Reason
by Harikari

AN:  Sorry it's so short.  Hope you enjoy.  Comments and constructive crit are, as always, appreciated.
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Part Six


Mohinder didn't reply right away. He took a single, large step back and away from Sarah.  Breathed.

Dangerous.

She thought...no she honestly (if the tears trailing down her face and the imploring look in her eyes were anything to go by) believed Gabriel was dangerous.  Believed that he should cut off his relationship with his best friend.

The eighth grader felt suddenly cold, brought up his arms and folded them across his chest.

Sarah hadn't moved from her place in front of him.  She was watching him, and as he folded his arms into the defensive posture she reached out, brushed a hand across his elbow before quickly pulling away.

Mohinder took another step back.  "You don't know," he said, finally and a little louder than necessary.  His voice echoed in the hallway; a few seventh graders chatting by the gaping double doors that led into the gym looked their way.  "You don't know anything for sure, Sarah.  Don't say you do.  Gabriel's my friend.  I'm not going to stop being his friend...stop talking to him just because you have a bad feeling about him."

The girl stared at him for a long moment, an unreadable expression on her face.  Then she nodded -- a sharp jerk of her neck -- and pursed her lips, wiped at the dampness on her face.  It didn't help much, when she pulled away she still looked red and splotchy and upset.  "Well-"

"Sarah?"  The voice, emanating from somewhere behind Sarah and down the hall, cut her off.

It was Matt.  The football captain was near the double doors, Janice (looking wide eyed and a little bit panicked) at his side.  The onlooking seventh graders had scattered.

Matt and Janice started towards them and Mohinder bit hard at his bottom lip.  Hugged himself tighter.  He felt nervous, trapped, angry and suddenly guilty for no reason he could discern.

"You okay?" Janice asked Sarah once she and her bulk of a boyfriend had stopped before them.  Sarah nodded.

"What happened?" asked Matt, and he eyed Mohinder.

"Nothing," said Sarah.  "I was just talking to him."  A shrug.  "We were just-"

"Mohinder?"  This time the unexpected voice came from behind Mohinder.  It was Gabriel's voice.

Mohinder turned, saw that the seventh grader had emerged from a second set of doors and was hurrying down the hallway towards the group that had gathered near the water fountain.  His posture was tense, his dark eyes darting to take in everyone that made up the group surrounding his friend.

"Hey," offered Mohinder when his friend had paused beside him, his throat feeling tight.  He felt a little like he wanted to cry, wasn't sure why; he swallowed and forced the feeling back.

Stupid, he thought.  This isn't a big deal -- Sarah's just upset and Gabriel's my best friend and I'm being stupid over nothing.

Gabriel spared him a quick glance, but didn't offer a greeting in return.  "What's going on?" he asked.  And though he was meeting Matt's heated gaze the eighth grader was positive the younger boy was talking to him.

"Just-" Mohinder started to answer, but Sarah took a firm step forward -- her face was twisted in what looked like violent anger -- and broke in.

"I was asking Mohinder to a movie after the dance.  You know, with Matt and Jan.  Like a double date."  The unspoken 'you're not invited' shone through loud and clear.

Gabriel stared at her.  "Oh?"  He took a step forward himself; he made Sarah look fragile in comparison.

Mohinder unfolded his arms and reached out, plucked at the back of Gabriel's shirt.  "Come on," he said, almost a whisper (and he wasn't quite sure what it was he was asking, pleading for).  But the other boy didn't react to the touch, to his voice.

"Yeah," piped up Matt.  "So are you coming, Mohinder?  With us?"

All eyes turned to him.  There was a pause, a stillness as the crowd of teenagers waited for his response.

Mohinder couldn't help but feel that, whatever his answer, it was an important moment.  He eyed Matt, Janice and Sarah.  Thought about that day in Social Studies with Matt and his cautionary words.  About Sarah's tears.

"Mohinder," said Gabriel, suddenly and in a questioning tone.  And so the eighth grader turned; met his friend's intense eyes.

Friend.  He recalled the way he had confronted his best friend when he'd heard about Sarah and her poor cat all those months ago, straightened his posture and shook his head.

"No," he answered and even as he said it Gabriel's mouth -- naught but a thin, tight line a moment before -- shaped itself into a grin.  "Thank you, but I can't.  I've already told Gabriel I'd go to see a movie with him after the dance."

It wasn't true -- he'd barely been persuaded to the dance itself.  But saying yes to the invitation would mean going along with Sarah and her friends and their cruel accusations, saying yes would mean turning his back on his friend.  And he could not, would not do that.

"Maybe some other time," he finished.

Matt made an annoyed huffing sound and turned away, dragging Janice behind him.  Sarah nodded, eyed her fellow eighth grader slowly and carefully, then turned away herself.

"That guy is a freak," Janice commented loudly once Sarah had caught up to her.  "Suresh will be sorry he didn't listen to you.  To us."

The threesome reached the double doors, disappeared into the chaotic gym once more.

Mohinder sighed; noticed that Gabriel was looking at him.

"What?"

The seventh grader smirked.  "Let's get out of here."  He shoved playfully at Mohinder's shoulder before bolting, away from the busy activity of the gym and down the deserted hallway.

Bemused, Mohinder followed him.  A janitor heading towards the lunchroom with a push broom gave them both an unpleasant look as they took a sharp right.

Then, abruptly, Gabriel stopped.  Mohinder stopped too, his sneakers squeaking on the linoleum.  He was breathing hard, smiling.

They had reached their lockers.

"Where are we going?"

The younger boy took a moment to catch his breath.  "To see a movie," he said after a pause, as he straightened his glasses.

Mohinder let out a startled laugh, and Gabriel beamed.