The week went by fast, but somehow incredibly slowly at the same time.
Toby’s birthday came and went. Other than a few Happy Birthday messages from his classmates, the day was very ordinary, too. However, he received no message from Roy. Not only on his birthday, but the entire week. Toby wasn’t mad at all – his birthday didn’t mean too much to him. It never had. But he was worried about Roy. He couldn’t stop thinking about last Monday…
The way he cried.
The way he yelled at Charlotte.
He looked so distraught, so terrified. It was disturbing to see his friend like this. Anyone, but him in particular, since he was usually more collected.
The next Monday came. Toby was on time today. He’d try to never be late to class again, especially to Mr. Franklin’s class. He had a habit of throwing stuff at apprentices that misbehaved or came late to class.
Before class, the room was always filled with random chit chat from the apprentices. Toby’s seat was in the first row, between the ones of Randall and Sophia – just like on their first meeting at the recruitment test. Randall was hanging in his chair playing mobile games on his phone, his feet resting on his desk like he was just chilling in his living room. The toaster that homed Kracheen was standing next to his desk, with Kracheen nowhere to be seen.
Sophia’s partner was also sleeping in her bag as usual. Only Memis was awake lying under Toby’s desk.
“Oh man, it’s been getting really cold outside…” Sophia took off her scarf.
“Well, I wouldn’t say it’s cold.” Toby leaned back in his seat. “Just cooler… it’s still almost 60 degrees.”
“A-At least I think it’s cold… A-Anyway-” Sophia put her scarf away. “We’re getting a new classmate today, right?”
Toby gulped. “Y-Yeah…”
“Do you know him?”
“... k-kind of-”
The door was pushed open, and Roy with Famfay on his shoulders entered the classroom. He noticed Toby in the front, but didn’t say a word.
He looked notably different, no longer wearing his lab coat, his cyan uniform now replaced with the black apprentice uniform. Surprisingly, he wasn’t wearing his glasses, which had a drastic impact on his appearance.
Toby looked up at him. “Roy-!”
Suddenly, the chatter died down, and all eyes were on Roy, which made him visibly nervous.
“Mh-” Roy grabbed onto his bag’s strap, then walked past the desks of the other apprentices, sitting down on the free seat in the last row.
“It’s… him?” Sophia looked after Roy. “But - isn’t he already a defender? From the lab?”
Toby looked down. “Not anymore…”
“What happened?”
“I- I think this is confidential.”
“Mh…”
“Good MOOORNING my dear mortal students!”
Mr. Franklin now entered the classroom, closing the door behind him with his foot. He tossed his bag into the corner and placed his turtle-shaped Morpho Partner Rufus on the desk. “On time this time, Mr. Williams?!”
“Wah--!” Toby quickly raised his head. “Y-Yes sir!”
“Good!” Mr. Franklin turned on the smartboard. “We wouldn’t want you to think you can behave like a troublemaker just because your uncle is the king of this land?!”
“...” His way of articulating himself was odd, but Toby understood the message. Sometimes Mr. Franklin spoke in riddles, because he was always roleplaying as his character.
“By the way, would our new apprentice like to introduce himself to the class?”
Suddenly all eyes were back on Roy.
“Mh--” Roy looked distressed from being the center of attention. “I’d rather not.”
“HAH! You think you have a choice in that?!” Mr. Franklin chuckled. “My god! Just do it so we can go on with the lesson.”
Roy gulped and got up, still looking down.. “I’m… Roy Fitzgerald… I’m 19... I’m from the science department… and…” He went silent for a while, then he looked up, his brows furrowed, looking annoyed. “This is dumb. I shouldn’t even be here.”
“Pardon me??” Mr. Franklin leaned forward and gave Roy a confused look.
“I understand my duty as a member of a defender. But robbing me from my position and forcing me into a class that has no purpose for me is pointless. I already know everything you could teach me. If anything, I should be with the third-years.”
“... Ahah-” Mr. Franklin bursted out in laughter. “HAHAHA! YOU think you could match the third-years?! Man…” He stepped in front of the teacher’s desk and ran his fingers through his hair. “I never would’ve thought you see yourself as something better than your new classmates. That’s one hell of a first impression to make!”
“...” Roy didn’t break eye contact with him.
“You think you are so great because you’ve worked with the science department? How does that make you any better than them? Your knowledge is very niche. They probably already have a higher skill set than you have!”
“I- I never said that I-”
“THINK FAST!” Mr. Franklin threw a smartboard marker across the room, and it hit Roy in the face.
“OW--!!” The marker hit Roy in the face and fell to the ground with a thud. A giggle was heard from Shirley Payne and her bulky friend Mason Perry.
“See? This is one of the easiest tricks for a first-year to do! And you couldn’t even do that! If this was a Morpho Mon, you’d be dead now!” Mr. Franklin went through the rows of desks to retrieve the marker he had just thrown at Roy. “You think you are a Defender? Maybe you are. But not like them! No matter how much experience in the HQ you have, you are just a stupid teenager! And I know teenagers, all they think about is how great they are and how much they want to have sex! But you are NOT as great as you think you are! So by the GODS of the underworld, accept your fate, sit down and behave!!”
“...” Roy sat back down on his seat. “I will.”
“Good boy. NOW!” Mr. Franklin returned to the smartboard. “In today’s lesson we start with a new topic… the change in DNA when a Morph happens!”
Toby was still looking back at Roy, who was being kissed on the cheek by Famfay. He looked disturbed, but also annoyed. Toby knew him by now – he never meant those mean things that Mr. Franklin said, and now he probably felt like a huge jerk.
The first class was over, and the apprentices were free to go to their break.
“Will we meet in the break room?”, Toby asked Sophia.
Sophia shouldered her bag. “Hm… Randall and I wanted to go to the waffle café today, since they offer a gluten-free option now. Do you wanna come with us?”
“Mh…” Toby subconsciously peeked over his shoulder to where Roy was packing his stuff. “Y-Y’know- that sounds great, but I think I’ll pass. Maybe next time!”
“Okay… then we’ll see you later.” Sophia went outside to meet Randall, who was already waiting there.
Toby sighed. “Come, Memis.” Toby went to the back of the room to see Roy. He had to talk to him… Not only because of today. But because of last week. “Hey… Roy.” He smiled weakly.
Roy looked up at him. “Toby…”
“... I’m sorry, your first lesson was kind of rough…”
“I’m fine. Really.” Roy got up from his seat and looked down at Toby. “I should be the one to apologize.”
“Eh?” Toby blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I went radio silent for an entire week… And never replied to your messages. That was very rude of me. And I’m sorry.”
“N-No please don’t feel bad about that!” Toby raised his hands. “The- The events of last Monday were terrible… I didn’t expect anything of you. I just wanted you to recover as well as you can.”
“... I have something for you, Toby.” Roy pulled up his bag, opened it and pulled out a present wrapped in blue paper. “Here.” He gave it to Toby.
“Huh?” Toby took the present. “Wha- What for?”
“Dummy, you think I forgot your birthday last week?”
“Wahh… that’s so nice- Thank you…”
“You can open it now if you want to.”
“...” Toby carefully tore the paper off the present to reveal its contents.
“It’s a microphone.” Roy explained. “You know… since you play the guitar and all that.. Maybe you could record your singing too and maybe release some songs. I thought it would be nice.”
Toby was shaking, eyes wide and close to tears. “N-No way--” He looked up at the blonde. “Th-These are so expensive!! I- I cannot accept this!!”
“Hey. It’s fine.” Roy smiled lightly. “My family has enough money, so I’d rather spend mine for something useful.”
“Weh… Aaahh…” Toby sobbed. “Roy… Thank you so much!!”
“I’m glad you like it. And happy belated birthday.” Roy patted his shoulder. “Maybe we can spend the next one together.”
“Y-Yeah-” Toby wiped his tears away. “I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to cry-”
“It’s okay. I’m uhm-” Roy cleared his throat. “I should go now… We have P.E. after the break, right?”
“Y-Yeah right.”
“Good. I’ll be there. See you.” Roy shouldered his bag, went past him and left the classroom.
“Wraff!” Memis jumped up on him. “Don’t cry Toby!”
“Ah- Memis… Don’t worry- These are happy tears.” Toby took off his backpack to put the microphone away. “How about we go to the convenience store and get you a sandwich? Are you hungry?”
“WRAFF! Yes, let’s go!!”
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