Author's Notes: I wrote this story a long time ago, but I got writer's block and completely forgot about it. I found it again and I decided to post it. So here it is. Apologies for the horrible grammar and spelling.

Chapter 1

SLAM! Was the sound the door gave as it was violently closed, by its teenager boy inhabitant. Followed by the sound of him giving in to the comfort of his bed, while sighing with frustration. One would think it would mess up his hair, but it was already messed up that practically nothing could change its format anymore, and it certainly had adapted to this action. For the 16 year old did this often. His green eyes just stared at the ceiling, eventually finding their way to the Johnny Cash poster on the wall. Quickly bringing back memories of when he bought it when he was 6, but it failed of making him forget what had passed. He supposed it happened so many times, that he should get used to it, but it would always end up in this procedure. An argument with his father over something small, that turned into an growing argument, involving other past arguments and their problems, and would end with him slamming the door to his room.

It was obvious the situation to be a "father, son problem", but too him it was so much more than that. The thoughts of hating his life, hating this house, hating his perfect older brother (on occasion), and hating his father and his "Sheppard" corporation, had crossed the boy's mind several times throughout his life. His father Patrick Sheppard was more than a successful business man. He is the President of Sheppard Industries & Corporations, which was passed down the family. So to him it was the business and the family name. They were to be the perfect family, when really the family was just another accessory. In business terms an "asset" and nothing more. His brother, David Sheppard dove into the situation being the responsible "first born" and all.

Every action he made, their father approved, but for him. The second born. It was always "Why can't you be like your brother?" "Why can't you make me proud for once!" He wasn't a bum, in fact he was quite mature for his age, well as mature as a hormonal teenager can be. It didn't matter though, whatever he did, it wasn't as good as what David did. Immediately he became the reckless and irresponsible one.

He didn't want that. No. He just wanted everything to be normal, his life, his family, himself. He was reminded of these things almost every day. Especially when these arguments with his father happened, but then these thoughts would go away. His mother would always come by after the argument and talk the sense out of him. 'Any minute now.' He thought.

There was a soft knock on the door, accompanied by a soft voice "John?" It was his mother, but he didn't answer. His mother was the only one he truly loved, aside from his brother when he sometimes did things from his heart and not his head. She was understanding, open minded, and somehow always made things better, but like the other times, he didn't want to talk. He didn't want to burden her with his thoughts. She already had lots to do. She was Lily Sheppard, wife of Patrick Sheppard. She had to handle father more than he did, look like the perfect wife, be a mother, and keep her family from falling apart. That was what she was doing now.

"John?" she asked again, slowly cracking the door open, just enough to see her son on the bed. She opened the door more, eventually walking in, and closing it softly with a click. Slowly she sat at the edge of the bed, causing John to turn in the opposite direction. He couldn't face her. He broke his promise to her again. Well technically he didn't, since the promise was try to not fight with father, and he did try, but that wasn't the point. There was silence in the room. He figured she was trying to think of the right thing to say.

"I know you don't want to talk," Lily started, breaking the silence in the room, "and I know you're old enough to make decisions like these on your own." John instantly knew she was talking about the reason the argument with his father began. "Your father... disagrees with this, and though I have my doubts about this." Lily continued, as she slowly reached for John's shoulder, "I do believe it will make things better for you." 'What's she getting too?' he thought, as he felt the warm reassuring hand on his shoulder. "After you left, I had a talk with your father." 'He didn't take his anger on mom, did he?' guilt had started to seep into his heart. His mother shouldn't be fighting his battles for him. "And I was able to get him to agree."

'What?' quickly sitting up and saying his thought,"What?"

John never thought his father would agree after their argument. Originally he needed his father's approval to transfer schools. John was in a private school that Patrick had enrolled him in. It was the same one that David was in, but John never adjusted the same way David did. His brother had viewed it as a well educated school with possibilities and networking that could lead anywhere. John on the other hand didn't think so. He could see and feel it the moment he entered the school that was much too large for the number of students it held. Students were trying to outdo each other and staff members trying to get more money through funding, by "donations" the parents made. Think of it like bullies with lots of money. Basically, he saw people with big egos, who thought they were better than everyone else. Sure not all students or teachers were like this, but like any other society, bullying was still present and if it wasn't bullying then it was politics. John wasn't the one who stood around doing nothing and get pushed around or be a pawn. Oh, yes, he fought back, hence being described as the "reckless and irresponsible one" by the "elite" community.

Two years, grade 9 and 10, he couldn't take it anymore. He needed to get out. Away from the society, where doing the right thing was no longer considered good anymore. He needed to be normal. That's when it hit him, to transfer to a small public school. Where money wasn't the constant driver of students and staff, where one has to work to get what they want, instead of it simply being presented to you. Yes, this was the solution. John being the smart one that nobody knew or recognised was able to collect, choose a school, and fill out the application to transfer in one weekend. All he needed was the guardian signature, thus the beginning of the argument. John pulled all the reasons he could think of. He started with it being a new challenge for him, but Patrick didn't buy it. His marks weren't extremely good to begin with. So John used other reasons, like not being able to embarrass him with his actions, and nobody will recognise his name for the school was quite small, yet it was well known for its science, math and arts, even though it was a public school. He even suggested if the business path didn't work for him than, he'll go into the sciences. John put all his effort into convincing him to sign the damn paper, even David said it would be good for him, but Patrick wouldn't budge, causing John to accidently say a sarcastic remark, thus the lighting the fuse to the argument. So in all honesty his father agreeing to let him transfer into a public school was quite a surprise to him.

"Your father signed the transfer paper." stated Lily, as she saw the surprise in her son's green eyes.

"Really?" he asked, still unsure of whether this was real or not.

"Really," Lily replied, smiling softly as John lit up, "Believe me. It wasn't easy to convince your father, but he'll be okay."

"Thanks Mom." Giving her a hug, "You're the best."

"Oh, I know I am." patting his back. 'He's grown so much.' She thought, pulling away from the embrace, "Now, you better get ready. You start school tomorrow."