“Soooo”, I tried to start a conversation.

But it wasn’t going too well. First of all: I still was embarrassed for what happened earlier and didn’t directly want to mention it.

Second: I’ve never been that kind of early person who was into communication after getting up. And third: Tau seemed to feel the exact same way as I did because he ignored me completely.

And that was fourth: The first good thing I got to know about him - like a really good thing!

“We walk to school?” 

“Hm.”

“So, it’s not that far away?” “Hm.” He very loudly slurped his hot chocolate to signalize this conversation wasn’t going anywhere and I stopped talking to drink my coffee.

 If this was going to be our morning routine I was fine with it. Not talking in the mornings was exactly my thing.

“Okay, I get it. Silence in the mornings. I don’t like talking either. I - uh - mean in the mornings. I am no morning-” “If so, you’re talking quite a lot”, his voice interrupted me. “You don’t have to talk if you’re not into it.” Why did his voice sound strange when he said that?

Instead of saying anything I just nodded and put my hands in my jacket’s pockets.

It was getting colder these days. Autumn finally seemed to start.

While walking along the road I recognized a few adults guiding their kids as well.

Gosh, I’m a parent now!

That thought hit me like a slap in the face.

I peeped to my right side where Tau was walking in silence.

His short, black-purple hair curling over his dark skull. That wonderful, dark skin of his shimmered in the morning light like black oil! I heavily breathed in and out to focus.

Don’t be odd! Don’t be odd! Act normal!

Normal!

How did normal parents accompany their kids to school? Did they even do that?

Oh my GOD! What if I was super embarrassing right now?

I clenched my teeth.

Nervously I ran my fingers through my hair. Talking wasn’t my big strength - especially with new people.

“Mister!”

Tau’s voice got me out of my head.

I stopped and looked at him.

“What’s up?”

“We’re here. This is my school. You can go now.”

I glanced over his shoulder. Right over the street was a block of buildings. Big and grey like these huge office buildings. All around the block was a huge fence. In front of us was an open big, gritted gate. A tall person in uniform stood there and greeted everyone who entered.

“That’s your school? Looks like a prison.” “It’s to keep us safe.”

“Why?”

When I looked at him, he just shrugged and straightened his back.

“We’ve had two shootings the past few years.” “Shootings? What the hell!”

“Nah. They always stopped the maniacs before they could cause any damage or kill people. They just always went for the principal. I mean: how dumb!”

I was lacking words here.

How could he talk about something like a shooting as if we were talking about the weather?

Who was that kid?

“I - I”, I stuttered.

“Man, I have to go now. Bye, mister!”

Tau turned around and crossed the street.

“It’s Nik”, was the only thing I could say, but he couldn’t hear me anymore.

“Kaaaamiiiii!”

Back in the apartment, I felt like someone had thrown a stone at me and it had hit my guts.

Literally curled up in the bed I watched Kaami getting dressed.

He didn’t pay attention until he had put on a black t-shirt. I loved that shirt! Although it was simply black it fitted perfectly for him. Kaami looked super trained in it, ‘cause it was a slim-fit one. He slowly walked back to the bed and sat beside me.

“What’s up, honey?”

From inside of my pillow cave I looked up at him, at his bright blue-sky-eyes.

“He called me mister”, I complained and grabbed his arm.

“Hm.” “What? That’s all you’re gonna say?” “What should I say instead? Technically you are a mister.” 

He grinned.

I tightened my grip around his wrist.

“So you’re telling me, I’m some kind of old man from some ancient time”, I shot back.

His grin got even bigger.

“What are you grinning at?”

“You.”

“Me?”

Kaami leaned over me. His face got closer and closer until our noses touched.