“But I’m not…” Mr. Lugin put his hands up to tell Julian to calm down. “Listen to me. I know I’m just your teacher. But really. If they’re not caring for you propperly… They don’t deserve you. Neither of them.” Julian started to shake. “But then… whats going to happen to me?” Mr. Lugin clasped his shoulder. “They’ll try to put you with some family… Grandparents, aunt or uncles, someone like that. And if… that doesn’t work out, a temporary home until things are figured out.” Mr. Lugin smiled trying to comfort him. “What if I have to move? The closest realitives are in Nebraska and…” he paused. “Damond. I can’t go. His parents just came back and he’s having trouble ajusting because they changed a lot and I can’t leave him.” Mr. Lugin frowned. “I know. But… some things in life just aren’t going to work out the way you always want them to. It’s just how life is.” Julian shook his head, letting his head sink lower. “But I don’t want it to be that way.” Mr. Lugin forced a pittiful laugh. “I know. And I’m sorry.” He started to say somehing more, but the intercome over came the room—over the whole school, so that even Damond could hear it. “Julian Mare to the main office immediately, Julian Mare to the main office immediately.” Both Julian and Mr. Lugin looked up at the speakers in the ceiling where the voice had come from. “Julian…” Mr. Lugin began. “Do you want me to walk with you?” he offered. Julian shook his head. “I can… go.” He stood up and walked out the door of the science room, up the stairs and to the front office. Damond was waiting by the trophy case outside it though. “Julian what the hell is going on?” He demanded. “Mrs. D. she… called them. She says I’m neglected and…” he trailed off. “They’re going to take me away, Damond.” Damond clenched his fists. “To where?” Julian shrugged. “They’re probably going to try nearest family… but they’re nine hours away in Nebraska… and if not them the family keeps getting further and further away… Tennessee, Alaska…” He put his face in his hands. “I won’t be able to see you if they do…” he said weakly. “Not until I’m eighteen and can come back on my own.” Damond hesitated before kissing him—he didn’t care who saw. Not the office workers, not the family services people. Damond let him go after a minute. “Shit.” He said lowly. “What’re we going to do?” he sounded desperate. “This… no. You can’t. Maybe I can come too… I mean I’m old enough and—“ Julian shook his head. “My grandparents on my moms side are the closest. Very religious… and a gay grandson…” he shook his head. “Same with my Aunt in Alaska. And… I don’t think my dads parents are very religious… in Tennessee.” Damond rested his chin on Julian’s head and repeated, “Shit.” Julian watched as a woman came over to him. “Julian?” she asked, putting her hands on her knees. He nodded. “I’m Lucy Deoutch. I’m your social worker.” She smiled, but he watched her tenitivly from Damond’s chest. “I’m not going.” He said firmly. “Julian honey it’s not decided yet wether you are or not… but until then you need to come with me please.” He shook his head. “I’m not…” Damonds arms wrapped around Julian tighter. “He can just stay with me. He’ll be eighteen soon and—“ she cut him off, loosing her patience. “I’m sorry, but that’s not how this works. It seems you two are…” she paused. “In a relationship, so I can’t allow you to take custody, and until then he belongs to the state of Colorado.” Julian clenched his fists in Damonds shirt as Faith showed up. “Julian what the hell is going on!” she screamed at him. “They want to take him away. They say he’s neglected.” Damond answered for him. “Aw hell no. You are not taking him away you stupid sons of a b****es.” She threatened. “Excuse me, young lady, but this is none of your business.” Mr. Mead, the principle said. “It doesn’t matter. There is no way Julian is going to ‘belong’ to the state of Colorado.” Lucy stood up straight. “Now I do believe that you have no say in this matter, am I right?” she said sourly. “Well according to the constitution I have freedom of speech.” She scowled at Lucy. “Yes, and we also have a right to arrest you with plausable cause.” Faith laughed. “Plausable. Yes. Exacly what am I doing besides enforcing my right as a citizen with freedom of speech? I’m not hurting you. I’m not physical. Peacful protest.” She said smugly. “Well I don’t belive that cussing me out qualifies as peacful.” She turned to Damond as Mr. Mead began to scold Faith for her rude behavior. “Now. Do we need to take him from you by force?” she threatened. Julian pushed away from Damond. “Julian…!” he forced a smile. “I’ll call you, okay?” Damond watched stunned. “I promise.” He choked out, before walking to Lucy. He tried not to show to them he was crying. He was leaving Damond for who knew how long.