I really had a lot of trouble on this chapter. I was stuck on it for aaaaages. I'm so sorry ;_;
It's another Hex p.o.v one then it's back to Stealth for the next one. Once again, please excuse any errors and enjoy.

Last night was probably the best night of my life, I have to admit. After busting us, Rider hid us away in a far corner of the courtyard behind some vegetation and continued his patrol. Stealth spent the majority of the time snickering at the massive blush across my face while we waited for him to return. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to punch her. I knew there was a smug grin hidden behind that mask, there usually is.

When he returned, he directed us to hide for a little while longer, just to be sure we wouldn't be caught. He also hid himself away as his patrol was over and he was supposed to be in his quarters preparing for sleep. He instead sat himself between us, admitting he had missed all the shenanigans we all used to get up to before school life became so full on. I guess that's to be expected as you near the end of your education

When the coast was clear, we all emerged from the bushes, laughing at the many faces Stealth was pulling behind her mask. All we could see were her eyes of course, but just from those we could guess the face. Everytime Rider looked away, she would turn to me and bat her eyelashes in an attempt at making a 'love sick' face. She would sigh just loud enough for me to hear it and pose as if she were off in her own world.

I knew she was teasing, and I knew she was baiting me for a reaction greater than me simply rolling my eyes, so everytime he looked away, she would exaggerate her act further, getting slightly louder every time.

When he finally turned to face us, his eyebrow cocked in a "what the hell" way, I finally lost my cool and aimed a skull at my best friend, fully intending to whack her one on her smug face. Maybe it would shut her up.

Needless to say it was what she had been waiting for and easy dodged the projectile, bounding away obnoxiously while snickering.

While I was furious at her teasing, I was also relieved to have my old friend back. I could tell from the smirk Rider wore that he too was pleased to finally see the old Stealth make a return.

It wasn't to last. It never does.

We walked the grounds several times, well, I floated along and Stealth bounded on ahead barely visible as she practiced moving in the dark as soundlessly as possible. Rider was the only one of us doing any actual walking funnily enough.
He and I conversed while watching our hyper friend leap here and there. It was perfect.

By the time we decided to head back, Rider was dragging his feet, exhausted from patrol. Stealth had resigned to walking by my side, easily within attack range but I kept my fists to myself, not wanting to spoil the peace that had fallen over us. Things were as they were supposed to be.

Rider walked us back to our dorm (being a gentleman and all), insisting that he wanted just a little extra time with us. We said our farewells and he placed a gentle kiss on Stealth's forehead before she turned and retreated to her room, leaving us alone.
The silence was more than awkward as I struggled to find something to say to him. I didn't understand why it was hard, we had never had trouble being alone like this before. The look on his face told me that he had something on his mind. I decided to leave him to his thoughts, muttering a pathetic "good night" with every intention of turning around and closing the door in his face.

He looked up from his thoughts at my words, his eyes hollow and unreadable. He was fidgeting with his hands and he opened his mouth as if to say something, before deciding against it and closing it again.

I made to turn around when I felt a cool hand on my arm. It sent jolts through my body.

"Wait!" He whispered urgently. "I...urh...goodnight Hex."

His lips touched my cheek as the words slipped from his mouth. He pulled away after only a second, giving me a shy grin before walking off in a hurry.
I watched him leave before closing and locking the dorm door and smiling to myself. The snickering coming from Stealth's room alerted me that she had been watching. Angrily I flipped her the bird and floated off to my room in a huff.
Damn life elements.

The next morning was much like every other morning. Stealth and Chill were the first to get out of bed with Sprocket following soon after. Stealth rose earliest out of us all out of habit from training with her master. It also gave her a little time to eat something without others around. She's weirdly paranoid about others watching her eat.
Chill simply has trouble sleeping in and will often sit in bed for a while reading, not that we're supposed to know that. It's one of her worst kept secrets.
It goes without saying that Sprocket rises earlier than necessary so she can have a little extra time to tinker around with her creations.
I was the last out as usual, with the night before making everything extra tedious, but it was so worth it. I wonder if big mouth has said anything to the others just to get a reaction from me.
I entered the small kitchen we shared, expecting the worst.

What I got was not what I had expected. Obviously Stealth had said nothing as the other two hadn't bombarded me with questions, although her eyes kept darting back to me and I just knew that smirk was underneath her mask. Chill raised her eyebrow at us once after observing me throwing many small objects (anything I could get my hands on really) at my best friend before going back to minding her own business. Sprocket was far too busy reading an old engineer's diary she had borrowed from the library to take much notice of us.

Eventually we dragged ourselves from the kitchen and got dressed, making our way to class, all of us having the same class first up. Basic Math.

"Ew," Chill groaned, scanning her timetable.

It was not a favourite of our group, only Sprocket seemed to enjoy it. Hell, she had even taken up advanced math as one of her electives for next year. I shudder at the thought! It sounds quite icky really.

I took my usual seat beside Stealth and got my work book and text book out, noticing that she had already done so.
Chill took the seat next to Stealth in the new row and Sprocket beside her.
We're sitting up towards the back of the classroom. Stealth prefers it back here where she's less likely to be caught dosing off. It irks Sprocket to no end and amuses Chill greatly. I really couldn't care less where we sit or Stealth's nap time roster, as long as I'm not forced to sit next to someone I hate, I can deal.

Hate's a strong word, and I don't really hate anyone here. I just dislike them strongly. I find them mostly arrogant and somewhat nosy. They want to know what's going on with everyone else instead of focusing on what's important. Once I wouldn't have minded, back when I thought the entire universe would bow to every wish, but now I wanted my secrets and my business to stay that way.
"Hex," Stealth whispered to me halfway through class. "Hex, I feel sick."
There was an urgency to her voice, something I had never heard from her before. It honestly scared me.
I looked her over and had to restrain myself from hugging her tightly. She had gone at least five shades paler than usual and she was shivering. She almost looked undead.

I wasted not a second more and pulled her to her feet. Our teacher glared at me and I lost my cool, daring her to stop us.
"Just where do you think both of you are going in the middle of MY class?"
"Take a look at her! She's clearly not well. I'm taking her to the infirmary. Stop us if you want, but just be warned, I'll not be cleaning up any vomit."

That seemed to have done the trick. Miss stick in the mud's face went blank at the thought of having to clean up any sort of mess. She was new here and I hadn't even bothered to catch her name. She was a mabu, a little taller than your average female. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her fur was obviously keeping rediculously clean.

"I'm not going to vomit you know," Stealth grumbled as we made our way through the hallways. She still looked horrible, but atleast some of her colour had returned. I slowed my pace and released her arm, having only just realized I was basically dragging her along.
"Nice," she uttered, examining the hand mark on her arm. "That's going to be a fun one to explain."
"Shut it. Let's just get you to the nurse."
"Are you that worried? Aww, so sweet."
"Of course I'm worried. I've never seen you like this before! And your voice. I've never heard you so desperate."
"I wasn't desperate," huffed a now disgruntled Stealth, still holding her arm as she shuffled through the hallway, the infirm door looming before us.
"Want me to come in with you?"
I grinned. I was expecting a no, an explanation that she wasn't five and that she didn't need anyone to hold her hand. It was how a healthy Stealth Elf would have responded. Indeed of that, however, I got a moment of hesitation before a meekly whispered "yes" swept from behind her mask.

Now I was really worried.

"I can't find anything wrong with you, other than you look like you've been dragged through the pits. Your temperature is a tad high and you're still rather pale but a quick scan of your blood and vitals says you're healthy. Are you sure it isn't stress related?"
"It could be," Stealth admitted. "I've had a difficult time lately."
"I've heard," the nurse cut in. "My nurse in training tells me most of the things going on concerning the student population."

I peaked around a corner while Stealth was conversing with the nurse, my eyes narrowing as they landed on Whirlwind. She gave me a shy little smile and wave before trying to appear busy with a stuck of papers.

"Whirlwind," the nurse bellowed, startling the hybrid into scattering the rather pile of papers everywhere. "Never mind that now, come here and comfort miss Stealth Elf while I go the Principal. She obviously needs a break."
The three of us fell into an awkward silence as we listened to the nurse waddle into her office, looking for something, and then waddling back out and off to see the Principal.

"So," Whirlwind began, looking to her claws. "You were really awesome in that game of dodge ball. I never got a chance to congratulate you, both of you. I wish I could have been on your team. Not because you guys won or anything, because you're a heck of a lot nicer than Cynder."
"I thought you two were friends," I raised my eyebrow, folding my arms over my chest. Mistrust could be a Skylander's greatest weapon, or his/her greatest enemy. I was choosing to wield it in this situation.
"Ahh, well...you see. How do I put this without sounding harsh. Cynder's a bit of a ...meanie. She used to be nice when she first came here, but now she's just plain mean and bossy."
"So leave," I cut in rather bluntly. "Find a new group."
"It's not that simple. If I were to leave, she'd make my life a living hell. Right now it's better to be with her than against her. Self preservation really."

The hybrid looked to her claws again in shame. I got the distinct feeling she hated herself for staying with Cynder. The word 'coward' instantly came to mind.

"Smart," Stealth mused, giving Whirlwind a small pat on the back. She was smiling under that mask once again. At least I could relax a little now and so could she.

"Pack your things," the nurse interrupted rather rudely. "The Principal wants to see you right now, and then you're being sent home."

The next chapter will be going back to Stealth's p.o.v. It was also written while i was waiting for a doctors appointment (just a little fun fact I thought I'd share). It's pretty much done but there are things I'm unhappy with. Anyway. Thank you for staying with me thus far and I'd love to hear from you all.