The Bonding Chronicles Ch. 03

"No, hopefully that won't be necessary." Andrew chuckled as he turned and headed to English.

***** Return Of The Sleeper *****

The numerous glances and whispers that Andrew witnessed on his way to class caused him to feel self conscious again. Andrew did not like the attention and wished he could just walk to class without people staring at or talking about him. *Yeah, Great, I'm dating Sara Mitchell. Just let it go already* He thought to himself as he made slow progress towards class.

He reflected on his second day at his previous school. Most of the students had already forgotten all about him, and by this point he only had the bullies to deal with. He had been hit in the arm four times, and besides a few random looks he interacted with no one but teachers. He spent the first thirty minutes of his second class inside a locker that he had been pushed into. Andrew kind of missed being in that locker as he rubbed the ghost pain out of his arm, and looked around at all the prying eyes.

His head was down and his cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as he entered Karen's English class. Sara sat in the back of the room, looking outside in silent longing. The sun cascaded through the window making Sara's hair look like a riotous explosion of bright reds and near blacks. He knew that she was worth every awkward stare and every annoying comment. Andrew's anxiety melted away as he decided that the locker he had longed for only a moment ago could go straight to hell.

Turning her attention to the front of the room, Sara saw Andrew walking towards her. She lit up with happiness as she gave the desk beside her an inviting pat. As he got closer, Sara recognized the shy anxiety behind Andrew's adoring eyes. Taking her bag from the seat she had saved for him, Andrew prepared his desk for class. She watched him arrange his desk with care and purpose, and she was surprised to find the process somehow arousing.

Taking his seat, Andrew finally looked into Sara's eyes with relief as he asked, "So, how was econ?"

Just before she responded she collapsed onto her desk, snoring and twitching in exaggerated boredom. Andrew laughed while Sara reached out and caressed his cheek. She asked with concern, "You doing OK?"

He pressed his cheek against her hand with gentle pressure before pulling back and blushing. "Just not used to all this attention."

He looked around the room and Sara could see that Karen and most of the students were watching them.

"Fuck them," she started with confident bravado. "Who cares what they think, and who cares what they say?" Everything she said carried through the room, causing many of the students to look away while Karen smiled at Sara with warmth.

Andrew looked at her in awe. "You are amazing, you know that right?" His quiet voice and shy tone did little to hide the admiration that rang through his words.

She leaned over as he leaned in, and the young couple shared a tender kiss while the entire class watched.

They both sighed as Sara said, "Yeah, I am pretty great."

A giant excited grin consumed her face. Reaching into her bag she pulled out a folded piece of paper that she almost threw at him. "You HAVE to see this! It's soo awesome!"

Unfolding the paper, Andrew looked at her class schedule and let out a loud laugh. Gathering himself, he looked at Sara with shock.

"Man is he going to be surprised!" Sara said with a smirk.

Andrew chuckled before responding, "Actually, I think Mr. Spencer already knows you were supposed to be in his class yesterday."

Sara's excitement faded as she looked at the paper with disappointment. "Really? But I wanted to see the look on his face when he saw me standing there."

Andrew marveled at how much Sara loved her games. "I know, Baby. The teachers ruined your surprise, but there is a pretty big silver lining I think you will love." After Andrew finished Sara looked crestfallen, but she waited for him to continue with a twinkle of excited optimism in her eyes.

Andrew leaned in, looking around conspiratorially before whispering, "It sounds like my brave and sexy guardian has a bit of a reputation with the teachers now. Karen told me that Mr. Spencer said you were protective of me."

Beaming at Andrew she stated with pride, "Damn right."

Considering how serious Sara was about her role as his guardian, he knew she would love hearing that. Just as Andrew was about to tell Sara how proud he was of her the bell rang and class started.

While Karen took role, Andrew noticed Zack watching them with jealousy. Zack turned back to Elizabeth, and Andrew was surprised by the speed with which Zack settled into his conversation with his girlfriend. He was confused by how happy the couple seemed despite Zack's continued attitude towards Sara and him. Andrew hoped for Elizabeth's sake that Zack would let go of his crush on Sara before the poor woman was hurt any further.

Looking around the room he noticed that while a few people looked at him with confusion many more looked at Sara with respect. While Andrew puzzled over this Karen began teaching.

The lesson started and again Andrew was amazed at how Karen pulled him in, building his interest in the course material. Looking at Sara with excitement he was disappointed to see that she was lying forward on her desk, her head resting in her crossed arms. While he watched her, Sara yawned and wiggled her head before settling in for a nap.

He watched with rapt attention as Karen recited an eloquent verse of poetry before asking probing questions. She guided the students through new and intriguing ideas with effortless ease. From time to time Sara would raise her head, and write something in the margins of her book before continuing her contented nap. As the end of class drew near, Andrew noticed a small piece of paper on his open binder with four words and a cute little smiley heart drawn on it.

"Essay: Connecting Poems, Thursday"

Looking at Sara he saw her bright light brown eyes watching him with a confident smile. Her head was still resting sideways on her arms while she playfully nodded her head, indicating she wanted him to look to the front of the room.

Karen was writing on the whiteboard while talking, "I expect you to write three paragraphs, single spaced, connecting at least two of the poems that we discussed today."

As she stepped away from the whiteboard Andrew could see in large, almost perfect letters the words:

"Assignment 1: 3 Paragraph Essay, Due Thursday"

Karen looked at the clock and said, "I will collect your essays at the start of class, so please have them ready. Everyone, this is poetry! It's deep, and often profound. I want you to try personally connecting with whatever you have to say." In that moment the bell rang and Karen sat behind her desk as the students started filing out of the room.

Andrew packed his bag with speed before leaning over and giving Sara a brief kiss. Pulling away he glanced at his pants before saying, "I should change before heading to gym."

Sara smiled and called out to him, "Need a hand?" as she watched him rush towards the door.

He yelled back, "Not helping!" with a chuckle as he disappeared into the hallway.

As the last student filed into the hallway, Sara walked over and locked the door with a casual click. The two women smiled at each other as Sara made her way over to the teacher. Karen took off her glasses, setting them on her desk. Sara leaned against a desk across from Karen with a casual grin.

"It's good to see you Sara." Casting a pointed glance at the door the teacher asked, "I guess you had an eventful summer?"

Sara let out a musical and light hearted chuckle as she shook her head. "Nah, that all started about a week ago. My summer was pretty boring in all honesty."

Karen looked at the younger woman with curiosity and asked, "Do you think that," nodding back towards the door, "is because of your nature?"

Sara gazed at the door, picturing Andrew with his short blond hair and piercing purple eyes. She smiled with longing and felt herself moisten with arousal at the thought of him. After a slight shudder she said, "No, I don't think so."

Karen leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms while she studied Sara closely.

"How can you be so sure? Despite having your pick of every boy, and a few girls I might add, you bond with Andrew?"

Despite her great respect for her friend, Sara bristled at Karen's insinuation that Andrew was not worth bonding with.

The teacher held up her hands and cast a defensive smile. "Andrew seems like a great guy, truly, but look at yourself. You have most certainly bonded with him. You have always dismissed this idea, but we know that it's a trait of your kind."

Sara's expression darkened as she said, "My father was extremely clear when he banished me, I am human. I cannot bond."

Folding her arms Karen responded, "Not entirely human though."

Sara rolled her eyes while sighing before she looked at Karen with a powerful and stern glare, "There are rituals, they tried them all, and thankfully they all failed." Sara crossed her arms as she fought back her hurt anger. " I cannot shift, I cannot bond, I am a shadow of what they are in all ways. That was the worst summer of my life and I am happy to be human." Having finished what she wanted to say, Sara fumed while she considered whether she should confide the most unsettling detail.

Weighing her friend's words Karen speculated,"Perhaps since you're half human it's different?"

Sara leaned forward, resting her hands on her thighs while she released an exasperated grumble. Standing she said, "If you use this to hurt Andrew..." she again glowered at the teacher while her unspoken threat hung potent in the air. Sighing, Sara said, "Humans cannot bond."

Karen looked at Sara in confusion, "But we agree you aren't entirely human." As Sara raised an eyebrow at Karen, realization spread across the older woman's face. "He can't be? If he was even part Therianthrope he would be..." Karen paused, looking at Sara before grinning and saying, "He would be more physically impressive."

Sara smiled in appreciation at the teacher's considerate choice of words.

"Andrew is definitely human, yet, I don't know..." Sara blushed. "He's something more."

Karen stared at the ceiling in contemplation before asking, "Sara, when you were with your father, how was he with his mates?"

Sara was aggravated at the memory of her father, but still considered the question before answering, "That chauvinistic bitch didn't care for any of them."

Karen smiled, "Colorful choice of words, and that doesn't sound like Andrew in the slightest." She considered this thought before asking, "How were his mates with him?"

Settling down, Sara responded, "Devoted."

That word hung over her as she contemplated its meaning. "Kind of like me and Andrew, I guess, but..." Sara blushed as she continued, "Well, I am kind of different with Andrew."

The teacher waited for a moment until Sara realized that she wanted her to expound on her statement. Sara sighed before saying with confidence, "I have been in heat since I met him near the pond a week ago."

Karen bolted out of her chair. "Pond? What kind of pond?"

Sara looked confused as she said, "I don't know, shallow water, fish and moss. It's a pond."

Rubbing her hands together the teacher looked excited. "Is it in a glade covered in moss, grass, wildflowers and a sense of calm that comes over you when you enter?" Karen's voice dripped with anticipation.

Still confused Sara responded, "I'm always pretty calm, but everything else sounds right."

Mumbling to herself the excited teacher fumbled through the papers on her desk until she found a blank page. She drew an intricate and ornate symbol on the paper with a practiced and skillful hand. The symbol looked familiar to Sara, though she couldn't seem to remember why. Finishing the design faster than Sara thought possible the teacher folded the piece of paper and handed it to her.

"I want you to draw this in the dirt at the glade tonight."

Shrugging, Sara pocketed the paper before asking, "What are you thinking?"

Placing her hand on Sara's back and guiding her to the door the teacher said, "Fae magic. You may be right, this might not be caused by you or Andrew."

Sara stopped and looked at Karen with panicked concern, "This isn't going to do anything to my bond with Andrew is it?"

Karen was rattled by the intensity of Sara's concern, and surprised by her admission that she was bonded with Andrew.

"No Sara, it's a protective ward. It should only activate if the glade is a place of power. It will prevent any forces meaning you harm from entering the glade. This bond..." The teacher placed her hand on Sara's chest, "Only desires for you to be happy with Andrew."

As relief settled on Sara's face, Karen looked at the clock and then continued, "Real quick, we agreed to keep each other's secret, and right now I don't want Andrew knowing about me."

Sara frowned but nodded as she said, "I am going to tell him about myself tonight. He deserves to know that this may be because of me."

The teacher gripped the young woman's shoulder and smiled with affection. "That is your secret to share." Her face took a somber and defensive edge as she continued, "But I must warn you, be careful with Mr. Spencer. He is gruff but he is also very observant. If you show off for Andrew, he will probably notice."

Sara responded with genuine appreciation, "Your secret is safe with me, and I will be careful. I want you to know how much I appreciate you watching out for Andrew yesterday."

Karen gave her friend a warm hug. "It's in my nature, but you're welcome."

As the door to the class opened Sara pushed her way through the wall of students who were waiting to enter. Clearing the throng of students she began jogging to the gym through the empty hallway. The conversation with Karen running through her mind with every step.

***** Piranha Feast *****

Andrew stood with the large group of students in the center of the gymnasium. He cast a nervous glance around the large room as his concern grew. "Where is she?" he mumbled to himself as he again checked the doorway to the lockers. He expected to walk onto the basketball court and see Sara's beaming smile. Looking around again his growing concern was becoming obvious.

"Dude, settle down man. You're gonna give yourself whiplash. She's fine, probably had to run out to her car or something." Seth rolled his eyes as he smiled at Andrew's concern.

"I know, I just..." Andrew stopped talking as Sara jogged into the room wearing tight shorts, a sports bra and a form fitting t-shirt.

Smiling with relief he almost leered at Sara as he whispered, "Damn." Seth followed his gaze and they both watched Sara make her way over to them.

"Hey, you're still standing, I like it." Her voice was playful as she tousled Andrew's hair with a loving smile. Andrew normally hated the gesture, but he found it endearing as Sara ruffled his short blond hair.

A few students joined Andrew and Seth as they chuckled at her comment. Andrew looked at her sideways and whispered, "Everything OK?"

Looking down at him she whispered back, "Yeah, just got caught up talking with a friend."

Sensing that there was more to the story, Andrew decided to let it go. He could tell that she seemed concerned about him for some reason, and that was making him worried. As Andrew puzzled over this Sara wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled him in close. Seth shook his head and many students watched them with surprised disbelief.

Looking at his friend with a large smile Andrew mouthed, "What?" Seth just smiled back and rolled his eyes causing Sara and Andrew to laugh.

The gym doors swung open as Mr. Spencer stormed into the room.

"Great job yesterday," the teacher said as he studied the group while walking over to join them. Locking eyes with Sara he studied her happy but defiant stare while she held Andrew protectively at her side. "Miss Mitchel, glad you decided to join us today."

A few students could be heard murmuring as Mr. Spencer continued, "I'm sure your boyfriend saved me the trouble of explaining to you how I like to get forty five minutes from my little tadpoles." Sara nodded in response and as the teacher raised an eyebrow she pinched Andrew's ass causing him to jump before she took off at a slow and measured pace around the gym.

The teacher had the rest of the students pair off and start practicing basketball drills. Andrew was grateful that Mr. Spencer allowed them to choose their own pairs, finding that Seth was at least a little athletic. After fumbling with the ball several times, his friend explained in a slow and patient tone what he was doing wrong and how he could improve his technique. Andrew knew from experience that he would never get better. He appreciated his friends attempts to help him but he had heard all of this from many frustrated teachers in the past.

Only five minutes into class and Andrew was chasing down the ball for the third time. He looked over and saw Sara performing a casual stretch against the wall. The sound of Mr. Spencer's voice echoed around the room.

"I said MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"

Running back to Seth, Andrew performed a clumsy pass to his friend while smiling at Mr. Spencer's failed attempts to get Sara running again.

Standing up, Sara looked over and saw Andrew smiling at her. She winked before starting off at a casual run while Mr. Spencer was trying his best to push her faster. Sara could already feel herself becoming frustrated at how boring this was. Looking at the clock she realized she had another forty minutes to go. Picking up the pace a little she was pleased when the screaming man went back to the other students. She tried her best to focus on her run while she enjoyed the feeling of sweat coating her body.

Mr. Spencer had the class switch drills a couple of times. Twenty minutes into class, Seth and Andrew had settled into a nice and playful banter. Andrew continued to struggle with the fundamentals of ball control. Many of the students looked at Andrew with a sense of disappointment that he couldn't understand. Andrew's gaze found Sara running a serpentine pattern around the gym, and he could tell that she was frustrated and bored.

Sara had already gotten in trouble with Mr. Spencer once because she decided to start running backwards. While that had provided her with brief entertainment, she was now struggling to find ways to keep herself motivated.

Andrew had just barely caught the ball when he heard, "What'cha doin?" from a sultry voice over his shoulder. He could see Sara standing beside him with her hands on her hips, coated in sweat and breathing hard. Despite her fatigue she was still smiling at Andrew with interest. He admired her damp athletic body, thinking back to the previous night as his eyes clouded over with lust. Shaking himself back to his senses he blushed.

"You know, man stuff," Andrew said in a casual tone as he tried to dribble the ball. It bounced off his foot causing Sara to go running after it with a happy laugh.

As Sara was handing the ball back to Andrew, Mr. Spencer came storming over.

"Did I say to stop running?"

Sara looked at the larger man and said in exasperation, "But it's sooooo boring!" She threw her arms down as she trudged off in a large huff.

As Sara got back up to speed she glowered at the teacher while Andrew asked, "Mr. Spencer?"

Turning back towards Andrew the teacher said, "You know Andrew, if you're too sore it's OK if you want to sit out today."

Andrew smiled at the uncharacteristically nice gesture. "Thanks sir, but it's not that. I was just thinking..." He looked over at Sara and then continued, "You want to push Sara and find her limits, and you also want the rest of us to get our state mandated exercise right?"