Disclaimer: I inherit no profit for the fiction and I own no characters, names or places over which prior copyright has been claimed.

As much as I enjoy writing about the Tracy family, I wanted to observe the relationship between Alan and Fermat closely as well. Two completely different people surely have a fascinating connection, and, as usual, it can take a major accident for those two people to realise what their special connection is.

Whilst I usually like to complete stories before posting, this one is a little fragmented, so please be patient and I promise I will update as soon as I can!

Reviews and any constructive criticism is, as always, much appreciated!

Boann

"I honestly don't see what was so interesting about a bunch of rocks," Alan moaned for the third time.

He, Fermat and a dozen other boys from Wharton Academy were on a bus returning to school from a geography excursion.

"What are you talking about Alan? It was s...s...amazing!" smiled Fermat, who was somewhat enjoying his friend's complaining.

"Well ok, maybe for nerds like you," teased Alan, rolling his eyes.

Fermat gave a small smile and went back to reading the notes he had taken earlier that day.

Alan gazed at him, shaking his head. "I don't know how you can do that."

"Do what?" asked Fermat, not looking up.

"Concentrate for so long."

Apart from a small 'mm', Fermat didn't acknowledge him, so Alan snatched the papers from him, holding them above his head.

"Alan, cut it out!" exclaimed Fermat.

"C'mon Fermat, take a break" laughed Alan, standing up to stop Fermat from catching the papers.

"Alan, stop it," said Fermat who was now jumping in an attempt to reach them.

"Tracy! Hackenbacker!"

Both boys froze and all chatter in the bus stopped at the voice of their strict geography teacher, Professor Torkin.

"You heard what I said before we left for this excursion! Any boy caught out of his seat will receive a detention! I'll speak to both of you when we arrive back at school."

Disgruntled, Alan and Fermat sat back down, but not before Fermat snatched the notes from Alan's hand.

"Hey!" exclaimed Alan, with a hushed voice. "What's wrong?"

"Just shut up Alan," whispered Fermat with a tone Alan and never heard him use before.

What's your problem?" Alan grabbed his friend's shoulder, spinning him around to face him.

"What's my p…p…problem? You are! Why can't you know when to c…c…stop?" hissed Fermat, his stutter becoming more predominant with his anger.

"It was just a joke, lighten up Fermat!" Alan struggled to keep his voice down.

Fermat was trying a little too desperately to flatten the crinkles in his notes. "Don't t…t…tell me to lighten up Alan."

Alan stared at his friend. "What's gotten into you? It was just a joke!"

Fermat gave a harsh sigh. "Why do you h…h…make fun of me for r…r…stupid things like this? Why? Now we're both in trouble because of you."

"Is that what the fuss is about?" Alan spat out disbelievingly. "You getting one measly detention?"

"It's ok for you, you're o…o…used to it," Fermat lowered his voice even further.

Alan fumed with an inherited temper. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Fermat glared at his pages. "You're always so im...im...reckless! You don't think about a...a...the consequences! Now y...y...both of us are going to pay the p...p...

"At least I can string a whole sentence together," Alan mumbled with gritted teeth. He instantly regretted it after seeing Fermat's shocked face. The two friends had shared their disagreements before and tolerated playful banter, but both knew that the mockery of Fermat's speech impediment crossed the line.

Alan sighed harshly, his anger building to frustration at the fact that his groveling would replace the string of well rehearsed throwbacks he'd been planning to give. "Look, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean that," he grumbled.

Fermat's blue eyes held a new ferocity. "Ac...ac...To be honest, I'm not surprised. This is ex...ex...precisely what I mean. You don't think!" he replied.

"You get me riled up sometimes! You and your goody-two-shoes act! If I'm not good enough for you then you have a choice to make!" Alan retorted. "I don't force you to stick to me like glue!"

"Be careful what you wish for Alan!" Fermat's raised voice was dimmed by the chatter of the boys around them.

"Fine! At least I won't have to watch your back every step I take! And I won't have to put up with your dorky behaviour!"

"Well, I'm sorry if your image of w...w...perfection was ruined by me," Fermat replied. "Tell you w...w...this though, your d...d...family would sure be proud of you right now!" Fermat hissed.

It was Alan's turn to look shocked. Fermat was the one person he had ever confided to about issues concerning his family. From feelings of isolation to annoyance at brotherly banter, Fermat had heard it all and Alan had relied on him for close confidence.

"Shut up, Fermat!" he snapped. "You don't know anything about my-"

He couldn't finish.

Something crashed into the front left side of the bus, causing the entire side to crumple like tin foil. The windows shattered, spraying glass everywhere. The boys on the left side of the bus were thrown out of their seats and the boys on the right side, including Fermat and Alan, were thrown up against the side. Alan, who was sitting in the window seat, heard nothing but the screams of his fellow classmates and the creaking of the bus' hull as it slid across the bitumen and began to tilt slowly sideways. He braced himself and shut his eyes against the movement as glass pelted him from every direction. Fermat's weight against his left side increased his sense of claustrophobia as the entire world spun. The brutal impact of the bus smashing down on its side sent shudders of pain through his body. His head struck the side of the bus, sending him into darkness.