January 8th, Tuesday 

All in all, the plan didn't seem like the most perfect plan in the world, at least in Norman's opinion.

In fact, it didn't even feel like a real plan.

It was just a study session at Mirren's house taking advantage of the fact that the father was away for work and the stepmother was out shopping.

Norman wasn't even entirely sure that the shopping was Amabelle's doing, but in any case, most of them were at Mirren and Petra's house.

And by ‘most of them’ he meant Amabelle, Norman, Petra, Mirren, Felix, and Denny.

And with three of the six out of matchmaker plans, and one of the other three not even with the match present, there wasn't much that could be done about Amabelle's plan.

Norman had therefore decided to take advantage of it to carry on with his resolution, and was getting help from Mirren to study for the next exam.

They were in the huge library on the first floor. Mirren and Norman were next to each other and were studying economics.

Felix was sitting on the floor, drafting his thesis with about five books scattered around him. Fallon, Mirren's dog, was practically lying on top of him.

Petra and Amabelle were at a desk a little to one side, with a view of everyone, while Denny was standing and repeating various laws to himself, book in hand, occasionally observing it.

For the moment it seemed like a very simple study session, but it hadn't escaped Norman that it was starting to snow outside, and quite heavily, nonetheless.

But they were all too focused on their respective tasks to notice.

And Norman decided not to interrupt the attention bubble, which was especially rare to find in Amabelle and Felix.

Around five in the afternoon, someone else took care of interrupting everything.

“I don't know about you, but I think it's time to take a break” Amabelle burst out, closing the book and stretching herself.

“Are you joking? We've only been studying for three hours straight! At least another hour we can proceed” objected Denny, in a sharp and worried tone.

“If you continue a little longer all your memories will be replaced by the laws you have to learn” Amabelle pointed out to him.

“It would not be bad”

“But going to the professor and not being able to tell him your name is bad, so let's take a break” ordered Amabelle.

She wasn't entirely wrong.

“Sounds like a good idea” Norman nodded, lifting his head from his notes and checking his watch.

“Half an hour break seems ideal to me. In the meantime, I'll do some work for my father” Mirren got up and started walking out of the room.

“What? But…” Felix began to object, raising his head from his notes.

“Don't even think about it!” Amabelle interrupted him, standing in front of the door and blocking his way like a modern Gandalf in a pink skirt.

Mirren raised an eyebrow at her.

“I’m a bit behind with accounting. I'm happy to help you study but I can't slack off, even if today is my free afternoon” he tried to object, in a conciliatory tone.

But Amabelle did not give up.

“You're tired too, you need to take a break, or you'll work badly afterward. Time for a slice of cake and a coffee” she tried to convince him, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

Mirren retreated unconsciously, but sighed, and nodded.

“Okay, but after I'll absolutely have to work” he finally gave in.

“Great!” Felix exclaimed, standing up with a jump, waking up Fallon. He took Mirren's arm and started to drag him into the kitchen. Fallon followed them cheerfully.

“Let's go!” Amabelle encouraged everyone to join her. Petra followed in silence, Denny did the same while muttering half-hearted objections, and Norman adjusted the book so he wouldn't lose his mark before doing the same.

Out of curiosity, however, he looked at Felix's thesis notes, and noticed that he hadn't written much.

Half of the last page, barely covered by a book, was filled with sketches of Mirren, taken live, and then immediately erased.

Perhaps Amabelle was right in thinking that those two were meant to be together, and just needed a little push. But were they really completely unaware of their own feelings?