Jim knew where Sy was.
It was so stupid he didn't think of it earlier. Sy only ever ate in two places. At table 8B, or with his family.
Sy was having dinner with the Admiral and the rest of his family.
So now, all Jim had to do was figure out where the admiral ate dinner. It wasn't likely that he ate in his office. There wasn't much room for a full meal, and even the admiral needed a little separation of work and family. The man might live and breathe military, but surely he had some work life balance? Besides, he wouldn't risk someone getting food or spilling a drink on important papers.
Maybe the staff cafeteria? Students weren't technically banned from entering it, but there weren't too many people who knew where it was. Jim, however, was nothing if not every teacher's favorite student.
Alright, fine. By that standard he was nothing. However, that did not mean he couldn't still get this figured out.
Dinner abandoned, Jim headed for the classrooms. Surely one of the teachers that liked him was still hanging about? Maybe Mrs Parr would still be in her classroom. He knew he wasn't her favorite student by any means, but she seemed fond enough of him that he just might be able to get away with it.
All he needed to do was figure out a plan. A reason to get into the teacher's cantina. Perhaps he could go with a partial truth? Say he needed to deliver a message to the admiral? But then she might ask who the message was from, or why he was the one delivering it. But if he told a lie, he might forget the details of it. And he couldn't think of a lie at the very moment anyway.
Maybe she wouldn't ask any questions? That was always a possibility. Not a strong one, but technically nonzero.
He could also just try and subtly follow someone to the instructor's cafeteria. Lots of people didn't notice when they were being followed, especially in safe environments. It would be good practice for him, as well. More awkward if he got caught, but potentially easier.
He was out of time to decide. He was there.
To his luck, so was Mrs Parr. She seemed to be just finishing up whatever it was she'd been working on, which was possibly the best timing Jim could ask for. As she stood up from the desk, her arm stretched halfway across the room to place a book back on her shelves.
Her arm stretched halfway across the room?
Jim stood, slack jawed, watching as she did it twice more. Effortlessly she extended her limb to inhuman lengths to speed up her cleaning process. How had he not known she could do that?
"Okay, that is cool."
Mrs Parr's head shot up, her arm snapping back to a normal length. "Jim! I didn't hear you approach."
"I didn't know you had super stretchy arms!" Jim gushed, his mission momentarily forgotten. "That is so cool! What else can you do?"
"I don't do circus tricks," Mrs Parr drawled. "Did you want something, Hawkins?"
"Can Mr Parr also stretch his arms like that?"
"That is enough, Hawkins."
Jim quickly shut his mouth. He needed to get his brain under control. If she was upset with him, she wasn't going to help him. "Yes ma'am. Sorry."
Mrs Parr sighed, but waved him off all the same. "I understand. People often react like that when they see a super in action. What was it you wanted?" Her warm southern accent helped soften the forgiveness and understanding in her tone. It made Jim feel a little like a child, but over all he didn't mind.
"I need to know where the staff cafeteria is." Jim paused only a fraction of a second before remembering his manners. "Please."
Mrs Parr raised an eyebrow. "And why might you need that information?"
Unable to think of a lie, Jim stuck with the truth. "I'm pretty sure Sy is eating there with his family, ma'am, and I need to talk to him. I can't get ahold of him in the messaging system, and I...need to talk to him."
"And this can't wait until tomorrow?"
"We're having relationship troubles," Jim looked down at his feet. "I don't want to wait until tomorrow."
Mrs Parr sighed softly, but set a hand on his shoulder. "You'll take your conversation out of the cafeteria, and you'll leave when you're instructed to if necessary. Come on."
Jim's face lit up in delight and surprise. He caught himself before he hugged his instructor, though he wasn't about to deny that he sort of wanted to. This was the first stroke of luck he'd had since his world had fallen apart this afternoon, and he was eternally grateful to her for facilitating it. "Thank you! I promise, I'll leave the moment I'm asked!"
All he hoped now was that he wasn't asked.