"Now, that's weird," says Ben.
"Well, we can add that to the list," I sigh, "however, I still want to go and check for myself. Maybe I'll remember something once I get there, or someone will recognize me..."
"You did say you were going to the university whenever you left home in the morning," adds Kelsi.
"Let's go check, then..."
Thankfully, the university is on the White Moon Clan's territory, so Ben agrees to take us there immediately. It's a quicker ride than to the club, actually. Kelsi says we usually took the bus, but with Ben's car, we almost spend more time looking for a parking spot than actually driving.
Once again, I'm amazed to discover a new location. All the buildings are very recent, some more than others, but they are sparkling white, except for the greenhouses of the biology department, as Kelsi explains. There is also a weird building that looks like a gigantic cube, covered in graffiti, the art students’ lair. More importantly, the place is crowded with students. Young people like us, walking to their next classes or hanging out on the grass.
I feel a bit strange. I used to be part of this world... probably. Maybe I have friends here whose faces I don't even remember. For a few seconds, I feel a bit overwhelmed, almost to the point I want to cry. This should be the university I begged my sister to go to, but... I can't recognize anything, once again. I hate this amnesia thing. I could walk by my best friend and not even recognize them! I don't know what my days were like, which building I walked to in the morning, nothing!
"You okay, Mara?"
Kelsi is glancing at me with a worried expression. I didn't realize I had stopped walking and became teary-eyed... I nod a bit awkwardly, wiping those feelings away quickly.
"Yeah... Let's go."
We drop by the welcome desk of the university first, but they don't give us any more information after seeing me than what Kelsi was already given: the classes I'm registered in. We check them quickly and decide to drop by the next one. It's a class about the expansion of malls in the twentieth century... I find it boring, Kelsi too, and Ben falls asleep in his chair. We wait for it to end, and while the professor keeps talking, I can't help but glance around to see if I recognize any faces. I also hope someone will suddenly walk up to me, greet me like a friend or something, at least give me a hint...
Yet, the full hour passes, and absolutely nothing happens. A couple of girls glance at my remaining bandages and scars, but it's clear they have no idea who I am. After the class ends, Kelsi and I run to the teacher, leaving Ben to snore in his chair.
"Excuse me?" I call to him.
It's an old man, with barely any hair left, who sighs.
"I'm sorry, young lady, I am not accepting any more questions today, you can email me–"
"No, I don't have a question about the class, I wanted to ask if you have... seen me in your class before."
He seems a bit surprised by my question, and glances me over, then gives me a little smile.
"Sadly, no, young lady. I usually remember my prettiest students, and I am quite sure I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you in my classroom before. Have a nice day, and as I said, feel free to email me!"
He gives us a wink and exits, leaving Kelsi and I speechless.
"...What an old pervert!" exclaims Kelsi, outraged. "That guy was basically flirting with you! That asshole shouldn't be teaching anywhere!"
"At least we know he didn't know me," I sigh.
Kelsi keeps ranting about the pervert professor, and we walk back to wake up Ben, telling him about what happened. He yawns.
"Well, I'm glad this wasn't one of your classes; that was boring as hell... Seriously, a class on shopping? What for?"
"Everything can be studied here, Ben, it's a university," says Kelsi. "Now get your butt up, we need to go before the next class starts."
Just like she said, a new batch of students arrives for the next class. Ben gets up, and we have to squeeze through the new crowd to head to the doors. Just as we’re about to leave the classroom, me walking ahead and the two of them behind me, I slightly bump into a middle-aged lady.
"Oh, sorry..." I mumble.
I try to make way for her to go in, but she suddenly looks at me with a surprised expression.
"Miss Jones, it's been a while! You're not attending the class?"
I stop, completely shocked. Wait, what? This woman knows me? Kelsi and I exchange a shocked glance. Who the hell is Miss Jones? She seems sure it's me... Whoever Miss Jones is, this woman is smiling very naturally and not averting my eyes. What is going on, why is she calling me that, and who is she? The schedule they gave me didn't include a class after the previous one! I glance at the woman, trying to think of something to say. She doesn't seem to be a student, she looks more like she's the teacher of the next class, with her burgundy jacket and her suitcase... This is so sudden!
"Uh... I..."
