Chapter Text
Time has a strange way of moving, Isaac thought to himself as he carefully unwrapped his sandwich. Before he’d even realized it, a year at boarding school had already gone by. If he was being honest with himself, he hadn’t really been keeping track of anything. The days had blurred together, with the same old routine of going to classes, having lunch by himself, doing his homework, and playing with Jack in the evenings once he’d finished everything. The only difference had been when he wanted to stay on campus for the summer.
He remembered how he’d sat in that office, how his advisor, Mr. Nyras, had raised him a confused brow from behind his desk as he looked over the boy’s file.
“Well, your grades for both semesters have been stellar, you’ve clearly worked very hard, how come you don’t want to go home, Issac?”
He remembered how he’d shifted a bit in his chair, racking his brain for a reasonable way to dodge the question.
“Um…family troubles, sir.”
“Ah. I understand.” Mr. Nyras nodded, briefly looking away to scribble some notes on Isaac’s file. “I’ll talk with our facilities director. I’m sure he won’t have a problem with it.”
And sure enough, he didn’t, leading to Isaac and Jack spending the summer together on campus. The two spent as much time as they could outside playing, permitting weather, of course. That time had passed even faster than the school year.
And now, here he sat. The first day of a new year, yet all by himself. I’m not really by myself, he thought. I have Jack. He’s just waiting back in the room. As he started to eat, he heard the rising sounds of chatter and laughter as a group of students absentmindedly sat next to him.
“Oh, you should’ve seen it! It was hilarious!”
“Come on, Jeffrey, it’s the first day. The least you can do is try to make a good first impression in some of our classes. Please?”
“Hey! Both of you! Did you not even notice him?!”
Isaac looked up upon hearing the bark of a girl’s voice to find three other students sitting next to him. Two boys, one with long, black hair, and one with a more caramel colored, curly mop. Next to him stood a girl with equally dark hair. She yelped a bit in embarrassment upon seeing Isaac look at her.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so, so sorry! We didn’t mean to interrupt! Here, guys, let’s go find somewhere else and-“
“It’s okay. You guys can stay. I’m not expecting anyone else.” He took another bite of his sandwich as the three sighed a breath of relief. “Are you guys new?”
“Yeah. Transfers,” the curly-haired kid next to him said. “I’m Louis.”
“Isaac.” He smiled softly. Was this really happening? “And-“
“Oh! Yes! Hi! I’m Jane,” the girl smiled, embarrassed as ever. “And this is Jeffrey!”
“God, you’re laying it on thick, Jane. You’re gonna scare him off.” Jeffrey grumbled.
“Did you guys know each other before?” Isaac asked.
“Well, yes. We all came from the same school, but we got chased out of it because someone’s brother tossed the faculty’s grade books into the furnace!” Louis stared daggers at Jeffrey, who picked at his tuna sandwich with passive indifference.
“Eh, half of them hated me anyways. Might as well make it official, right?”
Isaac giggled a little, much to his dismay. “That’s kinda funny…”
“Don’t encourage him! This is the last school that’ll take us!” Louis begged in absolute desperation. He turned his attention to Jeffrey. “Please, I’m begging you. You don’t want us go back home, do you?”
“Course not! You of all people should know that, Lou! I just…I dunno, I just get bored.”
“Well, um, don’t worry. I’ve heard the science we’re supposed to learn this year is quite difficult.” Jeffrey immediately perked up mid-bite, causing Jane to giggle.
“Ooo, he said your favorite word, Jeffy…”
“Sh-shut up! I… do you know anything specific?” Now it was his turn to shrink in embarrassed, but clearly very potent excitement.
“I know we’re going to start on some beginner’s chemistry-“
“CHEMISTRY?!” Jeff squealed, causing the entire table to bust into laughter. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just-“
“You’re okay, Jeffrey! Gosh, I forget sometimes you can squeal higher than me!” Jane laughed, holding her sides. “We need to have lunch with you more often Isaac!”
And so, the rest of the meal, the four talked for what seemed like hours, laughing, sharing stories, and promising as they left to meet for dinner. After all of his classes were up, Isaac returned to his room, and as per tradition, Jack sprang from his box in an explosion of confetti.
“There’s my buddy Isaac! How was tod- oh! Oh, look at you! You look so much happier than usual!” Jack ricocheted around the room in excitement as Isaac laughed. “Something happened, didn’t it? Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! PLEASE!”
“Okay, okay, Jack! Just calm down!” The boy continued to giggle as he sat on his bed. “I…I made some new friends at lunch.”
“New friends? That’s wonderful! Tell me all about them!”
“Well, their names are Jefferey, Louis, and Jane, and they transferred here. They’re in the same grade as me. We’re also getting dinner tonight. Hey, maybe you could meet them if I introduced yo-“
“NO!” Jack abruptly screeched and covered Isaac’s mouth. He quickly let go upon seeing he was scaring the boy. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, but… I don’t think it’d a good idea if they found out about me. If you reveal me, than they can just tell everyone, and… it wouldn’t end very well. I’m influenced only by you, kiddo. Imagine what would happen if I was influenced by the whole world?”
“So, whoever knows about you affects you…well, what if I make them keep it secret?” Jack perked up.
“Secret? How?”
“A pinky promise.”
Jack gasped. How did he already know how to wield such a powerful magick as a pinky promise?
“That…that just might work. But they have to make it with me. That’s the only way for it to work. Do you wanna test it out, kiddo?”
“Sure, why not?” Isaac stood from his bed. “I promise that only Jeffrey Louis, and Jane will ever know about you.” As he held up his pinkie, he was shocked as it started to glow pink with magic. Jack held out his own, much longer pinky, and as the two entwined, the room pulsed with magical energy before it faded away in a burst of glitter.
“There. It’s sealed. No breaking it now, kiddo.”
“Wow. I didn’t think that was actually magical! Jack, that’s incredible, I- oh, bollocks, I’m late again!”
“Late? for dinner?”
“Yes! I’ll be back tonight, I promise! See you, Jack!” He quickly threw on his coat and ran out the door again, only to run back in, hug Jack, and run back out. Jack sighed happily, although it faded to a lingering look of concern before he returned to his box.
“Be careful, kiddo…please…”