"I'm not sure what horrible thing you think might happen if he gives our parents a mixed review."

"I don't know either!"

"Then why are you worrying about it?"

"I don't know, 'cause having your parents like me sounds like an important thing?"

"I'm sure they'll like you, pet, and even if they didn't it wouldn't matter that much, what are they going to do about it?"

"Well, nothing, but it's not a matter of doing anything. It's, you know. Your twin is important to you and I'd like him to like me, and same about your parents."

"Fair enough. But I think my parents will like you fine."

"Yeah. I hope so." Pause. "I should bring Alex something when I visit on Easter."

"I'll bring you when I go to the store for overpriced egg-shaped candy."

She giggles. "Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome, lovely." Pet pet.

With Alex gone and Jackson more-or-less sorted out (he manages to recover the ability to sit the following day), Sadde starts actually socialising with other people. The week is mostly uneventful, and he and Isabella settle on a routine, seeing each other every day, eating together sometimes, going to class and, in Sadde's case, work, and practicing their magic.

A couple weeks into the new semiquarter... Jackson continues to demonstrate the ability to sit, in chairs even, but he looks pale and distant.

Well. Sadde guesses he'll go check on him, then. He takes a seat with him after grabbing food. "Hello."

"Hi."

He eats a bit before asking, "How're you?"

Shrug. "I'm all right." Pause. "I don't need to go to the health center, even you wouldn't think I need to go to the health center."

He sighs. "Wouldn't I. What would I think instead, then."

"I don't know."

"Well, why don't you tell me what prompted you to expect me not to think you needed to go to the health center?" he suggests.

"I'm not injured?"

"And what are you, if not injured?"

"I'm all right, I said."

"Mmhm." Om nom nom. Ponder. "And yet you sought to reassure me that you didn't need to go to the health center, when I had not brought it up."

"I sort of figured that was why you were sitting here?"