Ooh...it's a short chapter. Which means quicker updates, right? ;)

Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD HAPPY NEW YEAR! IF YOU HAVEN'T...WELL...HAPPY LAST DAY OF 2013!

Enjoy!

"I just received a text from Mr Grey," Elrond reached his hand into his pockets and withdrew a Blackberry. "He told me to expect a newcomer into the Latin club. However, Mr Baker, I did not expect you to bring friends along."

Judging by the expression on his face, Bilbo knew he was expecting the Company. He probably also remembered as well, since he was a powerful being in Middle Earth.

"Can we get on with it?" a boy asked. "The club meeting's about to end, and I'm not leaving without translating this paragraph."

"Of course," the elf said with infinite patience. "Bill, maybe you and your friends could just quietly observe at the back of the classroom until this is over. Maybe you could pick up something along the way as well."

"Sure. Guys, let's sit down." Bilbo instructed the dwarves to sit at the back of the classroom and watch, as Elrond explained a few terms to the class.

"So," He squinted at the whiteboard. "If I'm right…he's translating Homer."

"Homer? The Simpson guy?" Flynn asked, looking baffled.

Bilbo sighed. "You seriously need to have some History lessons. Homer was the famous Greek poet and storyteller."

"Weird, huh?" The blonde nudged his brother who was staring at something.

"Yeah, weird." He mumbled, not taking his eyes of what he was staring at. Bilbo followed his gaze, and had to supress a chuckle.

The thing, or person, he was looking at was Olivia.

This was the best time to toy with the young dwarf. Leaning over, he whispered in his ear. "Olivia's nice looking, isn't she?"

"Yeah, he breathed. "She's radiant."

Oh god, I'm gonna start laughing soon. "So, is this the first time you've seen her?"

"Uh huh." he replied dreamily. Olivia looked up, and saw him looking at her. She lowered her head, and batted her eyelashes. Kyle winked in reply. Bilbo knew she would break his heart—her long string of boyfriends was proof enough.

It was time to end it.

"Kyle, I slept with your mum."

"Cool…wait, what?" This seemed to snap Kyle out of his daydream

"Listen Kyle," Flynn placed a hand on the brunette's shoulder. He had been watching their exchange, almost collapsing in a silent fit of laughter. "You have zilch chance, brother."

"Yeah, I know," he sighed. "She so beautiful, she's probably got high standards."

"That's…not the point," Bilbo said. "You see, she's had a long string of boyfriends."

"What?"

"And she's in year eleven, whereas you are in year nine."

"No chance, fancy-pants." Flynn was struggling to hold back his laughter. Kyle was looking so downcast, that Bilbo decided to cheer him up.

"Hey, did you see Darcy and Dan today?"

This seemed to make him happy again. "Oh my god, it is soooooo obvious that Darcy likes her."

"What about Dan liking him?"

"I don't know."

"C'mon, that exchange was so love-filled," Flynn ruffled his hair. "I'm pretty sure Dan digs him."

"I even have a ship name," Kyle motioned his hands in a way as if he was imagining a banner across the sky. "Darcyelle."

"That is so sweet and adorable," Bilbo smiled. "Does Theo know?"

"I don't think so," Flynn replied. "Our cousin is too dense to understand love when he sees it. But if he did, we have mixed feelings about his reaction."

"I think that Theo would personally want to be the priest at their wedding." Kili nodded seriously.

"And what about you?" Bilbo turned to the blonde, who shrugged.

"I think that Theo would skin Darcy and make a jacket."

The hobbit gulped. "Violent, much?"

"C'mon, this is old news," Kyle's eyes widened. "What was going on between you and Lana earlier?"

What? "N-n-nothing." he stammered.

"You sound like a lovesick fool, Bill!" Flynn teased lightly. "Are you sure?"

"Yep," This time, Bilbo made sure he sounded firm. "Nothing going on between us. I just want to be friends."

"Oh," He looked disappointed. "But if you eve-"

"FRIENDS."

"Bill," Elrond walked up to him, eyeing the brothers as he did. "Would you like to introduce me to your friends?"

"Sure, Mr Eldeston." Bilbo just realised that the Latin club members had left.

"So this is Flynn, Kyle, Oscar, Geoffrey, Bailey, Darcy, Boris, Blake, Bruno, Dominic, Nathan, Oliver and Theo." He rattled off names one by one, indicating the said person as he did.

"And you were running away from…" The elf tipped his head.

"Alan Davies—well, his friends." Bilbo replied. Mr Eldeston immediately looked troubled, and began pacing around the classroom.

"What does the student council say about this?" he asked. "Have they done anything to help you?"

"No," Theo's voice was a growl. "They don't like us."

"But the students elect their council leaders. It is not a contest of po-"

"Yes it is." Theo cut through Mr Eldeston, which earned a surprised gasp from Oliver.

No one interrupts a teacher, Bilbo thought.

The teacher seemed unfazed by this. He sighed, clearly thinking about other things. "I remember when the student council was a simple idea brought forward by Mr Grey," he said. "He said it would teach the students to gain responsibility and confidence. There was much discussing, and we had a small vote."

"Of course, there were more votes to bring in the student council." Geoffrey said.

"That decision only won by a single vote," Mr Eldeston continued. "I myself voted against it, for these particular reasons. The decision split the teachers apart. Colleague turned on colleague. I think there was a resignation of protest."

"And this," Oscar gestured to Mr Eldeston. "Is an example of adults acting like petty children."

"Very true," he nodded. "Of course, we all got over it, an-"He was interrupted by the sound of crickets chirping. The Company exchanged baffled looks that disappeared when he pulled out his Blackberry and pressed a few buttons on it. He put it back into his pocket.

"Who was it?" Kyle asked eagerly.

"Mr Grey," Mr Eldeston replied. "He was asking if you were alright."

"Bit late for that," Bilbo heard Flynn whisper to his neighbour. "It's been 30 minutes."

"I replied that you were safe and sound," he continued. "And I highly doubt Alan Davies's friends have been waiting outside the classroom door-"

Darcy snorted.

"-This whole time, so you may all go." He walked over to the classroom door and opened it. The dwarves filed out, with Bilbo going out last. As he walked through, Mr Eldeston whispered to him.

"You are very welcome to join the Latin club, Mr Baggins."

"What was that all about?" Theo asked as he caught up to him.

"Oh you know," He waved a hand. "He's just trying to make me join the Latin club."

"And will you?" Theo smiled.

"No way," Bilbo shuddered. "Then Kyle would be badgering me left right and centre! Your cousin had a small crush on one of the girls in there for the time period we were in there."

Theo's sudden expression change was frightening yet amusing. "A…small crush?"

Bilbo laughed. "Don't worry, I steered him off it pretty quickly. You know, the girl that saved us?"

"That rose in her hair made me want to barf."

'"Hey, jeez," Bilbo crossed his arms and frowned. "I really like flowers."

"Oh, sorry." Theo looked abashed.

"Jokes. I agree with you—it was ghastly."

They had a good laugh about it as they made their way up the stairs.

Comments? Criticism? Both are welcome!

So just to confirm, Elrond is Mr Eldeston. Olivia is the elf Kili/Kyle flirts with in Rivendell ^^