"One more day to go, Alex." Ric teased and I rolled my eyes at him, setting down the book I'd been studying for the last half an hour before I crossed my arms. "Sorry you don't need reminding."
"Yes I know how long until the midterms, Ric. I'm already sweating as it is." I replied, picking up the book again but I couldn't focus and with a groan I set it down on the bedside. Once Ric saw the way I kept wringing my hands he shook his head and I glanced up once I heard the sound of a chair squeaking.
Finding him sitting in front of me I tilted my head, confused until he reached down and when he lightly squeezed my hands he fixed me with a tiny smile. "You have everything you need right here." Ric told me, lightly poking my forehead with his fingertip. "Pincus said you did great and so do I. You just need more confidence in yourself."
After a slight hesitation I managed a smile and Ric grinned back at me, lightly patting my hands. "I guess you're right. It's just been a tough couple of weeks, between the attacks from that wilderwolf pack and my midterms I think I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed."
"Don't worry about those wilderwolves, Alex. Let me and the Night Patrol handle it." Ric answered, kissing my check when he leaned in. "Besides just think next year we'll be running with the pack together."
"That's if I pass, Ric." I replied, getting a blank stare until I finally cleared my throat. "I know, I know. Be positive right?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself. Now how do you feel about going for a walk to the mess hall?" Ric answered, looking down with a slight frown when I pulled back the blanket. I wasn't sure why he looked so worried until I saw his eyes focused on the bandage poking out of my shorts and I smiled at him, pushing myself to my feet.
"Don't look so worried, Ric. See? I can stand on my own two….feet!" I yelped, falling forward but Ric leapt to his feet catching me in his arms. With one arm draped around his shoulder and the other around his waist I panted and Ric sighed slowly shaking his head at me. "I was so close too."
"Easy there, Alex. You still need to rest it. Besides I can always carry you in my arms again." Ric suggested, trying very hard not to laugh when my cheeks turned bright red. "You're really cute when you're blushing."
"Not after last time, Ric. The looks I got being carried bridal-style in your arms." I pointed out with a cough, holding onto my boyfriend before I fixed him with two narrowed eyebrows. "I swear everyone at the academy's still making fun of me even now."
"It was one time and besides I didn't hear you complaining when I saved you." Ric commented, one arm wrapped around my shoulders as I limped to the mess hall, his other hand pressed to my back. "That could have been a nasty fall down near the front gate."
"Okay I do appreciate you catching me when you did. Could have broken my nose." I agreed, settling myself into a chair once we entered the mess hall. "Guess we're the first ones here."
"Probably only for about five minutes if I know those cubs." Ric said, setting down beside me once he finished making us breakfast. His own spoon was halfway to his mouth when we heard voices and I grinned, lightly nudging Ric who rolled his eyes.
"Almost had the timing down perfect this time, Ric." I commented, digging into my cereal as my rest of my friends entered the room.
"See? Told you I heard voices." Ivan said to Freddy who shrugged and as they busied themselves making their own cereal I looked over to see Ric looking blankly at the open doorway. Once I lightly nudged his shoulder with mine he glanced at me.
"Are you okay, Ric? You've been doing that a lot lately." I asked but Ric, taking a deep breath just shook his head giving me a smile that I could tell was forced before he started to eat. "Alright then."
As I picked at my own cereal, mostly eating as a way to distract myself at how strangely my boyfriend had been acting lately I didn't notice Aggie pointing to Ric, the former standing next to Batty at that moment.
"He's doing that blank stare thing again." Aggie commented to Batty who nodded, both looking directly at me when I cleared my throat. "Sorry we were just talking about the midterms."
Before I had a chance to respond Ric pushed himself to his feet, holding out a hand once he noticed that my bowl was empty. "Here, let me take that." Ric offered and I wordlessly handed it to him, watching on as he wandered over to the sink carrying his own bowl in his other hand. Once he returned he leaned over slightly, leaving me blushing and a few of my friends, namely Ivan and Kitty sniggering when Ric lightly kissed my cheek.
"Sorry just remembered I have to return that book I borrowed for you back to Pincus. I'll be back before your class starts." Ric announced leaving via the open door before I could even think of a response.
Now that he was gone I sank down in my seat, feeling dejected until I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to find Freddy standing there along with Aggie and Batty who fixed me with slightly faint smiles. "I think you two have something to say to Alex." Freddy said and after a moment or two they both stepped forward.
"Sorry we know you're still worried about Ric and we shouldn't have brought it up. Not while you're stressed about the midterms." Aggie apologized and I just sighed, rubbing at my cheek where Ric had kissed me.
"It's okay. I'm more worried about Ric right now anyway. He's been acting distant and he keeps getting this blank look on his face whenever I'm close." I replied, thinking about the last time I caught him doing just that during Wolf Lore which was a first for him. "I hope he's not still worried about those wilderwolves."
"You're still having trouble with runes aren't you? I can help if you want." Batty suggested and I nodded, grateful to have something else to focus my energy on. True to his word Ric returned before our first class that day which happened to be phys-ed with Miss Afeaki.
Once Ric had me settled onto the bench I blinked at him when he walked over to Miss Afeaki, my boyfriend pointing to me and when I saw our teacher frowning before Ric pointed to my leg I grimaced. "I suppose those stitches would need to be redone if I make Miss Wolff go through the Eliminator. Alright, Mr Rawls she can sit this class out." Afeaki replied and when Ric grinned, jogging over to me I buried my face in my hands.
"Ric, I'm not helpless you know. I can do that obstacle course no sweat." I argued as Ric ran a hand through his hair. "You don't think I can do it."
"Alex, Miss Afeaki's right. If you put too much pressure on your leg you could set yourself back weeks of healing." Ric replied, resting a hand on my shoulder when I found the nearby bushes much more interesting then him. "I know how tough you are but you need to make sure you don't tear your stitches. Just rest okay?"
"I understand but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it." I grumbled and Ric chuckled softly once I focused my attention back on him. As I watched on everyone else took their turn on the obstacle course that Afeaki had set up, my gaze briefly on the bandage poking out from under my shorts. At my side Ric felt me lean on his shoulder, my eyes looking at my hands as they rested in my lap.
Despite my argument that I needed to strengthen my leg Ric helped me throughout the day, bringing me to every class and as Chemistry drew to a close I rubbed at my eyes. "You know I don't need you to carry me to every single class, Ric. I can manage on my own." I muttered once I was sitting on the couch in the rec room.
"Alex, you're still walking with a limp. Besides I promised Pincus I'd look after you." Ric explained, looking on with a lopsided grin once I leaned on his shoulder. "Look I know it's annoying so how about this? I promise that as soon as you're healed we can go for a run. Just the two of us."
"That's sounds great, Ric but with those wilderwolves on the loose we can't." I replied and Ric snorted at me, reaching around before he lightly patted my shoulder. "You forgot that didn't you?"
"No I didn't, Alex. Well maybe I did...a little." Ric confessed and I grinned at him, lightly nudging his ribs. "Careful there I'm still recovering too."
"Of course I remember, Ric. You stood up to a wilderwolf alpha and smashed out a window in the infirmary." I answered and he grinned at me, lightly kissing my cheek before I rested my head under his chin. "How is your hand anyway?"
"I can take the stitches out in another day. You on the other hand need to wait at least three more days." Ric told me, seeing my eyebrows raised in surprise. "Pincus' words not mine."
"Alright I'll take it easy. Can't exactly run on all fours with only three legs holding me up." I complained and he smiled, content to sit beside me in the quiet that followed. At least until the rest of our friends showed up anyway.