i passed him in the corridor again, and with great relish found that he was actually waiting for me. he looked up, determination etched into his face.

"who are you?" he asked. i rolled my eyes to the ceiling.

"you don't know who i am?"

"no. should i?" he replied with spite. it just made me smile.

"i don't know. should you?" i teased. i saw his body tense up.

"why did you bring me to the courtyard?"

"yah... who knows? maybe i just wanted a walk."

"maybe you didn't."

"maybe i didn't?" i tilted my head. "maybe i didn't. then why?"

he thought about this for a moment. he was clearly playing into my hands.

"maybe... you wanted to talk to me." he said slowly. "but changed your mind at the last minute."

i wasー amazinglyー taken aback. i had never thought that behind a boy full of such hurt lay a pile of stupidity. a pile of stubborn gullibility. it was disgusting. even i would have thought a lifetime of abuse would be enough to shape him up.

"yes. maybe i did want to talk to you." i said after a while. already a plan was forming in my head.

even god wouldn't have reckoned how easy it was to snatch him away.