Sorry I haven't updated in so long but my life has just been so crazy the last few months that I've barely had a moment to myself. The good news is that it should quieten down over the next few weeks. Thanks for all your reviews and support, it means a lot.
Talks with Myles
Jon met with Raoul and Gary the next again day and as soon as they saw him the first thing that came out of their mouths was what had he found out about Alanna.
"Well their father is Professor Alan Trebond. He travels around the world, never staying in one place for more than 6 months. It explains why she said that they wouldn't be here for very long. The website I found also said that Alanna's mother died in a car accident." Jon looked across at the other two to gauge their reactions. Not surprisingly he found two faces with the same expressions of pity on them and he knew them well enough to know that they were thinking the same thing. The three felt sorry for the feisty girl and their brother but they knew something else was up with her. And Gary had no trouble saying aloud what they were all thinking.
"Ok so her mum died and her and her brother move around a lot. It still doesn't explain why she was such a b to you. I mean she has only been here one day. It doesn't give her the right to treat people the way she treated you yesterday."
"I am going to go ask Myles what he thinks before class. He knows a lot about this kind of stuff. He may be able to help." The three boys halted their conversation when they heard the bell ring. "C'mon let's go." With that, they made their way inside shouting a quick goodbye to one another as they went their separate ways.
"Excuse me Myles, but are you busy?" asked Jon as he hesitantly knocked on the door of Myles's classroom.
"It's nothing that can't be dealt with later. What can I do for you today Jon? Class isn't until this afternoon." Replied Myles with a welcoming smile that relaxed Jon's nerves a bit. For as much as he wanted to know more about Alanna, he couldn't help shake the feeling that he was looking into this too much. He had only known the girl for a day; what right did he have to go behind her back and research her and her family. Deep down he knew he should mind his own business but curiosity overwhelmed the urge to turn and walk away.
"I was just wondering what you knew of the name Trebond." Jon's eyes were glued to a spot on the floor so he missed the strange look that Myles was currently giving him.
"Trebond? Does this have anything to do with the Trebond twins who just arrived here?" Jon continued to look at the floor but he nodded in answer to Myles question.
"Well, let me think. Thom and Alanna Trebond. Children of Professor Alan and Hannah Trebond. Their estates are up near the Northern border of Tortall. The Professor has written multiple books on his research. His research took the family all over the world. He was known for always having his nose in his books. The poor man was devastated when his wife died." Myles let out a low sigh as he shook his head.
"You know about that." Said Jon now looking at Myles.
"Of course I do, the crash was all over the news. God only knows what it must have been like for that girl."
"Who?"
"Alanna. She was in the crash as well. Obviously your research never told you that part." Myles nodded his head in the direction to the paper in Jon's hands. Jon noticed that in that one moment, Myles looked older than he ever had before. "If my memory serves me right, she was unconscious for 2 weeks and it was a further 2 weeks before the doctors said she could go home. And if that wasn't enough, a reporter looking for a follow up story on the 'grieving' family said that he witnessed an argument where the professor blamed Alanna for the death of her mother." He looked back at Jon. To say that shock was shown on his face would be an understatement. "I'm sorry Jon but do you mind me asking what this is all about?"
"Oh it's just, yesterday at lunch. I went up to Alanna and her brother to introduce myself and welcome them to the school but she didn't even let me get a word in. The things she said and the way she spoke, it was as if she was waiting to go to battle or something. She talked as if she hated me but she doesn't even know me. I guess I was just trying to find out why." Jon noticed that the corners of Myles's mouth twitched as if holding in a smile.
"Alanna is in your athletics class isn't she?"
"Yeah." Jon nodded not sure where the conversation was headed.
"The first girl in 13 years?" again Jon nodded. "And I imagine that some of the guys aren't too happy about it."
"Most of them are really just as curious as me to be honest. They don't care that's she's a girl. She is an amazing athlete. But there are some. Mainly Ralon Malven and his cronies. They think she should just go back to shopping and being a proper girl."
"Well did it ever occur to you that this is what she has to face every time she goes to a new school. Guys like Ralon calling her useless and pathetic and having to prove herself over and over again and then to finally have them accept that she is a great athlete only to move and have to go through it all again. Having moved so many times, having to say goodbye to friends 26 times, not to mention losing her mother in an accident that her own father blames her for, my guess is that she has simply closed of her heart so that it isn't hurt again. She acts like she hates you because it's easier than showing her feelings. To her you are a jock. One of many who see her as nothing but a helpless, harmless girl." Myles let Jon mull over what he had said while he occupied himself with stacking papers on his desk.
The silence that had fallen after Myles speech was broken by a knock on the door. Both teacher and pupil turned to find Alanna standing at the door.
"Sorry to interrupt," Alanna started, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two people in front of her. Her gaze finally settled on Myles. "I actually had a question about the homework but I can come back if you are busy." She turned to leave but Jon's voice stopped her.
"No. It's okay; I think we're done here." He looked to Myles who nodded his head in confirmation and then turned back to the petite girl in front of him. "You can stay and ask your question. I'll see you later Myles. Thanks for the help."
"Don't mention it." He said to Jon's back. "Now," he said turning to face Alanna. "You had a question for me?"