Arabella was sitting in her Child Development class, bouncing impatiently in her seat as she waited for the teacher to announce the pairings. They were being split into pairs to take care of a electronic baby that had the behaviors of a new born child. It had a sensor in the back that detected if the child hand been tossed around and it also monitors the feedings, changing, basically everything that the baby does. Arabella had her fingers crossed, really hoping that she would be paired with her friend James.

Willow sat quietly in the back with her head down but she was still listening to the teacher as she doodled absently in her notebook. She was not looking forward to this project. It involved a child. A child that cried and positively insured more beatings from her father if it woke him up or annoyed him in any way. She just hoped she wouldn't be holding the baby should he fly into a rage. She also wasn't looking forward to the fact that they had to work with someone else. Willow sighed, laying her head down.

"So, the pairings will be..."

Arabella sat up in her seat, eyes bright with excitement.

"Arabella and Arthur."

Arabella visibly deflated, shooting James an annoyed look as she turned in her seat to look at Arthur. Great, she was paired with the boy was as quiet as James was. She sighed, slumping in her seat.

"Willow and James."

Willow blinked and raised her head, peeking at James from underneath her bangs.

Arabella was sitting in her Child Development class, bouncing impatiently in her seat as she waited for the teacher to announce the pairings. They were being split into pairs to take care of a electronic baby that had the behaviors of a new born child. It had a sensor in the back that detected if the child hand been tossed around and it also monitors the feedings, changing, basically everything that the baby does. Arabella had her fingers crossed, really hoping that she would be paired with her friend James.

Willow sat quietly in the back with her head down but she was still listening to the teacher as she doodled absently in her notebook. She was not looking forward to this project. It involved a child. A child that cried and positively insured more beatings from her father if it woke him up or annoyed him in any way. She just hoped she wouldn't be holding the baby should he fly into a rage. She also wasn't looking forward to the fact that they had to work with someone else. Willow sighed, laying her head down.

"So, the pairings will be..."

Arabella sat up in her seat, eyes bright with excitement.

"Arabella and Arthur."

Arabella visibly deflated, shooting James an annoyed look as she turned in her seat to look at Arthur. Great, she was paired with the boy was as quiet as James was. She sighed, slumping in her seat.

"Willow and James."

Willow blinked and raised her head, peeking at James from underneath her bangs.

*edit
(Laptop was being stupid)

(sorry, I didn't mean to send it that many times. My laptop is not wanting to work right now)

James gazed over at Willow, more shy about being in a pair with someone he hadn't ever communicated with, then upset he wasn't with Arabelle. To be honest, it made a nice change. He adored her, he really did... But she was way too bubbly sometimes for his tastes.

He was just glad Willow wasn't a bully, like the others in the class were to him and the other less... popular kids. He reasoned bullying got to him more then it should because he couldn't actually speak himself, but could hear all that was said. He didn't mind what was said about him at all, but it angered him that he couldn't defend the others.

"Get in your pairs, please."

James stood and walked over to Willow, sitting next to her. Smiling at the girl, he reached gently out, moving a bang from her eyes, his hands soft and gentle. There. No more hiding those beautiful eyes from anybody. He signed, then nearly smacked himself. What if she didn't understand him? She must, why else was he paired with her? Shaking his head, he pointed at her doodles and smiled, mouthing "I like".

---

Arthur grunted as he sat with Arabella, shooting her a cold glance. Really? Her. The mute kid would have been better. He isn't likely to get on my nerves, and I understand signing, just don't do it. He seems to love this class too, he'd be willing to do all the work for it. Moving in his seat, Art rolled his eyes as they were given an information pack, starting to read it.

Willow's eyes fell back to her desk as she heard the teacher tell the class to get into their pairs. She heard someone take a seat next to her and she looked up just in time for James to move her bangs out of her face. She froze, staring at him with wide, startled eyes. No one had ever touched her so..gently before. She gazed at the boy for a moment. A pained expression appeared on her face when he signed at her and she averted her gaze as her own hands rose.

"Thanks. They're just doodles really."

She signed, ignoring his comment about her eyes. Any part of her was not beautiful by any means. Her signing was shaky and slightly awkward, the girl having not signed in over a year.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Arabella sighed once more before Arthur sat down next to her. She could practically feel the coldness and discontent he was radiating and she sighed quietly, turning to face him as she got straight to the point. "Look, I know you don't like me but could you possibly tolerate me? At least until we get this project done? After that I'll be out of your hair, promise."

James smiled kindly at her, slightly worried by the expression on her face. Taking the information pack from the teacher as he handed it over, James began to read over it. Sneezing into a tissue, he blushed and threw it into the trash, returning and reaching into his bag to pull out a pocket sanitizer to clean his hands.

Willow? Are you okay? He signed, his eyes glimmering with concern for his new friend. He moved a bit closer, as if offering a hug to his friend.

---

Rolling his eyes, Arthur sighed deeply. "I think the next 3 weeks will be the most stressful I've had to face working with another student. You should be working with James, you normally do." His deep, gruff voice caught the attention of James, who mearly flipped him the bird, before focusing back on Willow.

Willow looked up as they were handed their packet and the girl began reading through the information. She looked over at James just in time to see him sign at her. She nodded without answering and turned her attention back to the papers clenched in her small hands. She felt James move closer and she unconsciously flinched away, her instinct to shy away from all human contact kicking in.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Arabella huffed as she folded her arms across her chest. "Well, I'm sorry but it seems were stuck together so we can either suck it up, get along and pass this class or we both fail. And I don't know about you but I don't feel like repeating Child Development again." She said, staring at him with unwavering eyes.

(Time jump to Health class.)

"Alright, class. This next video is a little graphical. If you need to, leave and get air in the hallway." The teacher spoke, dimming the lights. The old tv began to play, flickering into life with a whirr of the tape player. James leant back in his chair as the video played, an old lecture on smoking and drinking.

He seemed fine untill they began to show the damage to the lungs and kidney. Swaying a little in his seat, he left the room, standing in the hallway. He felt sick and dizzy, unable to handle anything "gross".

---

Arthur glanced at the screen, rolling his eyes. He smoked plenty and never felt ill, besides, it was his body, so what were they to tell him what to do? So what if he smoked himself to death, it was better then being stuck in class all day.

Willow glanced up from her sketchpad to the screen. She knew very well what drinking did to a person and she didn't need reminding. She looked back down at the sketch she was doing, the half drawn face of a wolf staring up at her from the page. She slowly began shading in the fur where it needed it, soon becoming absorbed in her work.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Arabella wrinkled her nose as she stared at the screen. "ewwww." She said under her breath. She spotted James go outside and she popped up, heading out there as well. She smiled, walking over and putting a hand around him. "Hey, you alright?"

He nodded and smiled at her, sitting on the floor. He didn't quite feel like going back inside the classroom, so instead remained outside, cuddling into his best friend. Holding her hand in a friendly manner, the mute boy's mind drifted back to Willow. He was concerned about her, but didn't really want to worry Arabella with his thoughts. Closing his eyes for a moment, he ended up accidentally dozing off, leant into his friend's side.

Willow noticed that James exited the classroom with Arabella on his heels. She hoped he was ok but she didn't get up, deciding that she wouldn't be a big help, especially with his best friend already out there with him. She sighed quietly and laid her head onto the desk, closing her eyes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Arabella smiled down at the sleeping mute boy and stroked his hair while he dozed, becoming lost in her thoughts. When it was almost time for class to end she gently shook him awake.