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Andren decided he didn't like class. There was someone teasing him for clinging to Mags. And for crying over homesickness. Oh, sure, he loved the actual classwork. It was fun learning so much! And if it was just the teacher and Mags, he would have had a ball. But it wasn't just that. There were so many other freshlings and he felt mighty intimidated by them.

And so, he was trying to feign sickness. Except, Andren had never pretended to be sick before. No, usually he was actually sick. And he usually didn't fib; it was bad. But he really, really, really didn't want to go to class. "I'm not going, Mags. I feel bad," he called out in an exaggerated weak and coughing voice from underneath his blanket.

Dieties, she didn't know what was up with her pal Andren. It was quite the annoyin' thing. Nearly as annoying as a sneeze that is about to come but never does. Somethin' was amiss and she needed to know. It was her job to take care of him.

And that included this sickness. Strange...he usually didn't get sick around this time of year.

Mags placed a hand on her hip, cocking her head to the side. "How bad?" She reached up on reflex to rest the back of her hand on Andren's forehead. "Ya ain't warm." she murmured, humming thoughtfully. "We should go to the nurse if you aren't feelin' well enough for class." She couldn't just leave him here. Alone. That just wasn't right. "Do I need to talk to the caretakers? Get you back home?" He had been cryin' about going home....

Andren was about to whine about maybe going to the nurse would be fine. Perhaps he could convince them too, that he was simply too sick to go to class.

Except, home was mentioned. And tears welled up in his eyes as he sat up quickly. "I don't want to go home!" he practically shouted, hand reaching to hold Mags. "I'm not really sick, I just don't want to go to class today. Please don't let them send me back home. I don't want to be alone," he told her desperately, clinging to her hand.

He didn't want to tell her about the bully. Really, really, really didn't want to tell her.

"Oh, Andren, hush." Magdalene stroked his chin fondly. Just what was this kid going to do without her? How did he survive being without her for half a year while she was here? The dryad clucked her tongue. "You were buzzin' about wantin' to go home yesterday." At least, that's what the caretaker told her. She was told to trust them. They seemed trustworthy too. "Scooch over a bit." She prodded at his legs. Some cuddlin' would fix him right up. And calm him. Mags was sure.

The dryad patted her legs for his head to rest there. "Why don't you want to go to class today?" she sighed, scrutinizing the fey for any tell tale signs of lying. "You aren't goin' home if you aren't sick but you need to go to class. Don't you want to continue the family business with me?" That had been there plan before they left, after all. But maybe he had changed his mind. "You gotta go learn if you wanna own a farm. So you can go to college." She didn't understand the college bit yet. Why, she already knew a whole lot about growin flowers. But if ma and pa said so...then ma and pa said so. "What's got you not wantin to learn?'

Andren laid his head on the other freshling's lap, face burying into her tummy. "I just don't wanna, Mags," he whined into her clothes. But... he could tell Mags, right? If there was anyone he could tell, it was Mags.

"You can't go tellin' anyone or doin' anything about it," he finally mumbled, burying his face further. He winced as his flower was slightly crushed and readjusted himself. "There's... someone who's bein' mean," he said after a long moment, very quietly. He suddenly sat up and frantically looked into her eyes, face close. "But you can't go tellin' or doin' anything! It'll make it worse!" he blurted out.

Mags sighed and gently ran her hands through Andren's hair. It was always so soft. His hair matched him so well. "You gotta tell me." It was only right. "It's my job to look after you. How am I goin' to look after ya when you're not gonna tell me what's wrong, hm?" She needed to know what was going on. That was her duty. Her responsibility. She couldn't have her best pal sad. Or in a bad situation. It didn't feel right.

"I promise not to tell a soul." She placed a hand on her own heart. "But Andren, I need to take care of you. What did this mean person say, hm? What did they do? Who are they?" she sighed and moved to tilt Andren's chin up. Mags' brows narrowed but her gaze remained soft, her tone stern. "Now, Andren. " she paused for severity. "I ain't gonna make it worse." she stroked his jawline. "Don't you trust me to take care of things?"

Mags was right. She did look after him. Always had. "It's not your job," was all he mumbled in response in protest. But... he would tell her. "I trust you, Mags. I really really do. I just... I don't want him bullying you too," he told her earnestly.

He leaned into the petting on his face, closing his eyes for a moment. Finally, he sucked in a huge, deep breath. "It's Ezekial. He keeps calling me names. And says I cling to you too much. And... other stuff. But don't do anything about it, Mags," he added on, grabbing her hand from his face and holding it. "I don't want him bullying you," he whined.

Oh, Andren. Mags chuckled fondly and hung her head. "Ma and Pa said that I should look after you. And your Mas also tol' me too. So it is my job." She smirked. "But I like it." Couldn't imagine her life not wonderin' about her buzzin bee. The half of year he wasn't here she sure thought of him every single day. And wrote to him every day to boot. Andren was her life. Well, an important part of it at least. Gotta save some time for the farm.

"Ain't no one going to bully me." she pointed to her chest with a smirk. "They'd have to get through my thick skin first. It's too thick. Don't you worry your sweet head." The freshling ruffled her friend's hair affectionately and then proceeded to smooth it over. Andren couldn't have it all crazy like in class. She couldn't give the bully somethin else to make fun of him for.

"That boy." She sighed in exasperation. Ezekiel was always up to no good. He was such a no good do'er. "Don't mind him none. He don't got what we have." she shook her head and continued to pet Andren's hair, making sure it wasn't covering his pretty blue eyes. "He's jealous of what we got. And you." She was sure of it. Andren was too good of a pal. There wasn't anything wrong with him, even his too fragile heart.

And she wasn't going to sit around and do nothin'. No siree. Ezekial's wrong doing needed to end. Today.

"I am going to do something about it." she frowned. "But I ain't going to get any of the A-dults around unless he starts pushin' alright? she cupped his face. Obviously, she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Andren scrambled closer, throwing his arms around her. "You can't!" he shouted desperately, eyes filling with tears. "You promised you wouldn't do nothing!" well, not really, but Andren felt it was just as good as a promise. And now, Mags was going to break it!

"He'll hit you, Mags. Don't do anything, please!" he continued to beg, gripping at her, his wings flittering with nerves. "Ezekiel is mean. I don't wanna get you hurt."

Ezekiel was super mean and rude. Even some of the teachers had trouble with him. Surely, if Mags confronted him, it would jsut get worse and the freshling would swing at his childhood friend.

"We can just ignore it. It'll get better. Promise. Plleasssee Mags?" he tried.

Oh, Andren. Mag's let out a long breath and rubbed his back in soothing circles, carefully avoiding his wings. And winced. For such a quiet kid he sure had a loud mouth. The poor caring soul. "I can and I will, sweet pea. " she shook her head. "I'm only going to talk to him. We share the same class. I never said that I promised, did I?" Honestly, she wasn't even sure. Andren made her forget what happened from the last moment to now. But it wasn't a bad thing.

Mags shook her head. "Oh, he won't hurt me none. I'm strong as a bunyip. It'll be fine, darlin'." She might not have gotten in a tussle before, but she knew how to play in dirt. and had plenty of wrestlin' matches with the animals on the farm. She knew how to play dirty. That is, if he made the first strike. She was a lady, after all.

"Ezekial can be mean all he wants. It's about time someone gave him a piece of his own medicine." She patted his knee. "Don't worry about me, hun." The dryad shook her head. "Ignoring an infection won't make it go away." It would only get worse if he wasn't taken care of. But..."I'll promise, but I'm goin' to break that promise." There was no point in lyin'. Not to Andren.

Andren slumped, pouting. He really shouldn't have told her. Really, really, really. It was him and his darn mouth. Got him into plenty of trouble back home. And the fey knew Mags, knew how she would react. Why had he said anything? Even mama called Mags nosey and couldn't leave well enough alone. Well, he would have to protect her now. Since he was the one to cause this mess to begin with. Somehow, he'd keep Ezekiel from hurting Mags.

Boy, was he scared of that mean freshling though.

"Don't go making promises you can't keep," he mumbled, sniffling a bit as he scooted off the bed. Sure, he was sulking. But why shouldn't he? His dearest friend was going to get hurt because of him. He just knew it. "I'm gonna get ready for class," he continued to mumble, eyes downcasted, antennas wilted.

A scoff left Mags lips. "I ain't makin' promises that I can't keep." She didn't do that. Okay, she might have not lived up to some of her promises. But that couldn't be helped! Sometimes she lied for his own good too. This time, she wasn't lyin'. She'd get down to business to defeat this rascally freshling. To give him a good hard lesson in manners. Pa would be proud if he was here. The rest of 'em....probably not so much.

Someone had to stand up to Ezekiel though! Mags wasn't afraid of the weird hybrid. She wasn't afraid of no one. Not even the monster in their closet.

The dryad watched as Andren got up, sullen herself. She couldn't have him be like that before class. "Come on, now, bee. " she sighed as she got up herself. "There's nothin' to worry about. " She grinned. Why, he was at least listenin' to her! "I already took out your clothes for ya." Just like mama used to do when they were still livin on the farm. "Don't be blue. It'll all be alright."

Andren gave her a pouty look, staring at her... before moving towards the restroom. "I'm gonna take a shower, Mags. I can meet ya in class, alright?" He told her as he entered the restroom to wash up.

How was he going to protect Mags if Mags was too busy protecting him? Maybe he should call Ezekiel out. Before Mags can talk to him. That was an idea. It scared him but... surely, it'll be fine. Ezekiel wouldn't hit him... would he? The fey shook his head. No, he needed to talk to Ezekiel first... Well, it was time to hurry, if he was going to get to the bully before Mags did.

"Meet me in class?" Mags shook her head. "Don't talk crazy , bee. I'm comin' along with you." She enjoyed sharing showers with him anyway. Just like they were back at home. It was normal. She didn't understand why people thought it was weird. They were family. Practically her brother.

She followed after him.

And as her hand twisted the door...it was locked. Her brows laid flat. "Andren." She jiggled it, before knocking. No answer. "Andren, get your tush over here and unlock this door this instant." The water turned on. Ugh. Mags let out a sigh of frustration, her eyes now in slits. "You stubborn old mule, we're goin' to have to talk eventually! She twisted her fat arms across her chest. There's no escapin' it Andren. You better be in class!" He had promised her, after all.

She was going to give him what for if he wasn't there. The stinker.