On the blackboard there was a diagram of genetic inheritance up to the third generation according to Mendel's laws. In reality this had already been taught the previous year, but Rosa, the biology teacher, wanted to review the concepts in order to talk about complex inheritance and epigenetics. Sofia found all that talk about genes boring, and was unable to suppress a yawn as she struggled to maintain her concentration and take notes. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dave devouring each and every word the teacher said. He was taking notes as if he wanted to write down all the concepts, lest he miss one, and was looking up at the board with absolute fascination. Sofia couldn't help but smile a little. At least someone found the class interesting.

“Epigenetics is the study of the mechanisms that regulate gene expression without modification of the DNA sequence. External factors that can affect gene expression range from environmental factors, to habits such as diet, to even our body's own chemical reactions,” the woman explained.

“Environmental factors... I wonder if...” whispered Dave, scratching his chin as he looked down at his notebook.

The bell rang at that moment, piercing Sofia's ears with such force that she flinched. From the way Dave pursed his lips and closed his eyes, he didn't seem to like the sound either. Not surprisingly, it was a shrill, head-drilling screech. The genius who came up with the idea of installing it was a psychopath who simply wanted to make students suffer, because it didn't bother just the two of them. Sara and other classmates also found it unbearable.

“Well, kids, since I know this weekend is the Witches Night Festival and you're not going to do anything, I'm not going to send you homework. But at least take a look at the lesson in the textbook,” said Rosa, showing more faith in her students than confidence.

As always, she said goodbye to Sofia with a quiet nod and left. She had not even made it out of the classroom when it erupted in a clatter of moving chairs. A handful of students got up and made a beeline for their friends' desks to use the five minutes between classes to chat. Others went out into the hallway to talk with people from other classrooms, and some took the opportunity to go to the bathroom. Sofia put her biology notes in her backpack and was looking for her math ones when she felt a presence near her, a presence that smelled of forest. When she looked up she found her classmate, who was offering her another notebook.

“Thank you for lending me the history notes again. I managed to finish copying everything,” he said with one of those controlled smiles.

“You're welcome. The teacher talks a lot. I think I'll have filled out three like this one by the end of the year,” said Sofia, taking the notebook to put it in her backpack.

“Yes, I'm sure you will,” replied the young man, laughing a little.

“Hey, guys!” Sara approached them and put an arm around her friend's shoulders, who looked a little uncomfortable at having his personal sphere invaded. “My sisters are going to dress up as witches and put on a show where we're going to make a queimada like in my homeland. You have to come, you're going to love it!”

“Tonight? I can't. I have too much to do. Better some other day when I’m not so busy,” said Dave with a small smile of apology, pulling out of his friend's embrace.

“Don't be dull, man. Come, we're going to have a great time!” insisted Sara.

“I appreciate it, Sara, but I can't.”

Dave returned to his seat and began to prepare the material he would need for the following class, which was physics with the Stuck-up.

“I'm coming, Sara. What time do you want to meet?” said Sofia.

“Are you talking about Sara's queimada? I mean, jeez, it's great! It's the best thing about the festival! Sara's sisters dress up as witches and prepare the queimada in a big steaming cauldron, all in the middle of a mega-cute set-up with candles, wands, aromatic plants and little bottles full of colored liquids. You really have to come and see it!” said Lola the snob, who had left her friends behind to go to their desks.

“See? They're coming. Come on, man, it's your first festival in town and Witches Night is really cool. We're going to have a great time, you’ll see,” insisted Sara.

A little overwhelmed by being suddenly surrounded by so many people trying to convince him, Dave ran his tongue over his lips and crossed his gaze with Sofia’s. In his eyes there was a silent plea for help, a question asking her what he should do, but the girl just raised her hands.

“Don't look at me. Do whatever you want, I'm not going to try to convince you,” she said.

“Believe me when I say I prefer it that way,” Dave said with a small smile. “I'll think about it, but no promises,” he added, turning to Sara and Lola.

“Okay, man. We'll talk after class.”

“Ladies, take your places.”

The Stuck-up had just entered the classroom, and like soldiers trained to obey the orders of their superior, all the students, including Sara, ran towards their desks. No one dared to defy him, unless they wanted to end up visiting the principal's office, where they would be severely reprimanded. When everyone was in their place and silent, thirty pairs of eyes on their teacher and the blackboard, the class began. One thing had to be granted, and that was that he was so strict in his classes and his exams so difficult that perhaps some classmates had succumbed to despair and were no longer trying to learn, but at least they were not left wanting for jokes.

As the man drew formulas on the board to explain the lesson, Sofia glanced at Dave. He was paying attention to the class, but the way he frowned was not his usual expression of concentration. Rather, he looked preoccupied. Taking great care not to make any noise that would alert the teacher, Sofia tore off a small piece of paper from one of her notebook’s pages and quickly scribbled something. Then, after making sure that the Stuck-up was standing with his back to them, she threw it at her partner with such good aim that it landed right in front of him, on his own notebook. Startled, Dave jumped a little and then picked up the note.

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'You don't have to come if you don't want to. I'll talk to Sara.'

Dave let out a quiet sigh and smiled in her direction, drawing the word 'thank you' across his lips. That smile was the most sincere she had seen on him to that day, and Sofia thought it was so beautiful that she couldn't help but smile back. After returning her attention to the teacher's explanations, who was still engrossed in his formulas, Sofia brushed an unruly strand of hair behind her ear and tried to follow the rest of the lesson attentively. Time went by surprisingly quickly, and before she knew it the shrill bell was ringing, causing the daily clatter of chairs, tables, and students fleeing the classroom. Sara normally waited for Sofia to gather her things, but that day she rushed over to her desk, going against the flow of the crowd.

“Mate, I can't eat with you today. My sister Monica, the eldest, sent me a message. She wants me to help her prepare for tonight because the others are working and can't get away. She can't handle the cauldron by herself because it weighs a ton.”

“No worries. I'll eat something at home and then I'll see you at the festival.”

“Sure, buddy,” said Sara, adjusting her backpack on her shoulder. “And you come too, man, we're going to have a blast.”

“I'll... think about it,” he replied, again running his tongue over his lips.

When Sara walked out, the rest of her classmates had already left the classroom, leaving the two of them alone. From outside came the sound of voices and footsteps from all the students who were leaving the building. Sofia didn’t quiet feel like joining the daily crowd, so she took her time to finish packing up. To her surprise Dave was taking almost longer than she was. His movements were slow, as if his head was somewhere else instead of there.

“Sara can be very insistent, but don't let her persuade you if you don't want to go. She won't be mad,” said Sofia as she slung her backpack over her shoulders.

“Actually, I'd really like to go but... I have a lot to do.”

“I don't think we'll be meeting until seven or so. Maybe you can be finished by then,” she said as they walked out the classroom door into a hallway that was already almost deserted. “I could use lunch at home. If I'm going out this afternoon I might as well take Kas out now and give him a nice walk.”

“Your dog?” asked the boy, with such a child-excited-to-see-his-favorite-robot look on his face that Sofia couldn't help but giggle a little.

“Yes, that Kas. I don’t know any other Kas that needs to be walked,” said Sofia, and the funny smile that suddenly appeared on her lips surprised her.

“True,” blushing, he smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. “Maybe it's going to seem a little strange, but would you mind if I came with you? I... I like dogs but I can't have one at the moment, and right now I don't know anyone with a dog.”

Sofia could have said no. To be fair, she had only known that boy for a couple of weeks, and she knew nothing about him. However, she couldn't deny that she liked him, he was gentle and kind, and he had a pleading expression on his face that was hard to resist. He also had a very positive quality, and that was that he knew how to accept a no with a dignity that many adults would like to have. If she said no, he would accept it without any fuss or a bad attitude and their relationship would continue exactly the same. In that way he reminded her of Kas. The dog never held a grudge when she forbade him to do something. Perhaps because of that, because of Dave’s noble nature, Sofia was more inclined to accept even though a part of her was screaming that she was entering a very dangerous territory.

“Sure, come if you want to.”

Sofia's house was close by, but they still took the young man's motorcycle to get there. Since there was only one helmet Dave forced her to wear it, but the huge, heavy hulk did not prevent her from clearly appreciating the smell he gave off, which was more than just the scent of nature, pine and gasoline. She could also appreciate a light masculine musk that was warm and pleasant, a musk that made her suddenly aware that she was riding on a motorcycle with him, with her body pressed against his back and her arms around his waist. When he stopped in front of Sofia's house, one of those old, low houses, the young woman let go of him as if he were a red-hot iron bar and quickly jumped off the motorcyle. Puzzled by her attitude, Dave tilted his head slightly to one side, but she promptly returned his helmet and averted her gaze in an attempt to hide the sudden blush that had risen to her cheeks.

“It's this way,” she said, hastily pulling her keys from her backpack.

The door opened with a click. Kas, the huge Dobermann, ran to greet his owner. Dave's eyes widened like saucers at the sight of the dog who, upon noticing the presence of a stranger, approached a little more cautiously and sniffed the hand the young man was offering him.

“Wow... he’s so cool...” said Dave with a restrained voice, his lips opening for the first time in a truly sincere and spontaneous smile.

The dog decided he liked the stranger his friend had brought home and started wagging his tail stump. Dave dropped to his knees to be at the dog's level and began to play with him without fear or embarrassment, like a child meeting an old friend. Sofia felt something warm welling up in her belly, a certainty that made her feel fear and longing in equal parts, one that screamed at her to run away, and at the same time told her to jump at once, to dare, to take advantage of the opportunity life was giving her. That certainty was that this boy would not be just her classmate, nor just an acquaintance with whom she had a cordial relationship. This boy could become her best friend.