Part 6:

At school, Jenny met up with the gang as always, standing towards the front entrance, waiting for the bell to ring, and the rush to class. Her ankle had been surprisingly all better that morning (ahemJulianahem), and she stood perfectly. Michael was just getting into one of the 'Our Generation' speeches when Jenny saw him.

White hair, flashing like silver amongst everyone else. She would have noticed him sooner if he hadn't had a group of admirers around him. She saw his face then, slightly confused. In one hand, he gripped a schedule; in the other he held a backpack halfheartedly. He looked like he needed to be saved.

It was about then that Audrey noticed him. "Oh my God, is that Julian?"

Tommy's head twisted around, an ugly expression on his face. "Where?" Jenny gave him a small hug, then detached herself from his side and waved at Julian. His eyes lit up, as if she were his savior, and he waded his way through the crowds and to her.

"Jenny!" He sounded to relived… and… something else. She still couldn't quiet figure out what it was in his voice every time that he said her name, and she didn't want to dwell on it.

"Julian!" A warm smile spread across her face as he joined them, slightly breathless and hassled.

"Hey, I was wondering if I would see you." Something like amusement flickered through his eyes, but she didn't wander why.

"Julian, I didn't know that you went to school here." Dee said, her black eyes flashing once more to the group of fawning girls. "Dude, I think you need a body guard."

Julian's eyes flickered over his shoulder. "I need something like that."

Dee's eyes flashed wickedly, but Jenny cut off her next response. "Well, obviously you're new. Let me see," She pulled his schedule gently from his hands, reading it. Audrey read it over her shoulder.

"Jenny! He's got the same classes that you have!" Scanning the paper, Jenny saw that she was right. She smiled warmly at Julian.

"That means that I can show you around today." She smiled again, handing him back the paper. "It won't be bad, I promise."

Tom gave a scowl… Julian just smiled gratefully. "Thank you. I would get lost here if I had to forage for myself. I don't even know where I'm supposed to eat lunch." Julian tossed that out, a hopeful note in his voice that no one in the group could misunderstand. Everyone but Tom gave a small smile.

"Well, of course," Michael began, "There's always the group right there," he pointed towards a group of people standing together. "That's the computer group. You don't really want to hang around with them…" He continued naming off people, and everyone in their group laughed slightly. Finally he turned the gesturing finger on himself. "Then there is us. The cool group." Of course, Michael had denounced everyone else, so they had to be the cool group. "I think that you'll want to join us if we can find the room."

Summer smiled sweetly. "Of course you'll eat with us!" She seemed to give a small clap, her tiny body bouncing slightly with the words she spoke. Julian gazed around the group.

Aside from Tommyboy… they all accepted him… as if he had belonged to them his whole life. It wasn't just Jenny… it was everyone. He had come back expecting to take Jenny away from protesting friends…. At the rate it was going, they were going to hand her to him with a bow atop her head.

"Oh, of course." Once again, Julian could not mistake the sour note in Tommy's voice. Neither, apparently, could Jenny.

"Don't worry Julian, I will personally assist you to finding the perfect person to sit with." She smiled at him as the bell rang. "Come on then, I'll show you our first class." Julian cringed as she leaned over and pecked Tommy quickly on the cheek, promising to see him at lunch. However, his mood brightened as she took his arm and wheeled him off towards their first class… He would have paid great amounts for a photograph of dear Tommy's face.

If it had not been for Jenny, who stayed by his side throughout the day, Julian didn't think that he could have made it. By the time lunch rolled around, he was reminded of exactly how strange and exotic he looked… The teachers even looked at him like he was a piece of candy…

"Come on," Jenny said, tugging on his arm, lunch in hand. Julian had also brought his own lunch. He wasn't going to risk this… human made food. Jenny led him to a grassy spot outside, where many of the group were already sitting in a half circle. The only one mysteriously absent was Tommy.

"Where's Tom?" Jenny asked as soon as she sat down, unconsciously scooting over and making a spot for Julian beside her.

"He had to run back and get his lunch. He forgot it."

Idiot… Julian thought to himself, inwardly smirking. Out of sight, out of mind. The more Tommyboy was absent… the more Julian could make his move. At that moment, however, he was unwrapping his lunch.

Michael whistled when he saw it. Dee's brows hiked, and Audrey gave him a rather strange look. Julian looked down at the food in his hand.

"What?" He said it as innocently as he could before taking a small bite of the steak-ish type meat.

"How do you keep it warm?" Michael asked, sheer interest now in his voice.

"It's the bag." Julian explained quickly… the bag which was traced on the inside with the rune Kenaz… but he wasn't going to disclose that information at the moment. He wasn't sure how well they would take it.

Jenny just smirked softly at him. "That's great." She looked down at his food, then held up her sandwich. "Trade you."

Julian smiled, and handed her the food. "You keep both, I'm not hungry." Jenny laughed softly, taking it from him…

Tom, scowling once again and looking at the laughing Jenny, sat down beside them.

Going home that day, Julian was slightly perplexed. Jenny was acting so warmly towards him… yet he couldn't quiet figure out…

He sighed, looking around. When he saw that no one could see him, he quickly disappeared, reappearing in his apartment, his eyes closing wearily as he collapsed onto the bed. He couldn't believe that he had went to school. It was such a trying experience. Maybe if he just told Jenny that she would never have to go to that Godawful place again…

With a sigh he opened his eyes, looking at the ceiling. Tomorrow was Saturday… Jenny would be off of school, and through sheer luck, he already knew that Jenny was going to be home. He would just have to go and see her tomorrow.

Tomorrow….