Planet: Eteran

First Insurgency War

AVA

By the end of the day, Rayan hadn't come back from the principal's office. Rumours spread like wildfire in the small student body. Words, nothing more and nothing less, but her heart tore itself apart at the small failure of her lack of prevention as a part of the student council. Meryn, who lived a nightmare until she opened her eyes. Dad's words pushed her to act, but Rayan hadn't needed the prompting. Her nails dug into her palm while she sat with James and Meryn, with her twin brother holding his jaw with a wince.

"Are you alright? Both of you?" she asked.

"I've been hit harder in Starcross," James mumbled.

"I'm okay," Meryn whimpered.

Ava couldn't wait for an answer.

"Wait here with Meryn," she told James, who snapped his head up. "Wait for Mrs. Matthey and tell her everything. I'm going to the principal's office."

Though James called her back, she left him behind to rush into the main building and into the faculty offices. Ava rushed past the secretary, who she gave no chance to stop her as she pushed into Mr. Yokon's office. "It's not their fault!"

Everyone in the dome turned to her. Rayan and Jon sat in hover seats in front of the semi-circle desk their principal stood behind. Off to the side, Mrs. Falae, where stress creased her time-worn brow while she brushed her nose. Dread, surprise, and relief all mixed together at the sight of Dad, who stood beside Mrs. Falae with an expression of stone.

"Miss Ranier?" Mr. Yokon mused.

"Two boys were harassing Meryn," she explained with the time given to her at his question. "I was the one who threw the first punch." In the corner of her eye, Dad fiddled with the cigar which tucked itself at the corner of his lips. "Though, I'd argue they were the ones that started it. One punched James without provocation, so if you're going to punish Rayan and Jon for defending Meryn, then you have to punish me too."

Dad smirked.

Mr. Yokon sighed. "I understand , but you know the rules, Miss Ranier. Fighting of any type is strictly prohibited except under strict supervision with proper safety measures and equipment." He eyed Rayan, who lowered his gaze to his feet. "Besides, that's not how Mr. Falae here told it. He said he was the one who threw the first punch."

Ava slammed her hands on her desk, and caused her two classmates to jump. "Quite frankly I don't think it matters! Meryn was getting bullied."

Mrs. Falae released a huff. "I'm afraid I have to agree with Miss Ranier, Yokon," she said. "I will not tolerate harassment and bullying."

"And Rayan and Jon had nothing to do with it," Ava pleaded. "If you're going to punish them, punish everyone involved if that's the case."

Silence strangled her throat until Mr. Yokon nodded. "Jonothon, you can go. Your father is waiting for you outside." Jon ran out of his chair and out of the office, and Mr. Yokon continued, "Now, onto the matter of Mr. Falae."

Someone rapped on the door.

Ava shuffled out of the way when Mrs Matthey strode in and guided Meryn to the desk.

"Dr. Matthey," Mr. Yokon said. "I see you got my message."

"Yes." Her green gaze hardened. "Meryn, I want you to tell them what you told me."

Meryn kept close to his adoptive mother when Ava nodded at him to share. "I... those two have been pushing me around since term started," he admitted with a sigh of painful relief. "I don't know why, so don't ask me." He clutched his shoulder. "Ava wasn't the one who threw the first punch, nor Rayan. Both of them got involved when those two shoved me into the wall of that old shed." He trembled in desperation. "Don't get them in trouble because of that."

Miss Falae stepped forward. "You said since the term started?"

Meryn tucked into his jacket and stared at the floor, and nodded.

Fury raged through both mother's eyes. Ava frowned at Mrs. Falae when something else blazed within the ice blues. It mirrored the expression Rayan had in the moment where their legs acted without thought.

"And Rayan—?" Mr. Yokon questioned.

"Rayan only shoved the guy who was shoving me," Meryn rasped. "Only when his friend punched James, but... I don't know." Tears swam in his eyes. "It happened very fast."

Mr. Yokon considered Rayan, who glared at the principal with a quiet challenge. "I see," he said. "I think a parent meeting is in order. Meryn, I will punish the boys who were harassing you. Before I take further action, I will have to explain everything to the parents."

Ava frowned when Rayan's challenge died and he sucked in his lips and held his stomach. Mrs. Falae echoed her point of attention, then turned to their principal. "What of my son?" Her sharp, no nonsense aura returned to cover the warm, comforting air of a mother.

"I won't punish him for a judgement call," Mr. Yokon said, and he tensed in Mrs. Falae's shadow. "His intentions were pure, though he broke school rules." He wrote something down on his datapad. "As Meryn Matthey is vouching for him, his punishment won't be severe. I'd recommend in-school suspension for the time being, for his safety than anything else— "

"My intentions were pure," Ava grumbled.

"Ava, don't," Dad said and left his corner.

"If you're going to punish him at all then punish me too," she snapped and ignored Dad. "Meryn was the one who got hurt from this. It's also against school rules to bully and harass someone else — above whether a fight is monitored or not. Everyone in Class A-3 will vouch for him and Rayan."

"I am punishing the boys who bullied Meryn," Mr. Yokon repeated. "I am only recommending that Rayan simply watches his behaviour for the rest of the Quad."

"What if they keep bullying Meryn, sir?"

Mr. Yokon tipped his head, and Mrs. Falae folded her arms when he asked, "What will you do if they continue, Miss Ranier?"

"Expel me now, then," Ava growled. "Because the next time I even see them in Meryn's personal space I'm going to shove their heads into the nearest wall."

Mrs. Falae's hard frown twisted into a smug grin when she glanced at Dad, who breathed in smoke and gave her a subtle shrug and a purse of his lips. Beside her, Rayan gaped in disbelief. He pressed his hands against his cheeks and returned to his staredown with his knees.

Meryn grinned behind his coat collar.

"I will suspend them for an indefinite amount of time," Mr. Yokon said. "I'll discuss it with the parents for something more exact." He leaned into his chair. "Make no mistake, they won't be going near Meryn. With that out of the way, I'll let you all have the rest of the day off."

"Come, Meryn," Mrs. Matthey said. "I'm going to make your favourite tonight."

Her best friend blazed to life. "Glazed ham? I thought you were going to save that for my birthday when Aelius is back home!"

Mrs. Matthey beamed and brought a finger to her lips. "We can just have it twice."

Mother and son rushed out of the office, which left Ava with Rayan and their parents.

"As for you two, any punishments can be decided by your parents," Mr. Yokon said.

"Fine by me." Dad said. "Come on."

Ushered out of the office with his hand on her shoulder, their group collected in the main corridor. Out of the school and onto the grounds, Ava rushed over to Dad when he went a different direction. "So." She prepared herself for disappointment. "What's this grand punishment you've thought up?"

"I remember when I was at the Eastpoint Collegiate and if someone was screwing around they'd find out the hard way," he mumbled, then gave her a genuine smile. "I have no punishment for you, Ava." He breathed out a plume of smoke which tangled in the air. "You made a stand, and I'm glad you weren't hurt in the process. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Ava sighed, but jolted. "James!"

As she turned around, Mrs Falae and Rayan approached them. Both adults whisked away, and she hoped to see James following Rayan. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Did you see my brother before you left?"

"I'm fine, and no," he mumbled while he held his cheek. "I've had worse scraps in Kestra. He got a slap on me when I was wrestling him with Jon, but... might as well have been the wind." He shrugged. "I was looking for James, but he wasn't at any of his usual places. Meryn might've gone back to him to make sure he was alright." He folded his arms with a frown. "I didn't get to apologise."

"You have no need to apologise," she said and her heart soared at the solar protectiveness. "I should thank you. You acted and... I froze for a second. A second too long, if I'm honest. Quite frankly, I'm pretty sure I would've done worse things than what you and Jon did if we weren't interrupted."

He gave her a smile which crossed into a grimace. "I-I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then," he said with a nervous giggle. "I think."

"Of course you will." Ava hugged him, but over his shoulder she spotted James and Meryn heading for them. Her twin brother slammed to a stop, while Meryn tipped his head at the distraction. Released from Rayan's grip, she waved them down, and caused Rayan to turn.

"What happened?" she asked Meryn.

"Mom's having more words with Mr. Yokon," Meryn said, then frowned. "Ava, I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

"It's okay," she cut him off. "I didn't take it personally, Meryn. Just..." Ava gripped his shoulders. "Next time something is bothering you, tell us."

Rayan moved to James. "You alright?" he whispered, reaching a hand out to her brother's shoulder.

"Please, don't insult me. You get used to punches like that in Starcross. I'm not a fragile country bumpkin, city boy." James pushed into Rayan like a rotating door to huff onto the path. "I'm going to go take some pictures. Alone."

Ava shivered at the chill coming off her brother, while Rayan twiddled his thumbs. "Don't be like that, James!" she called.

"Just take Meryn home. I'll be back before dinner."

Ava wanted to reach through space and strangle him, but sighed when he disappeared into town. Unable to ignore the pain of someone else, she ran to catch up with James. "What's gotten into you?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Can we just go home and have dinner?"

James shoved his hands in his pockets and said nothing, but Ava guided them on a different path, to home. On the front porch, Dad sat on the bench. James avoided his gaze, and Ava jolted when Janie peeked out of the window.

"Avie!" she called. "Dad was saying you got into a fight!"

Ava scoffed as they entered the house. "It was something like that. Mom?" she asked. "Is it okay if I go have a nap? I'm tired."

"Of course. I'll wake you up when dinner's ready."

Ava nodded, but stopped at pressure around her forearm. James had her in a tight grip, but when she turned to investigate, he let her go. He followed her up to their bedrooms. "James, don't tell me you're tired when all you do is sleep." Ava forced a smile on her face in hopes her twin brother would mirror it. "You sleep way more than me. I have a mind to ask if you've fallen asleep at Ray's house again."

She half-expected a fiery response, but James lowered his gaze to the floorboards. Her smile faltered and died, but she kept on going through the heavy pressure in her heart. "James? Is something wrong?"

"Why is everyone worrying about me," he grumbled. "Also, it was the one time, Ava. You try sleeping when you have music blasting in not one, but two rooms." He scoffed and pushed past her. "I'm just... thinking about stuff. You don't need to worry more than you already do."

He walked into his room, and slammed the door.

James can sleep through starfire crackers and he's complaining my music keeps him up at night? Ava stopped in front of his door. I know that's a lie. It's never bothered you before, why is it bothering you now? Questions raised to her lips, but he closed her out. Ava returned to her room to sit on the windowsil, and left her music to the silence of her radio. I hope things will fall into place. I'm sure Rayan will be there when we go back to school... not everyone would've done what he did. Ava pressed her cheek against the glass while the clouds shone with Eteran's light. I know he got suspended for something similar back in Odaport, and he didn't hesitate in doing it again.

Ava smiled down at her hands. Guess that does make him a troublemaker, but for the right reason. He did what Dad told me to do. He can't judge Rayan for that.

Safe to say, she found newfound strength to plan for the winter formal.

In bed, she fell asleep to the ticking of her clock.

Tick.

Her dreams filled to the brim with wonder and journeys to the unknown.

Tick.

Surrounded by friends.

Tick.

A change from their little town of Eastpoint.

Tick.

But she didn't want to be alone.