"We're going out to the mall," Glory said, "so probably. There are a lot of different shops there, and I want to do a bit of shopping."

Léan sighed, as he stepped outside. The cool air didn't disturb him in the least. "All right..." Since he remembered where he sat the last time they went out together, he was able to find the correct seat, though he fumbled with opening the door.

Once Glory was sure he was alright, she went around and got into the driver's seat. She bit her lip a bit when the engine made a sound she didn't like.

"Come on," she murmured, "just hold out till the end of the winter..." She turned the key all the way, and the sound gradually stopped. "I may have to take this thing to a mechanic soon..."

Léan settled himself awkwardly in the seat, once again studying the interior of the car with wide, innocent eyes. In retrospect, he would never fully fit into the human world...there were too many things he didn't understand. It would take many, many years...

Once they were both strapped in, Glory pulled the car out of the driveway. The engine didn't make any more strange sounds at her, but she listened for them just in case.

Léan peered out of the window quite curiously as they drove, eyes wide and searching. He seemed to look at everything as they went by...much like a little child.

The mall wasn't far, and Glory was able to find a decent parking spot once they got there.

"This is the place," Glory said once she parked the car.

Léan stared up at the mall, blinking. "...I see," he said, finally. He seemed a bit intimidated...only natural, for someone who didn't come from the human world.

((Gotta head to bed.))

"Just stay close to me," Glory said. "I know my way around the building, so I won't get lost."

Léan nodded, and timidly clung to her arm. He didn't want to get separated from her...surely his odd mannerisms would give him away?

Glory held his hand, and leaned up to give him a kiss.

"Calm down," she said softly. "The more you spazz, the more you'll stick out. We're not even shopping for you, so the only time you can't be next to me is if I'm trying something on."

Léan nodded, sighing slightly. "I'm simply nervous..." he muttered, eyes on the ground. He awkwardly began to move towards the building once she did.

Glory held his hand as they walked into the mall. She stayed close to him to try to set him more at ease.

---

It was about two weeks later. Glory groaned a bit as her alarm went off for school. Reaching over, she clicked it off before she could get annoyed enough at it to hit it and break it.

Léan was curled up next to her, of course. He was lonely when she was at school, and was glad she wouldn't have to go for too much longer...

Glory carefully slipped out of his embrace and got ready for school. She sighed slightly when she looked into the mirror. Definitely time to break out the tunics and button-down shirts to hide her stomach. She dug around in her closet before pulling out a pair of jeans and a loose tunic. Once she was dressed and ready to go, she leaned down and gave Léan a kiss.

"I'm heading out," she murmured.

Léan frowned, clearly unhappy about that. But, he nodded, reaching up to give her a lazy one-armed hug before collapsing back in bed. He was not a morning person. He was more of a night person.

"Go back to sleep," Glory said as she returned the hug. "At least one of us should get to." Grabbing her bag, she went out and got into the car. The drive to school seemed longer than usual, but that was probably because she didn't want to go. She was more than ready to start her homeschooling, but she was still able to hide her stomach, at least for a little while longer.

Viktor seemed to have attendance issues. He was rarely in school...and yet his grades were fantastic. He self-taught most of the material to himself. In fact, the only class he couldn't do this for was woodshop, and it seemed to be the only reason he came to school in the first place.

He was here today, resting his cheek against the cool surface of the desk and napping.

Glory saw him napping and rolled her eyes. That was nothing new. She kicked one of his feet as she went by.

"Come on, you, wake up," she said.

"Five...more minutes..." Viktor groaned, kicking her back in a weak, half-assed way. "I feel like a big, heapin' pile of crap today..."

"You look hung over, which is your fault," Glory said. "You're not the only one who's tired. I need more sleep that I haven't been getting."

"Haha...actually, it's not. I'm not hung over...gettin' sick. Both my parents got sick, and they gave whatever they had to me...whoop-dee-doo..."

Viktor lifted his head, looking miserable. "I need to get the project a hundred percent done in woodshop today...then I can go home."

"Well, whatever it is, don't pass it to me," Glory replied as she sat down in her own seat. "I'm going to have to start being homeschooled soon, so I'm not all that worried about shop class. It's just an elective."

"Eh? You're looking for someone to home-school you?" Viktor sat up a little straighter. "Not to brag, but my family is kinda filled with geniuses...my younger cousin can home-school you, and he'll do it for free, if you don't feel like paying. Do you want his number? He's sixteen, and has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Astronomical Science."

"Okay, there are two things wrong with that," Glory pointed out. "One, I'd rather not have any more people than there are already knowing about the people who tend to be in and out at my place. And two, all I need is someone to drop off my assignments for me. I have my textbooks, I think I'll be okay." She didn't say why she needed to be homeschooled, though.