"Wing, where's Otto and Laura?" He had been looking around restlessly all day, so Shelby assumed those were who he was searching for now.

He shook his head, giving up. "I do not know."

"You don' think they're off making out somewhere, do you?" she asked, poking fun. She immediately burst out laughing at the prospect. Wing, however, knit his eyebrows, frowning. Shelby knew the idea had worried him, and promptly shut her mouth about it. "Sorry."

He only nodded.

By second class, Shelby really was worried. Why had they not shown up by now?

They did at lunch.

"Hey, guys," Otto said and slumped sleepily into the seat beside Wing, who was across the table from Shelby. Laura did the same, sliding ungracefully into the seat next to her.

"Where have you guys been?" Shelby practically yelled. "You've had me worried sick, and if you don't have a good explanation for almost giving me a heart attack, Imma pound you into the wall after lunch," Shelby huffed and re-tied her hair back, for it had fallen out from her ponytail while she had been chastising them. Wing gave her the ghost of a knowing smile- he remembered the time earlier when she was laughing about their disappearance. The smile was so subtle you could hardly see it.

"We were in the Library past curfew," Otto yawned, and the guard guy shot us with sleepers." At the mention of anything to do with sleep, Laura yawned, and because yawns are contagious, Otto did again. Once again Shelby noted how tired they were. Shadows lay under both of their eyes.

"You certainly could use some sleep," Wing recommended, echoing her thoughts.

"Maybe...we...will," Otto tried to say, but was attacked by yawns. Laura put her head down on her folded arms that were laid on the table, and Otto steadily followed suit. Within minutes, they were asleep, and Shelby and Wing stared at each other, unknowing of what to do.

The bell went for students to get to their next classes, and Wing and Shelby stood up.

"Laura, Otto, wake up." Shelby shook Laura, and Wing pulled Otto to his feet. They both groaned.

"But, I'm tired!" Laura complained, sleepily nonetheless. Wing was helping Otto to stand straight, and when he did, Otto's head slumped to the side, onto Wing's shoulder, and he began snoring again. Shelby laughed, then fell silent again. Laura was standing up, staggering forwards slightly. Shelby took her hand and led her to their next class. Wing was laughing at Otto and Shelby joined in. Otto looked around sleepily, trying to figure out the joke, and Laura struggled to figure out what was going on.

Shelby, Laura, Wing and Otto arrived to class 5 seconds before the doors slid closed. They slid into their seats, and Otto and Laura immediately slumped onto their arms. Wing and Shelby exchanged a worried glance. Professor Pike walked in.

"Now, class, today we-" He faltered as he looked at Otto and Laura. He cleared his throat.

"I wonder, Mr. Fanchu and Miss Trinity, if you would be so kind as to wake your friends up." They did as they were told. Laura and Otto looked around, disoriented.

"Nice of you to join us, Miss Brand, Mr. Malpense."

"Sorry sir." They chanted. Shelby raised a hand.

"Professor, can you please excuse them from class? They were in the hospital wing until lunch, and they're not feeling well." Professor Pike raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" Shelby nodded. "And what were they in the hospital wing for?" Shelby had to think quickly.

"They had a stomach bug." She spoke without faltering, her voice not wavering, her face not cracking. Professor Pike nodded.

"Alright then. Miss Brand, Mr. Malpense, you are excused for the rest of the day, but I expect you to be back tomorrow." They smiled sleepily, and walked back to their dorm block. When they arrived, Laura sat down on one of the couches, closed her eyes, and curled into a ball. She was soon asleep. Otto on the other hand was standing, watching her. She fell asleep, and Otto sat on the floor under her, watching a small smile creep across her face as she dreamed. Otto smiled, and Laura's hand fell off the couch, hanging limply down. Otto sighed, and laid his head against her hand, his back against the couch.

Laura woke with a start. She heard voices, and she pulled her hand up to rub her eyes, but when she moved it, she felt hair. She looked down, and smiled when she saw Otto, fast asleep, his head against her hand. She left her hand, and laid back down, closing her eyes. She was still tired, and she knew that Otto was too, so there was no point disturbing him. She closed her eyes, and began to drift off when she heard Shelby, Wing and the rest of the Alpha stream walk in.

Shelby worriedly paced her dorm room.

"You're going to make me sick if you carry on with that," Complained Laura, who had been watching her. "Either that or pace a groove in the floor."

"Then don't watch," snapped Shelby. She was way too apprehensive to talk to anyone civilly, even her best friend. Wing was leaving with Raven to look for Otto in a matter of mere hours...

Laura walked over and put a hand on Shelby's shoulder, stopping her from continuing her pacing.

"Look, Shel, I'm worried too," she said. To Shelby's scowl, she continued, "Do you not think I care about what happens to our friends? Otto's been gone for weeks now, and we don't even know where he is. Don't you think that's why I cry at night? Aye, I can't believe I'm saying this, but get a grip, Shelby. At least you still have Wing."

Ordinarily Shelby would have been really angry with Laura for saying these things, but she knew where her friend was coming from. The girl had been crying at night. Shelby had assumed that Laura thought she had been asleep. And Laura was right- She did still have Wing. She still knew where he was. While things could still go horribly wrong, it was still better than Otto's situation and how it was affecting Laura.

"So," Shelby said casually to Wing later that day, "You all packed?"

"Yes," answered Wing.

"Didn't forget anything?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Not that I know of."

"Come here," she sighed, leading him to a deserted hallway.

"Wing- I'm actually really worried."

"Don't be." His face was stone and expressionless, but his tone spoke volumes.

"Be careful, big guy, okay?" She took his hand and squeezed it.

"I will complete the mission with utmost care," he said, "Just because you asked me too." Shelby hoped he wasn't mocking her. She pushed him playfully. "I had to. We all know what a daring rebel you are." She smirked and rolled her eyes. He nudged her back. It was only a nudge for him, but it nearly took the breath out of Shelby. She staggered to keep from falling.

"Are you okay?"

"Yep, fine," she said. "I'm going to miss you," she sighed, then realizing what she was saying, added smugly, "Whether you want me to or not."

He shrugged. "I wouldn't mind." Shelby could've sworn she saw him smile to himself as he walked away.

The next few months went past in a blur. No Wing, no Otto, nothing to hold either Laura or Shelby's interest. The pair hardly talked, to each other or anyone else. There was nothing to talk about. One day though, just when Laura was giving up hope of Otto ever being found, she got a call on her blackbox. Doctor Nero wanted to see her in his office. She left her class ignoring all the strange looks from her classmates, ignoring the whispered question from Shelby. She just left. She mindlessly walked to Doctor Nero's office, not really thinking of what she had been called up for. She soon arrived, and knocked on the door. It slid open, and Laura stepped inside. Doctor Nero was sitting at his desk, looking tired. In the chair that had it's back to the door, Laura swore she saw a familiar tuft of white hair, but she stopped herself from thinking that, she knew there would be a dream, a nightmare that night if she didn't stop herself. She sighed and walked into the office, sitting in the vacant seat opposite the school's headmaster.
"Miss Brand, I hope you are well." Laura shrugged.
"I called you here because I have news." Laura looked up. "Good news." She allowed a glimmer of hope into her mind. Maybe they had found Otto and were bringing him back.
"Otto," Laura felt her heart jump, "has been recovered. Raven has succeeded in her mission, and she will be returning with Otto soon." Laura was now grinning. She briefly thought about what she was to tell Shelby. Shelby. Wing. Where was Wing?
"Excuse me Doctor Nero, but what about Wing?" Nero frowned and looked to his desk.
"That is unimportant for now. Once Raven has returned with Otto, she will leave to search for Wing." Laura's heart dropped. Wing was one of her best friends, and she knew that Shelby would be broken-hearted to know that Wing was gone. Laura looked to her feet.
"Is that all?" Nero nodded. "Thank you." She stood up and left the room, the door sliding closed behind her. Laura began walking aimlessly. She wandered through the hallways, not really knowing where she was going. She ended up in her room, sitting on her bed, her head in her hands. She slowly began sobbing. All the fears and worries she had held in about Otto came out at once, and all Laura could do was curl up in a ball and wait for it to pass. The door slid open and closed at one point, but Laura made no effort to move. Someone came and sat down on her bed, her arms around Laura, gently rubbing her back and shoulders in a soothing motion. Laura's sobbing began to subside, and she spoke to Shelby.
"They found Otto." Shelby smiled.
"That's fantastic, Laura! Wing and Otto will be back soon and everything will be back to normal!" Laura shook her head.
"Wing." Shelby froze. "He's missing." Shelby's arms dropped from around Laura and she stepped back. She walked sullenly over to her bed and sat down. Neither girl moved for a long time. Laura only moved when she was getting tired. She rolled over and pulled her sheets over her before turning out her lamp and closing her eyes. She knew that she was going to have a nightmare, but she didn't care. Otto was safe. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she thought she heard someone sobbing. She listened again, but to no avail. She sighed, and fell asleep. On the other side of the room, Shelby pulled her head back from under the pillow and sighed. That had been close. Shelby listened to Laura's steady breathing, unable to fall asleep. She continued on this pattern of not being able to sleep for a long time, until she finally figured how to escape her room after curfew.