Jim's Folly

I'm on a roll. This is the fourth chapter I've written today, seriously.

(When I started this chapter, it was…..but I procrastinated for about….a week?) And I'm really sorry if this chapter stinks…I know what's going to happen in about…the time period of a…couple of weeks, perhaps, but…I don't know what to slide in between or it'll be too quick. Ideas would be great.

Chapter Six

So Christmas was over and it was time for everyone to go back to school. Jim wandered down the hallways, towards his first period as he chatted with Amy. Surprisingly, they had two classes together: math and biology, both classes neither of them looked forward to being in. However, having each other as friends made the idea of going to class a little more bearable.

"So was your Christmas good?" Amy asked Jim as they headed towards math.

"It was alright."

"You went home to see your mom, right?" she asked. Jim nodded, his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. I missed her. It was pretty good. "

He was lying. It had been a disaster.

He and his mother had argued over everything from school to doing the dishes to weeding the garden. The unexpected visit from Rowan had thrown everything off and Jim was still a little traumatized from Rowan's harassment.

Amy sighed heavily as they entered the math classroom. She noticed one of her friends in a part of the class and pulled Jim over to introduce them to each other.

"Jim, this is Beth. Beth, this is Jim. He's the guy I was telling you about," Amy said, mentioning the last part with a hint of a whisper. Beth was a nice, gentle-looking human girl, probably seventeen or eighteen in age with blond hair like Amy's, but longer and in two braids behind her head. She wore frameless glasses and had green eyes behind the lenses. She smiled shyly and Jim before adding a "hi, nice to meet you."

Sitting down for math as the teacher entered, Jim realized it was going to be another long year as Rowan followed behind the teacher, grinning from ear to ear the second he noticed Jim.

--

Beth turned out to be Rowan's girlfriend. Rowan introduced her to Jim a second time when class was over. Rowan seemed to be a little cleaner in manner as they talked, but that may have been because of the presence of the girls.

"So, Jimmy, how was the rest of your Christmas? It sure was a surprise to see me, eh?" he asked. Jim shrugged and nodded, rolling his eyes to himself.

"Yeah, a real surprise…"

"Yer mom's nice. She makes good food, too." Rowan looked around as the four friends walked. "So, Jimmy…what's happening this year?"

"Not much," Jim added. "Two years until I graduate…then I'm a spacer."
"Too cool!" Amy exclaimed, grinning widely. "I still have three years to go."
"And you were in my dance class?" Jim asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, the semesters rotate for some people and…well, it's complicated. I'm ahead in a few of my courses."
"She's a genius, basically," Beth added. It was the first time Jim had heard her actually say something. Rowan nodded. "Good thing. We can't have stupid women walking around."
Amy and Beth seemed to take offense to his comment, but stayed silent.

Jim sighed to himself and glanced around campus. It was pretty quiet that morning, but there were lots of students milling around in between classes. Jim had P.E. next, and he wasn't looking forward to going. He was happy with his physical fitness, and the last time he'd been to a P.E. class, the captain had taught him how to dance.

"So, what do you all have next?" Jim asked. Rowan shrugged. "Nothing. I'm skipping. Wanna come, Jimmy-boy?"

Jim frowned. This was a possibility.

Amy also frowned, adding "Jim, don't skip. It's…like, the second day of classes!"

Beth didn't say anything. Rowan's tail was wrapped around her wrist. It appeared to be what was keeping her silent. What was this? An act of submission? Either way, Jim didn't like how it looked. Beth's expression said nothing to him, but her eyes told him she was far away. Somewhere else. Perhaps … dreaming of another place she was longing to be. Away. Away from Rowan.

Jim looked away from Beth and looked at the ground as they walked. He'd skip next period with Rowan and ask him about her.

---

Raven was back in her office, setting up a new picture of her and Andrew on Christmas Eve, sitting next to a tiny tree she'd managed to afford. For Christmas she'd bought her son a cat: something that would keep him occupied while she was at work.

As she looked at the picture, her heart ached. Why did she spend so much time away from him when he needed her most? She could ask for her hours to be reduced…but that would also reduce her paycheck and increase her rent…and food costs…and Andrew was a growing boy…

She sighed, tears sparkling in her eyes. What was she going to do? She remembered that she was almost nineteen, the age when she could apply for welfare, if they approved her. She hoped within the deepest depths of her heart that they would take pity on her and approve of her case. She needed more money and she needed more time. Things just weren't working out.

Glancing at the clock, she gasped. Almost time for class!

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Author's Note: I'm wondering how you all like Andrew. Do you find him a necessary part to the story or just a strange twist? I'd like your opinions, please. Thanks so much to Abby…my dear, your faithfulness to read and lovely words of encouragement really help me along. Thank you.