Author's Note: This chapter is set 3 years after Alan was born, and will show Virgil and Don at school, along with the bullying. Scott is now a Sophomore, John is in 8th Grade, Don and Virgil have just moved up to Middle School in the 6th Grade, Gordon is in 5th Grade while Alan has just started Pre-Kindergarten. In this fanfic, Middle School and High School are on the same campus but are located in separate buildings
Chapter 2: School Life
Jeff would pull up outside the school that Scott, John, Don and Virgil attend. While Lucille was at home with Gordon and Alan. Jeff would wait in the car as Scott and John exit one of the buildings heading towards the car, both been in extracurricular activities, Scott being in the track team while John was in the IT Club. They would put their bags in the boot before getting into the car. Scott would get into the passenger seat while John gets in behind Jeff.
"How was Track?" Jeff would ask looking at his eldest
"Getting faster each week" Scott would say with a smirk
"How was IT Club John?"
"Good, learnt how to set up a computer" John would reply not looking up from a book he got out of his bag. "Archery and Football have overrun for some reason" John would state remembering that the coaches sent notes to the IT club director knowing that Jeff would be picking them all up afterwards. Other students from the track team and IT club would be getting into parents cars or walking out the gates.
"When do they ever run on time" Scott would say as he sees Don head around from the changing rooms. Seeing the car Don would walk over to them, putting his bags into the boot before getting into the back seats before sitting next to John in the middle.
"How was Archery practice son?" Jeff would ask looking back at Don.
"Good" Don would say with a smile, "Coach says I'm one of the best in the team"
"That's amazing Don" John would exclaim hugging him.
"Here's Virgil" Jeff would state starting the car ready to get going while the rest of the Archery and Football teams head out. After Virgil puts his bags in the boot, he would get into the car behind Scott. "How did training go?"
"Good, getting better in the new position Coach wants me to try, however some kids still mess about every five minutes meaning we run over every time" Virgil would say as Jeff pulls out of the parking spot and towards home.
As Jeff pulls the car onto the driveway the front door would open as Lucille, Gordon and Alan step outside. After getting out the car, Jeff would head over to his wife and younger sons, being bombarded by Alan running at him. "DADDY" Alan would scream hugging Jeff making the father smile. Meanwhile the four elder sons would be getting their stuff from the boot.
"Hey Allie" Jeff would say ruffling the three year old's blond hair. Gordon would soon be at his side hugging him. "Hey Gords" Alan would stick to his father while Gordon helps his brothers with their bags. Jeff would kiss Lucille on the cheek while hugging her "Hey Luce, how were the boys?"
"Good as gold, like always" Lucille would reply as they head inside. "Put the gym bags near the washing machine" She would shout as Scott, Virgil and Don walk in with their stuff. Obliging the boys would take the three gym bags past the kitchen into the annex before placing them next to the washing machine.
John would head upstairs to get on with homework, while Gordon would sit down as Alan plays with his toys on the floor. Jeff and Lucille would sit on the sofa next to Gordon. Scott, Virgil and Don would head upstairs to complete their homework. Scott would allow Don to use the bathroom first so he can get cleaned after the practice, due to the wind at the time Don had dust in his hair. Virgil would be sat outside drawing while Gordon and Alan watched tv, Jeff and Lucille would be preparing dinner while John is sat in the bay window in his bedroom overlooking the garden.
After getting out of the shower, drying off using the towel, Scott would knock on the bathroom door. "Everything ok in there Don?"
"All is ok Scott" Don would say looking down at the fresh bruises on his shoulders and chest. Quickly putting a long sleeved t-shirt on followed by a pair of black chinos, Don would step into the hallway. Unfortunately the neck of the t-shirt showed part of the bruise on his left shoulder. Don would start to walk past Scott, who would stop him spotting the bruise.
"Don what happened?" Scott would say looking at the bruise
"I just walked into a locker talking to a mate" Don would say lying
"At least let me have a look at it" Scott would say stepping forward, Don would step back "Don, come on" Scott would try again with Don backing off again.
"It's fine Scott"
"It doesn't look fine" Scott would say grabbing Don's shirt, pulling it off to examine what he thought was just one bruise, Scott looked surprised at the amount of bruises. Scott would lead Don back into his room, Don would try to make his way back to the twins room but was stopped. "Ok spill"
Don would look away from his older brother. "It's nothing"
"It's not nothing Don, you have bruises all over, what is going on?" Scott would say "You have hardly played the piano since starting 6th Grade, you hardly draw, you focus all your time on Archery. Why?"
"Because I'm a nerd for playing instruments and being creative with art" Don would say with tears in his eyes.
"You are not a nerd for having interests outside of sports Don" Scott would say kneeling in front of him "Did other kids at school do this to you?" Don would just nod, holding the tears back.
"I can't report it as none of the teachers believe it happens, as all the other students vouch for the person who does it to us"
"To us?" Scott would say in surprise.
Don would look away "Me and Virg" Don would mutter under his breath loud enough for Scott to hear it.
At this time, John would have noticed Virgil not drawing anything on his pad. Sighing he would put the book down before heading downstairs. He would smile at Gordon and Alan sat together, Alan snuggled into Gordon's side before heading outside to talk to his immediate younger brother.
"What's up Virg?" John would say making the eleven year old jump.
"Nothing?"
"You have been sat out here for ten minutes and not started drawing, you normally start a lot quicker"
"Just not got the inspiration" Virgil would reply hiding his left arm behind the pad.
"What's really wrong?" John would say looking at Virgil "You have hardly played the piano without mom or dad insisting"
"It's just not cool to do any of those things right?"
John would be taken by surprise at Virgil's word "Who said that?"
"All the other kids in my year group"
"Well they are wrong, I think it's awesome you can see the art in everything, that you can play instruments and skilled in football at the same time"
"It's not what the kids at school say when they punch us"
John would move closer to Virgil, pulling him into a hug. "Us?" Virgil would flinch as John puts a hand on a bruise.
"Me and Don" Virgil would reply. John would look shocked before leading the brunette indoors and upstairs.
"Let's talk to Scott, I saw him and Don go into his room" John would say, not getting a reply from Virgil he would knock on Scott's door. Seconds later Scott would open the door "We need to talk" John would say.
"Agreed" Scott would say as the two walk in, John would look shocked at the bruises that covered Don. "Virgil, we need to see the bruises to make sure they are ok"
Nodding Virgil would take his shirt off wincing at the pain of one on his right arm. Virgil would be covered in the same amount of bruises that Don was. Scott and John would both look appalled at the state of their younger brothers.
"When did this start?" John would ask
"A few weeks after school started, when we got selected for our teams" Don would reply not meeting his brothers eye contact.
"And your coaches never suspected anything? Not even noticed the bruises while in the changing room?" Scott would ask with the twins shaking their heads
"Not even the teachers noticing your behaviour changed? They all know you" John would say resulting in the twins shaking their heads once again.
The two older brothers would look at each other before looking at the twins "We need to tell Mom and Dad" Scott would say
"No" Both twins would exclaim at the same time
"This has to the dealt with guys, it can't keep happening" John would reply sitting in between the two. He would carefully place both arms around their shoulders as Scott heads downstairs. A few seconds later Jeff would walk into the room, appalled at the state of the twins. He would kneel down in front of them both as John waits outside with Scott
"Boys, you should have told one of us sooner" Jeff would say hugging the twins. "When I drop you off at school tomorrow I will be speaking to the principal, the fact that none of the teachers have known you for a few years when we picked up Scott or John, and haven't noticed the change of behaviour is shocking" Both twins would nod looking down
"You boys have nothing to be ashamed about, I will make sure the school knows that if the bullying continues, I will fine them" Jeff would say passing the twins their t-shirts. After putting them on he would pull them back into a hug. "You two are amazing at whatever you do, no matter what anyone says"
"Trying to get you to conform to how they want you to be by bullying you is wrong, the fact that it is the majority of the year is worse" Scott would say having entered his room along with John.
"I completely understand if you boys want to stop with Football and Archery" Jeff would say with both boys shaking their heads
"I'm not going to stop what I love doing just because of some bullies" Don would say making Jeff smile inside.
"Same here" Virgil would add "We stopped playing music or being creative due to the bullies as we just wanted it to stop without getting family involved"
"That is exactly what your family is for, to get involved with these situations" Jeff would say smiling at his boys "Now let's go get some food before Gordon and Alan inhale it all" The twins would laugh at that comment as they head downstairs, seeing them laugh would make Jeff, Scott and John smile. Looking at his eldest two Jeff would sigh "Look out for them"
"We always do, just the bullies know who we are and make sure we aren't around" John would say as they follow the twins downstairs.
After eating their dinner, Alan would be put to bed with Gordon following a few hours later, Don and Virgil would both be sat with their sketch books open, sketching away in their room. After a few minutes Lucille would walk in looking at them. "You boys ok?" She would ask smiling, the twins would look up smiling at their mother nodding.
"Your father filled me in, and he has said everything on it, I just wanted to make sure you were both ok before you went to bed" Lucille would hug them both, kissing them each on the forehead.
"We're fine mom" Virgil would say smiling
"I know, just remember, no matter what I will always be there for you. Now go get ready for bed" Lucille would say as the two head towards the bathroom, looking at what they were drawing she would smile. Don would have been sketching Scott while Virgil was sketching John. After putting the two pads on the bedside tables she would hear two sets of feet heading towards her.
Both twins would be laughing at a joke as they enter their room. After getting into bed, Lucille would kiss them both on the forehead. "Goodnight my beautiful boys" Lucille would say.
"Night Mom" Both would reply as she turns off the bedroom light before closing the door. Smiling she would check on the remaining brothers, Alan would be fast asleep clutching a stuffed teddy that Don had won at the carnival last year, Gordon would have gotten himself tangled in his bedsheets, after untangling him, she would kiss him on the forehead before leaving the room again. John would have fallen asleep on his bed reading. Lucille would head into the room, setting the book softly on the bedside table switching off the lamp, she would pull John's covers over him before kissing his forehead. She would then enter Scott's room to find him staring at the ceiling.
"Everything ok Scott?" Lucille would ask making him look up.
"How did I miss it?" Scott would say with tears in his eyes "Both of them had changed and I didn't think to make sure nothing was happening" Lucille would pull Scott into a hug after sitting on his bed next to him.
"We all missed it Scott, it's how those two are, they can hide anything from us if they wanted. It doesn't make you a bad brother, it makes you the best one for caring about them all so much, Don was sketching you before he went to bed, you know that right?"
Scott would shake his head "I didn't" He would say smiling "At least they are slowly doing what they love again"
"And we are going to be there to help them no matter what right?" Lucille would ask resting her head on Scott's
"Right" Scott would say before yawning
"Get some sleep" Lucille would say kissing his forehead. Scott would lie back down with Lucille turning off the lamp she would make her way to the door. "Goodnight Ace" She would say smiling
"Night Mom" Scott would reply as Lucille closes the door. Content with all of her kids are ok, she would head back downstairs joining Jeff on the sofa.
"Everyone ok?"
"They are fine darling" She would say kissing him on the lips "Scott was beating himself up on not noticing something was wrong for weeks, but he is ok now"
Jeff would look worried before smiling "He will always be a shoulder for any of them to lean on won't he Lucy"
"Oh he will, they will all help each other out no matter what"
"You should of see the state of them both" Jeff would say "My heart broke seeing them covered in bruises like that" Lucille would rest her head on Jeff's shoulder.
"I know dear, I know, but now that we know we can make sure it doesn't happen again" Lucille would reply as Jeff rests his head on hers
"They felt ashamed about us finding out, they were going to conform to what the bullies wanted"
"At least we found out now before they changed permanently"
"I know sweet pea, I know" Jeff would say before kissing Lucille on the lips "Ma won't be happy when she finds out"
Laughing Lucille would look at Jeff "No she won't and heavens help whoever picks on her grandsons next"
Smiling the two would head upstairs to sleep.
The next morning resulted in Jeff dropping the boys off to school and walking to see the principal.
"Mr Tracy what can I do for you?" The Principal would ask before looking worried seeing the father of six expressions changing
"My boys are being bullied by the majority of their year for liking Arts and Music instead of just focusing on Archery and Football"
"I am sorry to hear that, are they both ok?"
"NO they are not ok, they are covered in bruises, they were both slowly giving up on their interests apart from sports, and they both felt ashamed when Scott and John found out they were being bullied. The teachers in this school know how all my sons are, and none of them noticed their behaviours changing" Jeff would say sounding angry
"I will speak to my faculty in the team briefing in a few minutes, I will ask the 6th grade tutors to inform them that bullying will not be tolerated, and I will make sure the coaches will ensure the boys are not being bullied when they aren't looking"
"Good, because if anything like this happens again, I will report the school to the governors, and will file a lawsuit for negligence" Jeff would say making the principal look really worried.
"I assure you that after today, the bullying will stop, and if anything does happen it will be dealt with swiftly"
"Ensure that it does" Jeff would say before walking out.
During the break after second period, Don and Virgil would be cornered in the playground.
"You will regret telling your father about this Tracys" A male with blonde hair would state stepping forward at the twins.
"Just give it a rest Donovan" A female would state standing next to him "They obviously didn't want them to find out, or it would have happened sooner, do you really want to get punished for doing this?"
"Stay out of this Marissa" The male known as Donovan would reply getting ready to punch Don.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" John would say from behind the group surrounding the twins, Donovan would turn around smirking
"What you need your brother to protect you?" Donovan would state looking at the twins "He won't stop us"
"Well how about me Donovan?" The Principal would state looking cross.
Donovan would look worried before seeing Scott next to the Principal "You two are going to get it outside of school" Donovan would say quietly to the twins before he and his group disperses.
"He never used to be like this in Elementary school" Marissa would state looking at the boys with concern "I am sorry for not stepping in beforehand, he would of hit me"
"It's ok Marissa" The principal would reply as Marissa leaves, "Are you boys ok?"
"We're fine sir, didn't lay a finger on us, John was just in time"
"Well just be glad that some of my friends came and found me after noticing it" John would say slinging arms around the twins' shoulders.
"There are a lot of people in this school who are not happy with that lot for beating you two up, everyone didn't realise as they never saw it happen, but now they all know, they are watching out for you" Scott would say as the twins smile
"I want you both to take a breather before heading to your next class, I will inform your teachers" The Principal would say before turning to Scott and John "That goes for you two as well, Scott I will inform your Principal about this and he will agree that if the boys need a breather it will be best for you both to be there"
"Thank you sir" Scott would say
"Not a problem, after everything that has slipped past our watch, it is the least we can do" The Principal would say leading the four brothers into the teachers' lounge which is next to his office. All the teachers in the lounge would be understanding and would make sure the brothers were ok before they return to their lessons.
After that day the bullying slowly stopped for them, occasionally happening outside of school but with Scott threatening to call the police it soon stopped. When Gordon moved up to the Middle School a year later, Don and Virgil made sure he wasn't being bullied along with Scott and John, much to Gordon's annoyance but he understood. All the boys would protect Alan no matter what was happening, which made Alan happy as he always had a brother around him at all times while out of the house and while they were not at school.