(Chapter 21) A Photo?

"Hey Leone, did you see the news?" after another week of talking to each other, the three girls slowly become friendly to Leone.

"What about it? I saw that the Hanxi corporation is expanding, I don't watch much news." Leone responded slightly embarrassed that he couldn't keep the conversation flowing.

That didn't matter, Francesca could make up a conversation by herself. Leone and Francesca talked about the news. While Astrid ate quietly.

Winoa was kept behind by the teacher to confirm some of her answers. So Astrid had to deal with a never-ending conversation...

She then suddenly heard a sound like a camera shutter. She immediately looked up and at the source of the noise.

She locked on to her target, he was aiming his camera at the bench they were sitting on and had a serious expression, the glasses he wore suited how serious he just took a photo...

"Ah! I know I'm handsome, but could you not?" Leone understood that sometimes girls didn't want to be photographed...

The student then lost his serious vibe and embarrassingly chuckled, he walked up the bench and slowly bent over. "Apologies, I just thought the photo would be good for my upcoming project. I'll delete it." The student apologized, knowing his mistake.

Astrid had a look at the student and was a bit surprised. "You are in your final year?" She asked while looking at him.

If you took away his glasses, Astrid was sure that the man could move girl's hearts without effort. He had a solid foundation, and considering he was 15 or 16, his body was much more built than Leones...

The boy chuckled. "I am, I'm taking photos for my course... I had heard some rumors about some interesting lower years. So I decided to find something within you." He replied as he decided to show the photos he took.

Astrid blinked... The photos were quite good, they made her look innocent and untouchable. While a pair photo of Francesca and Leone made them look like great friends enjoying their afternoon...

"My name's Saverio, it's nice to meet you." He spoke casually, as if he didn't mind talking to kids younger than him.

Understanding the school system was crucial. In schools, younger students could often feel intimidated or just not interested in the older students. Also in the rich schools, many partnerships were built on spending a lot of meaningful time together. So two children in different years and classes would often struggle to interact.

Instead the younger children would mindlessly follow them around and their names. If an older sports student broke a record for example, they would hear their name. Hence look up to them, except for the odd fawning conversation they wouldn't have much contact naturally.

Unless they introduced themselves like now. "Astrid."

"I'm Francesca, he's Leone." Francesca answered for both her and Leone.

Saverio nodded in acknowledgment. "I heard that the photography teacher had left on leave for a month. Is what you're doing the work set?" Leone asked in wonder. He was plain curious.

Saverio nodded. "Yeah, when the teacher comes back she will examine our photos and mark us based on several factors. I won't bore you guys but all in all, photography is pretty fun and relaxing." Saverio didn't feel any shame talking to kids younger than him.

He would mind if it was just Francesca and Leone. After all, they were still 14-year-old kids. But Astrid reminded him of a more mature presence, she didn't have a youthful look to her...

Saverio now joined in on their conversation. Francesca and Leone questioned him about classes and whatnot. While Astrid just continued eating.

"I'll be going to class." Astrid finished eating and decided to have a nap in class first. She was tired from the physical exercises earlier.

Saverio watched Astrid walk away in wonder. "Does she normally act like that?"

Francesca nodded. "Mm, Astrid might seem like a really cold person, but she is quite nice! Plus she is ridiculously smart! Knowing her, she probably went to sleep on the table before lessons." Francesca both praised her friend, and explained why she left.

Saverio nodded stupidly. "That's true! Astrid caused the entire science department to make a separate curriculum for her, she would answer the questions and then go to sleep! The work she does now just makes my head spin." Leone explained how Astrid was smart...

Saverio was quite surprised. "She is that smart?" He asked, was this a genius not seen in hundreds of years?

Francesca nodded. "She completely aced the maths exams, she made the teacher write up some formulas that they use in spacecraft building! She answered them and went back to sleep... *Sigh* I wish I could have at least half of Astrid's intelligence." Francesca looked quite aggrieved.

One must know, that the school was the best of the best grades wise. If a student could get full marks on a test then they were already a genius the school would like to mold. But when Astrid was going around sleeping in every lesson. Answering questions about rockets, and speaking better English than some natives... She was truly a special person.

Saverio was stunned. He might have accidentally picked up a useful ally for the future...

.......

December, the month of the holiday of Christmas, being a fairly big holiday in Italy, the school closed a few weeks before and sent students home with enough work to do.

Of course, the rich families would leave school before any public schools, with harder work came more opportunities for breaks. So now Astrid was stuck at home, not able to sit outside and watch the flowers...

On the upside, Astrid's body had significantly improved. She had even started to exercise every morning to build her stamina up to the levels in her previous life. But she still had one more issue...

Her body still required the intake of blood every day. It didn't make sense to Astrid, vampires didn't exist, and she didn't know of any diseases that would require the intake of blood. But she knew that when she didn't eat the strange soup, she would feel incredibly weak. And food would have no taste.

"Astrid, how is your homework going?" Mr. Tuhs asked in the early morning, the house was decorated to the brim. With Mr. Tuhs wearing a festive jumper.

"I've finished it all. Dad is that woman giving you any more problems?" During this time, Astrid had become extremely comfortable with her parents. She had almost opened herself up fully to them.

Mr. Tuhs shook his head. "No, other than sometimes coming into my office. She doesn't do much else."

Astrid sighed. "If that's the case, I think she is deciding to sell some company information to another one of her clients. Just make sure Stephan is watching her." Astrid suggested, making Mr. Tuhs laugh.

"I know, don't worry, I might be getting older. But my mind is not muddled." Mr. Tuhs had long been watching her.

Mrs. Tuhs sighed. "Business, business, business. Is there anything else you two talk about?" During the last couple of months, Mrs. Tuhs had become moodier over her pregnancy, but there wasn't anything they could do about it.

Mr. Tuhs chuckled with fear, he didn't dare offend his wife in fear of sleeping on the sofa again...

"Mum, I heard that the winter season has expanded their clothing. How about having a look?" Astrid had learned that the best way to calm her mother. Was to go shopping.

As expected, Mrs. Tuhs smiled with glee. "Oh? Then I will need to have a look later." There it was settled, the daughter-mother pair would be going shopping again...