DISCLAIMER: i do not own any characters or anything from the HDM series...but i do own JAMES! HAHA!!!

Author's Note: Ello! and up goes the third chapter! Enjoy!!

The Silver Spoon

Chappie 3

When they came apart James' face was stained with tears.

"Oh James! It's ok!" she said tenderly.

"Oh no! It's not that! It's just that nobody has ever listened much less cared about my story before. It's...it's just that...oh it's just so kind of you!" he said and burst into tears anew.

"It's ok. Don't worry I know what it's like to be abandoned."

"You do?"

"Yes. I do. But it would take too long to explain now. I'll walk you back to your house now. I think that's enough for today."

"Ok." He said sniffling.

They got up and James led Lyra towards his house. They walked in a comfortable silence. When James finally stopped Lyra was confused. All that was in front of them was a garbage can and a cardboard box.

"James? Why did you stop here?"

"Well, this is where I live."

"You live in a garbage can? That's horrible!"

"Well...I couldn't afford to buy even the shabbiest house so I did what I could."

"James I want you to come live with me at Jordan. This is not a way to live. It is a punishment. What will you do when it gets colder? No. You can live with me at Jordan."

"That sounds great but I don't want to be a nuisance or anything..." he trailed off turning red in the cheeks.

"You are coming to live with me! This is how chickens live! Not human children! No. It is out of the question!"

He was a little taken aback by her sudden outburst. He did so dearly want to live at the glorious Jordan College and by the tone of her voice and the fire in her eyes he just couldn't say no.

"Well ok. But only if I won't be in the way."

"Yay!" Lyra yelled. She gave him another hug and grabbed his hand and started to run. He kept up as well as he could and stumbling and falling they finally made it to the gates. They got there just in time to here the Stewards bell tolling dinnertime.

"Oh goodie! Just in time for dinner!" she said jumping up and down clapping her hands.

James licked his lips dreamily imagining the spread off food that there would be. Soup, rolls, sandwiches, and an endless amount of meat. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten a good meal, something other than premature string beans.

They proceeded to the dining hall. As they entered through the heavy oak doors everyone turned to see who was entering. They were surprised to see a boy with Lyra. They looked him up and down, turning their noses up and this grimy, scrawny little boy. The master of Jordan College called Lyra to the corner of the giant room. She made her way over to the appointed corner, giving James a wink and a smile. He felt his stomach turn and tie into knots.

"What are you doing? Please explain this grimy little excuse for a child. And tell me why he is not out on the streets where he belongs."

"He does NOT belong on the streets." She said with a defiant look on her face, "his name is James and I met him this afternoon. He has had an exceedingly hard life, much more than you can say," she spat the words at him occasionally poking him hard in the chest, "and I invited him to live with us fortunate people at Jordan College."

"Lyra, he does not belong here. Not at the college."

"He is just like us! How could you possibly say something like that! If he doesn't belong here, then neither do I! And neither do you, or any other person here! If he is not allowed to live here, then I don't want to!" She screamed at his face, she glared up at him with fiery eyes.

During this whole conversation James had been looking over the table picking out what he wanted to eat first. When Lyra started to raise her voice, he and every other person around the table turned to look at them.

It was a little amusing, seeing this determined little girl, hair messed up and sweat dripping down her face, staring up and this grown man.

"Lyra, he just doesn't belong here."

"Doesn't belong?! Did you hear anything I just said?" she raged.

"Yes I did, but he just doesn't belong here." He repeated.

"Well then I don't either!" She screamed and shoved past him. She ran by James whispering something that sounded like, "sorry". A tear dropped on his hand as she ran by.

"Lyra! Come back!" James yelled as he ran after her.

He got there just in time to see Lyra climb up onto the roof. He took some time to decide whether he should go after her or leave her alone for a while. After a considerable amount of time he decided to go talk to her.

When Lyra reached the very top she sat in her favorite spot, facing the wind. She was almost calmed down when she heard someone clambering up the roof screaming her name. It was James. He was climbing towards her, with surprising speed.

"Lyra! Lyra come back!"

When he finally reached her and sat down next to her she was in tears. She turned around and cried into his shoulder, grabbing fistfuls of his ragged shirt.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." She cried.

"Oh no no no. It's ok. Don't worry." He rubbed her back soothingly.

They sat together for a couple minutes in a comfortable silence. After a little while Lyra broke the silence, "Ok, I think I'm ready to go back down. Plus I'm too hungry to stay away." She smiled at him with that golden happy-to-be-alive smile, "Thanks."

And she turned to leave but then changed her mind and turned back. He gave her a confused look. She looked him right in the eye, then leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Then she started to climb down, smiling and red to her ears. James sat up on the rooftop frozen, jaw open and a hand on his cheek. He was finally aroused to reality by the gnawing hunger in his stomach. And he started the climb down.

When he finally made it to the dining hall, after getting lost a couple times, He entered through the heavy oak doors. When he entered all eyes turned towards him, and he felt his face turn 3 shades darker. His eyes met Lyra's and he turned yet another 2 shades darker. The master of Jordan College came up and personally apologized,

"I'm sorry James. I should not have judged you by your outward appearance. You are welcome here as long as you will stay. We have set up a cot in Lyra's room. We will make other arrangements as soon as possible. Once again I am sorry, truly I am."

"Thank you, s'ok." He managed to get out after a few stunned moments.

DISCLAIMER: i do not own any characters or anything from the HDM series...but i do seem to own JAMES!! HAHA!!

Author's Note: Ello! and up goes the third chapter! Enjoy!!