First of I'm stupid :P Last chapter did not have a slight M-rating. That's for this chapter. Oops. :S
Part 8
It was a rainy day. There was no way they were going outside today. It had been raining cats and dogs all day and didn't look as if it would light up at all. The boys were working with their math, but they were all getting bored and tired. They wanted to do something fun! They wanted to move! They wanted to go into the books again!
But when they asked Wes about it he looked highly insulted and claimed he had no idea of what they spoke of. He didn't even seem to remember how they cleaned up the classroom! When they asked him to teach them how to make the things come alive he looked really angry and told them to not make up such nonsense!
"But you just snapped your fingers and things came to life!" David objected, ignoring his math.
"I am not a wizard", Wes said calmly, not looking up from grading their homework. "Your imagination is running wild again."
"But you even had a bird sit in your hand and sing", Trent pointed out.
"I most certainly did not", Wes said and looked up. "Birds are wild animals, they would never approach a human being in that way."
"But it did", Thad objected. "The robin sat on your hand and talked to you! It sang to you as you told us that a spoon fool of sugar makes everything better!"
"Do I look like a bird-whisperer", Wes asked and gave him a stern look. "Now finish your math."
"But it's boring", Blaine complained and put his pen down. "Can't we change subject? Something where we can be more active?"
Wes looked at the boys.
"Very well", he said and got up from his seat. The boys watched him jump onto the desk before sitting down on it. He looked around at the boys. They all watched him eagerly.
"Let's talk about being a better person", he said and they all groaned. "Don't think I don't know it was you boys that put that mouse in the pot in the kitchen so that Mrs. Beiste would find it. Or make sure Tanaka stepped in that water bucket.
"That was funny", Blaine giggled and the others laughed too.
"Was it fun for Tanaka and Mrs. Beiste", Wes asked.
"It was just a bit of fun", Trent said. "No one got hurt!"
"Oh?" Wes asked and eyed him. "Who got the blame for the broken plate in the kitchen? Who got the blame for making scratches on the floor with that bucket and spilt all that water out on the rug, giving it a stain? Who lost part of their salary so they can't go out and to what they planned to this weekend? Who got their feelings hurt?"
The boys looked at each other and then their teacher. He gave them a pointed look but they just turned to each other and started talking about next big prank, this one their father would be the pray, because he hit Thad and as Fred put it:
"No one touches our little brother."
Thad rolled his eyes but he was grateful for his brothers finally taking his wellbeing into consideration. They never did in the park when they just left him alone… a perfect target for bullies. They were in the middle of plotting when suddenly Blaine got up to move closer, but he fell because his shoe-laces had got tied together. When he fell he pulled his books and paper down as well as his inkwell. It crashed onto the floor and splattered ink everywhere.
"Blaine" Trent exclaimed and watched his now stained trousers. "What are you doing?!"
"Someone tied my shoes together!" Blaine said and looked at the shoes… they were not tied together. "What?!"
"Stop blaming someone else for your own mistakes and clean up that mess", Wes said calmly.
"But it wasn't me!"
"It is your things on the floor, it was you that fell so clean it up and later help Mrs. Beiste clean your brothers' as well as your own clothes to get the ink out."
"But it wasn't me! I swear someone pulled a prank on me!"
"Your brothers didn't move and it is your things that has caused the damage", Wes said calmly. "Should I talk to your father about this?"
"No", Blaine said and paled. "But… but it wasn't me! I'm innocent!"
"How do you feel right now Blaine", Wes asked calmly.
"Upset and I feel as if you're not treating me right! It's not fair! I didn't do anything and get the…"
Blaine trailed off and his eyes widened. His brothers looked at him quizzically.
"Blaine", Jeff asked. "You okay?"
Blaine got up and looked ashamed.
"Do you understand now", Wes asked calmly.
"Yes", Blaine mumbled.
"Good, then don't do those kind of pranks again."
"I promise… but can I make pranks were one can know someone else is behind it?"
"Why are you asking me this? I'm not your father and I definitely didn't hear you plot pranks in my classroom."
"Of course", Blaine said and grinned and looked at the floor and stared. The inkwell was full and the ink gone. He stared at Wes and then the mess… that wasn't a mess anymore. The brothers were also staring between that and their teacher. Nick and Thad helped Blaine pick his things up while David made sure to fix the chair that had broken when Blaine fell. Wes smiled and the boys sat down and looked at him.
"Being a better person", he said. "Is quite simple and something you all must practice on, you need to learn it by heart."
"But we do", Jeff objected. "We help each other constantly!"
"The world doesn't only spin around you Jeffery Banks", Wes said. "Just helping yourselves are not enough, it is almost selfish. For example. Yesterday I watched you all rush by Mrs. Beiste at dinner time without helping her holding the door or helping her carry the tray."
"Father says we shouldn't do her job for her or Tanaka", Fred cut in. "It's their job to serve and not ours."
"But it is your job as a human being to help those who are struggling."
"Like the starving people in Africa", Nick asked.
"Where", Wes asked and looked intrigued.
"Africa", Thad said and walked up to the map on the wall and pointed.
"Goodness is that one country?!" Wes looked shocked.
"What", Thad asked. "You don't know about Africa and Asia and America?"
"Of course he does", Trent said. "He's only pulling our legs! Right?"
Wes winked at him and Thad blushed slightly before sitting down again. Wes just smiled at him and then turned to the boys. But Thad still didn't know if Wes knew about it or not.
"So how can we help and by that become better people?" Wes asked and the boys started to give him a lot of suggestions about what you could do to help people in other countries.
"Is it important", Wes asked after a bit.
"Not very", David said. "Africa and Asia are so far away. We couldn't help that much even if we tried."
"Yeah", his brothers agreed.
"Does it only make you a better person if you help those far away from you", Wes asked and got up.
"No", Nick said in hesitation.
"Exactly, just step out of your door and you might find someone that needs help", Wes said and started to draw on the blackboard. "But does that only mean you have to help humans?"
The boys looked at each other in confusion.
"What", Fred asked in confusion and watched their teacher draw. "What, you mean like animals?"
"Yes", Wes looked at them over their shoulder. "Why should we only help those who walk on two legs and dresses in clothes?" He turned back to the blackboard and continued to draw. "And sometimes… you can even help both humans and animals at the same time, all you have to do is look past the end of your nose." He stepped away from the board and the boys watched it in awe. There was an amazing drawing there, only made in white chalk.
"Look it's the cathedral", Jeff said happily.
"St: Paul's", Fred added. "Father passes that every day."
"Mister Montgomery", Thad asked. "What does the cathedral has to do with any of this?" Wes looked at him and then sang softly:
Early each day to the steps of St. Paul's – The boys stared as the chalk drawing started to shimmer and it looked as if they were looking through a window at the cathedral. There were people there and on the steps of the church sat a little grey woman.
The little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people she calls – The little woman suddenly looked up and the boys got up and walked up to the chalkboard. She looked at them, held her hand out to them.
Wes looked at them and the little woman sang:
Come buy my bags full of crumbs
Bird-Woman: Come feed the little birds
Show 'em you care
And you'll be glad if you do
Their young ones are hungry
Their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
Wes stepped up to stand between all the seven boys. He looked at them and then the woman and sang:
"Feed the birds", that's what she cries
While overhead her birds fill the skies
With that last part sung Wes stepped through the window and ended up beside the woman. The boys stared but then hurriedly followed, climbing into the painting. Wes turned to them and cloud of birds came from all around the cathedral and Wes sang:
All around the cathedral
The saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see them – Wes pointed at the cathedral, with a hand on Blaine's shoulder.
You know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares
Wes looked at the boys and stepped up to the bird woman and took her outstretched hand.
Wes: Though her words are simple and few
Listen, listen she's calling to you – The boys looked at the woman and she looked at them and sang:
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Wes & Bird-Woman: Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
Bird-Woman: Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
Wes kissed the woman's cheek and everything faded away around them and the boys yet again found themselves standing in front of the chalkboard… which was empty. They looked at their teacher that stood close to it, his hand still outstretched. He turned to them.
"Do you understand now", Wes asked them and they all nodded. "Let's hear it, what was today's lesson about?"
"About being a better person", Blaine said. "What I might see as a fun prank is not as funny for the victim of it."
"And you should help those around you", Thad added. "Young, old, woman, man, rich, poor… everyone… no matter what father says."
"And you can also help animals get a better life by giving them food or taking them home", Nick added. "Like if you find an abandoned dog or cat."
"You can also help people and animals get home when they're lost", Jeff added.
"To be a better person you just need to help", Trent concluded.
"And not wait until your asked", David ended it and Wes nodded, feeling pride for these boys.
"Since it is Friday", he said. "I will let you go and do whatever you want. See it as your reward for such good work today."
"But it's raining outside", Nick said.
"Is it?"
The boys turned to the window and saw sunshine.
"Sweet", Fred said. "Let's go play some football in the park!"
"I'm in", Nick said.
"Me too", David agreed. Trent and Jeff also wanted to join but Thad just shook his head as did Blaine. But they got dragged to the park anyway. Wes watched them go and sang softly:
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
"All right", Fred said when they got to the park. "Thad we'll meet up with you and Blaine here after we played a game of football against the Hudson boys."
"Okay", Thad mumbled and sat down on a bench and started to read. He heard Trent ask if he could play on defense while David begged to be goalkeeper. Fred and four of the others left. Blaine stayed. Thad looked up at him.
"Aren't you going to play", he asked.
"No", Blaine said and looked around. "I'll just take a walk. If I'm not back before the others, please let them know okay?"
"Sure", Thad said and Blaine hurried off. "I thought he said walk." Thad just shook his head and started reading. He'd been sitting there for a while reading about Robin Hood. After that trip through the stories Wes had given him the book to finish hit on his own because clearly… his brothers weren't interested.
Thad was in the middle of reading a very exciting part when the book was torn out of his hands. He looked up and shrunk back, the anger he had felt for about two seconds gone, replaced by fear. In front of him stood Jesse St. James with his three best friends Hunter Clarington, Dave Karofsky and Azimio Adams.
"What do we have here", Hunter said with a smirk and looked at the book. "Robin Hood, naw is our little book worm reading more fairytales."
"It's not a fairytale", Thad mumbled. "It is one of England's greatest legends…"
"It's a fairytale."
"No…" Thad then stared as the bigger boy pulled a page out of the book. "No!" He flew up but Karofsky and Azimio grabbed his arms and held him still.
"Admit that it's a fairytale or another page goes", Hunter mocked.
"Okay", Thad called and the guy tore out five more pages. "It's a fairytale! Stop it!"
Hunter looked at Jesse who only nodded.
"Bring him over here", Jesse said and Thad was pulled over to him, even though he objected and tried to put up a fight. Jesse smirked and ran a hand down Thad's cheek.
"We haven't seen you in a while baby", he teased. "What have you been up to? Gotten a new teacher that keeps you buys? Oh or have you gotten new friends and don't want to play with us anymore?"
"It breaks my heart if you have", Azimio mocked, faking sadness.
"I haven't", Thad said. "I've…been sick and our new teacher has been keeping close tabs on us."
"You usually sneak out anyway", Jesse said and let his hand travel down to Thad's shoulder. "Which means you must be lying."
Thad cried out as a fist connected to his stomach, Jesse had hit him. When he bent forward Jesse kneed him in the face. Thad cried out again and Jesse laughed.
"Let him run for it", he said and Azimio and Karofsky let go of Thad's arms. "We'll take chase."
"Five seconds head start", Hunter said and threw the book aside. Thad looked at it. "One…"
"Two", Azimio said and Thad ran.
"Five", Jesse said and the four bigger boys took off after Thad. But Thad was much faster than them, they may be stronger than him. But he was faster and more agile than them and he also knew where to run… there was one place in this park where no one could find you… if he could get away that is. Suddenly he was tackled to the ground and someone straddled him and started to hit on his chest and kick his back and legs.
"Help!" he yelled and a hand clamped down on his mouth, hushing him. Thad decided to do something then. He bit at the hand. The person screamed in pain and jumped up from his stomach. It was Hunter. Thad then kicked out with his leg and caught Jesse in the groin. Thad got up and ran for it again.
"Get him!" he heard Hunter yell and felt some hope. Why? Well Azimio and Karofsky were not nearly as fast as Hunter and Jesse so it was easier to outrun them, which Thad soon did.
He got to the part of the park which were less well kept than the rest of the park. It was one of the park's oldest areas and not as beautiful as the rest. It was only lots and lots of bushes and high grass. He knew there was some old sundial among some bushes. When you hid there no one could see you… no one would find you.
Thad started looking for a hiding place and soon heard yells from the boys that chased him. He flung himself onto his stomach and crawled into a cave that the bushes were creating. It was really narrow in there and he felt the branches and twigs tear at his skin and clothes. He knew his clothes got dirty and some tears and he felt blood on his cheek from where a twig scratched his face. But he was safe. How did he know? He could only see the feet of the boys chasing him and nothing else, not above him either. They couldn't see him either.
"Where are you buddy", Jesse cooed with a very creepy voice. "Come out come out wherever you are."
"We won't hurt you", Hunter called.
"I thought we were going to mess him up so badly his own mother doesn't recognize him", Azimio asked loudly. "Ow!" His friends had hit him for being stupid.
"Come on", Thad heard Karofsky said and the feet disappeared as the boys ran off. When they were gone Thad let out the breath he didn't knew he'd been holding, rested his head on the ground and cried silently. He sniffled a little and sobbed quietly because it hurt… and yet again his brothers hadn't been there to help him. He yet again couldn't defend himself or stand up to those four boys that kept tormenting him.
"It's not fair", Thad mumbled and lifted his head from the ground and rested it on his hands. "It's not fair…"
That's when he heard noises that didn't really fit into the park. He heard groans and moaning. He felt scared because it sounded as if someone was hurt. He hurriedly crawled out of his hiding place, after making sure the boys chasing him really were gone. He saw no one and got out of the bushes. He heard those groans again and a slapping sound. It sounded like skin hitting skin. Thad realized someone was being beaten up!
He hurried around the bushes and knew he'd reached the old sundial, he saw it through a few bushes. When he got to a place where you could squeeze through to get to it he froze. Before gaping and blushing. In front of him, in the grass were two naked young men having sex. The one topping was blonde and seemed bigger and older than the other one, a brunette with somewhat curly hair. They both moaned and gasped in pleasure.
"Blaine?!" Thad exclaimed in shock and the two naked young men jumped apart and stared at him. The blonde's eyes widened, as did Thad's because he recognized him.
"Shit", Jeremiah, one of their mother's employees swore and hurriedly got clothed before running off. He left Blaine lying naked on the ground, on his back. Thad stared after Jeremiah and then back to Blaine. Blaine hurriedly reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head.
"Shit", he swore and Thad kept staring, shocked.
Blaine got up and pulled on his trousers and then got on his shoes, jacket and cap. He turned to Thad.
"Please Thaddie don't say anything to father", he begged and Thad stared at Blaine.
"You had sex in the park with Jeremiah", he said sounding dumbfounded… which he was. Blaine grabbed Thad's shoulders.
"Thad look at me", he said and Thad did, still looking shocked. "Snap out of it!"
Thad shook his head and looked at Blaine.
"Are you insane?!" he yelled and Blaine sighed and sat down on the stone bench that was only showing just slightly.
"I'm in love", he said and Thad sat down on the ground in front of him.
"With Jeremiah", Thad asked and cocked his head to the side.
"Yeah… Father would kill me if he found out…"
"I won't say anything", Thad hurriedly said, this was his older brother after all. "Unless I think it will hurt you… but um… by the sounds you made I doubt it will."
Blaine blushed.
"Don't tell the others either", he hurriedly said and Thad nodded. "Promise?"
"I promise", Thad said and looked at the sundial. "A hour's past…"
"We better get back then", Blaine said and got up, holding his hand out to Thad to help him up. Thad took it and got up. They headed back to the bench together… in silence.
They got there and found Fred holding Thad's book and Thad realized the book had been left behind by Jesse and the others. Trent was holding a few pages and looked worried, as did Jeff and Nick. David was looking pissed off. Blaine turned to Thad who averted his face from him.
"Thad! Blaine!" Both boys heard their names being called and soon found themselves in hugs.
"What happened", David asked holding Thad tight to him. "Are you hurt? What happened to your book?"
"Blaine", Fred asked. "What happened? We left the two of you here where it was peaceful and calm!"
"Uh", Blaine said. "I took a walk around the park and met Thad by the old sundial."
"Thad", David asked and held the younger boy at an arm's length. "What…" He trailed off because where Jesse's knee had hit Thad a dark bruise had formed. The brothers all noticed his ripped and dirty clothes.
"Thaddie what happened?!" Nick yelled horrified.
"Nothing", Thad mumbled and gently took his book and the pages from his brothers.
"It doesn't look like nothing to me", Fred said angrily and grabbed his arm and Thad winced. "What happened?"
"I said nothing!" Thad yelled and ran off. The others turned to Blaine.
"He didn't tell me", Blaine said and they hurried after Thad. Blaine was ashamed. He hadn't noticed Thad's roughed up state until now. They saw him run around the gate-pillar and then… he came back, shoved back and he fell onto the ground. The boys stopped in shock and saw some of their friends from the neighborhood walk up to Thad. It was Jesse St. James and he was soon followed by their other friends Hunter Clarington, Azimio Adams and Dave Karofsky. David was about to call out a greeting when Jesse suddenly put his foot in Thad's chest and pressed him down.
"Now where were we", they heard Jesse ask and Thad whimpered, trying to move Jesse's foot.
"I think we were about to tear him in half", Karofsky said and smirked.
"No please", Thad begged but was pulled to his feet by Hunter and Karofsky. Azimio smirked and cracked his knuckles and Jesse raised his fist, ready to punch.
"HEY!" Fred roared at the top of his voice. The four boys attacking his brother froze and turned.
"Freddie", Jesse said happily and Hunter pulled Thad to him in what looked like a sideway hug, grinning.
"Nice to see you my friends", Karofsky said happily, putting a hand on Thad's shoulder. But then yelped as Fred punched him in the face.
"Get your filthy hands off of my brother!" Fred yelled at Hunter and tore him from Thad's side and flung him to the side as if he didn't weigh anything. Thad gaped in shock as Fred then decked Azimio with a punch and kicked Jesse in the groin.
"Touch my brother again", Fred yelled. "Or come near him ever again and I will kill you!"
Jesse whined but his friends ran off in fright. Jesse just squirmed on the ground.
"Come on", Fred said and put his arm around Thad's shoulders and steered him homewards. Thad was gaping in shock still, the rest of their brothers joined them, putting their arms around each other's shoulders. Thad was in the middle, still looking at Fred in shock. Fred was still angry. No one touched any of his little brothers and got away with it. It's one thing to mess with the big bear, him, but if you messed with any of his cubs… amigo you are dead.
TBC
