Will's POV

Did she not listen to anything Mr Morton said?

My god he lectured us for hours almost, told us to be careful when dealing with strangers, a talk he gives us when, every other weekend we go to meet the Order of the Bear to be quizzed.

I know I'm over reacting to this and it wasn't very fair to do what I did but I have to claim what I believe is mine, even though that's sexist and I didn't believe it until it was happening to me. Let me tell my version of events.

I was walking Elle to her locker when I saw Eddie and the other jocks picking on Martin Johnson, a guy in my debate team, again.

"I'll see you later sweetie." I kissed her cheek and left her to sort Eddie out; I should not have done that, left her I mean. I walked over to them.

"Come on guys, cut that out." I said in my most authorative voice.

"Aw, come on Will, we were just having some fun."

"I don't think Martin thought it was funny," he let Martin go and dropped him on the floor.

"Apologize." I commanded.

"Sorry Martin." He really meant it after I gave him a hard stare. Martin grabbed his books and followed me as I went to find Elle, she wouldn't have gone too far it only took a minute.

"Thanks Will." Martin said.

"Don't mention it, can you see Elle anywhere?" I was looking through the crowds of people, her locker was around here but she wasn't.

"Isn't that her over there talking to the new guy?" I looked where he was pointing and found her taking out her books and him leaning on the locker next to hers, chatting amiably.

"Yeah, come on Martin, we've got homeroom." I turned away from the site that made my blood boil. As we walked down the hall, I tried to process my feelings. I was jealous, that much I knew, which was weird because I was never jealous before, of her, or when I was going out with Jen and I wasn't jealous of him when I saw him the other day at the Dairy Queen, then again, he wasn't anywhere near her at that time.

I went to homeroom and walked up to Jacqueline Wilcox. If there was anything, I wanted to know she would always be the person I would talk to, unless I thought Elle would know it. However, I couldn't talk to her about this.

"Hi, Jacqueline," I sat at the desk next to hers. She giggled.

"Hi Will, is there anything I can do for you today?" What is it with girls and that question?

"As a matter of fact there is."

"Oh, go ahead."

"I want to know about this new junior, Cameron Clark, can you help me?" God even his name sounds dodgy.

"Why, of course," she said with a lot less vigour then before, "he moved here from New York, he has a sound reputation and good grades, he was star of his track team and specializes in the 400 and 800 relays and 200 mixed."

Same races as Elle almost, why does that annoy me so much, I should be a good boyfriend, not an overprotective idiot?

"Thanks Jacqueline, tell me if anything new comes up about this guy, ok?"

"Sure. That's Will for you, always looking out for his fellow students," she laughed. More like looking out for competition, however unusual it might seem.

I thought about the information Jacqueline had given me. They seemed like good credentials, nothing out of the ordinary, and there was no delinquency there for me to disagree with so I could not publicly snub him.

I mulled over this until lunch. I had to think if a way to keep him from Elle. What Mr Morton had said was starting to get to me. He had said the Forces of Darkness could come back and try to make me vulnerable through her, now I felt like it was happening in front of my very eyes and I couldn't stop it. Something was going to take her away.

Anyway, I was one of the first at lunch and walked up the catwalk with Lance, all the while talking about Columbia.

"I hope I get in, it's all right for you, you got in early decision, I need to raise my GPA to at least 3.8."

"Look you'll be fine, if you need any extra help in your classes I'll tutor you, and even if you didn't, you're Lancelot, the OOTB would get you in no problem." We had to use the initials for the Order of the Bear when we were talking about it so as not to raise suspicion.

"Ok, well I do need help in calculus."

"Come to Elle's house after school tomorrow and I'll tutor you for an hour; that should at least help in the long run."

"I'd love to man, but we've got football practice after school." Wait, isn't the football pitch just down the field from the running field, well, that sorts out one problem.

"After football practice tomorrow, bring Jen, she can hang around with Elle and we could go somewhere after."

"I'll come, but I'm pretty sure Jen is going out with some cheerleader friends."

We sat eating our lunch and chatting to some friends until Elle strode into the cafeteria. Cameron was following her. I was pissed, especially by the glare I knew I was giving them. There better not be anything going on with them or he'd have hell to pay, I'd forgive her anything, but no way would I let her know it.

The whole cafeteria went quiet and she walked shyly down the catwalk, her face was as red as a strawberry, I couldn't let it continue like that so I started talking loudly to Lance and soon the rest of the room started doing the same thing.

That didn't mean I wasn't still furious with them and could not stop staring at them, especially her. She was talking to a friend of hers, Liz, I think. Shortly she left the room, this was my chance.

She was walking to fast for me to catch up so as soon as she got to past the glass doors I called her name.

"Elle." She stopped abruptly and turned around.

"Will, hi. Mr Morton wanted to see you after school since you forgot yesterday." Ok, not what I thought she would say but noted.

"Whatever Elle, who was that?" I tried to pretend I hadn't been checking up on her all day.

"That was Cameron, Mr Morton asked me to show him round since he's in my classes and the track team and stuff."

The showing around stuff seems plausible but there's no way Mr Morton would ask her to do that, he knows the danger better than anyone does.

"Uh huh." She got slightly hysterical at this point.

"It's true, what, do you want me to prove it to you?" This is when the glass door plan came into mind.

"Yes," I said and then I kissed her, or should I say, I declared to everyone that she was mine, evil I know, but I didn't know any other way to protect her. No one would dare go near her after that kiss, everyone knew what it was. She proved it to me as soon as she started kissing me back, unwillingly I knew but I didn't care. As soon as I came up for air she stepped back and stormed off.

I let her go; knowing she would probably hit me if I went after her, it would completely undermine what I had just accomplished if I followed her anyway. I sighed and went back into the lunchroom.

I avoided her for the rest of the day. I didn't want a confrontation at school. I had football practice afterwards anyway; I was coming out the changing rooms the same time as Cameron so I decided to have a 'friendly' chat.

"Hey, what are you doing hanging around my girlfriend like a lost puppy?"

"Me? Nothing, she's just showing me around."

"Yeah you, and like I'd believe that."

"Well it's true."

"I'd rather you stay away from her, Liz or Stacey will show you around for the week."

"I know," he said starting to walk away, "but I prefer her."

He was lucky I didn't go after him and kick his ass to kingdom come. I hate that guy and if he thinks I'm going to let him get near my girl he is sadly mistaken. He angered me further when he went where Elle was doing her stretches, taking a glance at her rear before speaking. I'll kill him.

After football practice I went to see Mr Morton.

"Hey, Mr Morton." I said walking into his classroom.

"Hello Will, thank you for coming to see me this afternoon."

"Yeah, sorry about missing yesterday."

"You have nothing to apologize for." King Arthur's influence on him helping there.

"Well, anyway, I have decided about what to do about Marco."

"Oh yes?"

"Both Elle and I are going to stay away from him."

"Good, I think that is the right decision, what about college?"

"I have been accepted to Columbia and so will Lance if he gets the right grades, I've agreed to tutor him."

"Excellent. I'll sort out your accommodation and hold a meeting with the Order of the Bear tonight, you will know soon."

"Thank you; Mr Morton, I would like you to keep an eye on Cameron Clark, I don't want him going near Elle anymore."

"I'm afraid that's a bit hard, you see the Principal asked her to do it and she agreed," so she was telling the truth, "but I will certainly keep watch and take action if he does something untoward."

I thanked him and left. Elle was getting a ride with Liz and Stacey like normal instead this time Cameron was with them. Oh well I'll straighten things out with her at home.