Chapter 5: Ties

Whispering down into Marco's hair, Jean said,

"I hope you don't mind people staring...that's what we're gonna walk in to." At the door, he pauses, takes a breath, kicks the door open, and walks in.

Walking into the building was probably the most awkward thing that Jean had done all year. Their school didn't do well with people that stood out, and now that he was with Marco, he stood out...He didn't care about their awkward glances, or poorly concealed snickers. He just kept walking down the hall towards the ROTC room.

"I just don't want you to be made fun of...you're too popular in school to be dragged down..."

Marco wiggles in Jean's arm to free one of his arms and lightly knocks on the door before him.

"Knock, knock."

He smiled and looked up at Jean with a quick change in emotion. "Do you think he's in here? What do we do if he's not?"

"It's fine. Changing that statement though. I'm too popular to be made fun of; therefore, people know not to do it lightly." Shrugging, he plainly says,

"If he's not here, I guess we'll go to fourth period..." Grin fading from his face, he continued, "I'll sit next to you okay?"

The door opened and Marco looked down at the incredibly short ROTC instructor. Jean really wasn't kidding about the man being short. Marco figured Levi came up to about his waist.

"Hello, Mr. Levi." He looked up at Jean and smiled.

"Found him."

"What do you want Kirschtein...?"

"Just wondering why you weren't here today teach."

Unamused, Levi opens the door more, body loosening from shock, and stating in a monotone.

"You are really the guy who questions everything a man does..."

Grinning, Jean steps past the man, walking towards a desk, letting Marco sit down. Stretching out his arms, he leans on a wall.

"So...What happened?" Levi shuts the door, and then limps to a desk across from Marco and Jean, sitting. Exasperated, he runs a hand through his hair.

"I hope you know that this school sucks."

Jean, not expecting this at all, barks a laugh.

"Well I thought you hated it here...You don't seem to be amused by anything that happens. Did you leave for some sort of break?"

Someone knocks on the door. Groaning, Levi stands again, mumbling to himself,

"Why are so many people banging on my door...?" He opens the door, only to find the principal standing in front of him.

The hulking man stood at least two heads taller than Levi, towering over said man.

"Irvin...What brings you here...?" Letting the man in, he closes the door again, sure to lock it this time, then walks to the desk he had been sitting in previously."

"Not for you, Levi. I'm here for Mr. Kirschtein who I was hoping to find here. I have a few questions to ask you about a certain rumor that has been floating around the school. I just happened to hear a tidbit from some children walking around. Before I ask you, Mr. Bodt, would you mind leaving the room and heading to your fourth period class?" Irwin turned his head to the boy who shrunk down as Irwin looked at him.

Marco knew that wasn't a suggestion or a question and took his bag from the ground.

"Yes sir...see you later, Jean." There were two adults in the room, so Marco forced himself to walk out of the room the best he could without limping or drawing attention to his hurt ankle.

The door shut quietly behind him and Marco was left alone to walk to his history class.

"Now. If you don't mind telling me, Jean Kirschstein. Do you get along well with your teacher, Mr. Dazz?"