CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Seconds after Lloyd walked through the door, Teresa Hunter opened her arms wide, huge grin displaying her excitement as she enveloped her eldest son into her arms. As Lloyd squeezed her, his mother chirped:

"I'm glad you're home, honey! Harvey got back about ten minutes ago, told me about his little date with Ingrid."

Pulling away slightly, Lloyd rolled his eyes as Mrs Hunter withdrew her arms from him and clasped her hands to her chest.

"Oh, my baby's growing up!"

"Get a life, Mum. Where's H now?"

Raising an eyebrow at Lloyd's abrupt tone, she answered back: "In the den. Did you have a nice time with your friends?"

Shrugging his blazer off, Lloyd kicked his shoes across the hall-way floor, replying: "Yeah, we just went to the park. What time is dinner?"

"In a little while. I'm doing chilli so dinner will be later than usual. How was the park?"

Lloyd hung his blazer up and shoved his school bag under the coat stand, muttering: "Fine, Mum. It was practically empty, which was good, because I don't want to have little kids running around my feet. We only went on the swings though, had a little talk, then we left."

He frowned. "One of the park lights was flickering on and off….. Was very annoying actually."

Mrs Hunter ruffled Lloyd's ginger hair, cooing: "Well, I'm sure someone will fix it. Now, do you want some cookies and milk to stave off your hunger?"

Smoothing down his curls, Lloyd snorted. "I'm not a little kid, Mum. And I'm not really hungry or thirsty." He sighed. "Actually, I'm sure H would like some so my answer is yes."

Teresa scoffed, mumbling under her breath. "Of course, Harvey would want some." Now speaking in an audible tone, she said: "I have never seen anyone eat so much! I'm just grateful that Harvey has a good metabolism because if he didn't, then he would be obese by now. And would continue to be from the amount that he puts into his mouth every day."

Lloyd dithered momentarily. "Better make it a small plate of cookies then."

Agreeing with her son, Mrs Hunter bustled off into the kitchen, thankfully unaware that Lloyd's temper was slowly building. His rage flared as he recalled Ian and Mandy's comments, dished out less than an hour ago at the park, about Dinah and how she was 'simply a lonely Orphan who happens to unfortunately be one of Them.'

Clenching his fists, Lloyd simmered. 'Yeah right, she's got them wrapped around her little finger. But I'm going to out her to the others! THEN they'll see who was right all along!'

His hatred for his foster sister had been fuelled and Lloyd was determined to rumble her. Tonight. Snatching the glass of milk and plate of cookies that his mother handed to him, Lloyd stomped up the stairs, growling as Mrs Hunter called up after him.

"Play nice, Lloyd."

"Play nice? With the SPY?! Oh, you ask for too much, Mum."

A smirk blossomed across Lloyd's face after grumbling his remark, and the smirk still remained as he entered the den, Harvey and Dinah glancing at him as he shut the door. Lloyd strode over to his brother, extending the items in his hands to him. As Harvey's face lit up, his own hands grabbing the glass and plate, Lloyd muttered:

"Mum thought that you would want something to eat… and she's never wrong."

Harvey spoke through a mouthful of crumbs. "I can't help it if I get hungry!"

"Alright…. but why the milk?"

Shooting his older brother a deadpan expression, Harvey proceeded to enlighten him. "The milk is essential to the ritual-"

"'Ritual'? Please, H."

Ignoring Lloyd, Harvey resumed. "The ritual of cookies and milk. You see, you start off with the cookies. Take one, like this…. Examine it so you can take in all of its beauty, then… scoff it, like this."

Lloyd grimaced and Dinah remained po-faced as the youngest of the trio gulped down the cookie, mumbling:

"T-Then, to quench your thirst, you drink milk."

As Harvey chugged down the rest of the milk, placing the plate and glass aside once he was finished, Lloyd started to clap sarcastically, smirk dropping off of his face.

"Thanks, H. I really needed to know that."

A pout forming at his brother's tone of voice towards him, Harvey's cheeks hued upon being asked a question by Lloyd, that sent butterflies twittering in his stomach.

"So, how did your outing go?"

"Oh, brilliant! Me and Ing nearly…. Erm, we ordered a lot of food! It was tasty!... Yeah, we enjoyed ourselves a lot."

Amused by his younger brother's bashfulness and vague answer, Lloyd sat onto the sofa, Harvey shifting slightly next to him. Lloyd set his gaze onto Dinah, who was seated in the armchair, a hint of apprehension in her hazel eyes. Lloyd's own ones narrowed slightly as he plunged forth with the interrogation.

"What did you do in Assembly?"

Instantly, Dinah opened her mouth, the words of the Headmaster prepared to tumble out when she was cut off by Harvey.

"Wait a minute! Don't just dive in!"

Wincing at his brother's glare, Harvey cleared his throat, then addressed Dinah.

"How was your day, Di?"

Subdued by Lloyd's harsh question and the fact that Harvey had shortened her name, an action she associated with for loved ones, Dinah murmured: "It was a-alright, yours?"

Shuddering slightly, Harvey whispered back: "F-Fine, I g-guess….. H-How was Assembly?"

"I-"

"What we want to know, Glass, is what did you do in Assembly? Watch films by any chance?!"

Put out that she had been referred to by her surname by a member of her foster family, people who had taken her in on the terms of loving and caring for her, albeit she knew Lloyd had always been against the decision and that he was unlikely to change his mind, Dinah answered coldly:

"Of course we did."

Yet part of her, was adamant that she had just lied…

After sharing a look with Harvey, Lloyd snorted, snapping: "What kind of film did you watch then?"

It was like a switch in her mind had flicked on. Losing her feint scowl, Dinah chanted out:

"We watched a film about ants, it was very interesting. We learnt how they built their nests and looked after their eggs."

Lloyd rolled his eyes at the droning as Harvey frowned, confusion sweeping through him. Whilst his brother hissed lowly about 'the lying spy', Harvey piped up, tones laced with bewilderment.

"But I didn't see any films!"

A similar expression unfurled on Dinah's face, as she muttered:

"What are you on about?"

Harvey flushed, breathless by the time he finished rattling off everything. "I snuck out of the study session so I could see into Assembly! I needed to know what was going on! And when I got there, a few things struck me. There were no blackout curtains, no big screen, and no projector! Just everyone else in the school, including YOU, staring up at the Headmaster as he read from a big book! Read with his glasses off!"

Dinah gaped for a few seconds before scowling and commencing a reprimand of Harvey in a harsh manner.

"What were you doing?! You're banned, you could have been caught! Why do you need to know what goes on in Assembly so importantly, that you risk being seen?!"

Lloyd glowered at their foster sister as Harvey suddenly hunched his shoulders, his bottom lip being nibbled as fear spiked in him. Dinah curled her lip a fraction, whispering:

"Why were you so desperate?"

Lloyd shot back: "And why are you lying?!"

"I'm not!"

"Alright then! What else were you doing in Assembly, apart from watching stuff about ants?"

An immediate flat response. "I don't remember."

Lloyd growled. "Oh, come on! You MUST REMEMBER! It was only a few hours ago!"

Dinah shook her head, a wince indicating that another head-ache was soon to greet her. Harvey receded his teeth from his lip, mumbling:

"Did the Headmaster talk to you at all?"

"I don't remember."

"So what did you do in Assembly, Glass?!"

"We watched a film about ants, it was very interesting. We learnt how they built their nests and looked after their eggs."

Shaking his head in exasperation, Lloyd drawled in a mean tone. "Well, if you're too thick to remember…"

Dinah furrowed her brow, speaking quietly to herself. "But I always remember. Why can't I ever remember Assemblies?"

Looking very uncomfortable, Harvey whispered: "You're l-lying, Dinah. Whatever you say about Assembly, I know what I saw, with my own eyes."

"I know what you saw…. But it doesn't make sense! I mean, you say that you didn't see any film equipment and that me and the others in the Hall, were staring at the Headmaster as he read the book… I assume, we were all listening attentively?"

At Harvey's slow nod, Dinah winced again. Something was niggling at her brain, a certain word, but she dismissed it after a brief moment, to plough on.

"So how come we both have different versions of what happens in Assembly? I'm certain that we watch films, but you say that we're just listening to the Headmaster reading!"

Suddenly, Dinah considered Harvey with a thoughtful look, speaking softly.

"What's really happening at school?"

"Well, all I know is th-"

"Shut up." Lloyd dug his elbow into his brother's side, Harvey yelping at the contact and sudden flare of pain. As he rubbed his ribs, Dinah leant marginally forwards in the armchair, brain whirring.

She needed to know the information that Harvey held!

Tone still soft, Dinah murmured: "Go on, Harvey. You can tell me. Why does everyone act so weirdly at school? And why are you, Lloyd and the others so isolated? It's creepy to me…. So, what's going on at St Champions?"

"Well, I-"

A growl of pure hatred erupted and Harvey shrieked as Lloyd slapped him over the head, snapping:

"SHUT UP! DON'T TELL HER ANYTHING!"

Dinah narrowed her eyes. Two things had struck her. One was that Lloyd was halting Harvey from telling her about his 'theory' regarding the strange occurring's at school and the other one was that Lloyd was battering his little brother with no regard for his well-being.

As Lloyd curled his lip at Harvey, the small boy curling up on the sofa, Dinah suddenly snapped:

"I have a right to tell the Headmaster, you know!"

Instantly, both boys' heads shot up, shock and anger, in Lloyd's case, sprawled onto their faces.

"WHAT?!"

"What?"

Dinah glowered back fiercely, now utterly sick of hearing about school and Assembly. She centred onto Harvey, her rage manifesting.

"YOU shouldn't have been spying on Assembly in the first place!"

"I told you!" Harvey whimpered as another dig was delivered to his side.

"In fact, I should tell the Headmaster that you were spying!"

"Don't you DARE!" Lloyd sprung to his feet, fists tightly clenched. Dinah glared back as Lloyd snarled:

"Bit rich, coming from you! And if you tell the Headmaster, then you're just a snitch!"

He quickly aimed a glance at Harvey, stating firmly: "Don't worry, H. Glass won't tell the Headmaster anything!"

"Oh yeah?" Dinah felt triumph pouring off her. She knew that she shouldn't be riling the brothers up, especially Harvey as he had been civil to her up to now, but she was tired of being falsely accused and subjected to abuse because she was 'one of the Headmaster's goody goods.'

Sticking a finger at Harvey, she hissed: "Then why does he look so scared?!"

As Lloyd whirled round to inspect his brother, Dinah smirked. The elder boy could not claim that she was lying this time, as Harvey was genuinely petrified. He was trembling madly, bottom lip practically nibbled to shreds. Harvey swallowed down the lump in his throat, wishing that Lloyd and Dinah would stop fighting so that Dinah would revert back to her usual self and Lloyd would stop being so miserable and be a better leader for SPLAT, now that they needed each other the most.

Stammering out his words like a jackhammer, Harvey sputtered: "Y-Y-You wouldn't t-t-t-tell the H-Headmaster that I-I was s-s-spying…. W-w-would you?"

"Depends." Dinah lost her smirk, but her eyes remained narrowed. "Whether you get off my back about this or not."

"Hey! That's not fair! Harvey hasn't done anything!"

Dinah stared at Lloyd coolly. "As I've said before, he was spying on something that he is banned from…. I probably won't tell the Headmaster, but if you continue to hassle me about this, then I will."

Lloyd flopped back down onto the sofa, hissing at Harvey: "Don't tell her anything at all, you hear me? She doesn't deserve to know."

At this, Dinah could take no more. Bolting to her feet, she shouted: "See if I care!"

Before storming out of the den, slamming the door behind her. A head-ache was needling away at her and Dinah headed straight for the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

In the den, Lloyd was currently scolding Harvey.

"You've blown it now, you stupid moron! Now that she knows that you spied on Assembly, you're done for! Can't you get it into your thick skull, H?! She's one of Them! Being the Headmaster's precious pet, she'll tell him straight away, just you watch!"

Harvey cowered back, but managed to mumble: "I wish y-you would stop putting h-her down all of the t-time…. I m-mean, I don't t-think Dinah w-would really do it, s-she was just making a t-threat."

"Oh really?"

Lloyd scowled at his brother, then hissed: "From now on, she's in Coventry. She's overstepped the mark this time. I don't want you or any of the others talking to her or even acknowledging her."

"But Lloyd! We're her foster brothers! We're the only people she knows, we can't dismiss her-"

"Want a bet, Harvey?!" Suddenly poking Harvey with his index finger, Lloyd snarled: "And if I catch you talking to her, or accepting her help, then I won't look after you anymore. You'll be on your own, and believe me, the others won't offer you any protection, not if you screw up…. Again."

Whipping his head round, Harvey contorted his facial features into one of pure loathing as he snarled:

"So you think I screw up all of the time?!"

Riled up, Lloyd rocketed to his feet, barking: "YES!"

Harvey jumped to his feet as well, shrieking: "WELL, I'M SO SORRY, I CAN'T HELP BEING SUCH A FAILURE! AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE SUCH A CRUEL BASTARD!"

"HOW DARE YOU!"

"IT'S TRUE! HOW YOU TREAT DINAH IS DISGUSTING! SHE CAN'T HELP IT IF SHE'S ONE OF THEM!"

Lloyd's eyes narrowed to slits as he bellowed: "ALL OF THIS IS HER FAULT! SHE IS RUINING EVERYTHING! WE HAVE WORKED TOO HARD OVER THE YEARS TO HAVE OURSELVES EXPOSED NOW! SO STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY AND STAY AWAY FROM HER!"

Harvey cracked. Being called a 'baby' had rattled him up too much, as it was one of Jeff's favourite taunts to use against him, and hearing it from his big brother resulted in Harvey feeling heartbroken and vengeful. Deciding to act on the latter, Harvey shoved Lloyd backwards, screaming:

"I AM NOT A BABY! I HATE YOU! YOU'RE ALWAYS TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!"

Managing to recover his balance, Lloyd pushed Harvey back, yelling:

"BECAUSE YOU NEVER LISTEN! I'M TRYING TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE PREFECTS!"

"WELL, YOU SUCK AT IT! IN FACT, YOU SUCK IN GENERAL!"

"THAT'S IT!"

Before Harvey could even blink, Lloyd had grabbed onto him and sat down, pulling his younger brother down with him. Setting Harvey across his knees, Lloyd started to smack his backside, Harvey yowling as pain flared up.

"You don't speak to me like that, H! You should know better, I'm your brother!"

Bursting into tears, Harvey choked out: "I-I'm s-s-s-sorry! Please s-s-stop!"

"I'm afraid I can't. Not till I believe that you've received enough smacks."

Harvey continued to sob as Lloyd, his movements now reluctant, applied heavy swats over his brother's bottom, only stopping after five minutes had lapsed. Pulling Harvey up, Lloyd nestled him onto his lap, holding him as Harvey wept into his school shirt.

As Lloyd stroked his brother's hair, the door to the den burst open, their mother panting.

"What happened in here?! I was down in the garden, but I heard shouting…. Harvey! Why are you crying, sweetheart?!"

Patting Harvey's head, Lloyd whispered: "I'll field this one, H."

Raising his voice, Lloyd addressed Mrs Hunter. "We just had a fight, Mum. Mostly screaming at each other, but we did… push each other a bit… Harvey went too far in my opinion so I just spanked him…"

Mrs Hunter nodded, arms folded across her chest, tone stern. "I must say, I am very disappointed in you, boys. You never normally fight! What was it about?"

Lloyd lowered his gaze, mumbling: "School… and D-Dinah."

"Oh, Lloyd! I know you don't get on with Dinah, but you must at least make her feel welcome! She is a guest in our house and ever since she arrived here, you have treated her awfully!"

"T-That's what I t-told him, M-Mummy." A quiet voice piped up and Mrs Hunter smiled as Harvey shuffled around on his brother's lap, knuckling his eyes in an adorable manner.

Mrs Hunter lost her smile as she surveyed her two biological children.

"And I know you don't like school, but I am ashamed that you didn't try to settle your differences in a calm manner…. Now, Harvey, I know Lloyd spanked you, but you must understand that he only did it as he saw this as an extremity. Do you think he was right in spanking you?"

Miserably nodding his head, Harvey whispered: "Y-Yes, Mummy. I-I shouldn't have l-lost my t-temper."

"And I shouldn't have riled things up…." Lloyd hastily hugged Harvey to him. "I'm sorry, H. I didn't mean to hurt you. Forgive me?"

Harvey squeezed Lloyd back. "Y-Yes. I hope you d-didn't mean what you said about D-Dinah."

Pulling away, Lloyd bit his lip. Harvey sighed and sagged against his brother, once again.

"Don't bother lying, L."

Mrs Hunter smiled both at them, chirping: "I'm glad you two made up. Now I hope we can all be one big family in the future. No more arguments?"

Both boys intoned: "No more arguments, Mum."

Their mother clapped her hands together, then said: "How about you get your bags ready for tomorrow before dinner?"

She rolled her eyes as her sons groaned, thinking:

'Trust me to be stuck with the laziest boys in the whole world!'