A/N Thank you so much for reading! Seeing people favoring my stories and me as an author is incredible! Thankyou! Every single comment and sign that you like my work is highly appreciated!

As for the guest who called my writing crap. Point A: it might not be that crappy actually since you seem to believe I am fluent in English, which I've never claimed myself to be, point B: if my writing disturbs you so much I have a simple solution for you: don't read what I write. Besides can't be that bad when I have people favoring my other stories as well as me as an author. So next time you decide to take out your anger on me do everyone a favor and take it out on a pillow instead. I really mean it.

And oh, I switched back to third person since I'm more comfortable writing in that. Last chapter wasn't the greatest so I just hope you will have the patience to read through this story. From now on everything should come much easier.

Chapter 2

-James Williams, here to meet principal Connor.

-I'll tell him you are here, please take a seat, the secretary said.

James looked around the room and saw 2 teenagers sitting on a line of chairs, none of them having the hair color of his son. Moving his gaze a little further to the right he suddenly spotted a mop of blond hair sitting slumped over in a chair. Hidden by a plant as he was, it was easy to miss him. Stalking over to his son James took in the sight of his youngest son, wondering just what he had done to get himself into this position. Donnie was usually not a troublemaker and the few times he'd actually been in trouble he'd gotten away with detention. Somebody having to pick him up was something totally new. Sighing James decided to just bite the bullet, desperately hoping that his son actually had done something, instead of being the target of that something. With the blond mop of hair in the way James couldn't see his son's face to help him determine which scenario he was in for so he gently placed his hand on the teenager's shoulder.

Startled by the sudden hand on his shoulder Donnie almost flew in the air. Looking up and seeing his dad he quickly looked back down on his hands, not wanting to look his dad in the eye. Too bad for Donnie James didn't give up so easily. Needing to know his son was okay James gently took a hold of Donnie´s chin forcing him to meet his concerned eyes.

-You okay son? James asked gently, keeping his voice low and level.

-Yes sir, I'm fine, Donnie answered biting his lip. The relief was instant: Donnie wouldn't look him in the eye and lie, besides the unnecessary sir on the end told James all he needed to know.

-Sir? James questioned gently.

Donnie heard the real question behind the word; if it really was so bad he had to sir him for something so simple as a question on whether he was okay or not.

-You aren't gonna like it.

-I guessed that when I got the call. James still held his voice low and gentle, almost soothing.

-You have no idea, Donnie muttered, angry at himself and ashamed of his actions. The time he had had to wait for his dad had only served to further make him see the error in his ways. James on the other hand had no problem hearing or seeing how much his son was beating himself up over whatever mistake he had made and made a mental note to keep that in mind when dealing with whatever scenario he was gonna be handed.

-Whatever it is we'll handle it, James said reassuringly.

?

-Bullied the other side of the window-

-So you see we have a bit of a problem here mr. Williams, the principal ended his tale. Glancing at the blond boy he felt bad for having to do what he was about to do, but the kid had taken part in the bullying and rules were rules he couldn't break. School rules state I have to suspend Donovan for at least week no matter the reason. Due to him owning up to the bullying though, I'm only giving him a week, and after listening to agent Pride´s speech about Donovan having the heart on the right place but not the head, I'm confident about my decision.

-We understand, James said calmly. Donnie on the other hand, although expecting something like it was shocked. Suspension. Shaking his head lightly trying to wrap his head around it just made his head hurt worse so he settled on a grimace instead.

-You okay son? James asked for a second time.

Donnie just nodded in affirmative.

-You sure?

-Just a headache dad. I'll survive, Donnie said quietly.

James wasn't convinced and turned to level the principal with a look that spoke volumes. When the principal gave a nod James therefore gently placed a steady hand on his kid's shoulder and guided him out the door.

-Com on kid. Let's get you home.

-Bullied the other side of the window-

Donnie stared at the glass of water and the painkillers his dad sat down on the kitchen table in front of him.

-Take them.

Donnie swallowed the pills obediently and drank the water but kept his head down not wanting to look at his dad. James sighed and took a seat on the seat next to Donnie.

-Look at me Donnie, James said calmly.

Donnie looked at him warily, his eyes hidden by his bangs for all of ten seconds before James gently but with a hint of sternness in it brushed them away. The look that met Donnie's eyes was full of disappointment and he couldn't help but flinch.

-Why?

-I…it was stupid. Donnie tried to avert his gaze from his dad's but James cupped his chin forcing him to maintain eye contact. I…I tried to scare him but it went too far and I…I could have hurt him badly.

James didn't say anything knowing his son would keep the tale going in his own pace. Whatever speed he choose was fine with James since he knew that pushing Donnie only would result in him shutting down completely.

-When Tony first started it was all very sudden. One day he wasn't there and then suddenly the next day he was. Logically, people started asking questions but he just ignored them and changed the subject. Anyway, I got scared. He just seemed so confident and the only reason I could see for such a dramatic beginning was if he had gotten expelled and wanted a fresh start. The football team tried to run over him in gym class like they do with all new students but he amazed everyone when he played just as hard as them and scored more goals than the entire team together. The football team decided to make his life a living hell, and seeing his confidence growing when he embarrassed the whole football team I decided to join them, fearing that he might be able to do damage the school or this city couldn't recover from.

Donnie took a deep breath and searched for confirmation in his dad's eyes that he'd still love him after this. Logically he knew that James already knew the whole story and nothing had seemed to change between them in the last hour, but he just really needed the confirmation.

-Oh Donnie, James sighed and moved one hand to caress the back of his son's head and the other one to rest gently on Donnie's upper arm. You know I love you son, no matter what. Donnie nodded and smiled a little at the words before his face once again became serious as he continued his tale.

-It started with pushes, then developed into full blown fights that left him considerably more hurt. Other people started noticing and demanded us to stop when he already was down on the ground. The weekend came and suddenly on Monday morning he confronted us again but this time he unbeknownst to us had his dad and…King with him. The last words where barely a whisper. Donnie knew how much King meant to his brother, hell his whole family threated the man like a part of the family. Donnie knew…had known him quite well when his brother still lived at home. He and Pride had never had the chance to get close, but Donnie knew the man had looked out for him as well and now he had shown his respect and gratefulness by bullying his nephew. Donnie felt the tears rise in his eyes but wiped them away furiously, they wouldn't help him.

James saw the emotions play on his kid's face and knew he had to step in before Donnie got too worked up.

-King?

-Yeah…

Jamie nodded thoughtfully and Donnie continued in a small voice.

-I know what he did for Nate, it shouldn't matter, what I did was wrong anyhow…but with it being King…

-It just seems so much worse, James ended the sentence.

Donnie looked at his dad with big eyes.

-I know you Donnie, that's the way your brain works. But I also know that I don't have to use my words to explain to you that I would be just as disappointed with you if it was somebody else. But I'm also proud of you for turning yourself in.

-Pride and Tony's dad walked in on us giving him a hard time that is the only reason I turned myself in in the first place.

-I know. I'm still proud of you for doing the right thing in the end.

-Thanx dad…so what happens now?

-As far as I am concerned you are grounded for the foreseeable future. No TV, no computer, no phone, no nothing. Anything else I'll have to take up with your mom before deciding so for right now I want you in your room thinking about how you could have solved this differently. That doesn't mean beating yourself up too bad, you are already doing a great job of that son so just try to look at the facts from another perspective. Donnie just nodded silently and made his way upstairs, his dad was right about the beating himself up part, he was doing a lot of that already. After being caught he had started seeing things differently, the way Tony had interacted with the two adults as well as Tony's standing up for himself had really made an impact on Donnie. Slowly all the earlier scenes with Tony starting from the beginning had started playing in front of his eyes. Just how wrong he had been wasn't hard to see the other time around. It was self-explanatory why Tony hadn't disclosed the reason behind being transferred there, and for him beating everybody in sports just made him good at them, not a treat to anyone's safety. And suddenly Donnie couldn't stop seeing the hurt behind the so carefully put in place mask Tony wore all the time. He couldn't help but see the pain he had caused to the other boy, both physically as well as mentally and he was simply ashamed of himself and his actions.

-Way to go Donnie, he muttered to himself as he closed the bedroom door behind him and slid down until he was sitting with his back towards it. Frustrated, angry, ashamed and desperate to change history Donnie buried his head in his hands and finally let the tears spill.