"It can't happen again!" Ella looked imploringly at Hendrix. "It was so scary and mom's already talking about taking us out of school! I don't wanna leave."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"No! No, of course not! We'll make sure it won't," he said rushing to sooth her. "We will do something to prevent it," he reassured her. "Maybe we should get the students together and... and..." he had to wonder what they could do differently. "We will be okay, you are safer here because I..." can take care of you. "We," he corrected himself. "We are all together and we can take care of each other."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Hendrix's words calmed her nerves and she planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Strength in numbers" she murmured in agreement. "So it really was a bomb then" Ella said quietly. The way Headmaster Sato was going on about it it seemed confirmed. The thought made her nauseous.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

He felt himself growing warmer after she kissed his cheek. Inappropriate timing Hendrix, he chastised himself for getting all goofy at absolutely the wrong time. "Yes, exactly," he said quietly.

"It seems it," he nodded. "Attached to a car most likely," his earlier ponderings with Julian looked to be wrong. "They'll catch the culprit though," he reassured her. "They just... they have to." The thought that someone would intentionally strap a bomb to a car in a school parking lot had him sick to his stomach.

"Do you wanna get out of here?" he asked.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"That's so... dangerous!" Ella spluttered.

She looked around the hall as he suggested leaving. She didn't think she could sit and watch Mr. Sato get torn apart, or hear anymore shouting. "Let's go back to my room. I need to change my clothes" she admitted. Hers smelled strongly of smoke, and she hadn't even seen Maurey except a quick peek round the door earlier.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

He just nodded, keeping his arm still around her. "People just don't think," he said evenly.

Hendrix felt bad for the poor headmaster, he had done the best anyone could do in the situation. "Okay," he nodded, already leading her toward the exit. "I'll make you some chicken nuggets," he suggested sweetly.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"You will?!" Ella marvelled at Hendrix's ability to solve any problem, and her belly rumbled as if on cue. "You're the best, Hen."

The walk back to Quirank was thankfully uneventful. The car in the parking lot had been put out and the campus was quiet. Ella felt a little guilty at deserting all the people, but what help was she going to be anyway? Everything was under control. At least her room was the same. Still Jenny's immaculate side next to her messy side, still Maurey wagging his tail from his dog bed. Grinning, she scooped him up and cuddled him. It was odd that she felt tears prickling her eyes again and clearing her throat she grabbed whatever was off the floor and nodded towards the bathroom.

"I'll just go change" she said to Hen, leaving Maurey to keep watch over the boy.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Of course," he said warmly. "What can't chicken nuggets fix?" It was one of the small comforts that they could enjoy for now.

It was eerily quiet as they walked through campus and he kept Ella close to his side. They had done as much as anyone could. The campus was safe and secure for now but Hendrix had a lingering suspicion that things were not as calm on the inside as they were on the outside. He took quick strides and was glad to be inside Quirank.

He scratched behind Maurey's ears absently while Ella picked up some clothes. "Okay," he said lightly. He sat down on the edge of her bed when the door was shut and tried to put his thoughts together. Might as well start at the easy part. He stood up and peeled his sticky shirt off and held it in front of himself. "This is disgustin," he said pulling a face.

He dug his wand out of his back pocket and held it in front of his shirt. A siphoning spell would do to get the blood off but he would just have to deal with the light smell of smoke. At least he could still smell the cologne he had sprayed that morning. Now for a mending spell...

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Once in the bathroom Ella splashed her face with cold water. It was refreshing, and she was surprised to see the basin looking grimy afterwards. A quick check in the mirror and she realised she was covered in a thin layer of soot, or something. Still, it was nothing a quick wash couldn't fix she told herself, discarding her dirty clothes in the corner of the bathroom (a habit that drove Jenny mad).

She almost felt human by the time she'd spritzed her favourite cotton candy deodorant and emerged from the bathroom wearing half of her pajamas. "So what shall we do- oh!" Ella was shocked to find Hendrix in a state of undress and she averted her eyes from his chest, giggling slightly. What an odd day, first the school gets blown up and then she witnesses her first boy chest ever. "What are you doing?" Ella asked.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Hendrix jumped, he hadn't expected her to be done so quickly. "Oh!" he said surprised. "Oh I was just... I... um..." he pulled his shirt close to his chest, his shoulder still pink and raw from earlier but his face colored redder than ever. "I was trying to fix my shirt," he laughed. "I didn't want to get blood on your stuff."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ella scuffed her foot awkwardly on the floor, suddenly interested in the fascinating carpet. "Well, um, I'm pretty good at mending things. I can do it!" She held her hand out for his shirt, edging nearer to him.

"You just go sort out my nuggets!" she suggested, her face red as she smiled.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Uh thanks," he said, handing over his shirt looking incredibly guilty and keeping his eyes down even though he was the one standing there half naked in the middle of her room.

"Chicken! I can do that!" he said brightly, turning his back to her and gently smacking himself in the forehead. She was like a damn ninja, getting changed that quick. "I'm gonna do these up proper in the stove," he reached into the mini fridge and grabbed the chicken nuggets.

Passing her tried not to look so shy but couldn't help the gentle red coloring that spread to his neck and chest. "Thanks El," he said putting his hand on her shoulder gently.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"It's my pleasure" she said, wringing his shirt in her hands. "I mean, not my pleasure! I'm happy to help" she stammered, holding his shirt up and inspecting it, peeking at him from behind it curiously.

She was a dab hand at repairing rips and tears and was forever mending her cheer uniform. She pushed the pile of stuffed toys off of her bed and settled down, small thread looping out of her wand and making perfect, tiny stitches.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

He snorted at her little slip and. "Yeah... yeah," he said awkwardly, still laughing a little. He looked to see her peeking at him from around his shirt. He blushed slightly.

"I'll be... um... right back, just gotta toss these in," he said holding up the box of chicken nuggets. He ran down to the kitchen and made quick work of throwing the chicken nuggets in and setting the timer on his cell phone. He didn't know what it was but there was something more terrifying about being shirtless in a girl's room than there was about being shirtless in the kitchen where anyone could walk in.

On his way up to Ella's room one of the older boys saw him a whistled. "Where ya goin stud?!" the older boy teased. Hendrix's eyes were wide and he opened Ella's door quick and shut it behind him, still looking panicked. "There in!" he said.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ella managed to keep her giggle fit contained to when Hendrix was out of the room and was sitting cross legged when he appeared again. "I fixed it!" she said, padding over to him and holding it up. "I hope you don't mind pink thread." Showing him the stitches, they were indeed pink.

Face to face with Hendrix was a lot more difficult when he was semi nude and Ella handed him the shirt hurriedly before busying herself with two cups of strong tea. There was nothing a good cup of tea couldn't solve, be it bombs or boys.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Oh! It looks good!" he said brightly as he held the shirt up and checked it out. Being that close to Ella though had him a little distracted. As she turned to make tea Hendrix pulled his shirt over his head.

He was still feeling a little awkward. "So..." he said rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks for that..." Why am I so awkward?! He forced a smile and wandered over to Maurey again. "How is the little guy doing?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ella glanced at the pup whilst the tiny kettle her and Jenny shared was boiling. He was in his bed again with his favourite toy but perked up once he realised they were talking about him. "I think he was pretty scared by the bang" Ella said, feeling another surge of anger at whoever had done this. What did the poor animals here do to them?

"You could do with some snugs, couldn't you" she cooed at the dog, who rolled onto his back for bellyrubs.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Aww, poor little bit," he said reaching down to pet Maurey. "I think we could all use some snugs right little guy?" he asked the dog. Immediately he twitched a little. "I mean... hugging... it... helps," he hid his face behind one of his big hands.

"We're all a little shaken," he said to the small dog.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Hugging does help!" Ella said cheerfully, bringing two hot teas over to the bed and passing one to Hendrix. "I felt super better after you gave me a hug earlier" she blurted, to wrapped up in making a fuss over her dog to see Hen's discomfort.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

He accepted the cup of tea and blew on it, an easy smile creeping into the corners of his lips. "You did?" he asked, his voice slightly hopeful.

"I just... I needed to hug you I guess," he said looking at his hands. "I was so worried cause you're so sweet and... small," he looked over at her sheepishly. "Not that you can't defend yourself or anything I just... I worry." He took a sip of his tea to shut himself up.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Yeah, well... only you could get hit by a car, you giant." Smiling she curled up next to him and rested her chin on his good shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't call but dad was making such a fuss about going to hospital. He was trying to get the healers to let him try a herbal remedy" she sighed.

"Where's your mom?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

He laughed easily, trying to keep it out of his head what would have happened to his mom if he hadn't taken that bit of car. He only tensed a little she she curled in next to him. He put his arm around her slowly and rested his hand next to her leg. "It's okay," he said lightly. "I figured you and Jenny would take care of each other," he shrugged. "I just... kept myself moving, couldn't stop to think," he admitted.

"Mom is staying in Bluebell Town for a few days. She's all worried and she was gonna do some yoga and raki... send positive vibes or something," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "My Nana and Pap pap want to come down to check in as well," he said. It was already exhausting. "Your parents still at the hospital?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ella bit her lip and looked up at Hendrix seriously. "Was anyone badly hurt? Headmaster Sato said not but look what happened to you.."

She smiled as Hen mentioned his mom. "We could all use some positive vibes" she laughed, gulping down her tea until her cup was empty. With her hands free she was able to wrap them around his torso. It was a lot easier to touch him with his shirt on and the thought sent her blushing again. "My pops has to stay in hospital tonight but mom sent us home. I guess Bluebell Town is gonna have a busy few days with all the parents hanging around." It was all so surreal.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Nothing so bad," he said. "I mean... mine looked a lot meaner than it really was." The adrenaline of the moment numbed him to the pain, he hadn't really felt the pain until he went to the healer. "There were just a few people with a couple cuts and bruises," he nodded.

He laughed along with her about his mom. Jilly Meade-Cooper had a way of embarrassing him with her new age sort of attitude about life, she had a good heart though. He finished his tea and set the mug down so he could wrap his other arm around Ella as well. "They really are," he said. "I think I'm going to avoid downtown for a few days," he admitted. "My dad went home already but... he wouldn't leave until I get stitched up." His head was still spinning and admittedly all he wanted to do was slow time down and get his head back on his shoulders.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

That was some small relief. "If anyone had.. died. Do you think they meant it to?" It was insane to be talking like this.

Jilly and Ron Parry definitely had a spiritual view of life that made it easy for Ella to relate to. How often would he mother get annoyed at her dad's new crystals lying around the house? Hen's embrace was soothing, and warm. Ella sighed happily. "Well I'm glad he didn't. You're a tough cookie, mister but no one can ignore something like that. What if you arm got injected and fell off?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)