Hi guys – I thought I'd update, seeing as I have about five more chapters up in the bank, plus I've reached 100 Word document pages! So something to celebrate! Longest story to date – touch wood! I hope you enjoy…
(Luke bullying in this part – please don't flame!)
As Maria wandered downstairs she heard voices in the kitchen – one was Luke's and the other's Sarah-Jane's, and it sounded like they were having a heated argument. Sarah's voice sounded over her sons – and it didn't sound very impressed. Dumping her rucksack on the floor she snuck into the hallway.
"I can't believe you Luke!" it was Sarah's angry voice. "How could you?"
"Clyde was going to get expelled!" there was quick retort back, and silence followed. "I couldn't let that happen mum! I know Haresh wouldn't have just let him off, even though his records have improved," there was a stagnant pause, and the sound of a glass being placed on the table.
"I'm sorry Luke," her voice was quiet. "Just everything so stressful at the moment – you've never done anything like this before and I didn't know how to react," seeing that their argument seemed to have ended Maria quietly went into the kitchen and started to pour the boiling water into three mugs standing on the work surface.
"How much did you hear?" Luke asked as Maria handed him a mug, and then one to Sarah, before taking her own and sitting at the table.
She shrugged. "Enough,"
"Sorry mum," he apologised as Sarah set down their breakfast.
"It's all right Luke," she ruffled her son's hair and kissed his cheek. "Sometimes things like this happen. I didn't mean to shout, I just got angry,"
"It's okay," Maria smiled inwardly as the two quickly made up, though she knew that their relationship would be rocky for a couple of days. God she'd missed a traditional full English breakfast – in America it just didn't taste the same.
"Glad you're enjoying it," Sarah laughed as Maria swallowed another mouthful. She blushed and grinned sheepishly.
"It's been my first proper Full English for a long time,"
"Can't you have them in America?" Luke asked, wiping his fried bread around his plate. There was the sound of the front door opening and the heavy sounding footsteps of Clyde Langer entered the house.
"Mornin' all," he grinned, taking his usual seat. To anybody else in the world he would have been kicked out of the house by now – but this was not just anybodies house, and Clyde making his own way in had become a routine.
"Tea Clyde?" Sarah-Jane asked.
"Please," the boy replied, casually swiping a piece of Maria's fried bread, and narrowly avoiding the oncoming fork. "Careful you could hurt somebody with that thing!" he grinned. "Thanks Sarah-Jane," he took the offered cup. "Why are you up so early?"
"I'm going to mums," he noticed that his best friend looked incredibly sullen. "My presence isn't really welcomed at Tony's flat,"
"Oh," Clyde knew exactly what she was talking about. "So how long are you staying away?"
"Three days, not long,"
"I forgot," all three teens looked at Sarah-Jane expectantly. "During the next week I might have to go down and sort out the problem between Jack and Ianto,"
"What are you going to play Jeremy?" Clyde asked grinning.
"Huh?" Luke turned with a questioning glance.
"Dr. Phil is the same thing in America," Maria explained.
Luke looked even more confused.
Sarah smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing," checking her watch she glanced at Maria. "Come one, you need to get to your mums,"
"Why does she have to leave this early?" Luke complained.
Clyde hid his smirk in his cup.
"Because we're doing a little bit of our own investigation on the alien invasion – that hasn't been taken over by UNIT or Torchwood,"
"But!" both boys looked furious.
"Neither of you are going anywhere with me for the next week – you're both grounded,"
"But mum!"
"Yeah Sarah-Jane!"
"No," she glowered at the two boys. "Definitely not," and Luke pouted, yelping when Clyde punched his arm friendly.
"Don't pout – it's not cool," Luke rolled his eyes and poked his tongue out. Sarah pulled her bag over her shoulder, as soon as Maria had finished her breakfast.
"I'm sorry I have to go so soon," she apologised. "You know what mum gets like," Luke quickly followed her out of the kitchen, and Clyde knew that they had to have some space – but he couldn't help resisting a peak around the corner of the front door.
"Tell your mum," he heard Maria say, hands on his best friends chest.
"I don't want to – she'll be disappointed with me,"
"No she won't Luke," she admonished, taking his shoulders in her hands. "She's so proud of you, I know that for a fact."
Luke suddenly hugged her. "Can't you stay a little longer?" he murmured into her shoulder.
"It's only going to be three days," she ran a comforting hand through Luke's mop of brown hair.
"Maria we have to go!" Sarah-Jane's voice cut through their moment. To Clyde's shock, and part delight Luke lent forwards and put a lingering kiss on Maria's lips.
"Not trying to interrupt guys but I think Sarah-Jane wants to go," Clyde prompted and both jumped apart, blushing furiously.
As if to answer the engine revved and the two broke apart. Maria hugged Clyde quickly just as Rani came into view. Hugging Luke tightly for a second time, and pecking him on the cheek she gave a wave to Rani before jumping into the car. Luke watched as the small vehicle drove off. Clyde grinned and put a hand on his arm.
"C'mon mate, I think Sarah-Jane wants us to clear up – it's only three days," the three of them traipsed back into the house, Rani shutting the door behind them.
"So what did I miss?"
---
He checked his watch. It was five minutes before the end of break, and so hopefully there should be someone in the corridor. Quickly hurrying to his locker he opened it with a few clicks of his combination lock, before resorting his books. Footsteps echoed down the eerily empty hall, and his breath caught in his throat. He stuffed his books haphazardly into his bag and tried to get down the corridor and to class.
"Hey Lukey boy," a voice drawled. "Leaving so soon?" it was Fink – he paused, what kind of a name was Fink?
"Leave him F," another far more determined voice commanded. "I'll take him this time,"
"But-"
"Enough, Scot, Fink," Greg's voice sounded to close to comfort. "After you Scot,"
The brown-eyed boy slammed Luke up against his locker. A flash of pain shot through him as his head collided with the cool metal. His vision blurred. "Hey man," a fist collided with his stomach. "How you doing?"
He kept silent.
"Didn't your mummy ever tell you it was rude not to answer a question?"
He narrowed his blue eyes at his attacker, but still didn't reply. He didn't expect the hand to slam up to his throat.
"You don't talk much for a genius – do you?" the searing question came from one of the onlookers – Mark.
"What's-?" he gasped in reply, trying to get the air back into his body – the hand on his neck loosened. "What's your problem with me?"
"Nothing, we just need something to entertain us,"
"At least he's replied," agreed his attacker.
"Have you told anyone?" Greg prowled towards him with a predatory look in his eyes. "Anyone at all?"
Luke struggled as he got closer – this boy could see when people were telling lies. "I take that as a yes then? Who have you told?"
Luke was resilient and kept his mouth shut.
"Who?" The fist that came into his stomach was quick and unforeseen. Luke gasped and nearly doubled over.
"No one,"
"You're lying," the fist collided again with his ribs – and Luke felt something crack. "You wouldn't us to get in trouble would you? Was it Rani? Or Clyde?" he was playing on a weak spot, and he knew.
"No," Greg slammed his head back against the lockers.
"Who was it?" he demanded, anger flashing in his eyes.
The blue-eyed boy finally broke. "My girlfriend!" There was a sudden silence. Each boy looked at one another and burst out laughing.
"Girlfriend?" Greg mocked. "Who would go out with you?"
Luke growled at him, and struggled to get free. "Let me go!"
"I know the one," Mark suddenly interjected. "I saw you on the bus with her Saturday,"
"So you finally have a girlfriend?" the sneer was harsh and patronising. "How cute, did you tell her?"
"NO!" he angrily exclaimed, as something obscene came out of the other boys mouth, he really hadn't realised how badly his ribs had been damaged, but a shot of pain leapt through them as he made his defiance. "NO! Just let me go!"
"How about no?" Mark replied. "You went out from our deal Smith,"
"Yeah," Scot was about to go for another punch, but the bell rang. He swore, knowing that the other pupils would come streaming out of their classrooms and down the hallway for the start of their lessons after break. Taking his chances he hit his target as hard as he could. Unwanted tears sprang to Luke's eyes, but he held them back.
Only when they were gone and the hallway was empty did he let them fall.
---
The door creaked open, and naturally everybody turned to see who the latecomer was. Luke Smith ducked his head and took his usual seat next to Rani, who sent him a concerned smile. The science teacher turned and narrowed her eyes at him. Rani quickly passed him the new set of notes, and let him skim over her newly written ones.
"Care to explain to me why you are almost fifteen minutes late for the lesson?" she asked.
Luke hesitated, knowing that if he told Mrs. Michaels that he had been at the nurse there would be the inevitable phone call to check. "I was in the music department and I didn't hear the bell ring – I'm sorry Miss,"
The teacher crossed his arms over his chest and kept his eyes narrowed. "If I were to ask Mr Nelson that what would the answer be?"
Luke bit his lip, and then swallowed. "A no Miss,"
The class started to murmur comparatively among themselves. It was a well-known fact that Luke never skived, never lied, and was a general good boy of the school. As if his day couldn't get any worse his phone started to go off. He groaned mentally, and Rani swore that he looked like he wanted to cry. Without a word Luke handed the mobile over to the teachers outstretched hand and killing the call, turning it off at the same time. His heart seemed to ache in his chest as he realised it must have been Maria.
"I want to see you after class Luke, you have a double with me so that means at lunch – do I make myself clear?" her voice was stern and demanding.
"Yes Miss," he wished his day would end right, now, and all he wanted to do was see Maria.
So, did you like? Please say that you did – as I said, I've got a load of other chapters to update. Some will be longer than others, and some will be with old characters from the series. (If you want to be none confused with the person I'm pairing Sarah-Jane with I'd look up Harry Sullivan on Wikepeadia – he has his own page! XD).
Anyway please review (N.B please don't leave double reviews, about a week later or so if I haven't updated, I'm really busy at the moment, so updating will be a struggle…) On a happier note, thanks for all of the amazing reviews.
Thanks,
LostLyra.