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Blaire stared at Lukas, and Aiden raised an eyebrow.

“What is your problem? He’s only worried like the rest of us,” Riley said, turning in her seat.

Lukas shrugged and looked away from everyone, his face clouded with discontent.

“I am the teacher’s assistant for this course for the remainder of the year, as it will apply to my employment after my time here at Blackthorn is finished.” He flicked his gaze back at Lukas. “If that is okay with you, of course.”

Lukas sucked his teeth and leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. Blaire didn’t like the sudden change in attitude; he was acting like an asshole.

Vincent crouched down next to Blaire’s desk, intently studying her face. “Are you sure you’re alright, beautiful? Do you need anything?” He gently placed his hand on top of hers. “Do you perhaps need to go to the student health department? You look awfully pale.”

Blaire shook her head and then put her forehead in her hand as a dizzy spell set in from the movement. She rested her elbow on the desk.

Riley reached out and touched her arm. “Blaire…”

Lukas jerked upright in his seat, and Riley glanced back at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Dude. Calm down.”

He dropped back into his seat with a huff, his expression pained. Aiden narrowed his eyes at him.

“I’m fine…” Blaire breathed. “Everyone just needs to stop worrying. I’m just a little dizzy, that’s all. I didn’t eat breakfast, and not much before that. I’ll be alright.”

Aiden stood abruptly, glaring at Lukas, before quickly leaving the classroom. Blaire glanced at the door in confusion. She wondered what was wrong with him too. Everyone was in a foul mood today.

Vincent stood and gently patted her hand. “If you need to go to the nurse at any point, please let me know, and I will be happy to escort you.” He turned away, not giving Lukas the opportunity to say anything.

Lukas had sat up abruptly, ready to strike, but dropped back in his seat again and closed his eyes, sighing. Blaire’s condition wasn’t improving with the way tension and distress radiated from Lukas. She had no idea why she suddenly could feel him this strongly, but it was almost suffocating at times.

“Listen… if you do need to go, I’ll go and stay with you.” Riley removed her hand from Blaire’s arm and sat back in her seat.

Aiden returned shortly after and set a small package of peanuts on Blaire’s desk. “Eat these.” He set down a small bottle of orange juice. “And drink this.”

“Why do I need these?” She raised an eyebrow at the odd combination.

“The juice will raise your blood sugar, and the peanuts… well, they’re rich in protein and iron.” Aiden shot Lukas a hard look.

Blaire raised an eyebrow. “Iron? Why do you think I need that?”

“You could be anemic, since you’re this pale and dizzy.” Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. “Or it might just be low blood sugar from not eating.” He took his seat.

She looked at the peanuts and juice on her desk. She knew she was suffering from anemia already, but why would Aiden make the connection?

Lukas sighed and nudged the back of Blaire’s chair with his boot when she hadn’t touched the items in front of her. She turned to look at him. His face looked strained and tired. He tried to speak calmly, but an edge of discomfort bled into his tone. “Just eat it. You might feel better, alright?”

Blaire turned around and looked down at her desk. She opened the packet of peanuts and ate a few before putting the straw into the bottle and taking a drink.

During class, her vitality returned some; the things Aiden brought did take the edge off. She glanced over, prepared to thank Aiden for the smart idea, but she decided against it at the look of pure anger on his face as he wrote furiously in his notebook. Yeah, she wasn’t touching that even a little bit. What happened while she slept yesterday? Everyone except Riley was on edge.

Blaire twisted her hair and sat back in her seat, dropping it back. The strands fell over Lukas’s desk. She shifted to sit forward, but paused when she felt a tug, and light movement, as Lukas began to play with her hair. She closed her eyes and lowered into her seat, trying to relax and feel better while Lukas’s soothing touches gently pulled at her scalp.

She had almost fallen asleep in her seat when movement to her left got her attention as Aiden turned and tossed a paper onto Lukas’s desk. Other than Aiden’s expression, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She shrugged it off, returning her attention to the front of the class again, but she wouldn’t be able to concentrate. All the equations on the board bled together into a jumble of numbers. She’d get notes from Riley later.

When class dismissed, Blaire stood too quickly and lost her footing. Lukas jumped up and reached for her, but Aiden moved faster, taking her arm.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you.”

Blaire smiled up at Aiden. “Sorry… Thank you. I just got up too fast.”