"So..." Ray rubbed the back of his neck in worry as he considered the red-haired windian that was lying on the couch infront of him. He hadn't seen Jason move all day, and the dragon was really starting to worry. "I'm assuming that you weren't at school today..."

"Nope." Jason had his arm lying across his closed eyes. If it weren't for the fact that he was verbally responding to Ray at the time, it would have seemed that the windian was asleep. He wasn't so lucky. Jason was unable to sleep at all that day, save for a few fifteen minute nap periods before his dreams awoke him. Ray continued to rub the back of his neck and sighed.

"Will you be there tomorrow?"

"Probably not."

"Monday?"

"Ray." Jason moved his arm and opened his eyes, staring up at the dragon. "I'm not going back to school, alright?"

"Jason." Ray sighed. "Why not? You need to come to school..."

"Why?" The windian shot him a challenging look. "Why Ray? Tell me! I've got enough fucking things I'm trying to deal with right now, school doesn't need to be one of them! Shit! I'm already so behind in my classes I have no hope of ever fucking catching up, I was kicked out of the Archery Club last month, I hate the fucking teachers, and there's not a single student there that I want to see, so obviously I wouldn't be going there for social reason! So tell me, Ray, why the fuck should I go to school?"

"Education?" Ray blinked. He was at a loss of what else to say. Jason just stared at him before responding.

"Ray... I'm fucking going to live forever... I have years to fucking decide when I want to go out and get an education... Shit! What good is an education to a guy who's got to fucking deal with a demon like the Bird anyway?" Jason rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, I'm well educated for this job, sir! Great schooling! What? My worst fault? Well, I'll have to warn you, whenever I get pissed off I have this uncanny way of tearing people apart, oh but don't worry! I only have major anger management problems so I'm really hard to piss off unless I'm around people. Oh, wait, this is a job that requires me working with people? Well, good thing I've had all that schooling! Yes, I'm sure that will really help me." He flashed Ray a bored look before closing his eyes and lying back again. Ray sighed in defeat.

"Look, Jason, I'm just worried about you. You've started to hole yourself up in the house... Landon, have you even moved from that spot today? When was the last time you ate? Or got exercise? Or went outside???"

Jason muttered. "What's the point? Why should I fucking bother to move from this spot? There's nothing out there that interests me... fuck... Ray, why don't you just leave me alone?" The windian rolled over on the couch, turning his back to the dragon. Ray just sighed, gave Jason one last look, and headed towards the back door of his house. He opened the door and stepped outside onto the back porch, staring up at the blue sky above him as the sound of Britney and Phen's laughter echoed through the air. He glanced over to where the two were playing together in a small sandbox in the corner of the Bendrel's backyard. Ray smiled at the two and waved as his little sister and the JackFrost demon spotted him.

"RAY!" Britney giggled and called out happily. "Look at what we made!" She pointed to the sand castle that she and Phen were building in the sandbox.

"That's nice, Brat." Ray smiled and sat down on a lawn chair that was set up on the porch. As the two turned back to their building, the older light dragon watched them both happily as he remembered his own childhood.

Back to Main | Back to Chapter Index