OUTCAST

Chapter 12: Zeldon

A little while after the test I was minding my own business. When Nico burst into the dorm room. At first I thought it was in excitement over his test scores but his face looked scared and he was panting from the run to the dorm. I had sat up and knocked the new school books that had arrived at our dorm only a few minutes earlier onto the floor.

"What happened?!"

Still panting Nico managed a few words, "Alye... Fainted... She's in the... The... Infirmary."

    "Alye, in the Infirmary?!"

I grabbed Nico by the arm, "Show me."

He nodded and I grabbed his arm and we took off down the hall Nico leading the way to the infirmary. It was a rather small room with lots of white curtains and cots for sick Elves. A rosy looking nurse that nearly disappeared into the background since she was wearing all white. She was hovering over a cot that held a familiar person.

"Alye!"

I ran over to her cot. The nurse gave me an annoyed look but left the room. I turned to Nico, "What happened?"

"I don't know, she just fainted in the Cafeteria. Gwen and I ran to pick her up when she started to fall."

Alye's straight black hair fell like a halo around her head on the pillow, her expression looked sad and broken and her face was paler than usual. I stood staring not sure what to do and not even sure if I should be staring. It was then I noticed that Gwen and Alye had become like the siblings I never had, like my little sisters.  Nico put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a timid smile and I gave him one back. We walked back to the dorm in total silence. When we reached the dorm the only comment I made was that I would get the door for him. When we walked inside I collapsed onto my bed and Nico sat down next to me. I looked up at him and started to talk, "You really like her don't you?"

"Sure, yeah she's a great friend."

"No, you like her, like her."

He blushed and responded, "Maybe."

"We have to have a serious talk about your intentions. I'm playing honorary big brother today, so spill."

"It's not like anything big or something-"

I raised an eyebrow, "Really."

"-I just kinda think she's nice and... and stuff."

His face was already too red so I cut him some slack, "All right, I'm gonna give you a pass for now, just 'cuz you're my roommate."

He sighed, "I don't think my Uncle will approve, he'll probably try to stop me from seeing her the first time he catches wind of this."

"Who's your Uncle?"

"The Headmaster."

I made a honking noise in surprise, "Well, good luck with that."

I patted him on the back and he slouched.

"Let's go get some Dinner?"

"Thanks, sure." he sat up and we ventured into the halls together.

Gwen was strolling down the hall ahead of us, she looked sad, distraught. "Hey Gwen, Do you want to eat dinner with us? It's already 6:00."

She looked distraught and checked the time, "Yes, I must have lost track of time."

We walked down to the cafeteria chatting and talking about our excitement for tomorrow's classes.

Finally as we approached the lunchroom and I gathered the courage to ask Gwen, "Nico didn't know why Alye fainted, do you?"

She responded sadly, "No, I don't I wish I did."