Oh my goodness I love you all so much! The support I've received from you guys is simply amazing! **internet hugs** And to answer PFT3000's question about Gilan: you'll see in the end of this chapter ;)
I'm sorry to say that this chapter is mostly a filler, but a very necessary filler. Anyway, read on and tell me what you think!
Will and Horace sat outside the principal's office as the principal spoke with their guardians. There was only one bench, so Will and Horace were forced to share, although they sat as far away from each other as the little bench allowed.
It had been a coincidence that Halt had arrived back from Gallica early that day, or else it would just be Pauline in there speaking with the Principal and Mr. and Mrs. Altman. Will was already bracing himself for the punishment he was bound to receive. He considered quickly running away then and there before remembering that he'd more than likely end up in Juvie.
There was a clear bruise forming around Will's left eye, and he was beginning to have trouble seeing with it. Horace's mouth had stopped bleeding, but he was convinced that a chip had fallen off one of his teeth.
The boys sat, eyeing each other, for at least twenty minutes before their guardians walked out. Mr. Altman was a smaller man, a bit shorter than his son and had no real muscle. It seemed that it was actually Mrs. Altman where Horace had received his athletic side. She was tall, and her tight outfit clearly outlined her muscle. Horace stood, and followed his parents out of the building, casting one last glare to Will.
Will looked up at his foster parents, who didn't quite look mad, but a bit stern. "Come on, Will," Pauline said and they walked out of the school and climbed into the car. The drive home was silent, not a word spoken by anyone. This made Will even more nervous, he was beginning to sweat and he put his hands into his coat pocket to hide the fact that they were shaking.
When they got into the house, Pauline told him to sit on a chair in the living room as her and Halt took the couch. "So, Will," Pauline said. "In your perspective, what happened?"
Will was taken aback by her question. "What?" he asked, confused as to why they hadn't already picked a side and began yelling or hitting.
"I said, in your perspective, what happened?"
Will took a deep breath, getting past his confusion, before beginning to tell them what happened. "I was sitting and talking to a group of people. We were discussing something called Choosing Day; they were explaining what it was and what some of them were going for. Then Horace comes, bragging about how he's going to be in Battleschool, and that I'd never make it because I'm short and skinny. I may have called him fat, which made him mad so he punched me. Then we started fighting."
Halt and Pauline looked at each other, as if silently considering the likeliness of Will's story. Then Pauline nodded and Halt said, "So he punched you in the eye, you punched him in the jaw, then he tackled you?"
"That's right." Will took in a shaky breath. This was it, where they called him a liar and decided what to do with him.
"Well that seems fair."
"What?" Will spat.
"Well, if he punched you first, then that means you acted out of self-defence."
"Although," Pauline spoke up. "I would have preferred it if you had just walked away and told a teacher rather than punch Horace back."
"And what good would that have done?" Halt asked Pauline. "Horace could have just tackled him down or get him again later. At least this way the boy knows what he's up against."
"But Will didn't have to insult him in the first place."
Will watched as Halt and Pauline continued to disagree on the topic of fighting before asking, "So, I'm not in trouble?"
Halt and Pauline turned away from each other and focused back on Will. "Not with us," Halt said. "But your principal insists that you receive some form of punishment so for the rest of this week you will spend an hour after school assisting the debate club."
"What?" Will thought that that was more than a little unfair, even Halt agreed that he only did what he did because he had to.
"The principal wanted to give you two week's detention so consider yourself lucky," Pauline said.
Yes, insanely lucky, Will thought. "Fine," he said.
"Good, now about the Choosing, we really should have mentioned it before. Was it explained to you by your classmates?"
Will nodded. "Yes, although they didn't explain all the crafts available."
"I see, the problem with that is it varies every year because some Craftmasters cannot take on a new apprentice. This year, according to the registration papers, there are five crafts available; Battleschool, Scribeschool, the Diplomatic Services, Weaponry, and, of course, Master Chubb the famous cook is taking on an apprentice. The Choosing isn't until the end of the school year so you have several weeks to decide on a Craft, or if you want to continue on in High School."
Will couldn't help but feel that he was suddenly being pressured, as if Pauline expected him to make her proud. Yeah, fat chance, lady, Will thought. When Will was ten he was placed in a foster home where his foster mother was constantly showing him off to her friends and relatives. As soon as Will began the school year, she quickly saw that his grades were low and began to put more pressure on him, wanting the perfect son. Needless to say, Will didn't stick around there long.
"I'll think about it," Will said.
"Good, now let's get some ice for your eye."
(Page Break)
That night Will snuck out again, the same way as last time.
"He's good," Halt told Pauline as he watched Will leave the yard from his and Pauline's window.
"That's what I thought when I saw him sneak out last night," Pauline said.
"But still, I'm not sure if he's exactly Ranger material. He should know that something's up with George and trying to figure it out. He needs to be curious and observant to be a Ranger, and George isn't exactly the best actor."
"Give him time, he just got here. Try to get to know him, talk with him. You can't determine whether or not he'd make a good Ranger after only being around him for a couple of hours."
Halt nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe if I take him to the archery range, see if he's any good with a bow. It'd give me a chance to assess his skills and talk with him."
"Good idea." Pauline smiled. "And maybe we should invite Gilan over sometime, having someone around that's closer to Will's age might help Will loosen up a bit."
"I'll see if I can get him away from Crowley for the weekend. And Pauline?"
"Yes, Halt?" Pauline furrowed her eyebrows at the sudden change in Halt's voice.
"Even if I don't choose Will to be my apprentice I want him to have a home here. I owe it to his father."
So, I think the ending might've answered some questions and possibly raised some new ones? **walks away humming the Jeopardy theme song**