"Why should I leave her out, when you're the one who dragged her down with you in the first place? Someone really ought to have told you by now to stop bothering her. She's too polite to say it, you know, but you're the reason she's hardly got any other friends," he lied smoothly. As if he really knew anything about the girl, other than that she was as big a nerd as Aurin.
Irritated by Aurin's attempts to push him away, Alpin gripped a part of the captive boy's arms not being gripped by his knees and wrenched both of them harder toward the floor. "I said quit squirming-"
"No, Alpin," Constans drawled with a lazy sort of malice, "Let him go. Get off him, both of you. He's right on one thing, four on one really isn't fair. Or necessary," he added, sly. Crooking his index finger and smiling at Aurin, he gestured for the boy to stand as Carrick and Alpin reluctantly, cautiously, released him. Alpin didn't move an inch after relinquishing his grip as if daring Aurin to try anything, but Carrick jumped to his feet and backed up a few paces, the better to not get kicked. Ronal remained near the door, Aurin's one potential escape route, watching with an uncertain expression and candy pressed into one cheek, quickly forgotten.
"You can go crying to the Templars now, if that's what you want," Constans sneered, tossing aside the flower he'd plucked up onto the nearest vanity. He looked straight into Aurin's eyes, daring Aurin to run away now, accusing him of being a coward without having to say the word.