Hephaestion tapped his foot impatiently, willing the class to be over soon. Listening to Leonidas drone on and on about some stupid mathematical problem was driving him insane. For one thing, he didn't really care, and for another, he was on pins and needles waiting to speak with his father. He had to know if he was going to Mieza. If not, he thought he would surely die.

Alexander noticed him fidgeting and smiled. Scribbling a quick note, he slid it over towards Hephaestion with his foot. He cleared his throat to get his attention, and nodded in the direction of the note.

Hephaestion groaned. Not again. They had already been called out for passing notes in class, and he suspected that Leonidas would not be as nice about it as Lysimachus had been. He knew Alexander well enough to know that he would not be left alone until he picked it up. He carefully slid the note into his lap and unrolled it. There was a big heart drawn on the paper with the words "I love Hephaestion" written beneath it. He looked at Alexander who was grinning at him and shook his head. He could not resist that grin. He drew another heart and wrote "I love Alexander" under it, then slid the note back over.

Alexander noted that Cassander was watching them like a hawk, and decided to mess with him. He caught Hephaestion's eye and nodded towards Cassander, then eyed the note. He cocked an eyebrow in a silent question. So in tune were they that Hephaestion immediately figured out what he was going to do.

Alexander wrote "I love you MORE!"

Hephaestion wrote back "No, I love YOU more!"

Back and forth went the note.

"I love your kisses" Alexander wrote, and drew a pair of lips on the paper.

That made Hephaestion laugh. "I love your kisses MORE" he wrote, and added his own pair of lips. So far their note passing had not been noticed.

"I think you are cute, Hephaestion!"

"And I think YOU are cute, Alexander!"

"But I still love you MORE!" This time Alexander kicked the note so that it rolled down by Cassander's foot.

Cassander grabbed the note with an evil grin, pleased with his prize and not realizing he had been set up.

Alexander and Hephaestion watched him as he read the note. Cassander's grin faded to a slight frown, then to a disgusted sneer. He looked up at his tormentors and made a motion like he was going to stick his finger down his throat.

Leonidas glared at Cassander. "Cassander! Pay attention!"

As soon as Leonidas turned his back, Cassander glared at the two boys. "I hate you" he mouthed.

Alexander grinned at him, and Hephaestion snickered.

When the incredibly boring class was finally over, Cassander stomped off with a scowl on his face. Alexander and Hephaestion burst out laughing as he walked past them.

"Alexander, that was just mean!"

"Then why are you laughing, Phai?"

Hephaestion giggled. "I said it was mean, I didn't say it wasn't funny!"

Alexander gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Go and talk to your father, Phai. I am sure everything is fine."

"Yes, I will do that now. I shall see you at supper." He walked quickly towards his father's quarters.

Alexander smiled. He had already asked his father about it and knew all was well, but he wanted Hephaestion to talk to his own father anyway. They would have much to talk about later.

"Hephaestion!"

Hephaestion hugged his father. "Father! I am glad to see you!"

"How has your day been, son? Did you do anything interesting?"

Hephaestion laughed. "You mean besides torture Cassander?"

Amyntor shook his head. "Shame on you, Hephaestion. I have no doubt that he probably deserved it, though. That boy is a pain in the ass!"

Hephaestion giggled at that comment. "Father…I do need to speak with you about something." He wrung his hands nervously.

"What is it, my son? Tell me." He noticed that his son looked quite distressed.

Hephaestion spoke softly. "Father, Alexander told me he is going to Mieza in the fall…" he paused.

"And…?"

He sighed. "And I need to know, father, am I going as well? Alexander is my best friend and he needs me. And I need him. I do not want to be without him. He does not want to go without me…."

Amyntor held up his hand to silence his son, smiling at him. "Relax, Hephaestion. Take a breath!" He patted him on the shoulder. "Actually, Hephaestion, I have already had a talk with the King about you."

Hephaestion looked at him anxiously.

"Philip specifically asked for you to accompany Alexander to Mieza. He told me that he thinks Alexander needs you. Alexander can be quite a handful. He can be impulsive and quick-tempered, as you know. You are good for him. You calm him, and he listens to you. The King has ordered for you to share a room with Alexander. So, you can relax, my son. You will not lose your Alexander. I think you need him as much as he needs you. I am happy that you have such a friend."

Hephaestion grinned and hugged his father tightly. "Thank you, Father! You have made me very happy!"

Amyntor laughed and ruffled Hephaestion's long hair. "Go to supper, Hephaestion. I am sure Alexander is waiting for you!"

Hephaestion ran off with the biggest grin on his face that his father had ever seen. "That boy has it bad!" he thought.