Helen will stay!!!!

Professor Thomas turned towards Mr. Scott and asked, "So what do you say Mr. Scott? Are you willing to let Helen stay at the academy if Aria takes responsibility for her?"

Mr. Scott looked at Aria and his eyes turned a little less stern. He said, "I would rather not have my daughter become a burden on anyone."

Aria immediately spoke up, "Mr. Scott, I, and for that matter Jacob, we both could never consider Helen to be a burden. We are willing to take responsibility for her and spoke up because the thought of Helen going away was more dreadful to us than being expelled with her."

Upon hearing Aria's speech, Mr. Scott's face broke into a smile for the first time during the day. He smiled in a fatherly fashion as he looked at Aria and said, "Very well. If it's not too much trouble, I will place Helen under your responsibility." He then turned to look at Jacob, who was beaming upon hearing his sentence, "And Jacob White? You are a good kid. I apologise for blaming you for this incident."

Jacob immediately shook his head with shock, "No no Mr. Scott. You were right to blame me. I am in the fault. The whole of this mess started with me."

Mr. Scott smiled again and his eyes turned very tender as he turned and stroked Helen's head and said, "So Helen, I will place you in the care of your friends for now. And make sure you stay out of trouble, I'll see you during the vacations."

Helen smiled with tears in her eyes. Mr. Scott wiped them away and whispered in her ear, "You've done great Helen. You've made some nice friends. Make sure never to let them go."

Helen nodded as Aria walked over with Jacob and took her hand.

Mr. Scott said goodbye to Professor Thomas before glancing for a brief moment at his son and exiting the office.

After he was gone, Professor Thomas clapped his hands, "Now that the matter is settled, I suggest that Helen you go and have some lunch. And I assume you also haven't eaten Jacob?"

Jacob scratched his head in embarrassment as Professor Thomas smiled, "Very well, I will be asking someone to send your meals to your rooms."

Helen spoke the first time during the whole episode, "Please Professor, could you send lunch for all of us to Aria's room? I'm sure she has also not eaten much."

Aria was surprised, "How can you tell?"

Helen smiled mischievously, "I can hear your stomach growling."

Aria clasped a hand over her stomach in horror as Professor Thomas broke into a laugh and Helen and Jacob joined him.

Professor said, wiping tears of laughter away, "Very well. I will send lunch for all of you to Aria's room. But this is a one time thing, don't make this a habit."

The three nodded and turned to leave. Jacob leading and Aria coming behind him leading Helen by her hand. As the three were out of the door and Jacob was about to close it, Professor Thomas's voice rung out, "Do you have something you wish to ask me Joseph? If not, you may leave too."

Aria was surprised and her hold on Helen's hand tightened a little. She had almost forgotten about Joseph due to the relief of Helen staying at the academy.