Switching to the topic at hand, "It's not that I'm asking you to take action. I know you have your own problems."
"There is a guy here, a fellow first-year. … He's from the same orphanage and he's not a good person. He managed to get himself a level-7 teleport ability. Tonight was the second time he attacked me. The first was not as bad. Tonight…"
Chekof decided to sit next to her while Blaine sat her on the bed and pulled a chair in front of her.
She took another deep breath, "My brother and our friends and I were walking in the park. He grabbed me, teleported away with me and beat me. I couldn't do anything. I managed to get my vine around his throat and he teleported away. I need to know how to fight him. And while I know you want to help me, it's not like I can carry you around in my pocket in case he attacks again."
While she was talking, Blaine looked like he wasn't handling this information well. "How about we go for a walk in the park the day after tomorrow, just you and I?"
She bit her lip a little but decided it would be best to agree. This would keep those she cared about safe and with the two of them, they had better chances.
"Sounds okay."
"We'll go after dinner and after you bring food to Paul."
She nodded and left, returning to her room and her studies.
For the next two days, classes went as normal. She attended the first half of Agricultural Class with the second half spent in her tree. She got the academics but the practicals were usually excessively easy for her. She valued the knowledge she gained but spending time learning on her own was more valuable in the long run.
At the very least, she could include this new information in a book if she were to choose to teach her ability to others. Right now, that was a big IF. If she didn't understand it; if she couldn't control it; how could she teach another to do so?
She decided to begin learning how to conduct research so she could get to work on creating her energy bars during the second part of Agriculture class in her tree. Using her camp cookware, she cooked dinner. She had Dobin help her with the portable table and chairs. The table legs were now encased in really hard rock with the chairs sitting on top. This made eating more convenient with less to carry. Her friends joined her under this tree rather than the one in the park. After what happened, they decided to reduce their time in the park.
Lana quickly packed her cooking equipment back in her bag after they ate. She wanted to get to the park before it got too dark.
Lana had food for Paul as always. Blaine accompanied her to deliver it to him.
"I'm still weirded out by this. Are you sure he's not your boyfriend?"
She laughed really hard, the sound echoing in the stairwell as they approached the third floor. She had to stop walking because she was laughing so hard.
"He's from a top-tier family! Who would ever want to date me, much less from such a prominent family!"
She was having trouble breathing she was laughing so hard so the words came out haltingly.
Blaine had a frown on his face and his eye started twitching. She finally got herself under control, "come on. Let's get this done."
When they got to his room, Lana asked Blaine to wait in the hall. She let herself in and placed the plate on the table. She noticed he was busy at work and silently let herself out.
Blaine had an indistinguishable look on his face when she returned.
"See, that's why it's hard to believe you are not his girlfriend. You are not dating him yet you let yourself into his room?"
She shrugged, "it's just one of his skills. He wanted me to be able to drop it off without disturbing his work. Now let's go before us talking disturbs him. He's busy. Besides, you've met him. I don't know why you're questioning this."
"It's just strange that a classmate has you cooking for him and has no romantic intentions and has given you access to his room for the purpose of dropping off meals."
Lana started chuckling. The sound once again reverberating in the stairwell. "I was rather shocked as well, by his actions. However, his one love is science and it just so happens I'm doing food science." She chuckled again. "I guess he likes my cooking."
She grinned up at Blaine. He was over a foot taller than her but the size difference didn't intimidate her. She felt comforted by his presence.
As they were talking a text message came in.
[Why were you rattling when you dropped my food off?]
She replied really quick:
[I hastily repacked my cooking equipment for when I cook outside.]
Paul's response,
[Bring me your equipment when you bring the next meal.]
She sent him a thumbs-up emoji.
"I can't really blame him for liking your cooking. It's amazing and I feel lucky to be able to eat with you and your friends."
She shrugged, "cooking has become an expression of taking care of those I care about. Making sure their needs are met. I know it is something so many others take for granted. Like… warmth."
"I bought three new blankets last week. I needed more salt so I went on the market in the library and I saw one over in the recommended section. Next thing I knew, I bought 2 more. And a few pillows."
She smiled. "I just realized I never asked Dobin if he wanted any. I should do that."
By now, they were in the park and following the path in the same direction she headed the day before.
"Can't he buy them for himself if he wanted them?"
She chuckled, "technically no. When we got here, to keep his credits from being stolen, he set it up to automatically transfer all his credits to me each night. If someone stops him to demand credits, even if they beat him up, they can't rob him. They have tried a few times but now they no longer bother, knowing he has none to give."
"So, you are taking care of him but you have no one to take care of you?"
She scoffed, "What does that even look like. I'm sure Dobin would love to and he is getting stronger with his ability but we have spent our whole lives with me taking care of him. Other than him, no one cares."
"Why do you keep saying that?"
"Saying what?"
"That no one cares, that you are not lovable?" They were nearing the area where the attack began the day before.
"Because it's true?"
"It's true? Or you were lied to all your life and you believe those lies?"
She stayed silent, thinking. "This is where it happened."
They paused and stayed in the area for a few minutes.
Suddenly a scream pierced the stillness just as full darkness fell.
Blaine and Lana looked at each other then started running in the direction of the scream. Enroute, she asked the trees for directions. When they got close, she grabbed his arm to slow him down. She got a description of the situation and said they should circle around and then act. It only took a few extra seconds but it enabled Blaine to pull a first-year male student off a first-year female student.
One look and both were devastated. Lana could hear sounds of a fight behind her while she treated the girl's injuries. Her clothing was in tatters. She talked to the girl for minute or less. She then stripped down and gave her uniform to the girl.
Lana was a bit shorter but liked to wear her clothing a bit bigger so she could move easier. Lana then encased herself in her stage-1 armor to ensure she was covered, thankful for the cover of darkness had just started to fall so the finer details could not be seen of her or the other girl.
Lana noticed the sounds behind her had ended and turned around. The other boy was being held by Blaine.
"Would you like a turn?"
She nodded and she added a few injuries of her own. She noticed the look on Blaine's face and lost control of herself.
Lana stepped closer to him, placed her hands on his shoulders and jumped up. She wrapped her knees on either side of his hips and they locked in a kiss. His hands traced down her back and along her butt. He didn't seem to be bothered by her being covered with vines. She didn't know it but when she stripped to offer her uniform to the girl, he saw her body. Kyle switched with him at that time.
Lana broke off the kiss and placed her head against his neck to regain her breath. Once she regained control, she took his hand and they returned to the dorms without another word.
**********************************
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