A/N: Been a while since I updated this. Anyway, time for the third instalment of this story, I hope you enjoy it. I do not own anything other than Jake, and more importantly this plot.

I, chatting happily with Jake whilst expertly slipping through the narrow spaces between tables seated with numerous students, strode over to the Cook-O-Matic, a massive imposing machine that towered over everything situated around it. Jake upon catching sight of it, froze, staring up at the machine, curious but slightly hesitant to approach the giant metal monster.

After walking on a few steps and realising my companion was not following, I turned, a quizzical expression on my face. Seeing Jake perfectly intact, staring upwards with a child-like expression of awe on his face, me made me smile. "C'mon," I called over. His eyes averted back to me, but he stayed rooted to the spot. "C'mon." I repeated, laughing as his eyes bulged slightly. "Stop being silly." I chastised, taking the two steps it took to close the gap between us and gently closing my hand over his upper arm, leading him toward the machine. "It's not going to hurt you, Jake."

Jake ran his free hand through his hair as he was pulled over to the Cook-O-Matic. "I wasn't scared." He replied defensively, scowling slightly at my expression of amusement.

I just rolled my eyes as I released his arm and picked up two trays from the pile before me, passing the second to Jake. Deciding to break the silence that had fallen upon us, I began instructing him on how to get his food. "Okay, look; you put your tray here," I instructed, guiding Jake over to the designated area and pushing his tray down. "They you look for your name on this," I gestured to the panel which listed the of names of all the students beside me, a small red buttons next to the neatly printed names. "You find your name, but since you've just arrived yours won't really be on here. Should we see if we can get two of mine?"

Jake, albeit confused, nodded anyway. I pressed the button next to my own name and my trademark Friday dinner was produced onto Jake's tray. "Oh, my God. You're amazing." He said, grinning at me as he spotted his favourite rice dish.

"I know." I replied, smirking as he grabbed the tray and some cutlery, tapping his foot against the polished Linoleum floor waiting very impatiently while I collected my own dinner and began threading through the cafeteria, heading over to my usual table with Jake trailing behind. "Hey guys." I greeted, as I sat in my usual place next to Vin, while Jake just hovered uncertainly a few paces away. The ebony boy seemed to be aware of the cold glare Vin was sending him, and awkwardly scuffed his shoe against the floor, feeling quite uneasy.

Noticing his absence once again, I turned. "They won't bite you." I teased, smirking as he shot me a mock scowl, without failing to notice how his eyes lingered slightly longer over Vin while he glanced around at the other occupants of the table. "Vin, budge up a bit." I ordered, taking note of his obliging expression as we scooted over to make some room for Jake. "Here, plant your bum."

Jake made an small Tsk noise, shaking his head slightly as he slipped in beside me. "You're really bossy sometimes, you know that?" He stated, laughing at my outraged expression.

"I am not!"

"Are too." Jake teased, poking his tongue out.

I lightly punched his arm. "Am not!"

"Are too!" He repeated, before chanting it in a sing-song fashion while I pretended to sulk.

Trixie cleared her throat from across the table, halting all conversation happening between us, she was smiling slightly as we turned to her. "Zero, aren't you forgetting something?" I stared blankly back at her as she laughed softly. "Don't you want to introduce us to your friend?"

"Oh! Yeah, I was getting to that,"

"Sure you were." Jake said, disguising it with a mock cough but purposely making it audible.

"Yes, I was," I replied, shooting him a glare to which he grinned cheekily back, and nudging him as he laughed. "Guys, this is Jake." A waited for the chorus of 'Hey's' to die down before continuing. "Jake, these are my friends; Vin, Trixie and Newton."

Jake grinned mischievously pulling me into a headlock and, ignoring my protests, gently grinding his knuckle against my head. "Ah, who would've thought you could have friends, Zee?" He laughed, releasing me and turning to grin at the others. "Hi, it's nice to meet you. Glad you've been keeping her outta trouble while I wasn't here."

Newton bounced up a little in his seat. "You stopped Zero getting into trouble?" He asked, a little awed.

"No," I replied for the boy. "If I recall it was always you getting the both of us in trouble." I finished, jabbing a finger at the boys chest while simultaneously scooping up some food on my fork and beginning to chew contently.

"Guilty as charged," Jake grinned, placing his hands up as if he was surrendering.

When everyone calmed down, Vin piped up for the first time since they'd sat down. "So Jake, how long have you known Zero exactly?"

"Hmm? Oh, since we were little."

"Yeah? You must've been pretty close, right? I frowned at the blonde, suspicious of his behaviour. "Did you live near each other? Or, y'know, go to the same school or whatnot?"

"We still are close." Jake replied, grinning at me. "And yeah, both. I lived right ne- Ow!" Jake exclaimed, flinching as I kicked him underneath the table.

Concerned, Trixie leant forward. "What happened?" She asked.

I was glaring at him with the ferocity Jake hadn't seen in years. This was a warning. "Bloody bit the inside of my cheek." He moaned, rubbing his face self-consciously.

"Must've been pretty cool." Vin stated, dismissing Jake's injury with no concern what-so-ever and returning to their previous conversation quite swiftly. "What was she like when she was little?"

Jake shifted a little uncomfortably. "She was alright. I mean," He glanced a me. "Zero was Zero, y'know. Just er... younger and smaller..." I was certain he saw a muscle jump in my jaw and was beginning to get slightly nervous, and he was never good with nerves.

"Hmm..." Vin mused. "You must know a lot about her. Y'know, like that birthmark she's got on her shoulder."

Jake frowned. "What're you- Ow!- Bloody hell, Zero!" Jake yelped, scowling at me. "What?"

Without any trace of sympathy, I grabbed his collar and pulled him rather forcefully to his feet. "You need to go unpack."

"Zero-"

"Now." I instructed with such a cold tone in actually sent shivers up his spine. I watched his figure swerving between tables, quickly retreating out of the cafeteria before I swung around to face Vin. "What is your problem?" I yelled, angrily.

"What?" I could see Trixie and Newton shrink back in their chairs a little; both were intelligent enough to realise a major shit storm was stirring.

"No, don't you dare act all innocent with me! You know exactly what you were doing." Vin glared angrily as our little argument began to attract attention. "You can't just bloody interrogate people like that! Especially my friend! What is wrong with you? Trying to extract personal information about me from other people!"

"I'm sorry for being curious! You never tell us anything Zero, what did you expect me to do?"

"Respect my privacy!" I shouted, exasperated. "If I don't give you answers, well then deal with it! Don't try and be sneaky and interrogate my friends!" I threw up my hands, words couldn't explain how I was feeling. "I trusted you, Vin. I trust you. I don't expect you to... to... to be so... so conniving!" I pushed back my chair, slamming my hands down on the table. "You disgust me, Vin. I thought we were friends. I don't even want to look at you."

And with that I promptly stormed out the cafeteria.