He scurries over as the whispers start up and more people turn to stare! He hands El a tiny folded scrap of onionskin paper - it can't weigh even a gram, and it's folded so tightly it looks more like a hazelnut than paper. "I'm Aaron?" He sounds unsure somehow. "From Manchester."

"Nice to meet you, Aaron from Manchester. There's going to be a lot of fallout from this, so you might want to go find your friends now."

"Don't have any," he mumbles, shoulders creeping up near his ears. "'m indie."

Of course he is. Thanks mum, she always appreciates getting fed minions offered the chance to do a good turn.

"Then a word of advice? Take this chance to make some. You can sit at our table for dinner, that might give you enough shine that an enclave sends someone to feel you out. But you're not the only indie kid, and the others need a group too."

"...Alright..." he sounds unsure, still, but he's rescued by Daniella's freshman - who'd been hovering, getting increasingly uncomfortable with their group being stared at, and now grabs his hand like a lifeline.

"Let's go," she says, tugging him away from the spotlight.

Ah, the seeds of friendship.

"Gonna open that, then?"

"I'll wait for Lu."

Lu returns pretty soon! They've cleared the halls of freshmen by now. 

And then she notices all the staring and whispering. She hurries to El's side, asks - "What did I miss?"

"Mum sent a letter. To the daughters of Gwen Higgins."

"...Oops."

" - Have you opened it yet?"

She displays the tightly-folded nugget. "Was waiting for you."

"Thanks." Open it now? 

Might as well.

In Gwen's neat hand, written so tiny El can barely read it -

Ash and I are safe, going into hiding. We may not be at graduation point. Aaron's family has our contact. Take care of each other. 

And stay away from the fucking mawmouths, children.

She can't help giggling a little when she reads Ash's part. And for Gwen's: "Well, that's one worry answered..."

"We'll have to track that kid down again soonish."

"Yeah. Get an address and names - and we can take any letters to his family, too." Or news if he dies. "Did you invite him to the table?"

"For dinner."

"Lines open in a few minutes... We'll catch him when he comes to sit down."

"Yep."

Speaking of... They should see if they can be among the first in. 

Worth a shot. Maybe people will still be too taken aback by their relation to contest it.

And they've got an increasingly intimidating reputation...

See if they can't put that to use.