Chapter Four – The World Goes On
Three weeks into her stay at Hogwarts and Kayla was a fairly confident first year. Her desire to meet and talk to people had proved a highly useful tool in making "connections". In fact, Kayla had already had the privilege of being introduced to the Head Girl. The blonde girl who had been so nice to Travis proved to be one of the sweetest people Kayla had ever met, and her older sister just happened to be Hogwarts' Head Girl. The two were Lila and Evette Westere, Lila being in Kayla's year and Evette the Head Girl. Of course, her introduction had been brief, but notable all the same. Now she found that, other than Sonia, most of the first and even second year girls held her in a kind of respect; as if she had gained authority simply from being seen chatting with Evette in the common room.
Since her first day, not too many changes had been made socially. She, Travis, Jake, and Lila often traveled together throughout the castle, although when it came to pairs it was undeniably her and Jake alongside Travis and Lila. Kayla had to admit, she rather liked it that way. Travis and Lila were both undeniably sweet and agreeable, and, truth be told, she was often thankful for the retreat they provided from Jake's stoic attitude. There was just something about Jake that intrigued her, though. Perhaps it was the fact that she was the only one who could coax him into smiling, whereas most others' attempts left him simply glowering. Or perhaps it was the way he was the only one who could shock her into silence by saying the very thing that was on her mind. Either way, she knew that he appreciated her as she did him, and therefore nothing was ever said on the subject, since words didn't seem to be of much importance.
Letters from her parents were not scarce; and she wasted no time in writing back to them. There had been a bit of a rocky start when Sonia had apparently alerted her parents to the dilemma between herself and Kayla, but Kayla had quickly assured her parents of the situation, including giving her father many details of Jake, whom he seemed to be very suspicious of. In the end, both her mother and her father stopped badgering her about Sonia, and Sonia was in worse spirits than ever over it. Kayla had found her father to be much more capable of being sentimental than she had suspected; he often wrote things that surprised her, like how he stopped by her bedroom every morning and never failed to be surprised that an abundance of jet black curls didn't cover the pillow.
Now, however, apart from the norm of homework, she had already found herself at Hagrid's door numerous times, all the while trying desperately to convince both him and Jake to accompany her to the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid flatly refused, whereas Jake merely looked thoughtful, but not stirred to action. Today, though, was a perfectly wonderful Saturday, and she was determined to convince him to go with her. Her curls were still wet from the shower as she bounced down the stairs, her eyes eagerly scanning the room for Jake. He was sitting by the window, looking out with a distant expression. Pity she was going to ruin it for him. She ran up and plopped into the seat next to him, causing him to give a slight jump before throwing a reproving glance in her direction.
"Jake, look," she said, pointing out the window, "Doesn't it look perfect?"
But Jake was not to be fooled. "Perfect for what?" he asked suspiciously.
"The Forbidden Forest, Jake, we have to explore it still!" Kayla insisted, putting a hand on his arm urgently, "And look how perfect it is! Sunny, but not too bright, a slight breeze, but not too windy, and one of the last days we can go before winter, when it'll be too cold but I'll drag you out anyway cause it'll be your own fault that you didn't go today."
Run-on sentences were something that Kayla had very much mastered, and she could speak for a very extended amount of time without pausing for breath. While she appreciated the talent, as it gave little room for interruption, it seemed to take Jake a few seconds to process all that she had said. Then again, he might have simply been being his thoughtful self. His gaze was still out the window, only this time focused on the forest below. Finally, he turned to her. It was evident that he had made a decision, but Kayla couldn't, for the life of her, figure out what it was.
"All right," he said finally, "We'll go."
Kayla gave a squeal of delight and jumped up out of her chair, spraying Jake with droplets that flew from the tips of her curls. He grimaced as he wiped his face, frowning at her as she grabbed his arm and tugged him upwards.
"I didn't mean right now!" he protested, "We still have to eat breakfast."
"But Jake, this is so much more exciting than breakfast," Kayla sighed happily, a dreamy expression on her face, "This is...wonderful!"
"Yes, well, you need a full stomach to do something so wonderful," he replied, sounding utterly unfazed, "Or at least I do."
"What's so wonderful?" questioned a voice from behind them.
Kayla and Jake both turned, and their facial expressions could not have varied more. Kayla broke into a delighted grin at the sight of Travis and Lila looking expectantly at them, but Jake seemed much more displeased. Far from being as relaxed as he had been in Kayla's presence, he stiffened, regarding them with vague suspicion. Just as Jake replied with a dry, "Nothing", Kayla answered with "Everything." Yet, as different as their answers were, Kayla swore she saw a smile of amusement in Jake's eyes when she looked up at him.
"Oh, don't mind Jake, he's just being himself," she told them, grabbing a hold of Jake's sleeve and beginning to pull him towards the portrait hole, "Come, have breakfast with us!"
Jake gave a barely audible groan, and Kayla had to hide her smile. She didn't understand Jake's inability to be civil to other people, but she thought it quite amusing. As the small group of first years traveled down the hallway, Jake was the only one who refrained from speaking. In the meantime, Kayla, Lila, and Travis chatted up a storm. It was only when the passing of the girls' bathroom came did disaster strike. Lila stopped suddenly, causing Travis to stop, causing Kayla to stop, causing Jake to drag her forward a few steps before realizing that she was attached to his sleeve.
"Afraid I have to make a stop," Lila said cheerfully, "Won't you come with me, Kayla? We'll meet you boys in the Great Hall."
It was hard to tell which of the three she had addressed had a more horrified expression. Kayla quickly recovered herself from her initial shock at having to leave Jake alone with Travis. Jake, on the other hand, didn't recover nearly so quickly. He looked from Lila to Travis with an astonished expression, finally turning an almost pleading gaze on Kayla. Travis looked fearful for his life; the look he gave Kayla was definitely pleading. But Kayla didn't see a way to tell Lila know so she let go Jake's sleeve, gave him a warning pat on his arm, and threw both boys a mock cheery smile as she followed Lila into the bathroom. She had a distinctly bad feeling about the entire situation.
Once inside, she chose to lean boredly against the wall as she waited for Lila; she knew the most girls liked to travel together, but she had never really seen the reason for a bathroom buddy. Of course, that was mostly because she wasn't really accustomed to one. She had always went with her father to town, and, of course, he couldn't follow her into the bathrooms, so she was quite on her own. Lila did seem to have something else in mind, though, as she washed her hands. Kayla watched her with a touch of curiosity. The girl's blue-violet eyes reflected great thoughtfulness, and she nearly missed the paper towels to dry her hands. Sure enough, she didn't head for the door when she was done. Instead, she turned her gaze to Kayla.
"My sister said the Gryffindor girls were going to have a party," she began slowly, "They're not inviting many first years...well, only me, actually...but I wouldn't want to go alone..."
Kayla was never one to go in a roundabout fashion, so she produced a blunt question with ease. "Are you inviting me to go with you?" she asked casually.
Immediately Lila's features showed relief. "Oh yes, Kayla, I really would like that!" she said fervently, smiling.
Kayla couldn't help but return the gesture, although one question did puzzle her, which she didn't hesitate to ask. "Why me, though?" she mused, "I mean, you have lots of friends, and me...well, I'm just me."
"Oh no you're not, Kayla," Lila protested, looking shocked that Kayla would think such a thing, "You're cheerful, and fun to be around, and I just...well, I just like you, Kayla."
Kayla couldn't help but feel very much uplifted by this description of herself coming from Lila, although she knew that Lila was generous beyond the norm and could very well just be saying it. She couldn't help but feel as if Lila were being sincere, though, if not only by the look in the other girl's eye. With a grin, she stepped forward and linked her arm through Lila's as she steered them out of the bathroom.
"You know something, Lila, I really like you, too," she informed her, "I think our only job now is to get the boys to get along."
"Oh dear," Lila replied amusedly, causing Kayla to give a giggle.
Kayla was also wondering how she would get Jake and Lila to get along, but she didn't say that out loud for a number of reasons. The first and foremost was that she found it highly unlikely that they ever would. Jake was so silent that it could be unnerving; Lila so sweetly naïve that she often did get unnerved by his silence. Kayla had to admit, though, it was nice to have a friend whom she could talk to and get replies that were longer than three words from. She wouldn't trade Jake for the world, but she couldn't deny that he could sometimes be very trying on her patience. She was drawn from her thoughts abruptly when the two girls reached the entrance of the Great Hall.
There, in the middle of the room, stood Jake, Travis, Kabir, and one of his friends, another first year Slytherin by the name of Trent Cooper. That wasn't what had caused Kayla's mouth to drop open, though. Travis sat on the floor, nose pouring blood. Jake stood facing Kabir and Cooper, all three of them with their fists up. The staff table was nearly abandoned, except for whom Kayla had heard was the batty Divination teacher, who was pouring cream into her coffee without a care in the world. There was dead silence in the hall, and Jake's stern words didn't go unheard by anyone.
"Only cowards pick on those weaker and more defenseless than themselves," he growled.
Kabir gave an echoing laugh, and Kayla drew in a breath, not realizing that she was holding it. "And what're you going to do about it, Lawson?"
"Unfortunately, I'd get expelled if I didn't let you get away with your life," Jake replied evenly, "But I'll bring you within an inch."
"Go."
The word was so unexpected coming from Kabir's mouth that it caught everyone by surprise when Cooper, who looked to be nearly two times Jake's superior in muscle, lunged forward and delivered him a neat blow to the side of the head. A scream echoed through the hall, and Kayla didn't realize that it had been her own even as she broke free of Lila and began to run forward as fast as she could. Cooper took no notice of her, advancing on Jake once more, but Kabir did.
"Hey, Trent," he said, nudging his friend, "Tr-Cooper! Watch it!"
Kayla was hell bent on throttling Cooper, and nothing was going to stop her. Except for the fact that Kabir stepped in the way at the last moment. It was of no matter. She'd get him first. She jumped at him, determined to at least knock him over.
"Kayla!" Jake's voice was sharp, cutting, but even it didn't prepare her for the impact she felt when the air was suddenly knocked out of her due to a blow in the stomach.
She stumbled backwards, vision blurred, but when it cleared, she almost wished she hadn't seen what she did. Jake gave a roar of fury and jumped on Kabir much in the same fashion she had meant to. The two went crashing to the ground, Jake nothing but a flurry of fists.
"You...don't...hit...her," he growled, landing a blow to Kabir with every word, "You...don't...touch...her."
Something had happened. Something had triggered a change in Jake that terrified Kayla. His eyes, usually indifferent, were glittering with rage and malice, narrowed into hard slits. Anger radiated from him as heat did a fire, and there was no stopping the blows he landed to Kabir's head and chest. Kabir didn't simply lay on the ground, however. He threw blows in Jake's direction, but Jake seemed as unfazed as if Kabir was merely tapping him lightly on the chest, rather than punching him with all the strength he could muster. For a moment, Kayla sat and watched, too scared of Jake to try and break them up. The Divination professor was carefully pouring syrup onto her waffles. Finally, Kayla reached out and caught Jake by the wrist, wincing as he gave Kabir one last blow to the face before realizing that she had a grip on him. He turned to her, panting and practically shaking with rage, and she felt a bit like cowering.
"That's enough, Jake," she said instead, her voice so quiet it was a wonder he heard her.
He stood up, but when Cooper made a move to help Kabir up, he took it as a threat and turned on the other boy, fists raised. Cooper backed away, apparently not stupid enough to try and pick a fight. Kabir had a bloody lip and the beginnings of two black eyes, and Jake was clutching at his side where Kabir had landed a particularly mean blow, a trickle of blood pouring from a cut on his cheek. Kayla had to literally pull him away from the scene. He didn't look at her; his eyes stayed fixed on Kabir the whole time, and he allowed himself to be dragged backwards towards the exit. The Great Hall was already buzzing with information, but Kayla was deaf to it. She paused as she saw Travis and Lila sitting down, Lila helping Travis tend to his nose, which had stopped bleeding, but looked a mess.
"Bring Jake some breakfast," Kayla said shortly as she passed them.
She mentioned nothing of herself because she wasn't thinking of it. She was thinking only of Kabir and Jake, and the hatred in each of their eyes. She had half a mind to go and punch Kabir again, but Jake had done a nice job of it already. Only when they were in the hallway did Jake wrench his wrist from her grip and began to walk forward, a stony expression on his face. Kayla did nothing to regain her hold on him, but merely walked in silence with him to the Gryffindor common room, her head nothing but a flurry of thoughts. She still had no idea why Kabir had apparently hit Travis in the first place, and she really didn't have a clue what had wrought such a change in Jake. A change that frightened her, that made her afraid to reach out and grab onto his sleeve for comfort. So she wrung her hands together pointlessly until they reached the common room. The few students that had been unfortunate enough not to have seen the fight guessed what had happened when Kayla, hair askew and biting her lip stepped in with Jake, blood running down his face and clutching at his side, breathing heavily.
Kayla and Jake ignored them. Kayla knew that Jake was in his own world at the moment, and she was hesitant to interrupt that. But she did. She reached out and gingerly grabbed onto his sleeve. The look he shot her was icy and cold, but she ignored that, as well, as she led him towards the first year boys' dorms. She reached out for the door and swung it open; realizing with relief that nobody was inside. Jake, however, stopped when she tried to take a step in. She turned to look at him to see that he was staring fixedly at a point just above her shoulder.
"You're a girl," he stated finally.
"Oh, very good, Jake," she replied coldly, "And you're a boy. Care to point out any other obvious facts?"
He looked highly affronted at her behavior, and followed her in with no further argument. Kayla had no idea how to act a nurse, no matter if her mother had a degree in Healing or not. The thought made her very nervous, and she drew in deep breaths as she tried to gather her surroundings.
"Go...sit on your bed," she said finally, "Your...your ribs aren't broken, are they?"
The nervousness in her voice at that last statement made Jake smile, a fact that she found infuriating. "Nah, I wouldn't have been able to walk all the way up here if they were," he answered coolly, strolling off towards a bed.
Kayla couldn't help but feel that he was teasing her, and she didn't see what was so funny. She knew that going to Madam Pomfrey would only result in the both of them getting in trouble; although they were sure to already, what with the rumors spreading about. For now, though, she just wanted to figure out what had happened in the first place. She got a warm, wet rag and adjourned to where Jake was. He watched her closely, but didn't speak a word as she sat down in front of him, turned his face slightly to the side, and began to tend to his wound. Kayla wished more fervently than ever that he did things such as talking.
"What happened?" she asked finally.
"You didn't see?" came his sarcastic reply.
"You know what I mean," she snapped, pressing into his wound a bit harder than she had meant to and making him wince. "Sorry, it's just...what started it?" she corrected herself.
"He made fun of Travis," Jake shrugged, "Called him weak, inferior. Told him he took after his father. Travis wanted to fight, but I told him not to. The snake threw a couple of insults our way concerning you and your parents, and Travis tried to punch him. He didn't have a chance. Cooper socked him good in the nose. I was ready to fight. Knew it was gonna happen. It would've been fine, Kayla, if you hadn't jumped in like that. I would've been able to control it. Why'd you do it?"
Kayla couldn't help but be shocked at the fact that he was blaming it on her. She had only tried to help him, to avenge him. Certainly he appreciated it!
"Jake, I wanted to help you!" she exclaimed, "You...you're saying it's my fault? That you...you got so...so..."
"So what?" he challenged, eyes narrowing.
Kayla couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear at the look he was giving her. She had never been scared of him before – but now, after she had seen the way he had fought, the hatred in his eyes, she couldn't help it. "Scary, Jake," she whispered, "You were really scary."
His eyes filled with something Kayla had never seen before. Regret. Plain and simple, that was what it was. "I don't want to scare you, Kayla," he said quietly, "Everyone else I don't mind, but not you."
Kayla didn't understand, and she didn't try to sort out his words. She lowered the rag she had been using, her eyes searching his imploringly. "Why?" It was a simple question, but it held so much worth.
His answer, as usual, didn't come right away. He looked away from her, as if trying to get the answer from another place. "I don't know," he professed finally.
Kayla could tell he was sincere, and she appreciated it. She just didn't know what to make of it. Frowning slightly, she raised the rag to his cheek once more, although it was nearly clean. She was silent, and she knew that Jake would only be too happy to be the same. But, to her great surprise, he wasn't. He began to speak, and it was altogether more than she had ever heard him talk at once.
"I've always been a fighter. It's the only way to get food. I studied with a 'master' for a long time when I was a child. When I was ready to fight, I was very ready. I was ten. I'm not big or strong, but I'm fast and agile, and I pack a lot of punch when I want to. The neighborhood kids hire me to beat someone up for them, and I do. I do, or I starve. It's amazing how far you can keep going when you're hungry. You become nothing but an empty stomach, ready to brave all for a piece of bread. I became a fighting machine. If anything stood still long enough and posed a threat, I'd beat it. I tried to overcome it. I came close. But sometimes I just snap. It's too much. I hate it."
With that, he fell silent, leaving Kayla with a torrent of questions flooding her mind. She wasn't wholly sure what he was talking about, but she immediately got the impression that, up until now, his childhood hadn't been very good. His parents weren't mentioned, but the fact that he had to get his own food was. She met his eyes to find that they were very different than they ever had been before. They were open, professing pain and longing. It was the latter that caught Kayla's attention. She blinked, wondering if it would disappear when she did so. It didn't. She opened her mouth to speak, but he did first.
"You're the only one that's ever cared, Kayla. The only one who's tried to help me. Don't give up on me, because I'm trying. Please."
And now her throat constricted, her brain telling her to do a thousand things at once. To hug him, to tell him that she wouldn't give up on him. To ask him more questions. To cry. To cry for a very long time for whatever Jake had been through, since he didn't seem able to himself. Unable to speak, she scooted forward and put her arms around him. He stiffened momentarily, but after a moment laid his head on her shoulder. He relaxed. It was so amazing in itself that Kayla thought, for a moment, that she must be imagining all this. She must be imagining the fact that Jake had willingly asked for her help, that he had said more than he had in the past three weeks put together.
"Don't worry, Jake," she whispered finally, "It'll be all right. Everything will. You'll see."
He gave a bark of laughter that was muffled by her curls. "So optimistic," he commented.
"No, Jake, it's the truth," Kayla insisted, hugging him harder, "Trust me."
"I'll try," he replied quietly. That statement was quickly followed by one much less emotional. "Your hair is wet."
Rolling her eyes, Kayla pulled away from him, regaining her former seat in front of him. He looked at her for a good while before adding, "I never said that was bad."
She grinned, and leaned forward to hug him once more, but the door opened and she quickly bounced back to her former position in order to see who was entering. It was Lila and Travis, who now looked very cleaned-up and altogether healthy. They carried with them two plates of breakfast piled with scrambled eggs, pancakes and syrup, bacon, and Travis carried four glasses; two with milk, and two with orange juice. It was a miracle he hadn't spilled them yet. Kayla couldn't help but reach for her plate with astonishing quickness, causing Lila and Travis to smile. No questions were asked; Travis and Lila took a seat on the bed opposite and waited patiently as Kayla and Jake ate.
Kayla had decided, by that time, that she was very much responsible for Jake. If she was the only one who had tried to help him, then she had better do a good job of it. And if he was going to try and trust her, she was going to try and make herself trustable. She wasn't sure how to go about it; apparently she had been doing a good job already, but she knew she could improve. She glanced up from her meal and met his eye, and was surprised to find that he was looking at her differently. Not with as much indifference as he usually did. It was there, three weeks into her first year and sitting atop his bed eating breakfast that Jake became her absolute best friend. It was then, right in front of Travis and Lila, that Kayla silently vowed her loyalty to him. And somehow, she felt that he reciprocated her feelings exactly. She couldn't explain it, and she didn't try, but she somehow knew that she and Jake were now very much a unit of their own.
She pondered on what had brought them to become such good friends in such a short amount of time, especially with Jake...well, the way he was, and herself the way she was. They were complete opposites, and yet they understood each other, and had formed an alliance quickly. Kayla had never known a friendship as such; with her and Sonia, it had always been based on the moment, where they would join in making fun of something, or laughing at something, or even crying at something. It had all been shared emotions. It was so different with Jake; she couldn't even tell what he was thinking half the time, and the other half they were feeling the complete opposite of each other. And yet, they had become an unlikely duo. Kayla's thoughts went unhindered until Lila spoke up. The other girl's voice was quiet and apologetic, as if she didn't want to startle anyone out of their reverie.
"McGonagall came into the hall as we were leaving, and a bunch of students practically mobbed her trying to tell her what happened."
"And I bet it's all exaggerated," Kayla sighed.
"It probably didn't help that most of the people were Slytherins," Travis added unhelpfully.
Kayla turned her gaze to Jake to see him glaring at Travis. He turned and caught her eye, and returned to his breakfast when she gave him a reproachful look. Her mind was elsewhere, though. She had tried to fight, but what if the reports didn't include her? What if they only included Jake? She couldn't let him go without her, not after she'd promised to help him. Perhaps that hadn't been exactly what he was talking about, but it was close enough. And right at that moment, she began hoping fervently that the tales included her punching Kabir right smack in the nose. Because it would be a lovely rumor that she would be only too happy to encourage, and it would allow her to accompany Jake in whatever punishment he was undoubtedly going to have. She didn't have to wait long. The door burst open to reveal none other than Evette Westere herself, looking utterly beside herself.
"McGonagall's coming!" she hissed, "Out of the dorms, all of you, and hide the food!"
The four moved with such haste that Travis managed to knock over the goblet Jake had placed on the nightstand; luckily, only a few drops of milk spilt out and Jake didn't have any time to terrify the other boy with a glare. Kayla grabbed a hold of Jake's sleeve and tore out of the dorms behind Lila and Travis. The four of them dashed into the common room and jumped onto the couch. When the portrait hole opened to reveal Professor McGonagall, they were sitting neatly side by side, each of them staring straight ahead. When she stepped into the room, everyone silenced. She strode in front of them and fixed Jake, in particular, with a stern look. To Kayla's delight, the professor also threw one in her direction.
"Mr. Lawson, Miss Potter," she said stiffly, "Please follow me to the Headmistress' office."
At the rate Kayla jumped off the couch, it must have looked very much as if she thought she was going to a tea party. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, and Kayla tried to look as if she were in trouble. Jake got up slowly and the two followed the professor out of the Gryffindor common room. Kayla latched onto Jake's sleeve, as was customary by then, and they followed her in silence. As they walked, Jake slowly leaned towards Kayla, so as to not attract attention.
"You're crazy," he whispered quietly, "I'm telling her that nothing's your fault."
"No," she protested, trying very hard not to let Professor McGonagall hear her, "I want to stay with you, Jake, to help you. You can't make me leave."
For a moment, he looked about to reproach her. He seemed to think the better of it, however, and instead gave her a look of unmistakable gratitude. She beamed in reply, happy with both herself and Jake. In what seemed like moments, they were in front of what her father had unmistakably described to her as the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Now, though, it housed a different occupant. Audra Moore – what would she be like, Kayla wondered. She hoped that she would at least be half as interesting and kind as Dumbledore. She reached out and grabbed onto Jake's sleeve, clutching tightly lest they be separated. He made no acknowledgement of her whatsoever, but perhaps that in itself was a sign.
"Phoenix feathers."
Kayla and Jake exchanged a glance as Professor McGonagall spoke what was undeniably the password. It sent chills up Kayla's spine – she knew how her father had always liked phoenixes. And up the spiral staircase they went, after Professor McGonagall. By the time they reached the top, it was all Kayla could do not to dance in place, now tugging on Jake's sleeve so hard that he had completely surrendered it to her rather than go against her firm grasp. After a smart rap on the door, it suddenly swung open. Professor McGonagall shooed them in and proceeded to leave, shutting the door behind her.
The room was circular and more spacey than her father had ever described it to be; everything seemed to be in a neat, precise order. The window sported neat crimson-and-white checkered curtains, and the shelves all looked to have been dusted very recently. The books that aligned them were, Kayla realized at once, in alphabetical order. Everything seemed to have a purpose, a place. Nothing that Kayla could see didn't look neat and orderly. Even the headmistress herself.
Audra Moore sat behind her neatly arranged desk, hands folded neatly in her lap. Chocolate-colored hair was pulled into a concise ponytail, leaving not a wisp out of place. Kayla momentarily realized what her own hair must look like, in contrast. Bright blue eyes peered interestedly at both her and Jake from beneath long, auburn lashes. Mouth set in a prim line, but without the same sternness McGonagall possessed, she looked very businesslike, reminding Kayla a bit of Sonia's mother. She was dressed in robes of a midnight blue, each fold looking as if it had been carefully designed and placed in just the right spot. After she had surveyed Kayla and Jake, she suddenly spoke, lifting one arm up in a graceful wave and producing two wooden chairs with a cushioned seat and back.
"Please, have a seat," she said smoothly, returning her hand to it's previous folding position.
Jake immediately did as he was told, but Kayla scooted her chair closer to his before obeying orders. Professor Moore observed her with amusement, a smile playing at her lips.
"Well, I assume you both know the charges on which you've been brought," she stated suddenly, her voice quiet and firm.
Jake gave a gruff nod, but Kayla definitely wasn't a girl of so few words. Eager to redeem herself and Jake, she immediately launched into an explanation.
"Oh yes, Professor Moore, we were fighting," she assured the headmistress, "But it's all Kabir's fault, because he made fun of Travis...and me I suppose, and Travis tried to fight back, but then Kabir's friend Cooper punched him in the nose, and Jake tried to defend him and Kabir made Cooper attack Jake, and I tried to jump on Cooper but Kabir got in the way and punched me in the stomach and Jake got mad at him for doing that and fought with him but it's definitely not Jake's fault!"
With that run-on sentence off her chest, Kayla breathed deeply, looking in earnest at the headmistress. The last few words had been emphasized very greatly, since she was keen on getting the point that Jake wasn't to blame across. Jake looked at her with a kind of fascinated disbelief, and the corners of Professor Moore's mouth quirked upwards.
"Thank you for explaining, Miss Potter," she said gently, a smile now revealed.
Kayla nodded, instinctively reaching out for Jake's sleeve once more. Professor Moore reached for a packet of papers on her desk, pulling them in front of her and glancing at them before directing her gaze back up to Jake and Kayla.
"I can assure you that Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Cooper have been given suitable punishments for their instigation and participation in the fight," she said quietly, her gaze flickering to each of them in turn, "However, you both have been reported as fighting, and the school rules say that I must hand out a punishment, as well as send a letter to both of your parents."
Kayla's heart stopped beating momentarily. Oh no – her parents would not be pleased with reports of a fight. Jake, on the other hand, seemed much more upset about it. He sat bolt upright and yanked his sleeve out of Kayla's grasp, instead enfolding her hand in a very tight, nervous grip. She winced as her fingers were squeezed together, but didn't say or do anything to prevent it.
"Please Professor," he stammered uncertainly, "I can't – my parents – please don't. They'll take me away, and when I get home..."
His gaze, which had been pleading at first, suddenly hardened, as if he had realized that he had said too much. He let go of Kayla's hand and slumped back into his chair, falling silent once more. Kayla tilted her head curiously at him. She thought he had been doing awfully well, for a moment there. But she also knew that if he went home, something bad would happen. She had seen as much from his expression.
"Please, Professor Moore," she chimed in, "Please don't send for Jake's parents. He's my best friend, and I couldn't bear for him to leave. Please?"
Professor Moore gave Jake a long, calculating look before she acknowledged Kayla. For a moment, Kayla quivered under the gaze, her hand grasping Jake's wrist. When the Professor's face broke into a smile, she let out a long, relieved breath. Professor Moore stood up and clasped her hands together, looking to be making a last-minute decision.
"Very well, Mr. Lawson, but you'll have to be accepting extra punishment," she said.
Jake nodded silently, and Kayla's face fell. "But no, Professor," she pleaded, "Can't I have extra punishment, too? If I get in another fight, maybe? I'd love to give Kabir a good kick up the..."
Jake's hand on her arm silenced her, as did Professor Moore's look. The headmistress looked to be fighting some sort of inner battle, and Kayla was eager to have whatever side that agreed with her win. Finally, Professor Moore seemed to make up her mind.
"Loyalty to one's friends is a very valuable trait, Miss Potter," she announced solemnly, "And for that reason, I grant your request."
Kayla beamed at her, nodding frantically. Jake rolled his eyes, obviously unable to fathom how receiving extra punishment could make her so happy. Professor Moore smiled at the two of them for a moment in a rather reminiscent way before giving a small sigh of contentment. Kayla couldn't imagine why unless the headmistress duly enjoyed giving out punishments, but she didn't say anything.
"Well, you two will receive word of your punishments via owl," she said finally, "Stay out of fights in the meantime, won't you?"
"We'll try," Kayla assured her, standing up and pulling Jake toward the door with her.
She couldn't be sure, but just as she closed it, she swore she heard a peal of laughter coming from within the room. Choosing not to debate on it, she turned her gaze to Jake, who had an odd expression on his face, as if he were trying to hold something in.
"What is it?" she prompted eagerly.
"I just-"he began, but he paused, the corners of his mouth twitching dangerously. After a moment's battle, his face finally broke into a genuine grin. "You're insane, you know that? Why'd you go and get yourself more punishment?"
"I didn't want you to have to do it all alone!" Kayla exclaimed, astonished that he would even ask.
He eyed her amusedly out of the corner of his eye. "Like I said, you're insane," he repeated.
Kayla was silent for a moment, pondering the meaning of his words. Finally, she asked, "Is that a good thing?"
As was common for Jake, he stayed silent for a while before answering. When he did, he wasn't smiling, but Kayla could tell he was in a good mood. "You know, I think it is," he told her.
She beamed as they neared the portrait. She had hoped he would say that. Now, she definitely needed to write her father and tell him what had happened.