Hey so sorry for how long this has taken I'm a slow updater. Please review.

Oh and Jack was on holiday until school started that's why he didn't know how things had gone at Brendan's sooner.

VERY IMPORTANT: THIS IS A REWRITE. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ MY NEW CHAPTER 1 PLEASE READ IT OR YOU WON'T KNOW WHATS GOING ON.

Declan nervously sat in an awkward silence outside Mr Heckles' office. He hated the outside of the office. The drab off white walls, bits of disguarded gum pressed in to an old carpet. What was taking Ronan and Darra so long? He glanced to his silent mother beside him. He'd broken his promise to her already. After getting back from his dad's last summer he'd promised her, no more trouble. Well he was in trouble alright, but right now he was a lot more frightened of what his ma would say, than whatever telling off he was sure to get from Mr Heckles.

His thoughts were interrupted by Ronan and Darra shuffling – in Darra's case swaggering – out of the office. Ronan walked dejectedly b

ehind Darra and Declan shot him a sympathetic look, Mr Heckles must be in a bad mood. Darra didn't look all too happy either. His face looked like thunder as he ushered Ronan quickly out the room muttering angrily to him.

"Ms Brady, Declan, please come in," said Heckles, coolly.

Declan reluctantly got up and followed his Ma in to the office. Heckles' office looked oddly like the waiting area outside, the same colours on the walls, a slightly cleaner carpet. In the middle of the small room there was a desk, with three chairs on the side closest to the door opposite a throne-like chair on the other side. Declan and his Ma sat down in two of the three chairs.

"We are very concerned about Declan's behaviour Ms Brady…" Heckles began. Declan's mind began to drift as Heckles began to go on and on about all the little bits of trouble Declan had got in to over the last few years. They then began to discuss Declan's parents' divorce and Declan rolled his eyes as his ma began to tell Heckles how terrible a father Brendan was. He isn't that bad Declan found himself thinking. No he corrected himself his father's a liar who cares more about his new life in Chester then about his family back home. His ma was right about him.

"Declan?" his ma said, sounding like this wasn't the first time she had tried to get his attention.

"Yeah?"

"What were you and Ronan doing outside during school hours?" asked Heckles sternly.

"Talking," said Declan shortly.

"What was so important that you had to exit the school grounds?"

"I'd got in to a bit of trouble and Ronan was helping me. That's all." Declan half – lied, he wasn't stupid enough to grass up Sean and his mates.

Heckles sighed a defeated sigh and his ma looked at him looked at him disappointedly. "Well Declan if your refuse to give us any more information, then I'm sorry to say," no he wasn't thought Declan sourly, "you will be joining Ronan in isolation for the remainder of the week."

"But sir!" Declan protested, they only bunked off for about ten minutes! How was a week's punishment fair!

"But nothing, Declan. You are indeed of a wakeup call and I intend to give it to you," Heckles said sternly, "You're a bright kid, Declan. You shouldn't let the likes of Ronan Byrne get you in to trouble."

"What wrong with Ronan?" asked Declan defensively.

"Ronan is a very troubled young man, who seems determined to take out his frustrations by breaking to rules."

"Seemed alright to me," said Declan in the same defensive tone.

"He's not a bad kid," said Heckles honestly. He glanced to the clock and turned to Eileen, "I'm sorry Ms Brady but I think we're going to have to cut this meeting short. I have a staff meeting to be at in five minutes."

"Thank for you time Mr Heckles," said Eileen gratefully, then her voice became more stern, "we will sort this out." Declan resisted the urge to groan as he followed his Ma out the office, he was so getting a lecture later.

"Declan!" his Ma's voice called, "Declan you're going to be late for school!"

Declan groaned as he rubbed his eyes and rolled out of bed. He quickly showered, brushed his teeth and changed. He walked downstairs and quickly began scoffing to two bits toast his ma put in front of him. His little brother Padraig bounced up to the breakfast table with a far too cheerful "morning Dec!" and began demolishing his full English breakfast.

About five minutes later Declan picked up his school bag and headed for the door. He nervously glanced at his watch, he was late. "Bye Dec!" said his hyperactive brother. "Bye Paddy," he replied. "Bye Declan," said his ma. He ignored her still angry at her the lecture and the grounding he'd received last night. He quickly walked down his road, ten minutes till school started. He was never going to make it! Coming out his road he almost crashed in to another hurrying figure. "Sorry," he said, and then he saw the figures face "Ronan?"

"Oh hey Declan," said Ronan unenthusiastically.

"I didn't know you lived down here?" said Declan surprised.

"Likewise," said Ronan in his usual detached manner. They walked silently for a few paces.

"So you're new?" asked Declan, awkwardly trying to start up some kind of conversation.

"Just moved; last month."

"Em…thanks by the way," said Declan, remembering he'd wanted thank Ronan for dealing with Sean.

"What for?" asked Ronan, seeming quite taken aback.

"Yesterday," said Declan, simply.

""I got you sent home and four days of isolation," said Ronan, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," said Declan, smiling slightly at the weirdness of it all, "but you helped me out with Sean. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up."

Ronan shrugged embarrassedly "It was no big deal."

They were silent the rest of the walk to school, Declan occasionally trying to start up some kind of conversation but Ronan effortlessly stopping him every time. This confused Declan. He was just trying to be friendly. What was wrong with that? From what he'd seen Ronan didn't have many, if any friends. Declan was starting to see why. He didn't want any.

Oh well Declan thought, he wasn't going to force Ronan to be friends with him. If Ronan wanted to be a loner, Declan wasn't going to stop him. Ronan wasn't his problem.

They rushed down the school steps, Declan noticed Ronan was lagging behind. "Hurry up! Mr Heckles will kill us if were late," he said angrily.

Ronan started to attempt to walk faster. It was quite funny at first it looked like Ronan was attempting to hop down the stairs and failing. But after a moment or so more of this Declan realised he was an idiot to have not noticed sooner. Ronan was limping.

"Are you alright?" asked Declan already disregarding what he'd earlier convinced himself.

"Never been better," said Ronan sarcastically, still attempting to hobble faster down the stairs.

Declan sighed quietly to himself and walked up to Ronan and helped him down the stairs. "What happened?" Declan asked, nodding to the offending leg.

Ronan hesitated for a second his eyes looking wild and panicked so briefly that Declan wasn't sure if he imagined it or not. Then Ronan's eyes again became cool calm and collected with a sight hard edge to them.

"One of my customers and I had a disagreement," said Ronan in a level tone.

"Idiots." said Declan walking through the door in front of Ronan. "If your having trouble walking you should go to the nurse," Declan called over his shoulder.

"Nah, I'm fine," Ronan lied.

Thx 4 reading and Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. Please REVIEW they really make me want to write.