Unconditional

Did he just call you THAT?!

Ant was looking at the beautiful valley but his whole thoughts were on Dec. Why am I so restless? This is not like me

Ant was actually worried about Dec and the students around were not helping much. Now and then someone will come from the other side and talk about the accident which many times prompts Ant to run to Dec. But he wont. This time, he must control. This time he must realise him position and be the AntMcpartlin he was and always is. No one can change him. Least of all, that smaller accident prone boy. He tries his best to zone out from any talks on Dec but it wasn't so successful. Unlike him, the students found it interesting :

"You know he fell 50 feet below?"

"He is dangling in a weak branch. Will fall down anytime"

"Schofield went to college they say, that boy cannot be rescued. Poor guy in that cold.."

"I think he fell down. Heard a chorus of gasps from the students around... He was a nice boy"

Ant felt something strike his chest What if...

Suddenly Anne Marie appear out of nowhere and he was relieved that he can finally hear some honest information. So he concentrated on her conversation with her friends. But he wished he hadn't. Next thing he did was crunch his eyes close, dig his fingers to his palm in a fist and push down every thoughts about just turning around and going to Dec. He is not like that. He don't fall into such emotional uproars. He had always learnt not to think , not to care, not to get hurt. He wont put himself in that position. And most of all, he will not trade his friendship with Robbie. And never for Declan.

Dec was feeling dizzy when he woke up as something fluttered on his cheek. He opened his eyes groggily to see brown feathers and big beaks No...No...No No No!!!!

"Dec calm down!!" Stephen calls out but he can't

"Stevie... " he tries to call back but the sight of a twice the normal sized Eagle sat before him, fluttering its wings and looking at him had closed his throat to silence. Suddenly it lunges to peck him and Dec lets out an indignified squeal. So does everyone above him

Stephen: "Dec let the bloody cat go...!!"

Dec: "No.. No " I won't.. I won't get peace if something happens to this little guy

Sweat pour out of him in worry but his body shuddered as cold wind hits him. Dizziness envelope him again but this time he couldn't fall into it. He should think about the kitten. He should stay brave for the poor thing. He should take it to safety. But the eagle had another thought as it decided to take the issue on itself and starts poking around Dec. Dec yelped as it came close and sat as close to the wall as possible. But the cold and fast wind was not helping him stay still . His hands were numbing as he held the kitten tight and his heart skipped a beat as he couldn't feel it in his arms. His arms had gone completely numb in cold. He crunched as smaller as possible but the beasty bird above him was not giving up. It prodded around and in one moment of frustration, it pecked Dec's arms a bit harder. Tears of panic was replaced by tears of pain and he crunched his eyes whenever the big beak of the beast landed on his arm again abd again. If I let the kitty go... it will leave me. But can I do that. I am not like that.. I do think... I do care...even if I get hurt, I can't let it go. I can't let someone get hurt when I know I can do something for them... anything for them....

Stephen felt panic enveloping him. David and Holly was nowhere to be seen. Ali was beside him, tears streaming down her cheeks and the network was complete off in every phones. The students around them were expressing pity in their own way ,many expressing the 'what if-s'. Stephen always liked his Arts classmates because unlike many classes, majority of the people here are friendly and caring. Maybe because they all have a common goal of making their annual panto the best. Or maybe because there is something in the subject that they deal with, which helps them to sympathize with others. But today,that very trait is disturbing him. Shut up!! he willed inside