A/N: First of all, I forgot to explain the footnotes from the last chapter
in the end, so I'll briefly go over them now.
[1] Norman Rockwell was an artist in the '30's and '40's who did a lot of children and family paintings for newspapers and such. They're actually really nice, check um out, I'm sure you'd recognize some of them if I showed them to you.
[2] Jeffrey Dahmer. . . I'll keep this really brief because he makes me sick. But basically, Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer in the early 90's and late 80's. He killed nineteen men (he was gay) and well, that's all you need to know. (Especially if you've just eaten) But he's dead now, another inmate of his killed him. I didn't mean to be offensive with this comment either, but I thought the absurdity of it fit. I apologize if it offended anyone.
* * *
Chapter Two: Hell For Dummies
* * *
James Porter - Junior, The New Kid
I may sound crazy, but this whole in-house thing didn't sound too bad to me. Of course, I don't even know what they do in in-house, but how could it be any worse then strange people coming up to me everyday asking how I got my eye patch. And the ones who don't ask just calling me pirate every chance they get. Yes, there are some very kind people here in Concord.
When I got into the office to wait for the assignments or whatever, I saw the only other one who was there was Eric Myers. He was sitting straight, with dark circles under his eyes. Obviously, he didn't get much sleep. His skin was pale, although still tanned (strange), and he was tapping his foot up and down on the ground nervously.
"Nervous?" I asked. He snapped his head over to face me and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was only me.
"Some. I mean, no offense or anything, but since your new, you have NO idea what these people are capable of doing," He explained in a rapid fire speech pattern. I had to listen quick and pick apart the words after he was finished to understand the message thrown at me.
"Maybe not, but there were some punks back in my old school, so I'll deal," I commented and sat down next to him. He relaxed some and nodded as if he knew all of them as well as me.
"Well, most of these guy's don't like me," He said softly, threading his fingers through each other nimbly.
I frowned. "Why? What did you do to them?"
His eyes widened and his hands flew apart as part of his own defense case. "Nothing! Not really. I mean, I'm class president, and uh, an all 'A' student so some of them, kind of think I'm stuck up and stuff."
I raised an eyebrow. That was something I've never heard before. Someone being considered stuck up because they were a good student. I filed that away as the further strange knowledge I was learning about this school.
". . .But I'm not stuck up. I mean, at least, I try not to be. I'm not the one who makes the honor roll appear in the state paper or hands out the awards or. . ."
"Whoa, whoa. Slow down boy. Don't talk so fast, your mouth's traveling faster than your mind. Or at least it should be. And I don't think your stuck up. He seem like a nice guy."
He stopped talking and again relaxed in his seat, actually letting a full smile cross over his slightly child-like face. "Thanks. Normally I don't make that good of an impression the new kids."
"Well, you made a good one on me. In fact, you seem like one of the nicer ones I've met here."
His smile only got brighter as an answer, so I returned the smile. I meant what I said too. He seemed like a decent guy and it boggled my mind how anyone could not like him. Or how anyone could believe he was stuck up. Jocks, cheerleaders. . .they're stuck up here. But not him. Eric's one of the good guys, I could tell that right away. From the first time I saw him in the sophomore locker hall.
I was about to say something else when someone walked into the office and brushed past us on his way to the very last seat, far away from where anyone else was certain to sit. I recognized him from yesterday, but beyond that I was lost. He had dirty blonde hair and looked younger so I figured he was probably in Eric's grade. His eyes stayed focused on the ground. Wearing loose fitting blue jeans and a plain (but a little tight) red shirt. A cross necklace glinted in the lights and made me blink away from him. Instead I glanced over at Eric who was watching me.
'Who's he?' I mouthed too him silently so the guy wouldn't know we were talking about him.
'Spencer Conlon,' He mouthed back.
'What's his problem?'
'He's gay.'
That made me blink more rapidly. I had never seen, or known a gay person before. My last school was pretty closed off from everything. It was mostly white and mostly rich people. I'm not saying that gay people are bad or evil, I just never knew one before and I just imagined them to look a little differently.
'Does he -
"I know you're talking about me. I see your lips moving. You're not very subtle. And if there's anything you've got to say to me, then you can talk to me directly. I don't have a disease or anything you know," Eric and mine's dialogue was cut off by his slightly deep voice informing us of our mistake. Eric turned bright red and I just clamped my mouth shut.
"That's what I thought," He muttered. His eyes had never left his hands the entire time he had been talking. I guess he gets a lot of flack for being gay. I can only imagine. I mean, if I get it because I've got a patch over one eye he must get it a hundred and fifty times worse.
The three of us remained quiet until the others came pouring in, even up until the very last moment. (That of course was that Genesis girl, who came skidding in as the bell rang asking if she was late yet. And when she found of she wasn't, she walked back out then came back in, smiling the whole time. She makes me wonder.)
"Good to know the whole of you have gotten here on time. I'm actually shocked, yet pleased. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your first assignment in in-house," Mr. Pulitzer said gruffly, coldly.
We got up out of our seats and followed him, none of us smiling. Or even talking. In fact, we were pretty much looking like a group of young inmates being led to our new cells. And the expressions yelled, 'on death row'. Yes, we were definitely not on the happy side of our teenage lives. He led us down to this big room opposite of the boy's locker room. It was below the school level and dusty as hell. Broken equipment and old tables, mats and such layied strewn about in various positions. The moment I saw the room I knew exactly what we were going to be doing. I had to bite my lip to keep from groaning.
"I don't think I really need to explain what I want you eight to do. By this time Friday, this room had better look brand new." He growled out the warning. Leaving no room for argument on his intentions.
He left us then, walking slowly back up the stairs only after he'd seen all of us enter the room. And only after he was definitely gone did anyone groan or actually grimace.
"So, wants to lose all their money to me in poker?" That Higgins kid asked, pulling out a deck of cards and smiling strangely.
* * *
Niccoli Sanders - Junior, Druggie
The first thought that ran through my mind when I saw the room we were suppose to clean, was I wished I'd gotten to it first. It would be an excellent "high" room. It was perfect. All dusty, dirty, ugly. . .absolutely perfect. My second thought was: damn. Cleaning this was not going to be easy.
We filtered into the room pretty slowly. Like it could bite us or something. I was admiring the ugliness of the room when that Racetrack kid had to go a break the moment, offering each of us a chance to loose our money to him. Hell, he's as cocky as Kelly is on game days. And believe me when I say that that means he's pretty damn cocky.
"How much money you got?" Genesis answered him stepping deeper into the room's poison dusty smell.
"Enough," Race replied raising an eyebrow at her as she ran her hand across one of the walls.
Nodding, she stopped briefly and leaned over the wall. She squinted then got even more personal with the wall, pressing one side of her face against it, closing one of her eyes. A wide grin swept across her face and immediately she began laughing.
"Hey, Jacky-boy, is your guys locker room on the other side of this room?" She asked innocently.
"Yeah. . .why?" Jack eyed her suspiciously from the other side of the room.
Her grin fell into a hungry smirk as she took her face from the wall. "Well, ya know the one locker closest to the drinking fountain? Be sure and change near that one this Friday before the game alright?"
Jack shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable for a moment. (Something that I personally find hilarious considering who we are talking about here) He shoved his hands in his jean pockets and looked at her strangely.
"And why would I want to do that?"
"Because there's a hold in the wall where you can see that locker and those nearest too it perfectly." She widened her grin as everyone's (especially Jack's) faces fell into a state of shock.
"And you want Jack to change there why?" Race boldly asked, a twisted look of disgust and stunned-ness on his facial features.
Genesis shrugged. "I may hate the punk, but even I've got to admit that he's hot. Plus he's got a great body. Very watch worthy."
"Oh, sweet god," Jack muttered, his entire face flushing a bright red as the rest of us turned to stare at him. Gen laughed at his reaction, then pulled up one of the cleaner chairs and plopped down on it.
"Now," She continued glancing around the room quickly. "I don't mean to sound in the dark, but I've got to play catch-up for a while. I need names. Ages. Yadda, yadda, yadda."
"Well, I'm Allen Higgins. Call me Racetrack, everyone else does," Race introduced himself pulling up another chair and beginning to shuffle the cards, he'd brought.
"Eric Myers. . .and um, well, I'm only a sophomore so I don't exactly remember you. Sorry."
"You're lucky then," Jack said, staying in the shadows. Genesis sneered at him lightly.
"James Porter. I'm new here, so I'm as in the dark as you are. And before you ask, the patch? An accident. Nothing more, nothing less," The Pirate kid said. He seemed okay. Though, I try not to pass judgement too quickly. Pricks are pretty well hidden these days.
"What about you?" She asked me suddenly, eyes raised in questions.
"Excuse me?"
She eyed me strangely, looking at my eyes closely.
"You're the druggie aren't you?"
I blinked. Okay, that was just plain scary. I may be obvious, but I wasn't high this morning so how she knew me on an off day unnerved me some.
"Niccoli Sanders," I replied in my gruff, deep voice. Her eyes scrunched up and a sympathetic expression befell her face.
"Niccoli? Hell, if I had that name I'd be drugged half the time too."
Across from her Racetrack snickered, pulling a crate to use as a card table between them.
"Okay, so you're Tyler Davidson right? But everyone calls you Snitch," She turned her attentions to Tyler, pointing at him.
Tyler's eyes narrowed as he looked at her in slight confusion. "Yeah. How'd you know that?"
"You're in my media production class."
"Oh. Yeah. I knew that."
Silence hung in the room, while shuffling and card playing continued both players wearing a mask of concentration. Tension filled the small musty room while the rest of us watched them as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Finally, Gen lifted her head from the game and looked over at Spencer who hadn't said a word - in fact he hadn't made a sound for that matter. She stopped in mid-play and watched him as he picked and inspected his fingernails closely. Cocking her head to the side, she frowned and whistled to get his attention.
It worked. As well as scaring the living shit out of the rest of us.
"What about you kid? Ya just gonna stand in the corner and mope?"
"Would there be a problem with that?" He sarcastically answered, matching her deep frown.
"Yeah."
He scoffed. "Believe me when I say THEY would be happier if I pretended not to exist."
"Listen kid, Kelly ain't dead yet - so stop trying to be the king of the assholes and tell me your name."
"Spencer Conlon," He said after a moments hesitation.
"See? Now was that so -
"And before anyone else tells you I better put in the fact that I'm gay."
She perked an eyebrow. "And that effects me how? I'm a girl. Should I have a problem with you being gay?"
"Everyone else does. Why not you too I figured."
"Don't figure next time," She turned to us. "Anyone of you got a problem with Spencer boy here?"
For a while no one said anything. So I decided to back Spencer up. He and I are both total social outcasts. And outcasts should stick together I suppose. I took a step in Gen's direction.
"I don't have a problem with it. It's his lifestyle. Each to his own I say."
Spencer's eyes about fell out of their sockets he looked so flabbergasted by my confession. I forced a small shrug and smile. He needs all the support he can get. What with the jocks and popular kids rigging on him every damned day. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate those people?
Race looked up from the card game suddenly, watching the situation with amusement.
"I don't trust you. But it ain't because your gay. If ya talked more I might be able to get along with ya," He added.
"I've never known a gay person before so I can't really pass judgement. And, um, I'm sorry about earlier. Eric and I both are," James whispered sheepishly, with Eric nodding his head violently beside him.
Tyler and Jack were the only ones who hadn't said anything yet. But by the impassive look on Tyler's features you could tell he didn't care all that much. And that left Jack Kelly. Who was staring at all of us an shocked look on his face.
"Stop looking at me like that Glory. You know how I feel about people like. . .that," He said, grounding out the words from between his teeth.
Genesis blinked, then sighed while shaking her head in defeat. "I know. But I was kinda hoping you'd shake of Cameron's advice and be your own person for once. Next time I'll remember not to ask you a question that actually requires you to think for yourself."
After that the tension was so thick you'd have needed a sword to cut through it. Jack muddled with his own thoughts looked away from the rest of us. Spencer kept his eyes downcast, his whole demeanor looking half broken. Slowly, Gen and Race returned to their silent poker game. Gen proceeding to beat him. A stony expression gracing her facial features. I looked over and caught Tyler's eye. He smiled at me and I felt obliged to return the friendly gesture.
"Um, I don't mean to sound stupid, but, um, aren't we suppose to be cleaning?" Eric asked, stumbling over his words.
We all groaned, suddenly remembering why we had been placed together in the enclosed area alone in the first place. Race put the cards away, reluctantly, while Gen pushed the chairs and crate to the side. We did end up cleaning some - though painstakingly slowly and no one spoke. Except to ask for help or curse when they dropped something.
It was the exact same way after lunch too, though I think we were even MORE sluggish then. (If that's even possible) I swear that I have never been so happy to hear the bell signaling the end of the day. And to think, only nine more days of this altered version of hell.
Oh, joy.
Tomorrow, I am most definitely getting very high before coming back to this group of people and their problems. Absolutely, totally, getting wasted.
* * *
Spencer Conlon - Sophomore, "That Gay Kid"
Tuesdays are not much better than Mondays. And in my case, the only good days are Saturday and Sunday. So surprise, surprise, I don't like Tuesdays. And judging the Tuesday I've just managed to survive through, I won't be liking them anytime soon.
Of course, having six people back me up, as far as me being gay goes, was pretty cool. And way too nice of them. I mean, damn, even Niccoli didn't care - his reaction definitely surprised me the most. But it was nice too. I may not show it, but I need the support of a few people after all the beatings that are casually slung my way by the big guys, football players and such.
Okay, now I've confused even myself. Back up. Hold the train. If six people DID decide that I wasn't a total disease, how come I still had a rotten, awful day? That's simple. He's about 6'1, dark hair, dark eyes, captain of the Baseball and Football teams, and goes by the name of Jack Kelly. Just having him look at me in such disgust will break the support moment.
Maybe I should explain why.
See, I didn't know I was gay until last year during the football season. My brother Derek was on the team so I had to stay after during practice and watch them since Derek drove me home. I was a freshmen and pretty fascinated by the juniors and seniors on the varsity team. They were big and I couldn't even imagine myself ever getting to that kind of stature. (I have come to realize, now, that I probably never will either) There was, however, one sophomore on the varsity team last year. And I'll give you one guess as to who it was. Believe me, you'll only need the one guess too.
It got the point where I came to the practices, looking forward to them, just so I could see him. Like Genesis said earlier today, he has a killer body. I hadn't even realized I stared at him that intently until Derek called me on it later. Shorter there after I decided I must be gay. Because only a gay guy would weave through hallways, ignoring the cheerleaders and fishing out the gorgeous Quarterback.
That and the fact that I definitely had a crush on him. I practically worshiped the ground he walked on. But no one, least of all him, seemed to notice. Something I'm happy for now. Because the jocks hate me enough for just being gay, if they had known I had a crush on their star player. . .let your imagination be your guide on that one.
So, yeah. That's why today sucked. Having moral support from relative strangers who more than likely knew you as 'that gay kid' before today, doesn't quite mean as much to me as having the guy I'm half in love with say he's disgusted with me pretty much to my face. Somehow, in my mind the two just can't cancel each other. If you've ever been in my position then you would understand. But hopefully you haven't. Because like I said. It blows. Big time.
"Hey Spence, how'd the first day go?" Derek asked me, when I trudged into the living room where he was watching the Ed, Edd and Eddy cartoon.
I threw him a look and he just threw one back at me. Derek's pretty cool actually. My family is really. When I told them I was gay they took it surprisingly well. My dad was a little edgy at first but he got over it pretty quickly. Derek laughed at me when he found out, rolled his eyes and said, 'Well, no shit. You only follow Kelly around like a lost puppy'.
Thank you captain obvious.
"They didn't give you much flack did they?" He asked me suddenly, turning the volume down on the TV.
"No, actually they all were. . . surprisingly supportive," I answered. He raised an eyebrow and turned to look at my face, trying to see if I was telling the truth or not.
"ALL of them?"
I paused. "Well, almost all of them."
He nodded, knowing exactly who I was excluding. He's a senior now, and I'm going to miss him when he leaves for college next year. He's been supportive this whole time, keeping the bigger guys from the teams off my back. Derek can be intimidating when he wants too, but he can't protect me all the time. And that's why most nights I come home with at least one or two bruises somewhere on my body.
"You do know that if you want me too I can get Kelly to ease of right?" He whispered too me. We'd already had this conversation before. He'd offer to put Jack in his place and I would refuse because a black eye wouldn't go well with Jack's skin tone. If I can't have him the way I want too, then at least let him stay pretty so I can admire him from afar.
"Don't do anything Derek. It's my fight remember?"
"Yeah, yeah. It's just, you're my kid brother ya know? I don't want ya getting hurt for no valid reason."
"Well, personally I think that Genesis girl is going to skin him alive before this in-house is over to I wouldn't worry about it too much."
At this conclusion he started laughing. Gen and Derek are in the same grade and Derek always took pride in knowing he was the only jock she could stand to talk to for more then ten seconds straight. He even stood up for her when she stabbed Monty Laquite a year and a half ago.
"That's probably true. They really hate each other. But, enough about them, I asked you a question how did it go. Besides the support and sneer."
"Not particularly bad, I suppose. We cleaned a little, though not much. Racetrack Higgins lost to Genesis in poker, Niccoli came in and he wasn't high. So he was actually able to help us out. Major plus, because one of the strongest guys in there."
"Good to know."
"Yeah."
"Derek! Spencer! Are you in the living room?" Our mother yelled from the kitchen. We glanced at each other and went off in a sprint towards when her voice came from.
"What's up mom?" Derek asked.
"Nothing. Just wanted to know if you were still in the house. But obviously I have my answer. And I wanted to ask Spencer about his day," She turned her eyes meaningfully to me.
"It was fine mom. I didn't get hurt and the guys are fine with me."
"Really?" She sounded almost giddy for me. Don't you think it's funny how sometimes your parents are more excited about certain things for you then you actually are? I hate it when that happens.
"Yeah. They were really cool about it, even that drugged up kid I was telling you about yesterday."
"Well that's good news isn't it?" She asked hopefully.
I shrugged. "I suppose. The only one I have to worry about is Jack. But I think Genesis can handle him for me."
Her face fell when I mentioned Jack's name. She knew I liked him like that and was always trying to make me feel better about myself in turn. In fact I could just see the comments swimming under her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry honey. But if Jack can't see what a great guy you are -
"Mom. Jack is straight. We've been through this."
"I know darling, it's just I can't stand to see you so hung up on him and so unhappy about it."
I shrugged again. "I'm used to it. Besides, it's better for me if he hates me. If he was understanding and nice and everything I might get some kind of false hope or something equally as depressing."
She smiled sadly at me and the kitchen fell silent with only the bubbling of water on the stove and the steam rising from it to cut through our senses. I smiled back at her and left both Derek and her in the kitchen to talk about his day, as she most likely ask.
I was telling the truth. It was easier on me if Jack hated me. In some ways. The side of me that is convinced I'm in love with him hated that he hated me, but the logical side of my brain found it easier to hide, easier to exist around him if I knew there was absolutely no chance of ever being with him that way. It made decisions short, bittersweet and easily made. No dancing around a subject and hoping you weren't rejected or losing your friend because of a stupid confession. Much easier on my nerves. So, yes, I prefer the love/hate relationship we have now.
Honest.
* * *
Genesis Glory - Senior, Sarcastic Rebel
The world would be much better off without people like my brother existing in it. I'm drop dead serious about that. I hate my brother. He is the embodiment of all that I loathe, despise and all those other cruel words you could use in a situation like this. He's my exact opposite and the exact reincarnate of our father when HE was a teenager. Just trust me when I say this is not a good thing.
Speaking of my lovely parents, neither are home right now because they are in fact, attending an invitation only banquet for some kind of charity or something or other. I try not to keep track of their endless flow of social events for fear that I might actually turn into them some day. And that, my friends, would be the next great American tragedy.
So I am stuck at our house, which is bigger then most celebrities homes you see on TV, with only my brother. I don't understand why the college even let them out early for Spring break. And even so couldn't he go somewhere else? Somewhere far, far, far away perhaps? Like, oh, I don't know. . .Siberia?
"Mom told me that you have in-house for two weeks already. Your second day back and you're already in the dog house. I swear I don't understand you Gen."
"That's good because I don't either. And wouldn't that be just horrible if you understood me before me?"
"She also told me that Cameron's brother is in there. How's that going?"
I rolled my eyes. Jack is never Jack to him. He's simply Cameron's brother. And to Cameron I'm Jet's sister. I swear, jocks. Their I.Q. is about as high as the couch I was sitting on at the moment.
"Peachy. Honestly. But if I kill him, tell the lawyer to try for second degree, because he deserved it," I yell back. After this comment, Jet walked into the living room, shaking his head and sat down in the chair to my side.
"He's not that bad."
"Not to you. But that's because he's Cameron junior. Only taller with a deeper voice and better body ."
"I swear. . ."
"So do I."
He glared at me in response and tugged his t-shirt down more. "With the attitude you have your lucky mom and dad haven't kicked you out of the house already."
"I don't consider myself all that lucky. Besides, this house is more mine then theirs. Who lives in it everyday? Sleeps here every night? Who eats the meals? Me. That's who. I'm the one who should decide who stays here and who doesn't. At least I would in a perfect world."
He looked at me as if I had grown an extra head and raised an eyebrow. "What color is the sky in your world anyways?"
"Purple. And pigs can fly. We just don't hard enough here on earth."
"You are impossible."
"And you, dear brother, are annoying. And as the new leader of this household, my first order of business is to kick you out. Go back to the hole you crawled out off."
"Ha. Ha. You're hilarious."
"I try."
He sighed and ran a hand through his bleached blonde hair. I resisted the laugh at it. He looked like a total dork with the bright blonde hair. But you know what they say, ignorance is bliss. He looked me in the eye and I got the distinct feeling he was going to attempt to hold a serious conversation with me. Not good. When he gets serious there's normally a deeper reason.
Definitely not good.
"Is there a reason you hate me so much?" He asked, honestly wanting to know.
"Sure. You're taking away from my valuable oxygen supply."
"I'm serious."
"And you think I'm not?"
He clenched his teeth together 'til I could almost hearing them grinding just inside his mouth. Ever since we were kids we've never been friends. Never associated. I like to think that even back then I was smart enough to stay away from assholes, but I think the real reason was he stayed away from me. I was a dumb girl, what could I possible know? And that train of thought led to fights. And fights led to silent treatments for weeks on end. Which, eventually, led to more fights. Basically, Jet and I have been fighting our whole lives. If you took away the fights you wouldn't have anything left. We probably wouldn't even remember each other's names half the time. I'm still trying to decide which of the two would be better as far as a sister/brother relationship goes.
"Ya know, if you gave people like me, Cam and Jack a chance, you'd see were not the root of all evil as you seem to think."
"I sincerely doubt that."
"Why?"
"Because you're all intolerant bigots. Just today, there was this one kid in in-house with us, and he just happens to be gay. And Jack totally ragged on him. Like he wasn't -
"But gay, come on Gen. You're a girl, you don't understand what it's like for a guy to -
"See!! This is exactly what I'm talking about! Jump to conclusions, he's different from you so he's wrong. But a fellow jock can do no wrong. Nor can a cheerleader or popular person. But someone like Spencer - the gay kid - is disgusting and immoral and a bunch of crap like that. It's ridiculous! I mean you don't even know him!"
"But you do the same thing. You don't know any of those jocks, or cheerleaders or popular people but you automatically stereotype them. Like a damn John Hughes movie or something!"
"That's because you people are stupid enough to go along with your stereotype. You act exactly like they do in those movies. Just. Like. Them. I'm still waiting for a jock to prove me wrong. And besides Derek Conlon, none of you can allow yourself to do that. So yes. I will judge you any damn why I want. And I'll hate you. And I'll stand by my belief that people like our parents and the Kelly's shouldn't even have kids. Because it's true. And no one can prove ME wrong."
We stayed quiet after my little outburst. Just trying to stare each other down, and neither of us winning. We could've gone on like that for hours (and have in past situations) but I'm tired and sleep was starting to sound like a saving grace.
"I'm going to bed," I told him in a dry, monotonous voice.
"Good. Get some beauty rest. You definitely need it."
I stuck up my middle finger at him and brushed past his chair on my way to the second floor where my bedroom was located. I sighed in minor frustration and buried my head in my pillow. Thinking about the events earlier in the day and the possible things that could happen tomorrow.
I also thought about when my brother came home for the first time after college started for him in the fall. It was after the first semester had ended. They had a huge coming home party for him. Telling him how proud of him they were and all that other bullshit. When I came home from the Juvenile Delinquent Center my parents weren't even home. I guess it's funny in a way. How easily they express that Jet is the favorite in the family. How disappointed they are of me even carrying the Glory name. I gave up trying to please them a long time ago, but sometimes. . .sometimes I wonder what it would be like if they did care. Would I have turned out differently? I try not to dwell on feelings like that though. All they do is depress me even more.
And I'm depressing enough as it is.
* * *
A/N: Man, oh, man. Took me long enough to write this didn't it? Holy, bejeebies. I'll try to get the next chapter out a little faster. And I'll try to make it better too. I apologize for any mistakes in this chapter, I was typing fast and well, too lazy to editor thoroughly before publishing it. But anywho. . .
Special Thanks too:
SpotLover421: I love the modern day newsies stuff too, so I just had to give my own story to the mix. I'm weird like that. But then again, since you've read a bunch of my stories you probably already knew that huh?
Aquachica: slashgoil: Well, Blink is it in now. Personally I like him in this story, normally I can't write Blink very good, but the words flowed in this case. Glad you like the story. And I haven't decided if there's going to be Blink/Mush. But there's a definite possibility!
Clem: Thanks for the review. And I went a head and took your advice.
[1] Norman Rockwell was an artist in the '30's and '40's who did a lot of children and family paintings for newspapers and such. They're actually really nice, check um out, I'm sure you'd recognize some of them if I showed them to you.
[2] Jeffrey Dahmer. . . I'll keep this really brief because he makes me sick. But basically, Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer in the early 90's and late 80's. He killed nineteen men (he was gay) and well, that's all you need to know. (Especially if you've just eaten) But he's dead now, another inmate of his killed him. I didn't mean to be offensive with this comment either, but I thought the absurdity of it fit. I apologize if it offended anyone.
* * *
Chapter Two: Hell For Dummies
* * *
James Porter - Junior, The New Kid
I may sound crazy, but this whole in-house thing didn't sound too bad to me. Of course, I don't even know what they do in in-house, but how could it be any worse then strange people coming up to me everyday asking how I got my eye patch. And the ones who don't ask just calling me pirate every chance they get. Yes, there are some very kind people here in Concord.
When I got into the office to wait for the assignments or whatever, I saw the only other one who was there was Eric Myers. He was sitting straight, with dark circles under his eyes. Obviously, he didn't get much sleep. His skin was pale, although still tanned (strange), and he was tapping his foot up and down on the ground nervously.
"Nervous?" I asked. He snapped his head over to face me and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was only me.
"Some. I mean, no offense or anything, but since your new, you have NO idea what these people are capable of doing," He explained in a rapid fire speech pattern. I had to listen quick and pick apart the words after he was finished to understand the message thrown at me.
"Maybe not, but there were some punks back in my old school, so I'll deal," I commented and sat down next to him. He relaxed some and nodded as if he knew all of them as well as me.
"Well, most of these guy's don't like me," He said softly, threading his fingers through each other nimbly.
I frowned. "Why? What did you do to them?"
His eyes widened and his hands flew apart as part of his own defense case. "Nothing! Not really. I mean, I'm class president, and uh, an all 'A' student so some of them, kind of think I'm stuck up and stuff."
I raised an eyebrow. That was something I've never heard before. Someone being considered stuck up because they were a good student. I filed that away as the further strange knowledge I was learning about this school.
". . .But I'm not stuck up. I mean, at least, I try not to be. I'm not the one who makes the honor roll appear in the state paper or hands out the awards or. . ."
"Whoa, whoa. Slow down boy. Don't talk so fast, your mouth's traveling faster than your mind. Or at least it should be. And I don't think your stuck up. He seem like a nice guy."
He stopped talking and again relaxed in his seat, actually letting a full smile cross over his slightly child-like face. "Thanks. Normally I don't make that good of an impression the new kids."
"Well, you made a good one on me. In fact, you seem like one of the nicer ones I've met here."
His smile only got brighter as an answer, so I returned the smile. I meant what I said too. He seemed like a decent guy and it boggled my mind how anyone could not like him. Or how anyone could believe he was stuck up. Jocks, cheerleaders. . .they're stuck up here. But not him. Eric's one of the good guys, I could tell that right away. From the first time I saw him in the sophomore locker hall.
I was about to say something else when someone walked into the office and brushed past us on his way to the very last seat, far away from where anyone else was certain to sit. I recognized him from yesterday, but beyond that I was lost. He had dirty blonde hair and looked younger so I figured he was probably in Eric's grade. His eyes stayed focused on the ground. Wearing loose fitting blue jeans and a plain (but a little tight) red shirt. A cross necklace glinted in the lights and made me blink away from him. Instead I glanced over at Eric who was watching me.
'Who's he?' I mouthed too him silently so the guy wouldn't know we were talking about him.
'Spencer Conlon,' He mouthed back.
'What's his problem?'
'He's gay.'
That made me blink more rapidly. I had never seen, or known a gay person before. My last school was pretty closed off from everything. It was mostly white and mostly rich people. I'm not saying that gay people are bad or evil, I just never knew one before and I just imagined them to look a little differently.
'Does he -
"I know you're talking about me. I see your lips moving. You're not very subtle. And if there's anything you've got to say to me, then you can talk to me directly. I don't have a disease or anything you know," Eric and mine's dialogue was cut off by his slightly deep voice informing us of our mistake. Eric turned bright red and I just clamped my mouth shut.
"That's what I thought," He muttered. His eyes had never left his hands the entire time he had been talking. I guess he gets a lot of flack for being gay. I can only imagine. I mean, if I get it because I've got a patch over one eye he must get it a hundred and fifty times worse.
The three of us remained quiet until the others came pouring in, even up until the very last moment. (That of course was that Genesis girl, who came skidding in as the bell rang asking if she was late yet. And when she found of she wasn't, she walked back out then came back in, smiling the whole time. She makes me wonder.)
"Good to know the whole of you have gotten here on time. I'm actually shocked, yet pleased. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your first assignment in in-house," Mr. Pulitzer said gruffly, coldly.
We got up out of our seats and followed him, none of us smiling. Or even talking. In fact, we were pretty much looking like a group of young inmates being led to our new cells. And the expressions yelled, 'on death row'. Yes, we were definitely not on the happy side of our teenage lives. He led us down to this big room opposite of the boy's locker room. It was below the school level and dusty as hell. Broken equipment and old tables, mats and such layied strewn about in various positions. The moment I saw the room I knew exactly what we were going to be doing. I had to bite my lip to keep from groaning.
"I don't think I really need to explain what I want you eight to do. By this time Friday, this room had better look brand new." He growled out the warning. Leaving no room for argument on his intentions.
He left us then, walking slowly back up the stairs only after he'd seen all of us enter the room. And only after he was definitely gone did anyone groan or actually grimace.
"So, wants to lose all their money to me in poker?" That Higgins kid asked, pulling out a deck of cards and smiling strangely.
* * *
Niccoli Sanders - Junior, Druggie
The first thought that ran through my mind when I saw the room we were suppose to clean, was I wished I'd gotten to it first. It would be an excellent "high" room. It was perfect. All dusty, dirty, ugly. . .absolutely perfect. My second thought was: damn. Cleaning this was not going to be easy.
We filtered into the room pretty slowly. Like it could bite us or something. I was admiring the ugliness of the room when that Racetrack kid had to go a break the moment, offering each of us a chance to loose our money to him. Hell, he's as cocky as Kelly is on game days. And believe me when I say that that means he's pretty damn cocky.
"How much money you got?" Genesis answered him stepping deeper into the room's poison dusty smell.
"Enough," Race replied raising an eyebrow at her as she ran her hand across one of the walls.
Nodding, she stopped briefly and leaned over the wall. She squinted then got even more personal with the wall, pressing one side of her face against it, closing one of her eyes. A wide grin swept across her face and immediately she began laughing.
"Hey, Jacky-boy, is your guys locker room on the other side of this room?" She asked innocently.
"Yeah. . .why?" Jack eyed her suspiciously from the other side of the room.
Her grin fell into a hungry smirk as she took her face from the wall. "Well, ya know the one locker closest to the drinking fountain? Be sure and change near that one this Friday before the game alright?"
Jack shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable for a moment. (Something that I personally find hilarious considering who we are talking about here) He shoved his hands in his jean pockets and looked at her strangely.
"And why would I want to do that?"
"Because there's a hold in the wall where you can see that locker and those nearest too it perfectly." She widened her grin as everyone's (especially Jack's) faces fell into a state of shock.
"And you want Jack to change there why?" Race boldly asked, a twisted look of disgust and stunned-ness on his facial features.
Genesis shrugged. "I may hate the punk, but even I've got to admit that he's hot. Plus he's got a great body. Very watch worthy."
"Oh, sweet god," Jack muttered, his entire face flushing a bright red as the rest of us turned to stare at him. Gen laughed at his reaction, then pulled up one of the cleaner chairs and plopped down on it.
"Now," She continued glancing around the room quickly. "I don't mean to sound in the dark, but I've got to play catch-up for a while. I need names. Ages. Yadda, yadda, yadda."
"Well, I'm Allen Higgins. Call me Racetrack, everyone else does," Race introduced himself pulling up another chair and beginning to shuffle the cards, he'd brought.
"Eric Myers. . .and um, well, I'm only a sophomore so I don't exactly remember you. Sorry."
"You're lucky then," Jack said, staying in the shadows. Genesis sneered at him lightly.
"James Porter. I'm new here, so I'm as in the dark as you are. And before you ask, the patch? An accident. Nothing more, nothing less," The Pirate kid said. He seemed okay. Though, I try not to pass judgement too quickly. Pricks are pretty well hidden these days.
"What about you?" She asked me suddenly, eyes raised in questions.
"Excuse me?"
She eyed me strangely, looking at my eyes closely.
"You're the druggie aren't you?"
I blinked. Okay, that was just plain scary. I may be obvious, but I wasn't high this morning so how she knew me on an off day unnerved me some.
"Niccoli Sanders," I replied in my gruff, deep voice. Her eyes scrunched up and a sympathetic expression befell her face.
"Niccoli? Hell, if I had that name I'd be drugged half the time too."
Across from her Racetrack snickered, pulling a crate to use as a card table between them.
"Okay, so you're Tyler Davidson right? But everyone calls you Snitch," She turned her attentions to Tyler, pointing at him.
Tyler's eyes narrowed as he looked at her in slight confusion. "Yeah. How'd you know that?"
"You're in my media production class."
"Oh. Yeah. I knew that."
Silence hung in the room, while shuffling and card playing continued both players wearing a mask of concentration. Tension filled the small musty room while the rest of us watched them as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Finally, Gen lifted her head from the game and looked over at Spencer who hadn't said a word - in fact he hadn't made a sound for that matter. She stopped in mid-play and watched him as he picked and inspected his fingernails closely. Cocking her head to the side, she frowned and whistled to get his attention.
It worked. As well as scaring the living shit out of the rest of us.
"What about you kid? Ya just gonna stand in the corner and mope?"
"Would there be a problem with that?" He sarcastically answered, matching her deep frown.
"Yeah."
He scoffed. "Believe me when I say THEY would be happier if I pretended not to exist."
"Listen kid, Kelly ain't dead yet - so stop trying to be the king of the assholes and tell me your name."
"Spencer Conlon," He said after a moments hesitation.
"See? Now was that so -
"And before anyone else tells you I better put in the fact that I'm gay."
She perked an eyebrow. "And that effects me how? I'm a girl. Should I have a problem with you being gay?"
"Everyone else does. Why not you too I figured."
"Don't figure next time," She turned to us. "Anyone of you got a problem with Spencer boy here?"
For a while no one said anything. So I decided to back Spencer up. He and I are both total social outcasts. And outcasts should stick together I suppose. I took a step in Gen's direction.
"I don't have a problem with it. It's his lifestyle. Each to his own I say."
Spencer's eyes about fell out of their sockets he looked so flabbergasted by my confession. I forced a small shrug and smile. He needs all the support he can get. What with the jocks and popular kids rigging on him every damned day. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate those people?
Race looked up from the card game suddenly, watching the situation with amusement.
"I don't trust you. But it ain't because your gay. If ya talked more I might be able to get along with ya," He added.
"I've never known a gay person before so I can't really pass judgement. And, um, I'm sorry about earlier. Eric and I both are," James whispered sheepishly, with Eric nodding his head violently beside him.
Tyler and Jack were the only ones who hadn't said anything yet. But by the impassive look on Tyler's features you could tell he didn't care all that much. And that left Jack Kelly. Who was staring at all of us an shocked look on his face.
"Stop looking at me like that Glory. You know how I feel about people like. . .that," He said, grounding out the words from between his teeth.
Genesis blinked, then sighed while shaking her head in defeat. "I know. But I was kinda hoping you'd shake of Cameron's advice and be your own person for once. Next time I'll remember not to ask you a question that actually requires you to think for yourself."
After that the tension was so thick you'd have needed a sword to cut through it. Jack muddled with his own thoughts looked away from the rest of us. Spencer kept his eyes downcast, his whole demeanor looking half broken. Slowly, Gen and Race returned to their silent poker game. Gen proceeding to beat him. A stony expression gracing her facial features. I looked over and caught Tyler's eye. He smiled at me and I felt obliged to return the friendly gesture.
"Um, I don't mean to sound stupid, but, um, aren't we suppose to be cleaning?" Eric asked, stumbling over his words.
We all groaned, suddenly remembering why we had been placed together in the enclosed area alone in the first place. Race put the cards away, reluctantly, while Gen pushed the chairs and crate to the side. We did end up cleaning some - though painstakingly slowly and no one spoke. Except to ask for help or curse when they dropped something.
It was the exact same way after lunch too, though I think we were even MORE sluggish then. (If that's even possible) I swear that I have never been so happy to hear the bell signaling the end of the day. And to think, only nine more days of this altered version of hell.
Oh, joy.
Tomorrow, I am most definitely getting very high before coming back to this group of people and their problems. Absolutely, totally, getting wasted.
* * *
Spencer Conlon - Sophomore, "That Gay Kid"
Tuesdays are not much better than Mondays. And in my case, the only good days are Saturday and Sunday. So surprise, surprise, I don't like Tuesdays. And judging the Tuesday I've just managed to survive through, I won't be liking them anytime soon.
Of course, having six people back me up, as far as me being gay goes, was pretty cool. And way too nice of them. I mean, damn, even Niccoli didn't care - his reaction definitely surprised me the most. But it was nice too. I may not show it, but I need the support of a few people after all the beatings that are casually slung my way by the big guys, football players and such.
Okay, now I've confused even myself. Back up. Hold the train. If six people DID decide that I wasn't a total disease, how come I still had a rotten, awful day? That's simple. He's about 6'1, dark hair, dark eyes, captain of the Baseball and Football teams, and goes by the name of Jack Kelly. Just having him look at me in such disgust will break the support moment.
Maybe I should explain why.
See, I didn't know I was gay until last year during the football season. My brother Derek was on the team so I had to stay after during practice and watch them since Derek drove me home. I was a freshmen and pretty fascinated by the juniors and seniors on the varsity team. They were big and I couldn't even imagine myself ever getting to that kind of stature. (I have come to realize, now, that I probably never will either) There was, however, one sophomore on the varsity team last year. And I'll give you one guess as to who it was. Believe me, you'll only need the one guess too.
It got the point where I came to the practices, looking forward to them, just so I could see him. Like Genesis said earlier today, he has a killer body. I hadn't even realized I stared at him that intently until Derek called me on it later. Shorter there after I decided I must be gay. Because only a gay guy would weave through hallways, ignoring the cheerleaders and fishing out the gorgeous Quarterback.
That and the fact that I definitely had a crush on him. I practically worshiped the ground he walked on. But no one, least of all him, seemed to notice. Something I'm happy for now. Because the jocks hate me enough for just being gay, if they had known I had a crush on their star player. . .let your imagination be your guide on that one.
So, yeah. That's why today sucked. Having moral support from relative strangers who more than likely knew you as 'that gay kid' before today, doesn't quite mean as much to me as having the guy I'm half in love with say he's disgusted with me pretty much to my face. Somehow, in my mind the two just can't cancel each other. If you've ever been in my position then you would understand. But hopefully you haven't. Because like I said. It blows. Big time.
"Hey Spence, how'd the first day go?" Derek asked me, when I trudged into the living room where he was watching the Ed, Edd and Eddy cartoon.
I threw him a look and he just threw one back at me. Derek's pretty cool actually. My family is really. When I told them I was gay they took it surprisingly well. My dad was a little edgy at first but he got over it pretty quickly. Derek laughed at me when he found out, rolled his eyes and said, 'Well, no shit. You only follow Kelly around like a lost puppy'.
Thank you captain obvious.
"They didn't give you much flack did they?" He asked me suddenly, turning the volume down on the TV.
"No, actually they all were. . . surprisingly supportive," I answered. He raised an eyebrow and turned to look at my face, trying to see if I was telling the truth or not.
"ALL of them?"
I paused. "Well, almost all of them."
He nodded, knowing exactly who I was excluding. He's a senior now, and I'm going to miss him when he leaves for college next year. He's been supportive this whole time, keeping the bigger guys from the teams off my back. Derek can be intimidating when he wants too, but he can't protect me all the time. And that's why most nights I come home with at least one or two bruises somewhere on my body.
"You do know that if you want me too I can get Kelly to ease of right?" He whispered too me. We'd already had this conversation before. He'd offer to put Jack in his place and I would refuse because a black eye wouldn't go well with Jack's skin tone. If I can't have him the way I want too, then at least let him stay pretty so I can admire him from afar.
"Don't do anything Derek. It's my fight remember?"
"Yeah, yeah. It's just, you're my kid brother ya know? I don't want ya getting hurt for no valid reason."
"Well, personally I think that Genesis girl is going to skin him alive before this in-house is over to I wouldn't worry about it too much."
At this conclusion he started laughing. Gen and Derek are in the same grade and Derek always took pride in knowing he was the only jock she could stand to talk to for more then ten seconds straight. He even stood up for her when she stabbed Monty Laquite a year and a half ago.
"That's probably true. They really hate each other. But, enough about them, I asked you a question how did it go. Besides the support and sneer."
"Not particularly bad, I suppose. We cleaned a little, though not much. Racetrack Higgins lost to Genesis in poker, Niccoli came in and he wasn't high. So he was actually able to help us out. Major plus, because one of the strongest guys in there."
"Good to know."
"Yeah."
"Derek! Spencer! Are you in the living room?" Our mother yelled from the kitchen. We glanced at each other and went off in a sprint towards when her voice came from.
"What's up mom?" Derek asked.
"Nothing. Just wanted to know if you were still in the house. But obviously I have my answer. And I wanted to ask Spencer about his day," She turned her eyes meaningfully to me.
"It was fine mom. I didn't get hurt and the guys are fine with me."
"Really?" She sounded almost giddy for me. Don't you think it's funny how sometimes your parents are more excited about certain things for you then you actually are? I hate it when that happens.
"Yeah. They were really cool about it, even that drugged up kid I was telling you about yesterday."
"Well that's good news isn't it?" She asked hopefully.
I shrugged. "I suppose. The only one I have to worry about is Jack. But I think Genesis can handle him for me."
Her face fell when I mentioned Jack's name. She knew I liked him like that and was always trying to make me feel better about myself in turn. In fact I could just see the comments swimming under her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry honey. But if Jack can't see what a great guy you are -
"Mom. Jack is straight. We've been through this."
"I know darling, it's just I can't stand to see you so hung up on him and so unhappy about it."
I shrugged again. "I'm used to it. Besides, it's better for me if he hates me. If he was understanding and nice and everything I might get some kind of false hope or something equally as depressing."
She smiled sadly at me and the kitchen fell silent with only the bubbling of water on the stove and the steam rising from it to cut through our senses. I smiled back at her and left both Derek and her in the kitchen to talk about his day, as she most likely ask.
I was telling the truth. It was easier on me if Jack hated me. In some ways. The side of me that is convinced I'm in love with him hated that he hated me, but the logical side of my brain found it easier to hide, easier to exist around him if I knew there was absolutely no chance of ever being with him that way. It made decisions short, bittersweet and easily made. No dancing around a subject and hoping you weren't rejected or losing your friend because of a stupid confession. Much easier on my nerves. So, yes, I prefer the love/hate relationship we have now.
Honest.
* * *
Genesis Glory - Senior, Sarcastic Rebel
The world would be much better off without people like my brother existing in it. I'm drop dead serious about that. I hate my brother. He is the embodiment of all that I loathe, despise and all those other cruel words you could use in a situation like this. He's my exact opposite and the exact reincarnate of our father when HE was a teenager. Just trust me when I say this is not a good thing.
Speaking of my lovely parents, neither are home right now because they are in fact, attending an invitation only banquet for some kind of charity or something or other. I try not to keep track of their endless flow of social events for fear that I might actually turn into them some day. And that, my friends, would be the next great American tragedy.
So I am stuck at our house, which is bigger then most celebrities homes you see on TV, with only my brother. I don't understand why the college even let them out early for Spring break. And even so couldn't he go somewhere else? Somewhere far, far, far away perhaps? Like, oh, I don't know. . .Siberia?
"Mom told me that you have in-house for two weeks already. Your second day back and you're already in the dog house. I swear I don't understand you Gen."
"That's good because I don't either. And wouldn't that be just horrible if you understood me before me?"
"She also told me that Cameron's brother is in there. How's that going?"
I rolled my eyes. Jack is never Jack to him. He's simply Cameron's brother. And to Cameron I'm Jet's sister. I swear, jocks. Their I.Q. is about as high as the couch I was sitting on at the moment.
"Peachy. Honestly. But if I kill him, tell the lawyer to try for second degree, because he deserved it," I yell back. After this comment, Jet walked into the living room, shaking his head and sat down in the chair to my side.
"He's not that bad."
"Not to you. But that's because he's Cameron junior. Only taller with a deeper voice and better body ."
"I swear. . ."
"So do I."
He glared at me in response and tugged his t-shirt down more. "With the attitude you have your lucky mom and dad haven't kicked you out of the house already."
"I don't consider myself all that lucky. Besides, this house is more mine then theirs. Who lives in it everyday? Sleeps here every night? Who eats the meals? Me. That's who. I'm the one who should decide who stays here and who doesn't. At least I would in a perfect world."
He looked at me as if I had grown an extra head and raised an eyebrow. "What color is the sky in your world anyways?"
"Purple. And pigs can fly. We just don't hard enough here on earth."
"You are impossible."
"And you, dear brother, are annoying. And as the new leader of this household, my first order of business is to kick you out. Go back to the hole you crawled out off."
"Ha. Ha. You're hilarious."
"I try."
He sighed and ran a hand through his bleached blonde hair. I resisted the laugh at it. He looked like a total dork with the bright blonde hair. But you know what they say, ignorance is bliss. He looked me in the eye and I got the distinct feeling he was going to attempt to hold a serious conversation with me. Not good. When he gets serious there's normally a deeper reason.
Definitely not good.
"Is there a reason you hate me so much?" He asked, honestly wanting to know.
"Sure. You're taking away from my valuable oxygen supply."
"I'm serious."
"And you think I'm not?"
He clenched his teeth together 'til I could almost hearing them grinding just inside his mouth. Ever since we were kids we've never been friends. Never associated. I like to think that even back then I was smart enough to stay away from assholes, but I think the real reason was he stayed away from me. I was a dumb girl, what could I possible know? And that train of thought led to fights. And fights led to silent treatments for weeks on end. Which, eventually, led to more fights. Basically, Jet and I have been fighting our whole lives. If you took away the fights you wouldn't have anything left. We probably wouldn't even remember each other's names half the time. I'm still trying to decide which of the two would be better as far as a sister/brother relationship goes.
"Ya know, if you gave people like me, Cam and Jack a chance, you'd see were not the root of all evil as you seem to think."
"I sincerely doubt that."
"Why?"
"Because you're all intolerant bigots. Just today, there was this one kid in in-house with us, and he just happens to be gay. And Jack totally ragged on him. Like he wasn't -
"But gay, come on Gen. You're a girl, you don't understand what it's like for a guy to -
"See!! This is exactly what I'm talking about! Jump to conclusions, he's different from you so he's wrong. But a fellow jock can do no wrong. Nor can a cheerleader or popular person. But someone like Spencer - the gay kid - is disgusting and immoral and a bunch of crap like that. It's ridiculous! I mean you don't even know him!"
"But you do the same thing. You don't know any of those jocks, or cheerleaders or popular people but you automatically stereotype them. Like a damn John Hughes movie or something!"
"That's because you people are stupid enough to go along with your stereotype. You act exactly like they do in those movies. Just. Like. Them. I'm still waiting for a jock to prove me wrong. And besides Derek Conlon, none of you can allow yourself to do that. So yes. I will judge you any damn why I want. And I'll hate you. And I'll stand by my belief that people like our parents and the Kelly's shouldn't even have kids. Because it's true. And no one can prove ME wrong."
We stayed quiet after my little outburst. Just trying to stare each other down, and neither of us winning. We could've gone on like that for hours (and have in past situations) but I'm tired and sleep was starting to sound like a saving grace.
"I'm going to bed," I told him in a dry, monotonous voice.
"Good. Get some beauty rest. You definitely need it."
I stuck up my middle finger at him and brushed past his chair on my way to the second floor where my bedroom was located. I sighed in minor frustration and buried my head in my pillow. Thinking about the events earlier in the day and the possible things that could happen tomorrow.
I also thought about when my brother came home for the first time after college started for him in the fall. It was after the first semester had ended. They had a huge coming home party for him. Telling him how proud of him they were and all that other bullshit. When I came home from the Juvenile Delinquent Center my parents weren't even home. I guess it's funny in a way. How easily they express that Jet is the favorite in the family. How disappointed they are of me even carrying the Glory name. I gave up trying to please them a long time ago, but sometimes. . .sometimes I wonder what it would be like if they did care. Would I have turned out differently? I try not to dwell on feelings like that though. All they do is depress me even more.
And I'm depressing enough as it is.
* * *
A/N: Man, oh, man. Took me long enough to write this didn't it? Holy, bejeebies. I'll try to get the next chapter out a little faster. And I'll try to make it better too. I apologize for any mistakes in this chapter, I was typing fast and well, too lazy to editor thoroughly before publishing it. But anywho. . .
Special Thanks too:
SpotLover421: I love the modern day newsies stuff too, so I just had to give my own story to the mix. I'm weird like that. But then again, since you've read a bunch of my stories you probably already knew that huh?
Aquachica: slashgoil: Well, Blink is it in now. Personally I like him in this story, normally I can't write Blink very good, but the words flowed in this case. Glad you like the story. And I haven't decided if there's going to be Blink/Mush. But there's a definite possibility!
Clem: Thanks for the review. And I went a head and took your advice.
