"My mind is buzzing like a dizzy bee.

My stomach's fluttering all around me," Matt's voice, soft and low, reverberated through him as he stepped out into the hallway.

"My fingers tingle and my toes do too,

And I feel like my heart is going to beat right through," Braxton stepped up beside him as Matt continued,

"My chest is bursting at the seams,

My head is pounding like steel drums," Varian and Jim joined the other two, heading through the halls together. Still Matt sang on.

"My throat is stuffy and I can't fill my lungs,

What if I'm left with nothing but broken dreams?"

All throughout the hall doors opened and their classmates joined them on their march towards the dining hall. Their various voices and stories joined the parade.

"It's my first letter since I left home,"

"My first letter since I got a new dad,"

"The first letter since my girlfriend left me alone and sad,"

"It's my first letter since I changed my name,"

"My first letter since I shirked the blame,"

"The first letter since I started feeling all alone."

Matt took a turn again, Braxton's steady hand on his shoulder all that kept him moving forward. They spilled into the cafeteria, joining with the first year students.

"My mind's so loud I can not think,

My stomach's fizzing like a soft drink

My fingers are as numb as my toes,

And I feel like my heart is running off to where the wind blows,

My chest is racing to the extremes,

My head is heated like a traveling balloon,

My throat and lungs pieced by a harpoon,

What if I'm left with nothing but broken dreams?"

As Matt fell silent the entire rest of the second years, along with the first year class, started singing again, their voices swelling through the school.

"Tonight's the night at long last,

We don't think we can even eat,

Hearing from home is going to be so bittersweet

It's our first letter in far too long,

What if something has gone wrong?

It's been forever since we saw our families,

Sometimes it makes us feel alone,

We've got our friends at our sides,

So we know everything will be alright,

But nothing compares to a letter sent from home."

Matt started singing once more, his voice swelling over the background sound of his classmate's vices.

"My mind seems ready to explode," ("The first letter in so many months.")

"My stomach feels flattened by a heavy load," ("Our nerves are doing impossible stunts.")

"My fingers are numb and my toes are too," ("Our first letter in far too long.")

"And I feel like my heart is caught on a corkscrew," ("What if something has gone wrong?")

"My chest is chasing after wandering streams," ("It's been forever since we saw the ones we love.")

"My head is thinking in unknown tongues," ("Sometimes we feel like a single lost glove.")

"My throat has closed up and stifled my lungs," ("With friends by our side, we can fill the void,")

"What if I'm left with nothing but broken dreams?" ("But with these letters from home the longing will be destroyed!")

Braxton pulled Matt close to him. Softly he sang just for his friend,

"Have faith my friend, my closest brother,

Your family actually loves one another

If there's one thing I can promise,

It's that your fears can be dismissed

Just trust in them and remember,

They're your family, family,

There's nothing that matters more.

There's nothing for you to fear,

You're their family, family,

And in your heart they'll always be near."

Matt relaxed slightly and leaned into Braxton's hold. "You're right.

They're my family, family,

And they will always be near."

Braxton squeezed Matt's shoulders one last time. "Let's go get dinner. Jim, Varian, you two want to hold down the table?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah, we'll keep an eye on it. Sy'll probably stop by before he goes to get his meal anyway."

Varian giggled and elbowed Jim. Jim shoved him in response. Braxton rolled his eyes. "C'mon Matt, we'll leave the children to their antics."

"You're just as bad as the both of them," Matt muttered as the two queued up in Matt's usual line.

"Maybe," Braxton held up his tray to receive a serving of roasted squash. Matt opted for the steamed beans instead. As the two boys continued towards the gnocchi Braxton continued his thought, "But I'm not the one that's too afraid to admit when I've got a crush."

Matt laughed. "I don't think you're afraid of anything, Brax."

Braxton shrugged. "There's one thing."

"Yeah?" Matt selected a chilled dish of sorbet from the dessert tray, then gestured for Braxton to make his pick.

Instead Braxton reached over and took his friend's hand. "The only thing that scares me is the thought of losing you, too."