Disclaimer: I own the stuff you don't recognize. Which will be most of the main characters and Roslindale, Connecticut and I'm not sure about the rest yet. But I'll keep you posted, promise.



Richard's POV

As soon as Mr. Carson popped up, I didn't stick around to see what happened. I glared at some kids and they moved. Smirking I walked by them, oh it was great to be the most popular kid in the grade. As a passed a still passed out Zane Matthews, I resisted the urge to spit on him though, I was above that.

He wasn't though. That was the difference between him and I. We used to be friends, way back, like before fourth grade. Then the problems started. Fights broke out between my parents and my older brother sank into depression. Of course, nobody knew about this, because on the outside we were the perfect family.

My father was senior partner in a law firm that my great-grandfather had started. He made money and we went on the vacations you only read about in magazines. We were the perfect family, two well-adjusted boys, one if whom was accepted into Brown, Yale, and Harvard.

And it all came crashing down when my parents told us that they were going to separate for awhile. A week later my brother was dead. He had locked himself in the bathroom and over dosed on aspirin. Then after dousing himself in gasoline, he lit himself on fire. I was the one who smelled the burning flesh, I was the one who called. I was the one who cried during his funeral.

I didn't cry though when my parents finally divorced and my mother leapt to her death from her penthouse in New York. I was through with crying, I had to be a man then, I was going to inherit the family business, and I was going to carry on the tradition.

That's when I couldn't be friends with Zane Matthews. He was new money, and I was old, you don't mix the two unless one is boy and one is a girl. Then you're supposed to fall in love and get married, have kids and live your life, and hopefully not have it fall apart in front of your eyes.

Yeah, that's my story, one big pity fest. And that's why I'm the bastard I am today.

Okay, I'm not a bastard per say, I just don't like getting fucked around with, and Zane did that a lot, so if he fucked around with me, I messed him up. And then this new kid came, Connor. And I found myself drawn to him. He may not have money, but he was useful. And one could always use useful allies or people. And maybe, one day, he's become a friend.

Absently mindedly, I wondered what Connor's father would do to him once he they found out. He was pretty quiet about his history, only saying that he lived with his father and uncle. Maybe he had a history like mine, and nobody ever wanted to talk about that.

I walked into the kitchen our house. It was large, too large for two people, but with the servants around, it didn't make it as cold. The only times I hated wandering the halls was at night.

"Martha!" I yelled to the housekeeper, "is my dad home?"

She shook her head as she hurried past and up the stairs. We probably had a guest coming over, and if the guy got plastered enough, they'd have to stay in one of the guestrooms. This was my cue to make sure I holed up in my room for the evening. If I even made an appearance, I'd have to stay for the whole thing. And although I may be able to miss the next day of school, I didn't feel like people wondering about my life.

I'm supposed to have the perfect life. I'm supposed to be normal. Nothing should be strange about my family, our habits, or me. No body should suspect a thing, no body should suspect the hell and loneliness I live in.

I climbed the stairs and before I entered my room I picked up the cordless phone as I dug around my pocket. I pulled a business card out of it. It read: "Magic and Mysteries" and then in smaller print under it, "No magic is total mystery to us."

I laughed at the corniness of it, but dialed the number that was on it.

"Hello, Magic and Mysteries, how may we help you?" a man's voice said, it was British.

"Hi, I'm Richard Finn and I was wondering if I could talk to Connor?" I asked. In the background I could hear two people. One of them was cursing and I thought I hear "Dad, gerrroff!"

"I'm sorry. But Connor…can't come to the phone at the moment," the man said.

I sighed, "Fine, could you tell him that Rich called?" I gave him my number and hung up.

Tossing the phone to the floor, I looked around my room. I felt bad for Connor, he would probably get in trouble for what he did. Maybe I should have been the one who started and ended it, instead of that new girl. Then Connor wouldn't have to face the wrath of his father, and Zane Matthews would finally have the lesson he needed.

But no, the little bitch had to interfere and Connor was stuck, and I was in my room for the rest of the night. I settled back into my bed and sighed, I might as well catch up on my rest. Pop Warner football would start soon, and I needed all the rest I could get.

~*~ Dreamscape ~*~

I was in the sky, I was free. Nothing could bother me. I looked down upon the ground and saw a mouse moved, I swooped to get it, but at the last minute I pulled back up. I cawed, which was the closest thing to a laugh that I could manage.

I had given that mouse the scare of its life, and it was fun! I swooped around expertly and just enjoyed my time in the air. I was free, finally.

One may find it odd that I dream about being an eagle, but I'm really not one, I'm a human that can shape shift into an eagle, too bad it's only in my dreams. Believe me, I've tried.

I then felt a tug at my heart. I had to be somewhere, and I need to get there quickly.

~*~ End Dreamscape ~*~

The next day I walked to the front of the school and waited for Connor to show his mug. I wanted to see how he was and how bad his father ragged on him, it almost made me wish that someone cared about me, but not quite.

He walked up, his eyes on the ground, he was silent.

"Hey," I said.

He looked up, "Hey," he returned.

"So," I said, not really knowing how to breech the subject of the day before.

"It didn't go well," he winced slightly as he loosened his tie slightly. "Remind me never to get on my father's bad side. He and my uncle were not happy when I got home."

I winced in sympathy, "Not big on the fighting, huh?"

He looked like he was about to say something, but then changed his mind. Instead he simply shrugged, "Nah, he my uncle prattled on about using words instead of fists."

As we walked into the building, the girl who had punched Connor passed.

"Hey," Connor called out, "you," he directed this to the girl.

She turned around on her heal and gave him a hard look. "I have name you know, use it," she snapped.

Connor looked taken aback for a minute. "Well what is it?" he asked, a cocky grin upon his face.

She looked like she wanted to wipe that grin off his face, and by her performance yesterday, I bet she could have too. "Gabriella, now what do you want?"

"You punch like a girl," Connor said, obviously trying to make in an insult. How do I know this? Because he look slightly confused when she burst out laughing.

"Thank you Captain Obvious!" she said as she burst into a fit of giggles, it was a few moments until she could compose herself again. "But seriously, no shit Sherlock. The reason I punch like a girl is because I am one. But hopefully you have some kind of bruise to remember me by. But if you ever need reminding, please take a number and I'll be with you as soon as possible!" she wave at him mockingly and walked into the building.

Connor looked at me and I shrugged, I had no clue what to say. And with that, we walked into school, ready to start another day of mindless droning.



But here's a simplifyed 411 on all the main characters so far.

1. Jordan: Okay I haven't gotten any flames for it yet, and I'd love to keep it like that, but I'm going to clear something up about the relationship between Oz and Jordy. Jordy is subserviant (not submissive) to Oz. Oz is pack leader, alpha male, elder, parent. So Jordan will be slightly more submissive to the parental unit than say Zane or Connor. Also expect a more physical relationship than mental. There will be a lot of touching (all apporpriate of course). For instance, Oz grabbing Jordy and holding him in chapter 6. If you guys like their moments, I'll be sure to put them in. I'll do cuddle moments too, promise. And if you think it's child abuse, it's not.

2. Connor: Okay, people seem to like Angel and Wesley. Cool. Now they may be slightly strange, but I don't care. And I'm not sure, but their may be slight slashiness between the two. But you won't see most of it.Oh and Connor's punishment for fighting....I'll leave it up to you.

3. Gabriella: I hope she's enough of a spit fire for you. *grin* But she's not alway like this, she's really a peson that needs a lot of reassurance and a hug, that's why she's so out going right now.

4: Serena: Her parents really don't care about here, so she get's lost in the world of fantasy and dreams. Gabriella will be good for her, because she relates to Serena on one level and will hopefully bring her out into the open.

5. Zane: He doesn't really know his dad all that well. And neither does his father. His father is a big name newscaster (think someone like Peter Jennings or so) and so when he does see his son, be buys him stuff. And if you think no parent is like this, you're wrong. This is how my friend Nate get's to know his dad, his dad buy's him stuff.

6. Richard: Okay, so he's a bastard. Deal. He'll get better promise, and it all has to deal with how he has to be when he grows up. And a note on the suicide, a kid a couple years ago did it in my town, so someone with that great a life (ie: the acceptence into Ivy Leauge schools and such) and do something so stupid.

Couplings: As far as I know, none. Although a stupid bunny has popped up, but it will be kicked away, because I don't like it. Another one is getting onto my better side, so who knows about that one.



Author Notes: Um...review? And I'm actually waiting for someone to trash my fic and how what Oz is doing to Jordy is child abuse. And that's all I say on this issue. Thank you, and good night.'