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Sister James falters as the door bursts open and Sister Aloysius storms into her eighth grade class halfway through the day. Students suddenly straighten, side conversations cease, and day dreams are ended. Sarah clears her throat and briefly catches Aloysius' eye as the older woman roams the room. The redhead sends Aloysius a nervous smile; detecting the older woman's foul mood.

"Okay class I would like you take out your books…" Simultaneously groans reverberate through the small space.

"Enough!" Aloysius' deadly tone instantly silences the children. Even Sarah finds herself tensing at the sound of it.

"Thank you Sister. Begin reading chapter ten," The usual hands shoot into the air, "And if you don't have your book share with the person beside you." Desks slide against the wooden floor. Sarah notices that Sister Aloysius managed to slip out of the room without detection. Apposed to her dramatic entrance. "I'll be right back," Sister James announces. "I need to have a word with Sister Aloysius. Be good."

She can feel all eyes on her as she exits the room. Some watching her in fear. Wondering what she will tell The Dragon. Others in pity. Hoping the nice teacher won't be eaten alive by The Dragon. Little do they know that Sarah is no longer afraid of Aloysius. Only concerned for her.

As Sister James enters the hall she catches sight of the hem of Aloysius' habit swishing around the corner. "Sister!" Sarah calls loudly surprising herself.

Aloysius' head appears from around the corner and a delicate hand rests on the wall. With a perfectly shaped eyebrow the older woman sends Sarah and impatient expression. "Yes Sister James?" The irritation in Aloysius' voice is overwhelming and causes Sarah to rethink her actions. Subtly Sarah shakes her head and moves over to the blonde. When they are face to face Sister James glances around before cautiously placing a hand upon Aloysius' arm. "Well what is it Sister?" Aloysius' voice is still icy, but the hint of kindness that the younger woman detects is all the encouragement Sarah needs.

"What's wrong?" Electric blue eyes gaze into clearing blue ones. Sarah has always admired how Aloysius' eye color changes shades with her mood. There is a wall there, blocking what Sarah can see. Choosing the emotions that Sarah can pick up on. The redhead hopes that one day she will be allowed to see Aloysius completely unguarded. All of her. Sarah knows that she needs to gain more of the blonde's trust, and make Aloysius understand that Sarah would never tell a soul what she hears or sees.

Sarah suddenly realizes that her hand has begun to move up and down Aloysius' arm without her permission. The older woman does not protest so Sarah does not still her fearless hand.

Aloysius tilts her head to the side. Persistent eyes probing Sarah, but the young woman does not back down. "What would make you think something is wrong?"

Sarah can't stop herself from rolling her eyes. "When you came into the classroom you looked like you were ready to throw the first person who breathed wrong off the roof."

Sarah's words cause Aloysius to laugh a full, real laugh that rings through the barren halls. The younger woman's breath catches in her chest at the sound of it. She has never heard anything quite like Aloysius' laugh. It is so happy. So alive. Not something that one would suspect to come from Aloysius.

The laugh soon dies in the older woman's throat, and is replaced with a sigh and slumping of shoulders. Sarah watches with helplessness. What is she supposed to do? She wants to hug Aloysius. Take the woman in her arms until she is certain that the other woman is no longer hurting, or stressing, or filled with sorrow, anger, pain.

Sarah slides her other hand down Aloysius' arm and takes the blonde's hand. "What is it?" Aloysius gazes into Sarah's eyes for a moment. Sister James is taken aback by the pain she sees resting there. Sister Aloysius shakes her head and looks away. She stares with distance at the opposing wall.

The silence is heavy, but not overwhelming, with emotions. It is different, yet familiar to the two women.

Footsteps sound n the hall. Coming closer with each second. Sister James and Sister Aloysius jump apart as if the floor between them is on fire. They are both brought back into reality. "I need to get back to class," Sarah says quietly.

Aloysius watches Sarah uncertainly, knowing that the woman is not going anywhere at the moment. Sarah is paralyzed by Aloysius' gaze and wishes more than anything that they could stay here in this moment forever. Even if this is all they ever become, two women unsure and shyly trying to weave a friendship with each other.

"Come by my room tonight?" Sarah nods shocked by the emotion in Aloysius' question. After that the transformation is instantaneous. Standing in front of Sister James is no longer the kind, caring woman, but the strong and confident Sister Aloysius. The Dragon.

Sister James smiles to herself as she walks back to the classroom knowing that she is one of the few that get to spend time with the real Sister Aloysius.

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Sarah's eyes scan the dinning hall and she feels a trickle of disappointment when she does not see Aloysius. She does however notice Donald Miller sitting alone with his head hung low. Sighing she makes her way over to the table. He is such a sweet boy, and Sister James feels horrible that parents have taught their children not to look past the color of one's skin. Personally Sarah had never seen why skin color should matter. One of her best friends as a child had been African American and she was devastated when her parents had forced her to stop spending time with Johanna. It was not until she was older that Sarah had figured out why her parents had been so cruel.

"Hi Donald. Can I sit here?" He nods looking up at Sister James with large brown eyes. She smiles kindly at him.

"Why aren't you sitting with the other Sisters?" He asks grumpily. Sarah can tell he is suspicious of her actions.

"Because I wanted to sit with you," The redhead replies with a caring tone. "Is that alright with you?"

He refocuses on her. "I guess."

Sarah looks down at her food. " I like how they make the grilled cheese here." Donald rolls his eyes at her and scrunches his face.

"It's always burned."

Sarah smiles, "I just wanted to see if you were listening to me." Donald smiles at her. "How is school going?"

He shrugs, "It's school."

"True. The others aren't being horrible are they?"

"No they just..." He mumbles something that Sister James cannot catch.

"Pardon me?"

"I said, they just ignore me."

Sarah lets out a loud breath and places a hand on Donald's arm. "Give them time Donald they will see what a great kid you are, just like I have."

The bell rings loudly. "Dance lessons next right?" He nods. Sarah stands and gives his arm a brief squeeze. "Have fun."

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Sarah stops in front of Aloysius' door and takes a deep breath before knocking. "Come in."

Sarah carefully opens the door and steps inside Aloysius' room. She smiles at the sight of Aloysius sitting on her bed writing with her blonde hair sweeping over her shoulders. To Sarah's surprise Aloysius is not in the usual habit, but in a pair of black slacks with an emerald green sweater.

Sarah knows that they are allowed to wear street clothes in the privacy of their own rooms and the Vatican is even beginning to change the dress code for Sisters, but Sarah never expected to find Aloysius without her uniform on.

Even more shocking is the choice of pants since most women do not where them.

Sister Aloysius glances up and a small smile gracing her lips as she locks eyes with the redhead. "Sarah."

"Aloysius," The grin on Sarah's face has not disappeared. "May I use your bathroom?"

"Of course." Sarah crosses the room grateful that she had slipped on some jeans and a shirt under her habit earlier.

When she gets into the small room she removes the bulk of her outfit. Underneath she is wearing a pair of loose men's jeans and a form fitting, gray t-shirt. She drapes her large chain of prayer beads with cross over her neck. Her shoes are the plain black sneakers that most Sisters wear under their uniform for comfort. She pulls her hair out of it's covering and runs her hands through the flaming red waves to calm them.

Sarah steps out of the bathroom and places her clothes in the corner. When she faces Aloysius she discovers the blonde's eyes running up and down her body taking in her appearance. She looks down at herself trying to figure out why Aloysius is wearing the expression she is.

"What?" Aloysius eyes shoot upward to meet Sarah's.

"Nice pants." Sarah smiles.

"They're my brothers. I grabbed them to wear when I was home and forgot to give them back." She shrugs, "He won't miss them. You look nice."

Aloysius rolls her eyes. Sarah perches on the edge of the bed. "What are you writing?"

"A letter to a student's parents."

"Oh." Sarah nudges Aloysius and the older woman moves over on the bed. Sister James stretches out beside her resting her head on her arms. She gazes up at Aloysius as the woman gazes down at her over her glasses. Aloysius smiles faintly and returns her attention to her letter.

"I saw you sitting with Donald Miller at lunch today…that was a kind thing to do Sarah." The redhead partially shrugs keeping her eyes closed.

"There is no reason why the boy shouldn't have friends."

"I agree." Sara jumps as Aloysius pokes the porcelain skin that has appeared between her jeans and hem of her shirt.

She turns to Aloysius and mockingly glares at her. "That wasn't very nice." The blonde simply raises an eyebrow in reply. Sarah grins up at Aloysius. "Are you feeling better?" Aloysius shrugs. "Want to tell me what is going on?" The blonde shakes her head no and returns to her letter.

Sarah lays back down feeling dejected and confused. Why did Aloysius ask her to come here if they weren't going to talk? About anything. Sarah can feel her eyelids getting heavy. She should go back to her room if Aloysius doesn't want her here. "Why am I here?"

"Because I asked you to be." Aloysius replies using a tone with Sarah that informs her even a two year old could figure that out.

"Why?"

Aloysius stops writing and turns her attention to Sarah. She stares into confusion and uncertainty. Into kindness and concern. Into hurt and …

Sarah is aware that she is allowing everything to show as the blonde's eyes go wide, but she is too tired to put in the effort of masking her emotions. Aloysius shakes her head putting her next thought off as having an overactive imagination.

"Because I like having you around."

"That's good, because I like being around you. " Sarah closes her eyes and a comfortable silence falls over them.

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Sarah peels her eyes open when she feels a light pressure on her head. The light pressure she soon identifies are fingers running through her hair.

A dim light burns her eyes and she wants to go back to sleep. However she realizes that she is snuggled into the side of another person. Fully opening her eyes she looks up into the amused eyes of Sister Aloysius.

Sarah removes her arm from around the older woman's legs as if Aloysius had bit her. She darts up and runs a shaky hand through her hair. "Sorry," Sarah says with a voice full of sleep.

Turning cautiously she notes that the amusement that was previously in the blonde's eyes has disappeared and has been replaced with indifference. Aloysius shrugs. "You should go back to your room it's late."

Hastily the redhead nods. "Goodnight," she mumbles before rushing out of the room.

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Sarah bites her bottom lip once again as she passes Aloysius in the hall. They have not acknowledged each other in two weeks. Sarah knew that she would mess up their friendship in one way or another; she only wished it had been over something a little more signifigant than accidently falling asleep.

She thinks about the book reviews that she needs to turn into Aloysius, and knows she cannot do it. Sarah knows she will not be able to keep her emotions under control. She has never felt so angry, hurt, sad, in love, and lost in her whole life.

Sarah assumed that as she got to know Aloysius her feelings would morph into something similar to friendship, but they haven't. If possible they seem to be getting stronger with each day Aloysius and her spend ignoring each other.

Going up to her room she grabs the folder of reviews and then heads in the direction of Aloysius office. Once the door is in view she gazes at the swarm of kids in the hall. She gently grabs the arms of her student, Jessica. "Sister James?"

The young girl's expression is surprised as she removes her arm from the teachers grip. "Jessica," Sarah nods. "Will you do me a favor?"

The young girl shrugs, "Sure."

"Give this to Sister Aloysius," She hands the girl the folder and observes the way the girl's skin pales with fear. "Tell her they're from me and you will be fine." Jessica nods and then turns and moves toward the office door.

Sarah walks away not wanting to see Aloysius.

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A loud knocking erupts on the opposite side of Sister James' door. Sarah rips her eyes away from the window and gets up from her spot curled in a fetal position on her bed. The longer she takes to open the door the louder and more frantic the knocking becomes.

When Sarah is certain she looks semi-presentable; eyes not noticeably as red, hair pulled back, she opens the door and comes face to face with a very upset Aloysius Beauvier.

A bulky bag is pushed into Sarah's hands and then she is pushed out of Aloysius' way. The redhead shuts the door noting her lack of fear to situation. Any other person in their right mind would be fearing for their life at this point.

Aloysius waves Sarah's book reviews in her face. "You didn't bring me these yourself."

"I'm well aware of that."

"Why?" The blonde's anger is slowly beginning to fade from her face.

"I figured you didn't want to see me." Sarah replies sharply. Aloysius nods and starts wringing her hands. This is followed by her pacing the length of Sarah's room.

The redhead's guilt is building with each moment she watches Aloysius. Aloysius says something in a voice so quiet Sarah assumes she is talking to herself. The older woman stops moving and meets Sarah's eyes. Aloysius takes a deep breath, "I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen…"

Sarah gazes at her; relief seeping into every inch of her body and overtaking the worry on her face. The redhead takes a step closer to Aloysius, followed by another. She doesn't have to wait for long as Aloysius moves into her arms.

Sarah wraps Aloysius in a tight embrace, and silently thanks God for not allowing her to lose the most important person in her life.

TBC...