A/N: I finished writing this just last week, when I learned what day school was going to start for me.

I don't own the Borrowers, but I own these characters. Please do not steal.

Back to School

Luke was spread out on his bed, in a daze. It only seemed that yesterday was the first day of summer, and all too soon the most wonderful time of year for a kid was over. He knew it couldn't have been avoided, but that didn't mean he was going to like it. School was beginning again. It was just another fact of life. He didn't particularly enjoy it, but then again, no kid he knew did, except for his bookworm friend Joel. Luke felt that you could throw an entire library at him, and he'd be back begging for more books in no time at all.

"That guy seriously needs help," he said aloud to himself as he tried to get up from his bed. "No kid that be that much into learning and not have a mental problem."

"Maybe you should get checked out too," a voice rang out form his bedroom desk. "No one can be that mopey and not be medically depressed or something."

Luke looked up at his desk, and noticed Seras, his Borrower friend, looking at him piteously and holding her hands on her hips.

"I can't help being depressed, Seras," Luke groaned. "Summer's over! Where did it all go?"

"Oh, don't give me that," she sighed. "You and I both knew that it wasn't going to last forever."

"Well, yeah," Luke moaned, "but it still feels like it barely started and now it's over!"

"This isn't like you, you know," Seras said. "You've been one to complain about school, but not this much. Is there something else that's bothering you?"

Luke's eyes widened, but he shook his head. "No, there's nothing wrong. I'm just nervous about going back to school, that's all."

"Oh, there's something wrong," Seras grinned. "I know there is. I can see it on your face as plain as day."

"Oh, you're too good at this," Luke said, rolling around and sitting up on his bed.

"I always was," she grinned. "So what's really going on that's got you all bent out of shape for?"

"The thing is," he said, hanging his head a bit, "My mom told me that the system's moved me up a grade because I got good results on the standardized tests I took before summer began."

"Why do you make it sound like that's a bad thing?" she asked.

"It means that I'm going to be a freshman in college," he replied.

"And?" Seras raised an eyebrow, still not grasping the gravity of this situation.

"It means my mom is taking me and moving across town to be close to the community college," he said, almost shouting. "I'm leaving and you'll have to stay behind."

"What?" she gasped. "You're moving?"

"We have to," Luke sighed sadly. "My mom bought a house when Dad had a high-paying job, but we can't afford to pay for it and this one, so we're moving into the new one. It's got everything this one has, but it's really far away from here and close to the major colleges and campuses in the city, so it's better on mom's wallet."

"But why can't I come with you?" she asked. "I see what this means for you, but why not have me in any of this?"

"You'd rather be with your own kind, don't you?" Luke asked. "Besides, all friends have to move on with their own lives eventually, even ones such as ourselves."

Seras sighed in amusement mixed with annoyance. He had completely forgotten why she had even moved to the tree in his house's backyard in the first place. Ever since he saved her on Halloween, she had looked at him with a feeling of awe and wonder. Here he was, a being several times her size, and yet she felt more attracted to him than any male Borrower she had ever seen in her entire life. She could also tell that Luke felt the same way about her, and she was intent on making him admit it.

"Dude," she said, looking up at him, "you need to get a grip and open up your eyes."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, looking down at her.

"I didn't move away from my family and my friends because I wanted to be closer to them later on," she replied. "I did it to get closer to you."

"Huh?" Luke raised an eyebrow, and also blushed a tiny bit.

"Listen to me," she said, taking a step forward. "I've had nothing but positive thoughts about you since the day we met, and I've grown quite a liking you ever since. I can tell you have taken a liking to me too, so don't try to deny it."

Luke gulped. "Okay, so what if I do like you?"

"You've everything most Borrowers believe a human could never be," she replied. "You may as well be a Borrower to me, because I don't care if you're human or Borrower. I like you, Luke. I like you a lot."

Luke's blush reddened further at what Seras said, and then after a few seconds, his slight frown turned into a full smile.

"I like you too, Seras," he nodded. "I've liked you since we first met, but I wasn't sure if you felt the same way about me so I said nothing until now."

"Well, now you know the truth," she smiled. "I like you."

"And I like you back," Luke smiled, and gently scooped his friend into his hand. He brought her to his face, and cradled her against his cheek, sighing contentedly. He could feel Seras' arms rubbing against his cheek, leaning into his hug.

"So you still want a campus partner?" she asked.

"You know full well I do," he smiled, breaking away from her to stare at her sitting in his hand. "And you're more than welcome to stay with me."

"Like I'd want to stay anywhere else," she giggled. "You're way too fun for me to stay away from for too long."

"I'm glad to know I'm such a hoot," he chuckled. "Maybe I'll take you to campus with me sometime."

"That'd be just like old times," she smiled. "I like that."

"You're way too adventurous for me to leave on your own for too long," he smiled.

"Sometimes that can be a good thing," she said. "If I wasn't we'd never have met in the first place."

"That's true," Luke smiled, cradling her against his chest. "I'm really glad I met you, Seras."

"So am I, Luke," Seras smiled, gripping his shirt tightly to herself. "So am I."

A/N: And that about wraps it up for Luke and Seras' stories for now! They aren't gone, but this is a good place to stop for now.

FYI, this was for the mid-August counterpart for Hug a Giant Day, Hug a Tiny Day.

They may make a comeback in another story, though. (wink, wink)

Have a great (hopefully) school season!

-JeremyX signing off!