Redemption by Veronique Launier

things?”
    “Only when they are as mysterious as you are, Aude Vanier.”
    I don’t remember telling him my last name, and then realize it was right there on my notebook for him to see. I’m not that mysterious after all.
    “A shaman will lead participants through a history of the water drum using traditional storytelling,” he reads from the pamphlet before handing it to me.
    I can’t hide my enthusiasm. “It sounds cool, doesn’t it?”
    “Actually, yes, it sounds very interesting.”
    Lucy places a chai latte in front of me. “Almost done, sorry it’s taking so long. Have this while you wait.”
    I look at her suspiciously and she returns to her place behind the counter. She seems very idle and I’m sure she’s just pretending to be working overtime while she buys me time with Guillaume.
    I look at him, and wonder if I should be mad at her or grateful.
    “I was wondering if you would find it strange … I mean, would you mind if I came along?” he asked.
    “Along? Along where?”
    “The drumming workshop.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes, it really does sound interesting.”
    “It’s kind of expensive,” I say. Then realize how stupid that must sound to someone like him.
    “I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
    I study him for a while, wondering what his motives were. Does he like me? Like a crush? Or is he really just lonely and in need of a friend? He does seem to be the intellectual type and maybe he’s just interested in the educational aspect of the workshop. No, there’s more than that.
    “Umm sure … as long as you understand this isn’t … you know … a date or anything, okay?”
    He laughs. “All right.”
    Although a date is the last thing I want, I’m surprised that I almost feel disappointed at how easily he accepted that this wasn’t a date. Maybe he doesn’t like me after all.

16
    Guillaume
    I checked the clock for the twelfth time. I looked forward to meeting Aude for the drumming workshop since it had the potential to bring me so much closer to the answers I wanted. She was the key to finding out how to replenish our essence.
    I stood in front of my floor-length mirror buttoning the cuffs of my sleeves when Garnier entered my room. In the reflection, I saw him raise an eyebrow at me.
    “You’re looking very dashing, brother. What’s the big event?” he asked.
    “The big event? I’m going to that drum workshop.”
    Garnier’s smirk grew into a teasing grin. “Ah ha, you have a rendezvous with Aude.”
    “She made it quite clear it was nothing of the sort,” I said.
    He should have been well aware that I wasn’t interested in any sort of romance. Romance required feelings I wasn’t capable of.
    “Loosen up, Guil. You need to stop taking everything so seriously.”
    I glowered at him and stepped out of my room, after taking a last glance at my reflection. I wanted to make sure I was dressed appropriately for this event.
    On the train, I fidgeted with the flier Aude had given me, the one for the workshop. I rolled it up and folded it in different shapes, then put it away. Instead, I tapped my fingers, first against the sides of my seat, and then on the thick plastic windows that someone had engraved with the name Claudia . I wondered if she was the one who put her name there or if someone felt the need to engrave this girl’s name to immortalize her, or his feelings for her. I traced the name with my finger. This was nothing but a name on a structure that would not last forever. I withdrew my hand. The graffiti was pointless.
    I arrived early at the subway station where we planned to meet, but she was already there.
    “Hi.” She played with a strand of her hair. It was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she was wearing less make-up than usual. She was dressed casually and I found myself appreciating the look, noticing how the thick knit sweater hugged her body. A smile sneaked its way to my mouth.
    “Hi.”
    She looked at me, waiting for me to say something else,