Authors/Note: Yes, yes I know I shouldn't really be starting another fanfic but this was in my mind and I've written about 45 pages for it so far... there's been a small tug of war over this story. It started out as original (and there's a version of it still original, non-Torchwood on my laptop) but with Ianto and Jack as the main characters. I couldn't help it! I could picture them in my head. So, yes, while the original is still my priority I'm putting this out with Jack and Ianto as the main characters instead of the names I had for the main characters... if that makes any sense? Anyone follow that? :/ Annnywaay. I don't speak Welsh. Not one fluent sentence. At all. So if any of the Welsh in this is wrong then I do apologise and mean no offence to you or your culture if you do happen to be Welsh. I'd like to thank Welsh-English Lexicon and the few English-Welsh online translators I Googled. I suppose I should write a summary... this is the story I was working on, my latest project if you will, that I left those author messages about... but the original isn't Janto/Torchwood themed. Obviously. Also I've tried to use real locations for this... research is such a bitch. So if you just happen to attend Amundsen High or live in Chicago or work in Chicago Central Library then any likeness relating to you is all in your head and all that jazz.

Summary: Ianto Jones is a confident and outgoing nineteen year old who has just moved from Newport, Wales to Chicago with his parents. Jack Harkness, however, is less than fortunate. He's got the short end of the stick on life and for the past thirteen years he's been Breaking. Enjoy and please! Please! Review! Give me constructive criticism to work with! It's the only Beta process that actually works for me!


Prologue

Monday morning. He parked his dark green Audi in the space and got out joining the masses of people milling around the lot. Hm, lot, he thought to himself... it was going to take a while for him to get used to this. Walking up the steps he noticed that a lot of people were staring at him, he rolled his eyes thinking about all those stupid stereotypes and rumours of American school were true!

First stop the registration office to pick up his timetable, book list and locker number... he couldn't believe that they actually had lockers here! The office was tidy and respect with motivational posters framed and hung on the walls and a kindly looking lady behind the counter

"I'm new, I'm supposed to start today. My name is Ianto Jones" he explained, she just nodded and typed it into the computer. Ianto stood there waiting for all the printouts to complete printing when a bell rang "What's that?"

"It's the first bell, dear, you've from England aren't you?"

"Wales" he corrected, he hated it when people said England. He'd lived in Wales his whole life... well up until his dad got promoted and offered the job here in Chicago.

"Well first bell means it's time to get to class. It rings again five minutes later which means that you're now tardy"

"Tardy?"

"Late, dear, late" she told him like he was simple. He just nodded as she handed him the first few print-offs "Your first class is English. Will you be able to find your way there?"

"Yeah I got shown round last week, thanks" he replied briefly looking up at her before leaving the little office.

The corridor was pretty much deserted now and he quickly made his way towards the English department looking for his class number, thankfully all the doors were numbered so he found it easily.

Ianto stood near the front of the class suddenly unsure of what to do, he'd never been new at school before so he felt a little awkward despite being a confident person.

"You're not in my class, help you?" the teacher asked

"I'm new. Start today... this is where I'm supposed to be" he handed the teacher his timetable, the man looked it over before handing it back and addressing the class

"Alright, class, we've got a new student today. Ianto Jones from England"

"Wales. I'm from Wales" he corrected... this was going to be a long day.

"Wales. Right, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself then we can get down to business"

"My names' Ianto... I'm nineteen... I'm from Newport in Wales... I come from a big family..."

"Alright that's enough. Sit down, there... there's a seat next to Chloe" Ianto moved to the chair the teacher pointed out and sat down.

Chloe had dark hair that hung low down her back, or it would have done if it hadn't been tied up in pigtails. She watched him for a few minutes before pretending to do her work, Ianto however was bored... he'd finished school two years ago but since he was now in America he'd have to go back in order to progress onto 'college'. He hated all the red tape and he hated the system that meant going back to this!

The bell rang suddenly and he looked around, a little confused... it would take a while to get used to that damn bell.

"Hey" he looked up and Chloe was talking to him

"Hey back" he replied as he gathered his things and put them in his backpack

"I'm Chloe" she introduced herself

"I know" he answered her then swung his backpack up on his shoulder

"I um... was just wondering if you've got anyone to show you around yet? This is a big school" she was trying to make small talk and so far it wasn't that interesting to him but he was giving her the benefit of the doubt. So far he'd not really made any friends and one friend couldn't hurt

"Are you in the same maths class as me? I don't really want to be late... or tardy, whatever you call it here" he held out his timetable, she looked it over then smiled and nodded

"Sure I know where it is. So, what do you think of Amundsen High?" she inquired as the two of them walked quickly along the hall

"It's a high school, that's pretty much an answer in itself. I didn't think I'd be back at high school... ever. It was my parents idea... I suppose it'll do me good" they reached the maths room, he was about to go in when she stopped him

"I don't suppose you'd like to have lunch with me?" Chloe spoke clearly but he could tell she was nervous, not asking someone this every day. He smirked

"My first day and I'm already invited to lunch. Thanks for the invite, Chloe, but I think I'd like it if we were friends. I'd rather have a friend than a girlfriend... " her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped open before he went into class. He sat down at a desk near the back hoping it wasn't taken by someone already, it turns out that it was.

A dark haired sickly thin boy walked in, stood over him without saying a word. Ianto looked up at him waiting for him to say something but he didn't just stared angrily at him "Is this your desk?"

The boy nodded so he got up and moved to the one next to it, he couldn't help look over the boy sat next to him... he was intrigued by him; the poor kid would even be good looking if he weren't pale and thin "I'm Ianto"

"Jack" the boy whispered, so quiet he was barely heard

"Nice to meet you. I'm new" he explained but Jack didn't say anything else after that and the maths teaching came in effectively starting another boring lesson.

Chloe was waiting for him when he came out of maths, he looked around for the strange and mysterious Jack but sadly he was nowhere in sight

"Math sure is boring..." she smiled, she was really tempted to link arms with him but fought against it. He'd made it clear that he just wanted to be friends with her

"Yeah" he agreed with her not able to take his mind off that guy Jack, why had he been so quiet? Was he ill?

"What have you got next?" Chloe was still talking despite him being lost in his own thoughts "Hello? Earth to Yan?"

"Huh?"

"Honestly Yan you were a million miles away!" she chuckled

"Whose Yan?" he mumbled as they reached history, she just giggled and rushed into the class sitting down at her seat. It was going to be a very long day indeed, he told himself once more as he sat down in a seat near the back.

A shadow fell across the desk, Ianto looked up and was surprised to see that same boy standing there once more "We meet again"

"It's my desk" Jack said softly looking round, he was unsure whether to sit at another desk or defend the one that was his?

"Sure, sorry..." Ianto rose up gathering his stuff up once again

"You're new" Jack finished for him unable to fight the blush that covered his face, the new boy just grinned nodding his head

"Yeah" he replied not fighting that smirk, okay so he was flirting and they both knew it but neither of them seemed to care "Jones, Ianto Jones"

"Jack Harkness" he replied a little louder this time and held out his hand, they shook hands then sat down next to each other. Ianto would have thought of something else to say if the teacher hadn't announced that they had a new student in the class; he felt like a trained seal... he was almost tempted to ask if he should clap for fish

"Is it always like this for new kids?" the Welsh boy asked his second friend of the day

"Usually" answered the younger boy barely audible "I was new... you seem to be doing better than I did..."

"I find it hard to believe that you had trouble making friends" Jack looked at the new boy who was smiling warmly at him and he felt a flutter in his stomach; Ianto turned back to the front to pay attention which left him open to be looked over properly.

He had short spiky hair slicked up in a messy order, bright sharp green eyes, a small button nose and full lips... all in all he looked younger than he probably was

"Mr Harkness I know it's not every day we get a new student but do you really have to stare at him like that?" the teacher reprimanded him, Jack looked down blushing as everyone apart from Ianto laughed at him. Once everything had settled down Ianto looked over at him, the American had his head bowed in sadness and his heart went out to him.

Ianto's first day was going rather quickly and when the bell ending history rung alerting everyone that it was now lunch time he turned to ask Jack if he wanted to join him for lunch but he had already zoomed out of the class and disappeared

"Ready to have lunch?!" Chloe appeared in front of him making him blink

"Yeah... uh yeah let's go" he nodded and she led the way to the canteen.

It was loud, bustling and full of people... he'd never seen so many people crammed into one room before!

"You don't mind sitting with the rest of my friends, do you?" she asked brightly, he stared at her for a moment before shrugging, nodding his head... he didn't really care where he sat

"I'm gonna go buy lunch" he lied, she was just too bubbly. She probably was a really nice person but now she was beginning to grate his nerves. He thought about joining the queue to get a drink when he spotted Jack leaving the queue at the other end walking briskly out of the lunch room with two apples.

His feet carried him, he had no clue why they made the decision to follow the American boy but he wasn't complaining as he following him down the corridor almost running to keep up with him. It was quiet down here in this part of the school and a little cold despite it being a warm day. Jack pulled open a grand door to the left which turned out to be the library.

Ianto had always loved books, he'd worked in the library back in Cardiff and he couldn't help but smile at the thought of the American sharing that with him... why else would he come to the library instead of sitting with his friends at lunch? Then it slowly dawned on him that Jack didn't have friends. He pulled open the door and was met with silence, the room was empty apart from him and Jack and he couldn't see the American boy anywhere.

The library was probably the same size as the lunch room and just as easy to get lost in. Wandering the stacks in search of a person instead of a book felt a little weird but ever since he'd laid eyes on the shy American boy he'd been hooked. It wasn't pity but it wasn't attraction either... he wasn't going to deny that Jack was good looking but his pale features and shy attitude detracted from that. He turned a corner and saw him lying on a cushioned chair with his eyes closed, two apple cores sat on the floor near his backpack.

Quietly walking over he stood over him watching as the boy slept; he looked relaxed and at ease as he lay back trying to get some sleep. Kneeling down he tried to get as close as possible without disturbing him but that was easier said than done. Jack seemed to sense someone was there, his eyes popped open and he jerked away terror shining in his eyes

"What do you want?" he gasped curling himself inward, all signs of being at peace were now gone

"I'm sorry" he apologised then stood up "I didn't mean to wake you. I just... I saw you in the lunch room and I was going to ask you if you wanted to have lunch with me. But you were just too damn quick" he offered him a small smile trying to show that he meant no home

"You're from Wales right?" Jack said, more of a statement than a question "That makes sense that you want to talk to me, have lunch with me"

"Does it?" he quirked a brow in confusion

"Yeah only someone from another continent would want to spend time with me. I don't do friends"

"I don't do my friends either... I prefer to have lunch with them. So... lunch?"

"You want to be friends... with me?" he couldn't, wouldn't believe that the new kid who was rather handsome and on his way to being extremely popular would want to spend time with him

"Today I'm all about making friends" he joked

"I don't really feel like having lunch" Jack lied despite how hungry he felt. Ianto just shrugged then sat down on the floor leaning back against the chairs he was lying on

"Okay" he replied before leaning forward pulling a book out of one of the stacks and started ready "I'm just going to sit here and read until the bell rings then. If that's okay with you"

"Why me?" mumbled Jack as he lay back down and closed his eyes. Ianto looked over his shoulder at the tired boy

"Because I wanted to know how someone so cute could look so broken" he told him before he caught himself. He wasn't going to say anything but somehow those words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them. Jack's eyes snapped open, his head jerking to lock eyes with the Welsh boy's.

"Cute?" he mumbled in surprise "You think I'm cute?"

"I'm comfortable enough to say so, yes" he leaned back spreading his arms out along the edge of the chairs "So why do you not 'do' the whole friends thing?"

"No one bothers with me so I just avoid it, what am I going to do? Go up to complete strangers and demand they be friends with me?" he joked, his voice a little louder than his usual whisper

"Hey it works for me" Ianto chuckled, Jack just rolled his eyes "I didn't make you uncomfortable, did I? I know things are very different here... I have to watch what I say and do... "

"You didn't make me uncomfortable, it's just that people get angry easier here. It's better to be careful... you live a lot longer that way"

"Is that why you're hiding out in here? Living a little longer?" he asked rather directly, the American boy didn't answer.

Jack was about to ask him about his native country when the bell rang signalling the end of lunch, he sighed and gathered his bag and eaten apples to leave the library and head to class. The welsh boy had never known anyone who moved so quickly; he had wanted to ask if Jack wanted to do anything after school... maybe show him round the city? It was too late because he'd already sped off leaving him alone standing in the library.

Ianto grabbed his bag and left the large library rather reluctantly, he always loved a well stocked big library full of books like this one. He'd come back tomorrow and maybe Jack would be here again? Maybe they could talk some more?

"Hi!" he almost jumped out of his skin when Chloe appeared out of nowhere, all bubbly and happy to see him. He, on the other hand, had completely forgot about her and their lunch 'together'

"Chloe! You scared the crap out of me!" he cried clutching at his chest, she pouted trying to look hurt completely ignoring her surprise

"I thought you were going to have lunch with me and my friends" she stated, her lip sticking out in mock sadness

"Yeah sorry about that. I found someone who didn't have any friends to have lunch with..."

"Oh that is so sweet of you!" she interrupted him moving to link arms with him and pull him away from the library; she was really beginning to annoy him now. He let her pull him along thinking about the second friend he'd made today when it hit him... Jack didn't have any lunch either.

The hall was overcrowded once more as people stood around gathering stuff from their lockers and talking with their friends; he noticed that everyone seemed to be staring at him as he walked down the hall with Chloe on his arm. It all suddenly made sense and he politely pulled his arm away from her grasp.

Whispering started up and then he saw Jack watching him intently taking in this new development between him and Chloe. Ianto couldn't help but feel guilty as they locked eyes, he felt like he was betraying someone who could be a true friend with someone who just wanted to get their claws in him because he was new.

For the rest of the day he had to put up with rumours that he was Chloe's new love interest and there were a lot of rumours. What made matters worse was that half of those rumours were being spread around by Chloe herself and her friends he hadn't met during lunch. It was annoying how immature she was being... he chuckled to himself as he walked to his locker, if she was expecting him to lie down and be backed into a corner relationship wise then she certainly had another thing coming.

He was about to get his jacket out of his locker when he spotted Jack a few lockers down taking books out and shoving them into his bag quickly, the American boy put his hand in the locker when the door was slammed shut on his hand. Several much taller heavy-set teens were holding the door shut while he wriggled and squirmed begging them to open the door.

Ianto slammed his door shut, swung his backpack up onto his shoulder then walked quickly over to where Jack was being taunted

"Are you going to let him go?" he asked clearly but coldly to the three teens built like brick outhouses

"What?" chuckled the obvious ring leader "Why would I do that? It's like watching a maggot on a string!"

"Well that maggot happens to be my friend. Now I'm going to ask you again, let him go"

"Sounds like you're telling, instead of asking. Don't they have manners in England?" chuckled one of the lackeys holding the door shut on his hand. As soon as the bully had said 'England' Ianto had lost it he head butted the beefy teen who collapsed holding his nose and Jack crumpled to the floor holding his hand.

The ring leader stomped towards Ianto who grabbed the charging bull by the pressure point on his hand and forced him to his knees

"He didn't do anything to you, leave him be from now on..." he hissed adding more pressure with his fingertips "Oh and I'm from Wales. Not England. I'm Welsh... remember that" then he let go and moved over to help Jack up "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine" he mumbled trying to pull away from the man helping him, it wasn't that he was ungrateful for the help, he knew that now those bullies would find other ways to get at him and Ianto would get all that crap too for helping him; a kind guy like that doesn't deserve it, he thought as he shut his locker properly and quietly made his way out of the long corridor.

The pair left the corridor stepping out into the late afternoon sunshine together without saying a word. Jack was grateful for being rescued but he didn't want to owe the man anything

"Are you catching the bus or do you want me to give you a lift home?" asked Ianto carefully. With his recent act of heroism he didn't want to scare the boy off... after the disaster that was Chloe he didn't want to loose this friend. Yes, he could go without having friends... he did have plenty back home... it was just that they made things a lot easier and he really was beginning to genuinely like Jack.

"I should catch the bus..." Jack mumbled then blushed when he realised he was being watched intently; he'd have to stop talking quietly around the Welsh boy "I need to go to the library, down-town"

"Really?" grinned Ianto "How about you give me directions and I'll give you a lift?"

"I'm happy getting the bus" protested the younger man not wanting to put out his 'hero'

"Well since I'm going there anyway, you could return the favour and show me how to get there from here. I don't want to be late for work"

"Late for... you're working at the library?" he gasped incredulously, of all the dumb luck!

"My shift starts at four. I don't want to be late..." he glanced down at his watch. Jack sighed then nodded as a smile ghosted over his face.

As Ianto drove his shiny dark green Audi with practised ease it gave a chance for Jack to look him over properly. The Welsh boy was attractive that much was more than clear! He happily took in those tight denim jeans and dark tee stained with the white face of the Joker, oh that shirt hid sumptuous muscles and emphasised everything.

Ianto was being watched and he knew it. He wanted to call his passenger on it but decided against it, the poor kid was still nursing his injured hand and looked terrified to bolt even from the car that was still moving. So he let Jack ogle him as the mystery surrounding the quiet teen grew

"What's Wales like... do you miss it?" the question startled him, he still wasn't used to hearing the quiet boy talk. It wasn't as if he was expecting him to sit there and look pretty, it's just Jack did not seem like the type to talk a lot.

"Course I miss it. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" he sighed keeping his attention on the road but thinking of all the friends he'd left behind "I'd lived there all my life"

"Why did you come here then?"

"My tad is in computers, really into them and good at it. He got offered a job over here as manager for a Microsoft shop. He's running the store front... and since I still lived with my parents I had to come too. It's not so bad" he smirked "I made a deal with my mam, if I go back to school to catch up and fit in with the system over here they let me have the flat above the shop"

"Flat?" Jack repeated, he wasn't sure what the word meant. Ianto rolled his eyes in realisation

"Um, what do they call them over here? Apartments... the place is all mine, I don't have to live with my parents. Come and go as I please"

"Aren't you a bit young to be living alone?"

"I'm nineteen. I was pretty much about ready to go off to Uni when tad got promoted"

"Different worlds" grumbled the American boy as he sank down in the seat "I don't think I'm ever going to get out of that damn trailer. It'd be nice if I could live on my own..."

"You live in a trailer park?" he couldn't hide his surprise

"What of it?" hissed Jack trying to hide his tears at the jovial tone Ianto had in his voice "I'm not trailer trash"

"Never said you were... nothing wrong with it! Mae'n ddrwg gen i, cariad" he hadn't meant to sound so cold to him and he genuinely was sorry.

"What does that mean?"

"Huh?"

"You spoke in Welsh. I didn't know what you said"

"Oh, did I? Sorry. I was apologising... didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I didn't even notice that I'd slipped back to Welsh"

"How can you not notice?"

"It's my first language, I learnt that then when I went to school I learnt English. All my family speak Welsh so when I'm around them it's just natural"

"All your family? Does that mean you have brothers and sisters?" Jack was doing quite well for the twenty questions he was asking, which did piss Ianto off a little... the American was learning more about him and giving nothing away in return.

"I have three big brothers and two sisters... they're all back home in Newport. I'm the baby of the family" he explained then quickly turned the interrogation around "What about you? Got a big family?"

"No. Just me and my dad" he looked down, his face dark trying to make it clear that he didn't want to talk about it. The memory of when he was younger came unbidden, it was a happier time he wished for so much.

"What happened to your mam? If you don't mind me asking?"

"We're here. Thanks for the lift" he dived out of the car at the traffic lights and carefully weaved his way across the road and into the library before Ianto could stop him. Damn, he thought, that boy sure it quick on his feet!

As far as first days went, with both school and work after, it wasn't that bad. He'd made a few friends, put some thick-headed bullies in their place and made it on time to work. All in all things were going well, Ianto hadn't really expected them to.

The library wasn't that busy but it wasn't quiet either, the lady in charge Ethie had put him to work straight away. He unpacked several books in the back room then put them out, as he distributed the books out in the stacks he half expected to see Jack wandering around but the younger boy was nowhere in sight. It appeared that invisibility was another one of his talents, which Ianto concluded meant only one thing and he really didn't like it.

*

Jack stayed in the library for five minutes taking long enough to get the books he needed and avoid the older Welsh teen then left. He wanted to go home and get some sleep before his night shift at the bus depot, today had just been another day and now he had a really sore damaged hand to care for. His knuckles were slowly turning purple and he had a long walk home from the library before he got home, thankfully it wasn't that far to get home to Oakbrook.

A nice warm shower, he mused to himself as he paced along quickly. If he could just get home and ready for work before Derek woke up then he'd be safe for another night. It was truly sad that his safety depended on him being quiet; it had gotten to the point where he hardly said a word and still that wasn't enough. It hurt him deeply that he was practically invisible in the place where he wanted to be noticed and noticed in the place he wanted to be invisible! Yet, someone had noticed him where he wanted to be noticed... that confident guy Ianto with his warm smile and caring nature.

He discarded those thoughts with a shake of his head, it wasn't safe. Everyone always wanted something and Ianto was just another someone; he'd want something in the end and Jack had very little to give. But maybe that was okay? Maybe the thing Ianto wanted was just to be his friend... or dare to hope his boyfriend...

The trailer stood out much more prominently than all the others because of the state of it; it was old, rusty and pretty much falling apart. It's screen door hung from the hinges and there were stains down the sides. Home sweet home. Jack paused when he heard Derek Lowe moving about loudly in there, he sucked in a deep breathe then went in

"Where the hell of you been?" he shouted angrily

"I was at school" protested Jack quietly

"School finished hours ago, you little bastard! Get in here!" he clapped the boy round the back of the head pushing him towards the kitchenette "I've been waiting here for my dinner! Get. Started"

"Yes, sir" he mumbled as he put his bag in his room then returned quickly to make dinner for his foster father. Derek staggered to the corner couch and flopped down, there was beer bottles and cans littering the living room and a stagnant smell emanating from every surface, the TV was on loud enough to deafen even the hardest raver and the young boy did his best to ignore it all.

His hand was still smarting from being trapped in a locker and now a headache was forming, just what he needed as he wandered through the fridge looking for things that were still edible to feed the drunken man masquerading as a parental figure. Beer, lots of it, cheese that was forming it's own form of space travel and some vegetables that no longer smelt fresh. Maybe it was better to look in the cupboards? Pasta, jam, a jar of coffee... hardly things to produce a nutritious meal "Sir? I'm going to have to buy something? There's nothing in to eat"

Derek glared angrily at him and he knew, just knew, what was coming. There was no running from it, no hiding from it all he could do was face the music and take it like a man.

"You've eaten it all again, ain't ya you little shit? And now you want me to give you more money? Fuck that shit! I'm calling for pizza... and you ain't getting any!" he grabbed the phone from off the floor. Jack thanked the universe for Derek's lack of motivation to get up and beat him, while his foster father was on the phone he quickly crept away to his room. He wasn't sure that it was safe to risk getting a shower now, he'd get it later when Derek was passed out.

Shut the door then locked it with both locks, made sure his uniform was in his backpack then shut off the lights closing the curtains and lay down trying to get some sleep.

TBC...