Warning: Mention of almost swearing, a bit of violence and a half death threat (and this is why it's rated T)

See if you can spot some of the references I made to the character's actors.

Enjoy!

"Hey! Bill!"

Bilbo turned around to see Kyle and Flynn marching towards him down the corridor.

Uh oh, he thought. This can't be good.

Even though he had only been in the Company for two months now, he knew trouble followed them around the corner wherever they went. Their reputation for pranks and jokes was unrivalled. The only person that could "out prank" them was Nathan.

Thinking of the Company made him smile. He had learnt a lot about them in the past lunchtimes and recesses they had sat through together.

Theo was very much the leader of the group, and a very all-rounded person. He got involved in sports such as football and cricket, and was very involved in the music department as one of the few harp players in the school. The only difference between him and his middle earth counterpart was that he was a lot more benevolent.

Darcy was very much Theo's best friend. He too, was very much involved in sport, and played the viola in the school orchestra. This was the only thing in common he shared with his brother, Bailey, who was also in the orchestra playing the viola. He was much more interested in academics than sports, and planned to be the dux of his year.

The one person who dared to challenge Bailey to games such as Trivia Pursuit or Scrabble was Oscar, who was planning to become a doctor when he left the school. He also studied botany, and could identify the Latin word of any plant and its healing properties without batting an eyelash. Geoffrey, instead, could rattle on for hours about financing and business without changing the subject.

The Wright brothers, Dom and Oliver, had a relationship that was more similar to a parent-child one instead of a brotherly one. Oliver was the child, always wanting to go do something, while Dom was the parent, fussing over Oliver as if he was a precious item. True, Oliver had a peanut allergy, but Bilbo felt Dom was little too overprotective. He thinks it's because of Nathan, their cousin from their mother's side, who was always getting detentions and low marks on his school work.

Boris, Blake and Bruno were a bit more closer than them. Bruno aspired to be a chef when he grew up, or a food critic. He planned to go on Masterchef, which his brother, Blake, wholeheartedly supported. Even though Blake often made jibes about his brother's weight, they were always said with a light-hearted twinkle in his eyes. He was the joker of the Company, and the one who was always cheering everybody up, especially his cousin, Boris. Since Boris was autistic, he didn't talk much. He took special classes separate from everyone else, and he was taunted constantly for this. However, when angered, he was a formidable foe with his fists, and quick with his wits.

Now, Flynn and Kyle. Flynn was the more artistic of the two- having dabbled in landscape painting like his father, and photography. Though he could defend himself if he wanted to, with a black belt in karate and all. He was rather protective (not a Dominic protective, more of a brotherly protectiveness) of Kyle, who was the more wild and reckless of the two. He would go on and on for ages about extreme sports, especially skydiving.

Speaking of Kyle…

"You know," the brunette said, as he ruffled his silky hair. "I find it weird how you can get 'Bill' from 'William'. That's your name right?"

"Well, yeah," Bilbo shrugged. "That's what it says on my birth certificate."

"Well…then how come your name is Bill?" As Kyle was speaking, Flynn rolled his eyes in exasperation at his brother's ahhh…stupidity.

"What? Do you expect him to be called 'Billiam'?" Flynn scoffed. "How ridiculous would that be!?"

"Bu-"

"Anyway, that's not what we came here to talk about." The blonde boy cut through his younger brother's protests. "We came here to talk about our-"

"Friendship group!" Kyle said excitedly. Bilbo still wasn't used to the brothers finishing off each other's sentences.

"Since you're officially part of the Company now," Flynn said. "We might as well tell you what's been going on."

"So Bill, or William, whatever," Kyle put an arm around him. "What do you want to know about the most?"

"Ummm… relationships?" Bilbo meant this as a joke, but Flynn suddenly grew serious.

"There's a lot in our group," They steered the hobbit into an empty classroom. "So…where to start?"

"I know!" Kyle put his finger up, as if a miraculous idea had sprung into his head. "Bruno."

"Really?" Bilbo tried to sound surprised. He knew about Bombur's wife and his children. Goodness knows how many he had. Even Bombur himself had admitted he had lost count, which, as Bilbo thought, was not the mark of a good father.

"Yeah, he's got a crush on Pandora," Flynn explained. "You know, one of Dan's friends."

"The one with the blonde hair?"

Kyle nodded vigorously. "He wants to ask her out to the Year 9 and 10 social coming up, but he's too shy."

"I'm pretty sure Pandora likes him back, anyway." Flynn waved a hand. "They've been friends for ages."

"Now, the second one," The brunette continued. "Geoff."

"Now, he's got a crush on Amanda." Flynn waggled his eyebrows, which slightly unnerved Bilbo.

"He's hoping to ask her out to the year 11 and 12 formal." Kyle slapped his thigh. "See, this is what I love about this school! They have dances each year!"

"So…basically it's the people in this group who have some impossible crush on the girl version of this group." Bilbo guessed.

"Indeed," Flynn nodded. "How did you guess?"

"And now…for the most shocking relationship," Kyle grinned evilly. "Darcy."

Bilbo almost fell over in astonishment. "Darcy!?" he shouted with incredulity.

"And that's not the most shocking bit!" Flynn said triumphantly. "It's who he wants to ask to the formal."

"And who is that?" Bilbo asked eagerly.

Kyle did a drumroll on the table in front of him, before announcing a name. "Danielle."

"DAN!? THE DAN!?"

"Theo's sister?" Bilbo had never seen Kyle look so happy, and evil. "Yep."

Bilbo remembered how Darcy was acting so strange when Dan had come over to their table.

"But…I thought he hated her!" he burst out.

Flynn shook his head. "No, he doesn't hate her. He hates her boyfriend."

"Damon," Kyle spat the word out. "Darcy's cousin. A right little prick he is."

Flynn began ranting. "That good-for-nothing, popular, snobby, stuck-up, spoilt, little piece of sh-"

"Anyway!" Bilbo exclaimed, before Flynn could state that last word. "Is this dude in league with Alan?"

Kyle grimly shook his head. "We're being targeted by many, not just Alan."

"Come on," Flynn was walking out of the classroom. "Let's find the others; we've discussed long enough."

"Okay." Kyle rolled his eyes, as he followed his brother.

"Sooo…" Oscar said, as the trio sat down. "What have you guys been up to?" The Company were sitting near a window that overlooked the courtyard just outside.

"You're not leading Bill into a life of crime, are you?" Dom narrowed his eyes at the younger boys. Bilbo couldn't decide whether he was being serious or not.

"Nah," Kyle sat down. "We've been discussing stuff."

"Highly confidential stuff." Flynn added.

"Nothing's been done wrong." Bilbo said hastily. He didn't want them getting into trouble because of him. Darcy snorted in disbelief.

"You know," Bailey looked out the window. "It's pretty nice weather today."

Theo nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Let's go outside."

The Company headed into the courtyard and flopped down onto the grass. This particular area was famous across the school, as it was the only place the teachers didn't supervise. It was decided on a student council meeting some time ago.

"Oh, yuck!" Oscar exclaimed, leaping up shortly after sitting down. "The grass is still wet from this morning! I want to sit somewhere else!"

"There's a bench over there." Nathan offered, pointing to an isolated bench. Judging by where the students were positioned around it, it was given at least a one metre berth.

"Oh really?" Dom stood up, and interestedly peered around.

"Yes, the one covered in a suspicious white stain."

"I think its bird poo." Geoff craned his neck to catch a glimpse of the bench. Instantly, Dom and Oscar sat down again.

"I'm totally fine with sitting here." Dom concluded. Dom quickly nodded in agreement.

"So, how was period three and four?" Blake said, taking an enormous bite out of the sandwich he was holding. Instantly, Bruno dropped his head.

"He teased me again," he mumbled. "In sport."

Darcy gritted his teeth in frustration, as Blake suddenly adopted a dangerous glint in his eye.

"Who's 'he'?" Bilbo asked. "Is it another-"

"Bully?" Oliver said bitterly. "How could you tell?"

"We have many enemies, Bill," Darcy sprayed crumbs over the grass as spoke. "We should be thankful that they're not united."

"But who are they?" Bilbo insisted on an answer. Theo looked around nervously, before speaking.

"They're brothers, in years 10, 11 and 12 respectively." he said. "And their names are William, Bert and Tom. "

Bilbo suddenly had a fleeting image of being roughly tossed into a sack, and Bombur slowly being lowered down into the mouth of a monstrous, grey-skinned creature…

"We call them the 'Trolls'." Kyle's voice cut through his thoughts, and he was jarred back into reality. The hobbit winced at how the group's 'innocent' nickname for the brothers was very close to the truth.

"I'm gonna kill William." Blake cracked his knuckles, looking murderous. "When I'm done with him, he's gonna be-"

"That's enough," Theo said sharply, grabbing the dwarf's shoulder. "We aren't technically best friends with the student council. Plus," he said, looking around. "How would we answer if we launched an attack on an outnumbered group of students?"

"They're not exactly what you call 'weedy', you know." Nathan pulled at some blades of grass.

"And then we'd probably be answering to Alan as well," Oscar said grimly. "I've seen him and Bert conspiring some evil plot behind the science labs during recess and lunch."

"Oh damn," Oliver said in disgust. Bilbo followed his gaze, to see three large, hunched figures walking up to them.

The Trolls looked almost the same as their Middle Earth counterparts. The only difference was that they were smaller. Yet they still adopted the same, permanent dumbfounded expression on their face, and the lumber in which they walked in. They all wore matching grey hoodies.

"'Ello there." The first one said, as they halted in front of the Company.

"Note their ridiculous cockney accents," Dom whispered loudly, so the Trolls could hear. "They think it's cool to have them."

"Wha' eva." The second troll said.

"What are you doing here Bert?" Theo asked with cold politeness.

"Coming here to mock us more, Tom?" Blake began to stand up, but Geoff pulled him back down.

"Don't start a fight now." he muttered urgently in his ear.

"That was fun!" The last troll had an annoying, nasally voice. "I enjoyed teasing the fa' one."

"Be quiet Tom!" Bert snarled at his younger brother. Instantly, William whimpered, and lowered his head.

"Now," He turned back his attention to the Company. "We have business to discuss."

"We have no business with the likes of you!" Darcy snapped.

"The likes of us? "The other troll sneered, presumably William. "Of course, we're more popular than you."

"We've recently made a new friend," William said. "He goes by the name of…Alan?"

Beside him, Bilbo felt Theo stiffen.

"He seems very interested in you, Theodore Johnson," the troll continued. "And all of you too! Bu' he is most interested in your newest asse'." His gaze bore into Bilbo like a drill.

"Ah yes," he mused. "Your name is Bill, no?"

"Indeed," Bilbo tipped his head in mock politeness.

"How did you join the Company?"

Bilbo straightened up. "And why do you need to know?"

Bert looked faintly surprised. "Alan tol' me you were a whimpering coward, judging by the company you used to keep."

"They were cowards." Bilbo retorted. "These guys are my friends now."

"Friends that will back you up?" There was a cold glint in Tom's eye, as he pushed in front of William. "Loyal friends?"

"If you're looking for a fight," Geoff said belligerently, curling his hands into fists. "You seem to be on the right track."

Tom smiled, showing gaping holes were some of his teeth had been knocked out. "That's exactly what we're looking for." With a roar, he bowled into Geoff and they began wrestling on the ground. With a yell, Darcy threw himself onto Tom, and that was the cue for all the others to start fighting.

Bilbo ducked as William swung a punch towards him. He glanced desperately at the café, hoping that a teacher would see the commotion from the inside, but they remained oblivious to the fighting and yelling coming from outside. He grabbed a branch that had fallen off a nearby tree, and began attacking Bert. He found it was a poor substitute for his sword.

Even though there were four dwarves on one troll, they were managing rather well. When Bilbo punched William, it felt like punching a brick wall.

"Run!" Kyle shouted. One of his eyes was swelling, blotchy and blue in colour. "We can manage ourselves!"

"No!" Bilbo shouted, grabbing one of Tom's arms in an attempt to restrain him.

"It's too dangerous," Flynn snarled, grabbing Tom's other arm. "You don't have the training we do!" Bilbo realised with a start that there was a fresh cut on his arm.

Have they pulled out weapons?

Bilbo was so distracted and concentrated on trying to restrain Tom; he didn't notice the fist of Bert rocketing towards the side of his head.

"Bill!" Oliver cried, but it was too late. Just before Bilbo managed to register his cry, the fist collided with the side of his head. White spots danced up in front of his eyes, and blackness rose as the ground rushed up to meet him.

Comments? Criticism? Both are welcome!

Also, with the Billiam thing, that happened in a conversation between my friend and I, when I asked how could you get Bill from William.

So yeah...the trolls have kept their names

And yes, I ship Dwalin/Dis. Deal with it ;)

Damon-Dain Ironfoot (if you've read the Hobbit, you'll know who he is)