– I didn't expect to see you here.

– Actually, I come here quite often, so I could say the same about you. – I shrugged my shoulders.

Cedric smiled. He was irresistible in the lantern light.

– It's strange. I come here almost every day, but this is the first time I've seen you here.

– It must be because I'm always on this side of the bridge," I suggested cautiously. – Which side do you usually come from?

– That side. – Cedric waved his hand in the opposite direction.

– Just as I thought.

– How far away from here do you live? – He suddenly asked.

The question surprised me. Why would he want to know?

– I think it's about half an hour's walk from here to my house.

– You walk here?

– Yes. Do you think thirty minutes is too long?

– I don't. It's just that I don't walk much and I mostly get around by car.

"No doubt you don't know what a tram is!" – I thought, and I couldn't help smiling at the thought that Cedric probably never took public transport.

– I live in the country," Cedric explained in a cool tone, obviously misinterpreting my smile.

– I didn't mean to offend you," I said, embarrassed. – I just thought you'd probably never taken a city tram before.

– Yes. I'll admit it," Cedric grinned.

There was silence. I didn't know him, he didn't know me, and we were just mutually silent.

– Could we reschedule for Monday? – I suddenly blurted out. I desperately didn't want to face him tomorrow. I wasn't ready to confront him. – Don't think I'm getting cold feet again. I had some problems with my flat," I lied to make myself look convincing.

– Of course," Cedric said calmly.

I was relieved.

– It was great that we'd met so unexpectedly. I wouldn't have had a chance to warn you, and you'd have been sitting in the library for nothing. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to exchange phone numbers! – I said cheerfully.

Cedric didn't answer, and I thought I had offended him, but when I saw the good-natured expression on his face, I knew I was wrong. I wanted to leave; there was an awkward tension between us, and silence made it worse.

– Well… I'll be going," I said, tucking my hands into my pockets. – Good night.

– Good night," Cedric said indifferently.

I forced a smile out of myself and hurried away.

"Thank God he didn't ask to see me off!" – I thought with relief, imagining what would have been going through my mind if Cedric Morgan had been walking beside me. Even silently.

With a firm and fairly quick step I headed home, overjoyed at my unexpected reprieve. Now I had five days to think and try to understand Cedric. Though I don't think I could ever understand him.

I reached the edge of the bridge, but I heard footsteps behind me. A chill ran down my spine. The footsteps were getting closer, and as they got closer, my brain filled with stories of maniacs. Horrific gory scenes. After all, it couldn't be Cedric: he'd stayed standing on the bridge and couldn't have caught up with me so quickly.

Footsteps sounded just behind me. I took my hands out of my pockets, clenched my fists, and turned around.

– Shit! You scared me! – I exclaimed: it was Cedric.

I couldn't stop shaking with excitement and fear.

– I'm sorry, but I can't let you go alone," Cedric said with a slight smile. – By the way, you're holding your fist wrong: your thumb should always be up. – He grabbed my left hand, and I flinched a little; his palm was ice cold. – Relax your palm. That's it. Now make a fist properly. That's it. I'll walk you out.

I could tell by his tone that it wasn't a question or a suggestion. And I was getting cold feet. I hastily released my palm from Cedric's hand and tucked it into my pocket.

– But you have to go back to the bridge! To the car! – I said, not wanting him to see me off. No! That's the last thing I need!

– Evening air never hurt anyone. There's nothing better than a walk before bed," Cedric said in a flat tone.

I didn't know what to say, so I nodded silently.

We walked slowly down the road.

"He's a gentleman, isn't he?" I wondered, walking beside him. – I wondered, walking beside Cedric and staring at the pavement. After all, I was definitely safe now. With Cedric.

We were silent for a moment. Cedric walked on without looking at me, and I felt a sudden resentment that he'd chosen to walk me out of obligation.

– You know, I'm almost there; it's only a hundred metres," I lied, to spare Cedric my company and let him leave without remorse. – I'm almost home, so thank you for walking me home.

I stopped. He did too.

Cedric looked at me with an indifferent stare, and I waited silently for him to leave.

– Do you live here? – He asked.

– Yes," I lied confidently.

– Must be in that green house?

I turned round to look at the green house, but it was far away in the shadows, and I couldn't see it in the dark.

– Can you see it? – I asked, glancing at Cedric again.

– Yes. It's a beautiful building.

– Well, now that you're sure I'm there, you can go back to the bridge," I lied to convince him that I didn't need protection anymore.

Cedric smiled.

– I think it's really expensive to rent a flat there," he said suddenly.

– Yes, it's a little expensive," I said hesitantly, not sure what he was smiling about.

– But it's not a happy place: there are hardly any streetlights.

– There are pros and cons to everything.

– And the road needs immediate repair.

– Maybe… But I don't care: I don't have private transport.

– That's all very well, but you can't live there," Cedric said in a calm tone.

– I've been renting a flat in this building for three years now," I insisted. – Why is that so hard for you to believe?

– Because it's a bank.

Oh, my God.

I didn't know what to say. I felt terribly ashamed. My cheeks flamed, and I covered my eyes with my palm so that I couldn't see Cedric: I thought he was angry or offended with me.

"I should have got caught like that! Now he will think me ungrateful!" – I thought with despair.

– You can't lie," I heard his voice.

– Cedric…" I took my palm away from my face.

– Are you so uncomfortable with my company? – There was mockery in Cedric's voice.

– It's not what you think! – I said quietly, feeling how fair his reproach was!

He grinned, but remained silent.

– I did not lie because I detest your society! I don't mind it at all. It's just… I thought you'd have a long walk back…

– Is that all?

– No… I also thought that you didn't want to accompany me… That you were doing it out of a sense of duty," I finished quietly.

– What makes you think that?

– We are almost strangers, and you don't need to see me off, even as a matter of courtesy. Gentlemanliness is out of fashion these days," I explained, dropping my gaze to the pavement.

– I never do anything out of obligation," Cedric said in a calm tone.

I looked up and looked at his face with concern.

– But I feel bad that you have to go back to the bridge," I said quietly. – It's a whole half hour…

– Do you think half an hour is a long time? – Cedric asked suddenly.

I could only shake my head no.

– How long would it take you to walk home? Honestly.

– Five minutes… Or six.

– Then I'll leave you here, and I'll walk back, so you don't think I'm seeing you off out of obligation.

– Thank you. Just please don't take what I said seriously," I asked.

– Good night, Viper. – Was his answer.

– Good night. Be careful.

Cedric smiled slightly and turned around and walked towards the bridge.