"You feeling better then, Matt?" Braxton asked gently.
Matt nodded, a grateful smile crossing his face. "Yeah, I think so. Thank you." He gave them a little grin. "I'll see you guys at the table, yeah?"
Jim nodded. "Of course we will."
Braxton stepped away as Matt did. "See you there, then. Come on Matt, let's go get dinner."
Varian followed Jim into their usual dinner line. "Smells good tonight. I hope the first years' tests don't take too long. I was going to finish telling Sy how I created Cassandrium."
Jim cast a quick glance at the entrance. "I'm sure they won't be held much longer." He made his way through the dinner line. Tonight's meal was pasta, choice of sauce. He grabbed a roll and some butter. For dessert they had cookies (and a sharp eyed attendant to make sure they stuck to the firm limit of two each). Jim grabbed a double chocolate - Sy's favorite - and a peanut butter.
As the two made their way towards their table, the first of the first year students started to file into the room. Jim turned towards the doors to scan for either of their young friends. He spotted Hogarth chatting animatedly at a bored looking classmate, but neither Sy nor 628 was among the small crowd.
As the hungry first years descended upon the dinner lines, Jim and his friends regrouped at their usual table. Braxton settled in beside Matt. Jim sat across from Braxton, Varian on his left with room for Sy on his right.
"Thank you for your help earlier, guys. I really do appreciate it." Matt offered them all a smile. He and Varian tucked into their meals. Jim and Braxton sipped at their drinks as they waited for their younger friends to join them.
Jim spun towards the entrance again as a new wave of first years entered. He could hear Braxton snickering behind him but he didn't care. A familiar head of black hair walked among the rest of the cadets. As the small groups disappeared to their various dinner lines Sy's form became easier to see.
As did his hand clasp with another boy's.
Aladdin was laughing over something Sy had said. Cold crept across Jim's mind as he stared at the two of them. Their hands unlocked as they said their goodbyes. Aladdin bounded off to get dinner and Sy turned to cross the room and make his way towards them.
Jim stood up. "You know he's married, right?"
Sy blinked in confusion. "What?"
"The boy you were talking with. Aladdin. He's married to some girl named Jasmine." Jim repeated. He could hear the heat in his own voice. As much as he didn't like it, he was powerless to stop it.
"Yes?" Sy glanced past him at the other three in their group. "He talks about her all the time. I don't see why it matters?"
Jim shoved his tray back. "Clearly it doesn't." He turned his back on Sy and started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Matt grabbed the sleeve of his jacket as he passed. "You've barely touched your food. I know you were waiting for Sy and 628."
"I'm not hungry." Jim answered bitterly. "I don't feel well and I'm going to lay down."
Braxton gestured for Matt to release Jim. "Let him go. He'll be fine once he's cooled off." As Jim stormed off Braxton turned back to Sy to explain. "Jim's sensitive to the idea of cheating."
Sy blinked. His face went bright red. "Cheating?"
Braxton continued to eat as he gave a cavalier reply. "Oh yeah, he's probably all upset about poor little Jasmine back home while her husband galivants about holding hands with all the boys."
"That's not, we aren't, he isn't, that's just," Sy stammered and stuttered as he tried to explain himself. He was blushing hard and could practically feel the heat rising off his skin. "Aladdin just holds hands with his friends. It's normal for him!"
Braxton snickered. "I'll be sure to text Jim later. I'm sure he'll be pleased to know you aren't committing adultery."
"Never! God forbids such things!"
Matt let out a long sigh. "I'll go find him after I finish eating. Go and get yourself something, Sy. Is 628 on his way?"
Sy nodded. "I think he's almost done. He should be here soon."
