“Who the hell are you really?” That was the question Elizabeth wanted to ask Leon more than anything.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPUsJGJVyV
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The previous afternoon, during her weekly therapy session, Elizabeth had remembered a long-forgotten dream from her childhood — the one which had caused her to disassociate from reality in the first place: the one with Leon Pentagast in it, the boy with the impossibly electric blue eyes.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin1IO8x5qI
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But how could she voice the glaring question without appearing crazy and irrational? She couldn’t. She understood that dreams were nothing more than her subconscious mind in overdrive while her body lay resting, however she was one hundred percent certain that Leon had been the young man in all her childhood dreams. He didn’t look a day older, his appearance was eerily exactly the same, and now the sense of deja-vue remained at all times around him.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNLm8lBEl7
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“You’ve been eerily silent all day,” Holly remarked, shaking Elizabeth from her thoughts. Elizabeth sat in her classroom desk, head supported in her hands and hunched over her desk, having been lost deep in thought until a moment ago. She had arrived in her class early, taking the quiet space as a place to mull over her conflicted emotions and thoughts. Now, students had begun to slowly meander to their seats, and Holly gracefully lowered herself into the desk chair next to Elizabeth.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC81xjbmd73
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“What?” Elizabeth asked lamely, not having paid attention until now.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsTUDKvld1
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“You. Quiet. What’s up?” Holly asked, her brow furrowed in clear concern.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt96JJLAmN
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“Sorry,” Elizabeth apologized, “I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT85hqtiLG
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“Oh, your psych appointment was yesterday, right? What did the quack say to upset you this time?” Holly appeared annoyed on her behalf but Elizabeth shook her head.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUMbchl01l
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“Nothing. She just asked a lot of questions about…” Elizabeth trailed off.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ0PP1ctbj
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“About what?” Holly’s curiosity was peeked.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS7SOaP2rZ
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“Leon,” Elizabeth admitted.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMxryrZb5V
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“Crushing on him, too, huh?” Holly cooed in attentiveness, mocking her friend. For someone like Holly, who constantly thought about dating, this was seemingly the most obvious reasoning for her friend’s sullen mood. However, for Elizabeth, it couldn’t be further from the truth. But how could she tell her friend ‘I just remember him from my crazy dreams’? She couldn’t, and Elizabeth knew it.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel08RROczJ
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“Sure,” she lied. Holly giggled and gave her friend a pat on the back.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7aXCGqelv
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“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him,” Holly promised, but Elizabeth was doubtful. “Speak of the devil,” Holly added and pointed to the doorway.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN82tXzGO1
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Elizabeth followed her gaze as Leon entered the classroom and smiled kindly at the girls. Holly waved with a sugar-sweet grin, and Elizabeth nodded in his direction, still actively trying to avoid prolonged eye contact.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j7tYkfmts
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“How are you both doing today?” He asked in his smooth accent. He took his seat on the opposite side of Elizabeth, and brushed off his cleanly pressed button-up shirt as he set his backpack down by his feet and then pulled out the textbook, turning it to the assigned reading without ever taking his eyes off of Elizabeth.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDjizdIbVh
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“Fine,” Elizabeth lied again.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6xJ0fyLTD
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“Elizabeth has something to tell you!” Holly chirped and Elizabeth swung around to glare daggers at her best friend.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczNEu91CGf
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“Holly!” Elizabeth practically screamed at her, and Holly was immediately taken aback but her grin never faltered. The classroom fell nearly silent as all eyes turned to the sudden commotion and Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed hot under the sudden and unwanted attention. This was the very last thing she needed: attention drawn to her inadequacies. However, Elizabeth was hardly surprised: keeping a secret, even a fake one, was not Holly’s strong point. She liked the sound of her own voice, and had difficulty remembering to keep quiet when it was most prudent. However, Elizabeth now internally chided herself for not coming up with a less embarrassing lie to convey — one that wouldn’t have had the potential to draw Leon’s attention further towards Elizabeth.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aWoQ7zf9g
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“Well, you’ll never say anything on your own; I’m helping you,” Holly coaxed her on in return. Next to them, Leon was frowning with a puzzled expression playing across his face, but a hopeful glint played through in his bright eyes.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwrGo2RsKV
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“Elizabeth?” He asked, his voice soft. Elizabeth looking around, blushing as she realized the majority of the classroom had heard her outburst and now their gazes fell on her. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, and closed it again, feeling foolish. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ163YFzJ0ea
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As she attempted to collect her words, the teacher appeared in the doorway and clapped his hands together, signaling the beginning of class. Leon looked disappointed as his eyes met Elizabeth’s, and he turned instead to his textbook as he drew it from his backpack. Elizabeth sighed heavily and dropped her forehead low enough to touch the desk, feeling her cheeks burning with embarrassment.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjpkMVNZoe
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“Better luck next time,” Holly whispered in a hushed undertone as the teacher began addressing the lesson plan for the day.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7VpXpu415
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“Shut up,” Elizabeth hissed through gritted teeth.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzEg0EDMar
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