The Academy: Discovery

Stray Bird

Two weeks later

After the late night with yet another sleep over, I didn't expect to wake up before the sun. I may not have if I hadn't sensed something shift in the room. Even sandwiched between North and Silas I felt it. Careful not to move more than necessary, I lift my head and look around. At first all I see is a room full of lumpy sleeping bags and piles of hair on top of pillows. Then something near the door catches my attention. Well, someone. Mr. Blackbourne stands in the doorway leaned casually against the frame. At least that's what it looks like at first. Upon closer inspection I notice he isn't casual at all. His face which I've only seen in a blank expression is turned down in a disapproving scowl. And he's looking right at me. Did I do something wrong? Or is he just upset? I have to think its me since this is consistent with his cool demeanor over the last week or so.

I open my mouth to greet him or maybe apologize, though I'm not really sorry for anything. I'm interrupted by North using his arm at my thighs to pull my closer. He must have shifted down through the night. Not a big deal except he's now completely under the sleeping bag and at face level with my chest. His moving me closer means his face is pressed between my breast. Can he even breath? I lift the edge of the sleeping bag to check but he doesn't seem to be struggling for air, so I release it and turn back to Mr. Blackbourne. Well, to where Mr. Blackbourne had stood. He's no longer in the room.

I fight back a groan. Jeez what he must think of me. First he and the others have to explain a zombie apocalypse thats been going on for months without me knowing. Probably making him think I'm an idiot. Then he warns me about interfering with his teams mission only for them to take the weekend off just for me shortly after I arrived. Not to mention he's just discovered me cuddled up between two of his team members. I know what that must look like. He probably doesn't understand how a girl could sleep with a man she just met let alone two of them with several others near by. He couldn't possibly understand how close I feel to them already. How in such a short amount of time they've made me feel like I'm a part of something wonderful. Heck I don't understand that myself. Maybe I should talk to him later today. Tell him how I feel and make sure he knows I'm not trying to interfere with their jobs. Maybe I could even offer to help.

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"D*mnit Beautiful. This is why I should've brushed your hair last night. It'll be impossible this morning." Gabriel says using his hands under my shoulders to pull me out from under the sleeping bag and from between North and Silas. I must have dozed back off after Mr. Blackbourne left the room. The sun has risen and cast bright rays through the windows.

"Too loud." Silas complains.

"Too bad you big gorilla. It's time to get up and get Elsie's room taken care of." That's right my room will be done today! Kota nudges Silas's sleeping bag. He nudges North next but I don't catch his reaction with my head jerking back thanks to the brush running through my hair.

By the time Gabriel is finished brushing my hair into submission my neck is soar and I'm reminded why I shouldn't use brushing my hair as a punishment for Gabriel. "Thank you Gabriel." I tell him then turn to the others. "Thank you all. Last night was..."

"Interesting?"

"Perverted?"

"I was going to say perfect." I laugh at their suggestions. "I don't think I've ever had so much fun. That was the best sleepover yet."

"Well I guess we know what our plans are for tonight then." Luke says happily.

"Unfortunately Mr. Taylor that won't be possible. Ms Cathcart will you come with me?" My happiness evaporates. Probably disappearing to wherever his warmth went. He sounds so cold.

"Mr. B..."

"I'll explain everything once I'm finished with Ms Cathcart, Mr. Lee."

There are several looks exchanged around the room before Kota turns to me and ask "Do you want to go with him Elsie?"

Definitely not. The man is intimidating at the best of times. He's down right scary right now. He makes even North look about as scary as a puppy. That being said while I don't want to go I also still find myself not wanting to disappoint him. "I'll be fine."

I of course am not fine as I follow Mr. Blackbourne out of the room and downstairs to an office off the living area. "They won't be able to eaves drop while we're in here." Gulp. That knowledge didn't help. "Have a seat Ms Cathcart."

"You can call me Elsie if you'd like." I offer trying to make the mood a bit more friendly. I've offered the same thing several times but he ignores me mostly.

"I wouldn't." he says blandly. "When I gave to boys the weekend off to get you settled I assumed you would be settling at your home. Not in ours."

My lip trembles and tears fill my eyes knowing where the conversation is headed. Still I have to confirm "You don't want me to stay?"

"I've already discussed our loyalties with you Ms Cathcart. The state I found you and my team in this morning suggest to me you're already interfering with those loyalties."

"But how?" I defend.

"I believe I've already discussed Mr. Lee's feelings toward you, yes?"

I nod "Yes."

"And yet I continue to find you in inappropriate situations with several members of my team not Mr. Lee?"

I wince biting my lip so hard I taste blood "I didn't realize it was inappropriate."

"Tell me Ms Cathcart. How do you think he felt seeing you between his brothers?"

"Jealous?" I ask thinking this is what he's getting at. That's not the vibe I got from Kota this morning but Mr. Blackbourne would know his 'brother' better than I would, I guess.

"I imagine so." he sets back in his desk chair still watching me intently. "You have no way of knowing this but in the academy jealousy is possibly the largest threat we face. We don't have many rules mostly strong suggestions. One of those suggestions is no birds on an all dog team. That suggestion is there for this exact reason. Jealousy. It tears teams apart. It tears families apart." He presses his manicured fist on the desk standing to his full height and leans over it to get closer to me. His steel grey eyes don't allow me to move or look away. "I will not allow a stray bird to tear my family apart. I will not allow YOU to tear my family apart. And if you have any respect for the help they have already given you, you will leave before you sink your claws into anyone else."

My claws? He makes me sound like something...evil. Just like my parents had made me feel. They couldn't all be wrong could they? If I stay not only would it apparently show disrespect for the help they've given me but I'll risk their family being torn apart by jealousy I caused. If I do that it would only solidify my apparent evilness. I refuse to do that. The guys aren't evil, not even Mr. Blackbourne. He's just looking out for his family. They've proved my parents wrong. If I leave for the good of all the guys, it will be an act of good on my part. I could prove my parents wrong too. "Can I tell them goodbye?"

"You're going to have to better than that. You're going to have to convince them this was your idea and that you want to go home without them."

"Fine." I sob getting up to leave before he can make me feel any more inadequate.

"Ms. Cathcart...for the record..."

"Save it." I snap not needing him to try and placate me once he's already knocked me back to my level on the totem pole. It surprises me I have the courage to speak to him this way because despite his rudely calling me a stray bird and calling me inappropriate at the very least, I still find it painful to have disappointed him.

Closing the door roughly behind me I sink to the floor and cry into my hands. I only allow myself a second to cry like this though before I force myself to shake it off. If I'm going to convince the guys this is my idea they can't see me crying like this. It takes longer than I'd like but once I remind myself it was stupid to think I'd fit in with them the way my feelings were growing anyway, I compose myself enough to do what I need to do.