[hr] [hr] [center][img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/7f3a34e6b336c008bf6ee0b1aafe204a/tumblr_nxxwk2aubq1uqz4z7o3_500.gif[/img][/center] [center][h1][color=Gold]Giddeon Bergan - Present Day - Carson City High School[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [hr] [color=gold] Alecia had accepted being his first pick and the process of selecting the rest of their teams went on. Clifford seemed to pick all of the outcasts, which was fine by him - he really only had any interest in picking those he knew and hung out with, anyway. It didn't really occur to him until that point that it was a separation between the "geeks" and the "popular" kids. He watched quietly as Clifford then took it upon himself to start some kind of fight with Drew Foster. Drew had been one of his picks, only if just that the boy could carry the ball a good few yards without worry of being taken down until three or even four others got to him. Rolling his eyes, as the two were at it (again), Giddeon crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for the moment to pass. Really now, he just wanted to go outside! Why were there so many interruptions on the one day they could just go out and have fun? He only became even remotely interested when Lailah decided to step in and help diffuse the situation, since there seemed to be something going on with Ms. Flores and Mr. Zaiger. He wasn't sure which he wanted, or needed to pay attention to. But next thing he knew, his name was being thrown out - apparently Lailah had claimed that the two of them were going to be going to a party... together. He was about to open his mouth to object until the very still, small voice in his head told him to close it again. Lailah was gorgeous - the two of them had known each other for years, but after a handful of rejections and being labeled "just a friend" by so many others Giddeon had all but given up on trying to get a girlfriend before graduating high school. Clifford took off to the bathrooms, and Alecia followed after him. Great. But then Lailah came to his side, and reiterated what she meant. Even if it was a cover to keep her away from Drew, she still wanted to go with him to the party. Great! "Uh-"[/color] [color=plum]“..e-everyone… Everyone; I-… I need you to listen up, please… This is important…”[/color] [color=gold]Giddeon shut his mouth, his head turning to look at his teacher. He had nearly forgotten that something had been going on with her today - a sense he had picked up the moment he walked into the gym. He felt his heart sinking and his mouth going dry. This was it. This was what that feeling was all about.[/color] [color=plum]“..I really didn’t want to do this now, not at the beginning of the day, or a double period that’s meant to be for nothing but fun, but… this will be my last year here at Carson High; it’s been an amazing experience teaching you all, and I can honestly say, being here and able to spend these last few years with you has been the best of my life… I, uh… I don’t want to keep anything from you… I have Leukemia; I was diagnosed three years ago, and it’s at quite an advanced state. The doctors I’ve been seeing believe that I have less than two years left… For now-… For now, Mr. Zaiger will be helping me out; taking over class for the rest of the day… please be good for him… you have all made my life so much better just by being in it; by being yourselves, just the way you are… I will never forget any of you…”[/color] [color=gold]Giddeon couldn't feel his face. Leukemia? [i]Leukemia[/i]? Just how long had this been going on? How many times had she forced a smile to him when she was going through so much pain? How many times did she force herself through the day, not knowing if certain moments were going to be her last. He was deaf to the roar of protests, questions and concerns the rest of the class burst out with - it was nothing more than a dull, ringing sound in his ear; distant. Or was that Lailah's phone? Things seemed to slow down entirely as he felt his head moving to look at Mr. Zaiger, his wet eyes pleading for something... [i]anything[/i]. "We can't just let this happen!" he cried out. And though it matched up with what the rest of the class was shouting, Giddeon's meaning was directed directly to the adult vampire. They had the power to stop this... the question was... would he have to do it alone? [/color] [hr] [hr] [center][img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/190115f99f414a6bf53574bce22f9778/tumblr_og6hv62XWI1s4y1xuo2_540.gif[/img][/center] [center][h1][color=Firebrick]Jake Zaiger - Present Day - Carson City High School[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [hr] [color=firebrick] Jake had missed most of Zoe's little monologue. It wasn't due to a lack of interest - he had been involved directly by offering to take over her class for the day - and quite possibly a few more days a week if she continued down the path she was spiraling towards. But what had grabbed his attention was the phone call Lailah received. His heightened hearing could listen in on the other end - two voices - one he recognized as Madison, the other... male... but unidentifiable. But... Zephyr cove? How in the hell did Madison end up there so quickly? She was a hybrid, sure, but even the most powerful, Original vampire had problems teleporting great distances like that... No... something else had happened. And he was inclined to figure out what. Feeling a hot pair of eyes baring down on him, Jake reverted his attention from Lailah and to Giddeon. The boy was seconds away from tears streaming down his cheeks, his inaudible pleading for him to help Ms. Flores making the vampire sigh somewhat. The boy was still young - he did not understand that things like this just happened, and than in the human world, it needed to run its course. Just because they had the power to save a life... didn't mean that they should. He averted his gaze from Giddeon, giving the boy his answer, and instead remained as Zoe's anchor as she used him for the strength she seemed to need just for standing up. "Hey everyone... Everyone settle down." Jake spoke loudly, speaking over the clamoring students. Once he had their attention, he gave the class a brief look-over, trying to make eye contact with as many of them as he could as he continued speaking. "I know this is all rather upsetting news. We are all going to miss Ms. Flores after this year. But this is far from goodbye. Most of you will be graduating in just a few months, going on to college or into the military... some of you maybe even to your parents basement for the next forty or fifty years - hey, you do what you need to do. Point is life is moving forward. You want to help Ms. Flores? You focus on school. Study. Graduate. Get a degree. Be that next researcher who finds a cure. Be that independent rich ass that funds the research. Be that friend that visits her once a week for a cup of coffee and chat with her about how much of a difference in your life she has made. Hell... be her pool boy. I don't care. But be something. That is the best thing any student could ever give a teacher." Jake paused, looking over the students again before nodding. "Now, everyone outside. I think this is a good time to take out our inner anger by starting that game of football you were all so excited about a few seconds ago. Lailah... Go. I'll deal with the office about your attendance later." Connecting his eyes with hers, he gave her a more personal nod of acknowledgement, letting on that he knew what the conversation entailed, and that she had his permission to leave class. Then, he gave his attention back to the students once more, breaking away from Zoe for just a second so that he could use his arms to "brush" the students away and outside. "C'mon! Lets go, lets go! Everyone outside!" [/color]