Chapter 3

Quatre was up early the next morning and slipped silently downstairs. Antonio "Tony" Winner was strung out on the couch, drooling, with his hand draped over the side, resting on the floor next to an ashtray and an empty bourbon bottle. Quatre cleaned up the mess before grabbing a banana and a slice of cheese and hurrying out the front door. Normally he didn't bother with breakfast, but after yesterday's fainting spell he didn't want to risk another one.

Once on the porch he adjusted his backpack and headed towards the school. He was grateful that the school district provided lunches because it meant he didn't have to waste any time making one. He was only two houses down before a silver convertible with the top down pulled up next to him.

"Hey, Quatre, want a ride?" Heero called from the passenger seat. Trowa was driving and Duo and Wufei were in the back already.

"Um…o-okay. Thanks." Quatre climbed into the back seat and put his bag on his lap.

"Dude, relax, it's the first day of school, not a funeral," Duo said with a familiar grin. "So what's your schedule look like?"

Quatre handed it to him.

"Damn, Quat. Advanced Physics, AP Calculus, and Business Economics? No wonder you skipped two grades. At this rate you'll have your Bachelor's before you graduate high school."

Quatre turned pink. He'd made it his goal to graduate high school as soon as possible so he could get away to college and he worked hard with scholarships in mind.

"Hey, looks like we have gym at the same time!"

Quatre was a little surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, they have like six classes that meet during the same hour and it's always a mixed bag. That means that when we play team sports there's a chance we'll be on the same team."

Quatre hated gym and even the thought of seeing Duo there didn't make him look forward to the class. He subconsciously checked his pocket for his inhaler.

"Orchestra, huh? What instrument do you play?"

"Well, usually the violin, but I can play anything with strings."

"Yeah? That's cool. How long you been playing?"

"Um…my stepmom started me in lessons when I was five, so almost ten years."

"Huh…you must be pretty good then."

Quatre shrugged. He wasn't used to anyone being this interested in him. Not since the divorce, which he tried not to think about.

"So you said anything with strings, right? Can you play the guitar?"

"Um…a bit…I don't have one so I can't really practice it, though."

"Hmmm…so where is it?"

"What?"

"Your violin."

"Oh. Well when I set up my schedule on Saturday they said not to bring it today."

Duo handed Quatre his schedule as Trowa parked in the student lot. The five boys tumbled out of the car and made their way inside. Duo and Wufei waved as they went down the sophomore hall to find their lockers. Quatre trailed after Heero and Trowa to the junior hall, looking for his own locker.

"Hey, runt, you lost?"

Quatre was pushed roughly against the row of lockers. He looked up into a pair of topaz eyes.

"That's enough, Treize." Heero pushed the older boy away from him, glaring coolly. Treize looked down his nose at Heero.

"This don't concern you, Yuy. This little freshman needs to learn his place."

"He's not a freshman. Just new."

Treize snorted. "Well in that case, I guess I'd better welcome him."

Quatre didn't like the look Treize was giving him.

"Touch him and I'll make sure you never play football again."

"Why? He your new girlfriend?" Treize sneered.

"He's my friend and if you touch him you'll have the entire basketball team on your ass."

"Yeah, right. Like you could even manage to catch me."

Heero rolled his eyes. "Duo could catch you running backwards. You know he's on the track team, too, right?"

"Whatever, Yuy." The warning bell rang. "See you in class, Sweetheart." Treize leered at Quatre before moving down the hall.

Heero turned to Quatre. "You okay?"

Quatre nodded, not trusting his voice.

"Come on. Where's your locker?" Heero located the locker easily and Quatre put his jacket inside. Slinging his bag over a shoulder he followed Heero through the hall. It turned out that they had homeroom together and Trowa was there as well.

Trowa motioned them over and they grabbed desks near him. Heero took the one next to Trowa and Quatre sat in the seat in front of Heero.

"What took you?"

"Treize."

Trowa groaned. "Haven't they given up on that lout yet?"

"No. He may be stupid but the school won't kick him out because he's the gunner and Coach Merquise doesn't want to find a replacement for him."

"Well, there should be a limit on the number of times you can repeat a year. This is what, the third time he's been a junior?"

"Something like that."

Quatre stared at his desk. Great. He'd been targeted his first day. Maybe that was a good thing because it got it over with. The bullies in his other schools had a hierarchy that determined which one would get to pick on him. By being singled out early it meant he was off limits to any other bullies.

"Hey, Quatre, you okay?" Trowa asked quietly.

"Y-yeah." Quatre didn't look at him, but focused on the teacher who had just entered the room.

"Good morning class and welcome back. My name is Miss Une. I know that this is just homeroom for most of you but I also teach the AP Calculus class which I know some of you are taking. The seats you have picked will be yours for the remainder of the year so I suggest you make friends with your neighbors."

Miss Une proceeded to take the roll, making notes on her seating chart. Once she was done she gave them a brief lecture on how they were going to be seniors next year and to make the most of this year so they didn't jeopardize their chances of graduating. The rest of the period was given to them to relax.

Trowa leaned across the aisle where Quatre was sitting kitty corner to him. "Hey, what's the rest of your schedule today?"

Quatre handed it over and both Trowa and Heero looked at it.

"Hn. You'll have AP Calculus with me, English and Advanced Physics with both of us, and gym with Duo and Wufei," Heero said casually. "You're on your own for Business Ethics, Orchestra and History, though."

"I-is that a problem?" Quatre asked, trying to sound more casual than he felt.

"No. But it means we won't really be able to help you study for those classes. Well, we will for History because we've got the same teacher, we just don't have it at the same time," Trowa told him.

Quatre nodded and took back his schedule.

"Hey, Quatre," Heero started slowly, "don't worry about Treize, okay? We'll make sure he leaves you alone."

Quatre didn't meet the older boy's eyes. Luckily the bell chose that second to ring and Quatre slung his bag over his shoulder to head to his History class, grateful that he would have a couple of hours to get over his embarrassment. He knew that Heero was just trying to help him out on his first day, but he didn't like feeling babied.

His gut dropped when he walked into the room and saw Treize sitting at a desk in the back row. He quickly took a desk in the front row, as far away from the bully as he could manage. A shadow fell across his desk and Quatre found an interesting mark on his desk to look at.

"Hey, Sweetheart," Treize's husky voice whispered in his ear. "I see you missed me."

"Sit down, Mr. Kushrenada. I don't know why you're in this class; you're old enough to have lived through most of the ancient history we'll be covering this year."

The class sniggered at the jibe, except for Quatre who suddenly and inexplicably felt sorry for the larger boy. Surely the bully deserved the remark if it came from a teacher. The shadow moved away from his desk.

"My name is Howard. I don't want to hear any of that 'Mister' business, y'hear?"

Quatre looked up to see an older man wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt. He had a pointy mustache and beard and was wearing sunglasses. After taking the roll and marking his seating chart, Howard started in on a lecture about the Romans.

Quatre slipped out the door as soon as they were dismissed, hoping that Treize hadn't seen him. He was relieved when he made it into his next classroom without incident. The Business Ethics class was small, there were only twelve students in the room. Quatre picked an empty desk and sat down.

"Are you lost?"

Quatre looked up to see a girl with honey blonde hair and blue eyes looking at him with a frown.

"This is the Business Ethics class, isn't it?"

"Yes, but…freshmen don't take this class."

"I'm not a freshman."

The girl frowned slightly as she looked him over. Quatre felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze.

"This is not a social hour, Miss Peacecraft, please take your seat."

The girl scowled at the teacher who had just walked in, but sat down.

"I am Mr. Darlian and this class is Business Ethics. If you have the wrong room please feel free to go find the right one." He looked at Quatre as he said it. Quatre just looked at the desk. He hated that everyone was looking at him now.

"Name?"

Quatre looked up. Mr. Darlian was standing in front of him.

"Quatre Winner, sir," he replied quietly.

Mr. Darlian raised an eyebrow but moved to the next student. It seemed that he knew almost everyone in the class already, but followed the same protocol until he'd marked down everyone in the class. They were given an overview of the class, a reading assignment and a paper to write by Friday.

"You will be given a term project next week and after Christmas break those of you that don't drop the class will be given a group project to complete."

Quatre was taking notes, but thought he could feel the teacher's eyes on him again. Well, maybe he would just have to prove him wrong. The bell rang and Quatre hefted the large textbook.

"Quatre, may I have a word with you."

He sighed inwardly as he approached Mr. Darlian's desk.

"Yes, sir?"

"I'm not sure you're cut out for this class. Most seniors have a hard time in here and I cannot imagine a freshman—"

"I'm not a freshman." Quatre cringed as he realized that he'd cut off a teacher. "Sorry, sir, I just get tired of everyone assuming," he explained quickly.

"Well, I apologize then. See you tomorrow."

Quatre made a speedy exit and just managed to get to the AP Calculus class before the tardy bell rang. Heero waved him over. He'd gotten them the same seats they had in homeroom. Miss Une gave them an overview of the class and handed out a test, which she explained would help her to see just where everyone was at and what areas needed improvement.

Quatre thought the test was a little too easy. But he brushed off the thought by telling himself that she'd given them an easy test because it was the first day. There was a collective groan and complaints of "But I'm not done" when Miss Une told them to hand up the tests.

"Have any more problems this morning?" Heero asked quietly as he and Quatre packed their bags and headed to their next classes.

"Not really. Treize is in my history class and Mr. Darlian thinks I won't be able to handle his class."

Heero frowned. "Howard will keep Treize in his place, but Darlian's got a reputation for being a pompous ass. Don't let him get to you."

Quatre nodded as he turned down the music hall on his way to Orchestra. The music room was abuzz with everyone talking and catching up. The teacher stood at the podium. He was older with wild graying hair and bright blue eyes.

"Simmer down, people. I am Dr. Sylvinestrokovich. You can call me Dr. S. For today I'll assign you music lockers and hand out the first few pieces of music we'll be working on. I expect you to bring your instruments tomorrow and on Friday we'll begin the chair competitions. So I suggest you practice."

Quatre decided to start his Business Ethics homework because he had no one to talk to. He didn't understand why Mr. Darlian thought he wouldn't be able to handle the material. He jotted down a couple of notes and a couple of questions to ask about the material.

He was almost finished when it was the violinists' turn to get lockers. He returned to his book while he waited for Dr. S. to hand out the music. The music, when he got it, was fairly challenging, but he didn't think it would be a problem, as long as he got time to practice it.