Bandit is definitely not involved in the two major crimes since he always makes himself visible and does nothing to hide his identity. But in the other two, whoever is doing it both know how to conceal themselves well and have left us with absolutely no clue. "

  He seems frustrated. 

  "Well, yeah you're right. It's all confusing. But you should think more about the exams than that case. I'm sure the police will come up with some lead or other. "

 "Yeah I know. But something about this case just kinda draws me to it you know. "

  "It does seem interesting, if that's what you mean. Are you done with the problems? "

  "Just three left. " He says, finally looking down into his notebook. 

  "Do them quickly. I'll have to leave in about half an hour. "

  " 'kay. Just give me a moment. "

  In a little while we were done and as I put away my books I remembered that I have to ask him about the cut-out. Before I got the chance the doorbell rings and Troy runs down the stairs to open the door. When he comes back up he brings a bottle of Litchi juice and two glasses. 

  "Mom brought some on the way. "

  We both liked it so I really can't say no and I end up spending another fifteen minutes or so at his place. As I am leaving I decide to ask him about it. 

  " Hey Troy have you seen my superhero cut-out by any chance? "

  "Huh? What cut-out? "

  "The one I showed you some years ago? "

  He has a strange expression on his face but doesn't say anything so I ask again. 

  "Well did you? I looked everywhere in my room but couldn't find it. "

  "Nope. Sorry. I haven't seen it anywhere. You should look again, maybe you'll find it this time. "

  "Yeah, I guess I could do that."

  We head out the door and once I am out on the road I wave him goodbye and start my walk back home. I have dinner and look for the cut-out again. Not finding it yet, I go straight to bed. My brain has been fried with the day's studying and it needs some rest. It needs to be prepared for fourteen more days just like today. 

*****

  I forgot to close the curtains of the window in my room yesterday and was woken up by the sunlight streaming in. Even though it was quite early in the morning, the light was bright enough to wake me up. Now I'm just lying in bed waiting for it to be time to get up. School's finishing early today, so I will be going over to Troy's again. I really can't wait for exams to be over! 

  I brush my teeth, change and head downstairs for breakfast. I am surprised to see Bella at the table today in her special chair. 

  "Hey Bell, G'morning! "

  "G'morning! "  She was grinning widely. The cute little thing! 

  "Is she feeling better mum? "

  "Yeah, much better. I just hope it doesn't come back anytime soon. "

  I nod and help myself to breakfast. I also help mum feed Bella. In a couple of minutes Emilia, Adam and Tony enter the room and sit themselves at the table and start chatting with mum. 

  "Where's dad and Jeff? " Enquires Emilia. 

  "Oh, dad's already gone to work honey and Jeff's gone with him. There seems to be a problem and dad needed Jeff's help before opening the shop. " Says mum, by way of explanation. 

  After breakfast I head to school and directly head to my first class. For once I am actually the first person there. 

*****

  Once the final bell rings I meet up with Troy on my way out and once again, he asks me to have lunch with him at another of his favorite places, stuffing himself with food like always. 

  I eye him again, while he eats for maybe two or three. I finished my sandwich rather quickly and have nothing better to do. 

  "What? Haven't heard of comfort food? I'm really stressed because of the exams. I don't understand how you can eat so little. " He says all this with his mouth full of food. I just nod and usher him to finish eating. 

  Once he is done, we head over to his place and start with math. 

  "Why does it have to be so hard? " He whines, banging his head to the table. 

  "It's not that hard. " I reply, with a smile. 

  "Only a nerd will say that. " He says, annoyed at my enthusiasm. 

  "Hey! Who are you calling a nerd? " I say indignantly. I really hate being called that just because I like math. It wasn't like I was exceptionally good at all other subjects. I was an average student. At least that's what I think. 

  "You of course. Hey, by the way, did you find what you were looking for yesterday? " He says, changing the subject. 

  "No actually. I must have dropped it somewhere. " 

  "You sure? Have you checked every possible place? "

  "Yep." And I definitely have. 

  "Forget about it now. Just focus on the exams."

  "Yea… " 

  I know he is reassuring me so that I don't get distracted from studying. I really should stop thinking about it. It might be in an obvious place that I haven't searched yet. 

  The rest of the day went on as usual, except for the strange glances Troy was giving me, every now and then. I didn't ask though. It could just be my imagination. 

*****

  The exam week came so soon, that I almost didn't realize it. Our first paper is math. Troy is freaking out as usual and I tried to calm him down by revising the formulae and stuff. For me, that exam went smoothly. The next is biology. That doesn't go as well as math but it isn't bad either. The others are all somewhere in between not very good and not bad so I am quite happy about it. The results won't be out anytime soon, so I'll try to relax. I know it won't be bad but it's never good to be too overconfident!