My Ice Prince - стр. 50
Walking down to my bike, I stopped. I was sad: the bike was disgusting and sad, and the back wheel was bent so badly that I wondered how I had made it home yesterday. I thought about buying a new bike, but it was very early, the stores weren't open yet, and I didn't know any of the places that sold bikes. I even got angry at myself for my thoughtlessness, because I could have easily fixed the blue invalid, and I should have done it yesterday or at night, instead of sitting in my room and crying! But there was nothing to do, it was a long walk, so with a sigh I got on my bicycle and rode to the college. I was terribly ashamed to ride my bike, but I comforted myself with the thought that after the lectures I would give it to the repair shop. When I got to the college, I leaned the bike against the fence, put a lock on it (though hardly anyone would be tempted by it in its condition), and went to meet Ellie.
She was already waiting for me.
– You're here already? I'm sorry I'm late: I'm having trouble with my bike» I apologized as I approached her.
Ellie was a very pretty girl: long, thick, dark hair, high forehead, beautiful gray eyes, she was very friendly, and it was nice to be in her company.
We entered the college, gave our coats to the checkroom, put on our robes and caps, and went to find the right classrooms.
– Did you sign up for any classes? – Ellie asked me.
– No. Do I have to? – I was surprised.
– No one's forcing anyone» she smiled. – It's just that there are a lot of clubs at college, and a lot of sports teams and sections for different sports. What are you into, for example?
I wondered: can playing snowballs be considered a sport?
– I like a lot of things, but now I can't choose something specific, – I honestly admitted. – I can, though: I like to play badminton.
– You see, you can sign up there. And you don't have to choose one thing – you can be in twenty clubs at the same time. I signed up for theater, music, church singing, reading, and more. I'll have to look at the schedules for all of them» Ellie told me.
– Music class? Do you play an instrument? – I asked.
– Yes, the saxophone.
– Wow, that's great. I don't know how to play anything… But my brother always says I'm a master of playing on nerves.
«Everyone here is incredibly talented! And I can't even play anything! Nerves don't count!» – I thought with annoyance.
– Well, I'll think about it at my leisure, and I'll definitely sign up for a club» I promised Ellie.
We parted and went to our classrooms.
When I walked in, I felt awkward as many students immediately turned their heads toward me. The attention made me nervous and I sat almost in the front row.
It was the first lecture of my life, and I was excited and happy at the same time: I was sitting in an Oxford auditorium! There were a hundred people around me, though, and it was disconcerting: I knew very little about people and college classes, having only seen them in movies and TV shows.
I could feel someone's eyes on me the whole time, but I didn't try to find out who it was: I thought that if I fidgeted, I would look frivolous and stupid. I was already very awkward: at recess, many guys would not take their eyes off me and ask me how I was doing. At those moments, I wished I was invisible.