Unlooked For

Alan walked the rest of the way to class in a daze. Erik? Why Erik? The other guys weren't athletes... the goons taunted them about not being athletes. So why Erik? It just doesn't make sense!

His shock made it nearly impossible to concentrate, which was bad since he had a surprise quiz in Spanish. Fermat had glanced at him sharply and frowned, but the younger boy had his own roiling emotions to deal with. Wish my stomach would settle down. This is no time to get sick! It's just a game; it's just a game. I've got to keep telling myself, it's just a game. He winced at his own thoughts. Yeah, right. Like I really believe that.

When Spanish was over, the two boys parted ways. Alan gave his friend a distracted, "See ya" as he prepared to walk off.

Stung, Fermat asked, "Aren't you g-going to w-w-wish me l-luck?"

The question seemed to rouse Alan from his torpor, and he turned back to his friend, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Fermat. I haven't exactly been thinking on all cylinders this afternoon. You shouldn't have had to ask. But, yeah... the best of luck, pal, to you and the team. Get out there and whip their butts!" He held out his fist, and Fermat tapped it, then Alan returned the tap. "You'll do great; I just know it! I wish I could be there to see your first victory."

Mollified, Fermat smiled. "Th-Thanks, Alan. I'll do m-my best."

"Your best is awesome, dude. You'll totally rock!" Alan shook a finger at him. "I want to hear all the details as soon as possible. Call on the way home if you can."

"Good i-idea," Fermat replied, nodding. He glanced at his watch. "We'd b-b-better g-get..."

"Going." Alan interrupted. "Right. Talk to you later!"

"Bye!"

They parted, Alan's attention finally diverted from Erik's plight, and Fermat's inner butterflies quelled... for the moment.

"Have you heard from Wharton this morning, Brains?" Jeff asked as he and his engineer settled down to discuss the day's projects.

"Y-Yes," Brains replied, adjusting his glasses. "They c-called before b-breakfast and t-told me about an, uh, i-incident at the school." He gave Jeff a puzzled look. "H-Have y-you heard from th-them?"

Jeff shook his head. "No, not yet. But I know about what happened. I found out courtesy of John, who picked up a news item from the local televid station. If I don't hear from them soon, I'll be putting in a call of my own."

Brains nodded. "I h-haven't d-d-d... thought about wh-what my reaction should b-be."

"Me, either," Jeff admitted. "I think a lot of that will depend on Alan, and what he thinks." He looked at his watch. "I'm waiting until after dinnertime there to call him."

"The, uh, w-woman who c-called me said that F-Fermat would still be g-going on his quiz m-m-m... competition. I'll w-wait until he g-gets back from th-that to call." Brains smiled. "I expect I'll h-hear good things about th-the m-meet."

Jeff smiled. "I'm sure you will, Brains. Now, let's get down to business."

They began their discussion, going over what projects had highest priority and where Brains was in regards to those on his list. Suddenly, Jeff's satellite phone rang. He picked it up from the desk, glanced at the caller ID, and glanced over at Brains. "It's Wharton," he said. Brains nodded, and Jeff put his earphone-microphone combination in his ear so he could see who was calling. "Jeff Tracy here."

"Mr. Tracy, this is Mrs. Belvedere calling on behalf of Wharton Academy." The face of the student affairs director appeared on his phone screen. She looked a bit tired, but seemed to be sitting as ramrod straight as ever. "My apologies for disturbing you, but there is a situation here you should be aware of."

"I'm already aware of the attack that took place on campus last night," Jeff replied, unsmiling. "One of my sons found a brief news story on it, and apprised me of the incident. Professor Hackenbacker has also mentioned it to me. Do you have any more details? I expect that if Alan were involved, I would have been notified much earlier."

Mrs. Belvedere looked a bit discomfited by the fact that Jeff already knew about the problem. "I am sorry that you discovered the incident from the news. We wanted to speak to the students before calling parents. You are correct in assuming that Alan is not involved. But I can only share with you the details you probably already have in your possession. A student was assaulted on campus last evening and is currently hospitalized. The police, working in tandem with our security personnel, are investigating the matter, and we have put some new security measures into effect to help preserve our students' safety. An explanatory email listing those measures will follow. We hope you will consider leaving Alan in our care, as we are doing everything we can to keep him and his classmates safe."

"I've been thinking long and hard about this, Mrs. Belvedere," Jeff admitted. "But I haven't come to a decision yet. I will inform you when I do. Truthfully, a lot will depend on Alan's assessment of the situation."

"I understand. Professor Hackenbacker said much the same thing about his son," Mrs. Belvedere said with a nod. She paused, looking as if she were trying to decide something, then she smiled slightly. "I should tell you, Mr. Tracy, that Alan has quite impressed me over the past two weeks. I have had two conversations with him, first about the situation in his dorm room and the fact that he was separated from his friend, then the incident with Mr. Mackenzie. He has acted in a very mature way throughout, thinking of others before himself, and showing great loyalty as well. Whatever has happened since last spring has been very beneficial."

"Yes, he did a lot of growing up over the summer. I'm very proud of him... I always have been." Jeff smiled, a look of pride on his face.

"You have reason to be," Mrs. Belvedere told him. She paused again, and the business-like demeanor returned. "Do you have any questions for me at this time?"

"Have the police been able to connect this to the earlier incident... the one Fermat Hackenbacker was involved in?" Jeff asked.

"I am not certain, Mr. Tracy, but they are exploring every avenue. However, they do not believe the incident has anything to do with the assault on Alan earlier in the week."

"I see. Well, thank you for calling, Mrs. Belvedere. May I call again if I have any other questions?"

"Of course, but please wait until tomorrow to call. Most of the office lines will be tied up for the rest of the day while we notify other parents."

"Point taken. Again, thank you for calling. I will be discussing the matter with Alan and will decide on our response after that."

Mrs. Belvedere nodded. "You're welcome, Mr. Tracy. Good day."

"Goodbye." Jeff disconnected the call, and his earpiece. He glanced over at Brains.

"H-How did it g-go?" the engineer asked.

"Pretty well. She told me she's impressed by Alan at the moment," Jeff said, folding up his phone and putting it aside. "Said he was acting in a very mature manner about the separation." He looked at Brains thoughtfully. "What do you think the boys' reaction will be? Do you think they'll want to stay, or come home?"

Brains shook his head slowly. "I'm n-not sure. At the m-moment, I think th-they'd want to st-st-st... remain."

"I think so, too." Jeff readjusted himself in his chair. "Well, we'll know soon enough. Let's get back to work."

Fermat watched the clock in his last class, Chemistry. He had given his teacher, Ms. Hager, a pass from Mr. Feng, one that would let him out halfway through the class hour. He was nervous; he'd never had to leave class like this before. Finally, a few moments before his departure time, he packed up his things, then waited. He tried to catch Ms. Hager's eye, to get a nod of permission, but wasn't able to. At last, he stood, swallowing, still waiting for her to notice him. The other students noticed, though, and their curious stares in his direction prompted his teacher to look at him and nod.

"You may go, Mr. Hackenbacker," she said.

Fermat let out a held breath, and fled the room. He hurried down the stairs, where he had arranged to meet Devdan.

"Good afternoon, Fermat," Dev said, a small smile on his face. "We must move quickly, or we will be late, and Mr. Feng does not appreciate tardiness." He held his hand out for Fermat's book bag and added its weight to that of his backpack, then they left the building. Dev's long legs set a fast, ground eating pace, one that Fermat huffed and puffed to catch up with. I think I should join Alan in his morning run, he thought ruefully. I'm already losing what little tone I gained over the summer.

The two of them sped through the passage in the Student Center. On the other side, one of Wharton's vans was already waiting. Mr. Feng was packing up what little equipment they would need.

"We are on our way to put our class paraphernalia away and to fetch our uniforms," Devdan explained as they slowed. "We will return momentarily."

Mr. Feng nodded. "Make it quick."

"We shall." Devdan smiled, then picked up the pace once again. Fermat soldiered on in his wake.

Once at the dorm, Dev opted for the stairs to the third floor, but Fermat took the elevator, hoping to catch his breath. He shook his head slowly when he saw Dev already standing in front of his door, the book bag in hand.

"I will deposit this here and go on to my own room." The team captain put the bag down, then looked Fermat up and down critically. "You may want a change of shirt."

"Huh?" Fermat asked, but Dev was gone, striding quickly down the hallway to his room and disappearing inside. The younger boy blew out a tired breath, and opened his door. He picked up his book bag and took it and his computer case inside, then returned to pull in the laundry boxes that sat in the hall. Having done that, he quickly found his blazer, a navy blue one with Wharton's crest on the pocket. He had looped the tie twice around the handle of the hangar, under the thin, clear plastic dry cleaner's sheath. Looking at them, he decided to don them both en route. Just before closing his closet door, he saw himself in the mirror and suddenly understood what Dev had meant about a change of shirt. The underarms of the one he was wearing were dark with sweat. He sighed, and pulled off his vest, then fished a fresh garment from his closet.

There was a knock at the door as he stripped off the soaked shirt, carefully maneuvering it over his cast. "C-Coming!" he called as he struggled to put on the clean one, muttering curses under his breath over how being hurried made him move slower and not faster. He had the shirt half buttoned when he opened the door and came face to face with... A.J.'s father.

"Ah, oh, er," Fermat stammered.

The man smiled. "Hello there... Fermat. Do I have that right?"

"Y-Yes, sir," Fermat replied, his hands frozen.

Mr. Trumbull motioned with his head toward the half-buttoned shirt. "I see I caught you at a bad time. I was wondering: do you know where Andrew is at the moment?"

"He is still in class," came a voice from behind Mr. Trumbull. Dev had arrived, his own jacket in hand, and Fermat mentally breathed a sigh of relief. Dev reached out a hand. "I am Devdan Israni, hall monitor."

"Arthur Trumbull. I'm Andrew's father," the older man said as he shook Dev's hand.

"Ah, very good." Dev nodded. "Classes will be over in twenty minutes. Perhaps you could wait for him in the downstairs lobby."

Mr. Trumbull's eyes flicked back and forth between the older and the younger boy. "I was hoping to wait for him in his room, if that is all right with Mr. ... Hackensack..."

"H-Hackenbacker," Fermat corrected. He finished buttoning his shirt, and ducked back inside to tuck it in.

"I am afraid that is not permissible, sir. Have you heard about the incident that occurred last night?"

"Yes," Mr. Trumbull answered slowly. "I have. That's why I'm here."

Fermat cam back to the door, a frown of consternation on his face. But Dev nodded. "Then you will understand why we hall monitors have been told to be especially vigilant," he said smoothly. "Have you perhaps checked in at the administration building? That is the standard procedure for parents who visit."

Mr. Trumbull looked a bit belligerent, but Dev's cool reiteration of the rules took the wind out of his sails. "I... was not aware of the protocol. I will go to the administration building now and check in." He glanced back and forth between the teens again, and straightened his shoulders. "Thank you for informing me. I'm sure I will see you again soon."

"You are most welcome," Dev replied graciously. "Now, Mr. Hackenbacker and I have an appointment to keep. Perhaps you would ride down in the elevator with us?" He turned to Fermat. "Are you ready, my friend?"

"Y-Yes," Fermat said. He grasped his jacket, still on its hanger, in his left hand, then put his right one up to the scanner, locking the door. Then he moved the hanger to his good hand, and slung it over his shoulder.

"You have the finances required for a meal?" Dev asked.

"Yeah, I d-do." Fermat remembered clearly putting his wallet in his trouser pocket, and his phone in his shirt pocket.

"Then let us go. Mr. Feng can be most impatient." Devdan led the way to the elevator, where Mr. Trumbull waited for the two boys.

"So," the older man said in a jocular tone. "Where are you boys going that lets you out of class early?"

"Qu-Quiz team m-meet," Fermat explained. "An away g-game."

"Academic quizzing?" Mr. Trumbull looked with interest from one boy to the other. "Interesting. I had a roommate in college who did that. Went to one of his meets. Fascinating to see how brainy he and his teammates were."

By this time, the elevator door opened, and the trio stepped out. Devdan hurried Fermat through the lobby; Mr. Trumbull kept pace. Once they had descended the concrete steps to the walkway, Dev and Fermat paused.

"H-Have a n-nice a-a-a... evening, sir," Fermat said politely. "It was n-nice to m-meet you."

"Thank you, Fermat. It was nice to meet you, too... both of you," Andrew's father replied.

"Yes, Mr. Trumbull. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please excuse us, but we must hurry." Dev took Fermat by the upper arm – above his cast - and hurried him off. Once they were past Oakwood, the pair broke into a run, their jackets flapping behind them on the hangers. They arrived at the van to see that the rest of the team had assembled, and Mr. Feng was looking pointedly at his watch.

"My apologies, Mr. Feng," Devdan said. "We had an unexpected delay involving my duties as hall monitor."

"Ah," Mr. Feng said as Fermat climbed into the van. "I see. Well, we'd better get moving if we want to be there on time."

Fermat found himself in the rear-most seat, with Atif and Tomas. They helped him hang his blazer on a horizontal bar that had been set up in the cargo area, and they did the same for Dev's coat as it was passed back to them. Dev climbed into the front passenger seat, and Mr. Feng took up the driver's side.

"Everyone has used the bathroom, I hope?" Mr. Feng called back.

There was a chuckle from some of the veterans; they were familiar with this question of his. The new recruits looked puzzled for the most part, as Mr. Feng started up the engine, and pulled away from the curb.

A thrill passed through Fermat as he realized that he was leaving campus, not with his father or Mr. Tracy, but on his own, with his teammates. Suddenly, his nervousness had faded somewhat, replaced by a sense of adventure and excitement.

After practice, Alan helped Xavion pick up some of the equipment. His shoulder wasn't as achy this evening; he had taken special care to warm up for his javelin practice. But though his body wasn't as sore, he was sore in a different way. Steve had been by turns rude, condescending, sarcastic, and nit-picking. Alan could do nothing right; he had his hand too far back or too far forward. He held the spear too high or too low; he released it too soon or too late.

Alan managed to keep from exploding at the guy, but he was that close to first telling Steve off, then asking the coach to drop him from the javelin. I'm sure I wouldn't lose my place on the team; not with Erik in the hospital and all. But maybe I need to learn something from this; Coach probably knows about Steve's attitude and wouldn't have him training me if he thought I couldn't hack it. If nothing else, I'm learning more self-control! I'll bring it up to Zave, though, and see what he suggests.

"So, Pinky," Zave said as he handed Alan a stack of plastic orange cones. "You coming downtown with me tomorrow?"

Alan groaned. "Damn! I knew I was forgetting something! I haven't asked my dad to change my permissions!" He shifted his load of markers, and looked at his watch. "The office is closed now, isn't it?" Sighing, he shook his head, then brightened a bit. "I'll call him and ask him to email the permission anyway. Maybe someone's still there trying to get hold of parents or something."

The two boys reached the truck that carried sports equipment back and forth from storage to field. Xavion took the cones from Alan and said, "I've got the rest of this. You'd better hurry up and make your call. See you at dinner."

Alan swallowed his first, knee-jerk response of "F-A-B", and said, "Sure, see you then," instead. Then he took off at a run for his dorm. Man, am I glad that the soccer team's first game is today... and is away! He grinned a little. Wonder how Fermat's first meet is going?

Just then, some eighty-plus miles – as the crow flies – away, and after nearly two hours of driving time, Fermat Hackenbacker was settling down into a chair on a strange stage, in an unfamiliar auditorium, at a school he didn't know existed until just that week.