Jim's Folly

Ahh! What's this? Am I writing before waiting for feedback!? I'm positively crazy! *laughs* On to more of Rowan. :P

Chapter Four

Captain Raven Calls was waiting for him when Jim arrived. She stood and accepted his salute and sat, offering him the chair before her desk.

"Well, Jim. We have much to discuss."

"Why?" he asked, curious. He didn't want to be here in the first place; where he really wanted to be was in his dorm room, out of his uniform and in his normal clothing, watching the Plasma Vision screen or listening to music on his music player.

Raven continued. "Well, as you know, Rowan is still in Private Detention. He's becoming more and more tiresome as we try to work with him. He wants to speak with you, which my supervisors advice strongly against, and every time I go to talk with him, I get slammed by obscene comments up to my ears. We don't know how to deal with him…but that's not why I need to talk with you. I need to tell you that once he's out, he's going to want to convince you to do some more damage with him."

Jim listened intently.

"You must not listen. Don't go with him, Jim. You're smarter than that."

Jim nodded, his eyebrows furrowing together slightly.

"So…what kind of things will he try to get me into?" Jim questioned. Raven sighed heavily.

"He gave me permission to share his files with you, which is surprising. It's kind of sick, too, because he seems proud of his criminal record."
Her accent was fascinating.

She opened the papers and scanned the list, shaking her head occasionally.

"His first offense that was recorded was at the age of eleven. He was stealing. It doesn't say what he stole, but it says it was worth a lot of money. His thievery led to other things, involving gang beatings, alcoholism, vandalism like you only worse, and eventually…murder."
Jim's heart stopped momentarily. He'd been hanging out with a murderer. Jim thought of Rowan's teeth and his sharp claws and shuddered.

"How? Why?" was all that escaped Jim's lips.

Raven licked her lips; it appeared that she was trembling. Was she afraid of Rowan? Or was she afraid of what he was capable of?

"Well, it was with his gang, but…he was the leader of the group. As soon as he was deported to the correctional facility, his group disintegrated…I guess they couldn't have a group without him."

Jim was still without words. He was definitely going to try and stay away from this boy. All of this in a matter of…probably seven years.

She continued, smiling faintly. "I know you're a good boy, but I know your type. If you let him get to you, you'll get into his ways and before you know it, you're doing things just as bad as he is. So let me warn you before it's too late: keep your distance from Rowan."

Jim nodded. "Agreed, Captain."

"Dismissed, Cadet."
He saluted her and left the room.

---

Inside the tiny Private Detention room, Rowan sat in the corner, his tail twitching before him as he clicked his nails together. They were starting to wear down, but that was to be expected: he'd been clawing the walls again. His tiny mattress made out to be a bed was shredded already. He'd probably have to stay longer because of that. Vandalism, they'd call it. He'd tell them he was having a moment, a mental breakdown, and couldn't take it anymore.

Smiling to himself, he rose to his feet and peered out of the bars of the visitation box. Against the walls of the small room was one section which was barred off for visitors to speak to the offenders through. It was through that barred space that he'd sneered and spewed vulgar comments to his captain.

He couldn't wait for her to return.

---

Time passed and Rowan was released from Private Detention. It was the last day of dance class and Captain Raven gave a tearful goodbye to her students after their final test.

"You've all done so well, cadets." Her voice quivered and her eyes welled up with tears. She may have been a tough captain, but she had her soft spots. This class full of people was one of her soft spots.

"I wish you the best, of course. I know you'll all do wonderfully in the next two years of ISA. I believe in all of you. Perhaps at some time during the next year a few of you can drop by to help some of my amateurs?" A few cadets laughed as Raven stood up straight.

"Attention!" she called and the cadets all stood at attention, saluting their captain.

"Class dismissed!" Raven said, saluting in return. Most of the students filed out of the gymnasium, but few, including Rowan, Jim, Amy and a few of Amy's friends, remained behind.

Jim watched in faint admiration as Amy gave Raven a tearful hug. Jim was amazed to see this side of his captain. He watched as tears spilled down her cheeks as she hugged some of Amy's friends. She wiped her eyes and laughed with the girls.

Rowan approached Jim, a sly grin on his face.

Jim raised an eyebrow at him. "You passed. Congratulations."

"What, you don't think a guy with a tail and an awful crime record can dance?" Rowan asked, crossing his arms. His tail flickered behind him impatiently. He stood next to Jim and watched Raven talk with the girls.

"So, has the captain let you know her feelings yet?" Rowan asked. Jim's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"The captain's hot for you. I thought you knew," he replied.

Jim scoffed. "Knock it off, Rowan. I don't need your mockery."
Rowan shrugged, smiling wryly. Muttering a vulgar comment about the captain's looks, he smiled mischievously at Jim and left the gym.

Jim frowned, glaring as Rowan left. Glancing back to the girls, Jim noticed Amy approaching him. "Thanks for a good year, Jim. I hope we get a few classes together in year three!" she said shyly. Jim couldn't help but notice how cute she was when she was shy.

"Thanks, Amy. I appreciate that, really. I'll see you around next year. I promise. Even if we're not in the same classes, we'll find a way to talk sometimes, okay?" Jim promised. Amy nodded. She gave him a warm, friendly hug and left the gym. Jim felt happy inside. Amy was such a good girl; he wished he knew more girls like her.

As he watched, Raven left the remaining girls and approached Jim.

"Congratulations, Jim. Excited to start year three after Christmas?" Even though her brown eyes were a little bit red from her tears, she still held her composure and captivating beauty.

"Yeah…" Jim trailed off, forcing his eyes to the ground.

"I saw Rowan talking with you," she noted. Jim nodded. "He was making rude comments again."
"About me, no doubt." Raven stared at the ground, her high heeled white shoes seeming to fascinate her.

Jim nodded again. "Yeah. Why does he do that?"

"For attention, of course. He feels defeated. Making fun of you or me makes him feel high and mighty if anyone gives him their attention for a time."

"Well, he doesn't need my attention," Jim muttered.

Raven smiled with an approving nod. "Wonderful!" She was quiet for a moment.

"Are you going home for Christmas?"

Jim nodded. "I can't wait to see my mom," he stated, not ashamed. Raven grinned. "It's very mature of you to be able to admit that. Are you close with her?"

"She's all I have, Captain."
"Well, you keep her close to you, Jim. Don't let anything come between you two, you hear me?"

Jim nodded. Smiling faintly, he saluted her. Saluting back, she laughed happily.

"Cadet Hawkins, you are dismissed with an order: you'd better visit me during your third year; I want to know how you're doing, you understand?"

Jim nodded. "Aye, Captain!"

Raven laughed again and sent him on his way with a reassuring smile.

'See you around, Jim Hawkins…Keep out of trouble,' she thought as she watched him go. More tears pooled in her eyes as she glanced around the empty gymnasium. Time to go home. It was definitely time for a holiday.