Forsvarer

Beta'd By: Lizi (IrishTmbleWeed24(a)AOLdotcom)

Chapter Four: Heavy Hearted Farewells

It was quite unusual, he decided, that a 14 almost 15 year-old would still be subjected to the torture that was baby-sitting. He was stuck in this smelly, old, creaky, god-forsaken room, filled with little kids that were currently using him as a Maypole; grabing an arm, leg, piece of shirt/pants, or lock of hair and running in circles forcing him to crouch down and move with them or be in serious pain. Just one question ran through his head. Why me?

He was nearly in tears and about a second away from screaming at them when he heard someone knock on the doorframe. He turned to see Dylana, who was biting her lip as not to laugh, with tears of amusement rapidly filling her eyes. A hand went to her mouth but was too late and she broke down into roaring laughter. Still turning, as some of the kids still hadn't let go, he glared at her everytime he faced in her direction.

When her laughter had calmed and she managed to get all the kids to calm down with a single sentence ('Darn her!' Len thought angrily. 'I hate women.') she grinned at them all took a breath before making her announcement.

"Well. It seems that they are leaving now. They have chosen the boy they wish to take with them and we are to line up and see them off. But remember to be on your best behaivor."

He stiffened and looked at her in shock. 'They've already chosen? But I thought... normally it takes three days She caught his gaze and grinned at him impishly clining her head slightly to the right indicating that she too was confused about it. He nodded at her and smiled. 'Maybe they found someone they really liked. I bet it was Nathane, he's nice, handsome, and very gracious. Yeah, yeah that's who it is.'

As they, the children included, filed out of the room they slowly walked to the main hall lining up in Dorm Order. As he took his place between the 13 and 15 year old Thirds he looked in front of him as the Firsts and Seconds lined up by also in DO (by Dorm # then age) in two rows in front of him.

Firsts were the farthest away from him while Seconds were an arm's length away, as were the Firsts to them, it was the proper way. He looked next to him expecting to see the empty space that was Nathane and froze when his eyes found the person instead.

'Then... who?'

He looked up in slight confusion, towards the door, and over the heads of the Firsts and Seconds, and froze when he saw who was standing behind the old couple with a confused almost dissatisfied frown. As he stared into the chocolate eyes that in turn, glanced over to bore into his own, he felt tears rapidly rising to the surface.

'They can't! They CAN'T!'

They could, and he knew it, but he just, he couldn't STAND the thought of him leaving! He had always been around if he needed to take out his frustrations, or talk, anything. He always knew they would be separated eventually, but he never actually thought that he wouldn't ever see him again. 'I guess... it just never hit home that we might... just break away from our old ties. But why...why...'

"B-Bobby?" He whispered in shock, seeing 'The Jerk's own brown eyes soften slightly and his lips curl into a sad half-smile. 'No! Amis, not Bobby..'