What Is and What Never Should Be

Author's Note: I do not own the idea of TBC nor do I own any characters I may mention. I do, however, own all the characters that will actively appear in this story.

Chapter One: Communication Breakdown

Ten minutes later not much had changed. The library was silent except for the sound of pencil on paper and the humming of Masterson. The others in the large room were trying their best to ignore the humming, but it wasn't easy. Feeling bored, Masterson moved over to the table in front of him and sat next to Danny. Masterson noticed that Danny hadn't written anything on the paper yet, he had just made little circles.

"So, tell me, Daniel," Masterson began. He had folded his hands in front of him and had sat up very straight. "do you ever get symphony sex?" Everyone else in the room slowly turned in their seats to look at the two boys. "For being in the wheelchair."

"Leave it alone, man." Sean told Masterson in a low snarl. "It's none of your business."

"Oh, but it is my business, man." Masterson replied in a mocking tone. "If Danny here is getting laid because he's in a chair, maybe I should do what he did to get into it. It was stupid as hell, but it must have been one hell of a ride." He patted Danny on the shoulder. "Right, Dan?"

For his part, Danny had stayed perfectly still and kept his head down. But, now it was too much. "Get the fuck away from me!" The normally mellow teen had disappeared and had been replaced with someone who wasn't all that happy. Danny put his hands on his wheels and rolled himself out from under the table and to the front of the library. Danny positioned his wheelchair by Faye and Chris' table.

The whole place was silent for nearly a minute before Roxy finally whispered, "That wasn't very nice. Everyone knows he's sensitive about what happened."

"Um," Chris reached out to tap Danny on the shoulder, but thought better of it and pulled back. "are you okay? We could get Mr. Golden if you want."

All eyes were on Danny again. "No." The reply was sharp and short. "Don't call Golden in here. I'm fine."

"Oh come on," Masterson laughed. "don't tell me you all think he's actually pissed off at me. He's faking for attention and pity sex."

"Shut up." Sean warned. "You've done enough. Just sit there and shut up, okay?"

Masterson shrugged and watched Danny. He glanced over at Stefina Stark, she was watching Danny intensely, but when she felt someone's eyes on her, she looked over and gave Masterson the usual look she gave him-one of annoyance.

"Here," Faye's small voice spoke up. She had taken a small pack of tissue out of her bag and handed it to Danny. "just in case."

Masterson was about to tell everyone that it had worked and that now Danny was going to get pity sex out of a virgin, when the doors came flying open and Mr. Golden came marching in. "What the hell is all the yelling about?!"

"Sir," Sean began.

He was cut off by Danny. "I just moved and hit my leg."

Mr. Golden narrowed his eyes on the young man. "I thought I told you to stay in your seats."

"Technically, I'm still in my seat, sir." Danny responded. The others giggled.

Mr. Golden glared sharply at Danny. "Daniel Harris, if you continue to be smart, I'll see you next weekend." He pointed at Danny sternly. "In fact, I'll see you next weekend." Danny gazed at Mr. Golden. "Do we understand each other, Mr. Harris?" Danny nodded. "I'll be in my office and if I hear one more sound, you'll all get Saturday detention next Saturday like Mr. Harris." With that threat hanging in the air, Mr. Golden left the library.

"Wait a go, Masterson." Roxy said with a small glare. "Now, he's got detention again!"

"Then, we'll keep each other company." Masterson replied with a small glare. "It'll be like a romance." He winked at Danny. "What do you say, Danny?"

"Maybe we two shouldn't fight?" Chris suggested. "Mr. Golden might come back in. I have a science club field trip next weekend and I-"

"Hold up, dork." Masterson cut in, holding up a hand. He stood up and began walking toward the front two tables. "I wasn't on you yet." He slammed his hand down on the table that was behind Chris and Faye's. Masterson's eyes narrowed on the two people at the table. "I know you, don't I?" He was speaking to Faye and that made her tense up.

Faye turned her body around in her chair and looked directly up at him. She didn't seem fazed. "Yes. Last month, at the monthly school assembly, you booed during the introductions of the student counsel for next year."

Masterson raised a pierced eyebrow. "You're apart of that loser fest?"

Faye looked toward Roxy, who was on the student counsel. Roxy was just staring at Masterson, a hint of disgust in her eyes. "Um, no." She spoke softly and sounded uncertain of what to say. "I just read the monthly reports."

"Oh," Masterson breathed. "you're that girl. Yeah, I know you." He chuckled to himself. "Little Faye Summers. Your older sister was that girl that-"

"Don't." Faye whispered. Her eyes remained focused on Masterson. At that moment they were the only two people in the room. "Please."

There were certain stories that everyone in Shermer knew. One of them was what Danny Harris had done to end up in a wheelchair. Another was what had happened to Faye Summers' older sister. The entire room was quiet, each and every person watching Masterson to see what the school bully would do next. He stood there for a minute before turning away and walking to sit back in his seat.

Chris and Danny looked at the girl that was in between them. They weren't sure what to do or say. From their table, Roxy and Sean exchanged a look. Stefina Stark moved over a table to sit next to Masterson.

"You went to far." She whispered in his ear. "You're always going to far."

"Not now, Stark." Masterson whispered back. "I've got no time for you. At this moment I just want to…laugh."

Stark watched as Chris tried to comfort both Faye and Danny, while Roxy and Sean looked on. "Here? You might want to wait a few hours."

"I just…" He trailed off. "Wheels can handle it. I forgot she's just a kid." He shook his head sadly, not feeling all that happy with himself at the moment. "She's like, fifteen."

"Fourteen." Stark corrected. "Her birthday's next month." Masterson glanced over at her. "I remembered because of her sister. It was the day after Faye's twelfth birthday."

"Oh, man." Masterson put his head down on the table. "I forgot. Do me a favor, Stark? Wake me when it's over." Stark just awkwardly patted his arm

Over at the other table, Sean and Roxy watched Chris, Danny, and Faye talk. Sure they were a little concerted with how Faye and Danny were, but they thought that with Chris and each other, Faye and Danny would be fine. So, they decided to focus on more important things.

"You doing anything tonight?" Sean asked Roxy. They had leaned in close so they could talk together. "I ask, because there's going to be a party tonight; Kara Law's having a party tonight. Her parents are out of town and her older brothers let her do anything."

Roxy let a little smile form on her lips. "I see. My mother is on a cruise with my aunts and my father is going to be in his huge business meeting in Chicago till at least eleven, so I've got nothing stopping me from a party at Kara Law's." Sean smiled.

"Are you two sure you're okay?" Chris asked, a conceded tone to his voice. "I mean, we could call-"

"No." Danny said sharply. "You shouldn't call anyone."

"He's right." Faye seconded. "I think we're both alright, thank you." She looked up at Chris and smiled sweetly. "It was kind of you to offer."

Chris blushed a little, he wasn't used to the attention of a girl. "Y-Yeah, well, no problem. Happy to help."

Danny smiled at Chris. "You're a good guy, uh…I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Chris. Chris Johnson." He stuck out his hand.

"Danny. Danny Harris, but you know that." Danny took Chris' hand and shook. Faye smiled happily at the two guys. It was good to see people being nice to one another with no pretense.

Stark leaned close to Masterson and whispered in his ear, "I think it's okay now. You being a complete jackass brought a new friendship to three people." Masterson looked up. "See."

"Then it makes what I said good?" Masterson questioned. He put his chin down on his hands, which were on the table. "Stark, it's common knowledge that I'm a jackass, but maybe I went to far with what I said."

"You went to far." Stark agreed. "But, that's just who you are. Can't help that." She moved down in her chair to join him in the same position. "It doesn't matter, though."

"No, I guess it doesn't." Masterson sighed. "You do know it's not over. I'm no where near done screwing with these people."

"Why do you do it? Boredom? Anger? Just to do it?" Stark asked.

"I do it….because I can." Masterson told her honestly. "Just because I can."

"So, I should pick you up around seven?" Sean asked Roxy in a whisper. He didn't want to seem to…unfeeling about what had happened, but he was really over it. Both Danny and Faye seemed fine and Masterson had retreated to his table and that punk.

Roxy nodded eagerly. "Yeah, that'd be fine. It'll give me time to hurry home and change into this new outfit I bought at that sale. It's super cute. Totally makes me look taller and thinner." Roxy beamed at that thought. "Not a lot of outfits can do both." Sean nodded his head slightly, already bored with all the clothing talk. "Yeah, I have some outfits that do both, but never have I had one that actually does both."

"Sweetness," Masterson said from his table. "you're boring the boy to death. Not even picturing you naked could save him now."

Roxy turned and glared at Masterson. "You're disgusting."

"I'm a man." He sat up straighter and then stood. "And that scares you."

"Why don't you just go away?" Roxy questioned him. "Nobody here cares what you have to say. You talk about Danny wanting attention, but it's so clear you want attention." She whirled her nose up. "You truly are a disgusting and depressing human being."

Sean held back his urge to yell out 'blow'. If Roxy could be mature, so could he. "Roxy's got a point. You know, you could disappear and no one would care. Fact is, the only reason people know who you are is because of your bad reputation."

Masterson stayed smirking. "I don't give a damn about my bad reputation, man." He stared at Sean and Roxy, during them to say or do something. But, it wasn't any of them that spoke, it was someone unexpected.

"You're such an ass." Everyone slowly turned around to see that it was Chris who had spoken. Chris was now frighten, but he had started so he'd go on. "We've been in here," he quickly check his watch. "nineteen minutes and you've already insulted more then half the people in here. In fact, you've insulted all but two people, yourself and Stefina Stark." Everyone glance briefly at Stark, who just shrugged. "You're not only doing it to be noticed, you're also just doing it to annoy."

Masterson took a threatening step toward Chris. "First, I've insulted Stark plenty. Second, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. None of you do. You've got to be shitting me if you think I want attention from any of you people. I'm just tryin' to have a little fun."

"Insulting people is your idea of fun?" Danny asked Masterson. "Well, your idea of fun blows!"

"And your idea gets you in a wheelchair." Masterson shot back.

Everyone was silent. No one was really sure what to say or do. Chris wanted to get Mr. Golden, but he knew no one who agree to it. Faye just wanted the yelling to stop, but she knew it all had to come out. Stark wanted to see where it would go. Sean wanted to save Danny from being verbally abused by Masterson. Roxy just wanted it all to end, she already wanted to go home. Danny wanted to jump out of his chair and beat Masterson within an inch of his life. And Masterson? He was just starting to have fun.

Danny's gaze was fixed on Masterson, a cold expression on his face. "You can go to hell." His voice was low, threatening. "If I weren't in this thing," he hit the sides of his wheelchair to farther his point. "you'd be dead right now."

"If you weren't in that thing, a lot of things would be different." Masterson replied in an equally low voice. He glanced over at Roxy and Sean. "Right guys?"

Sean shook his head, clearly pissed about the whole thing. "Dan's right, you can go to hell." He stood up. "In fact, I'll do it for him." And with that said, Sean punched Masterson in the stomach.

Roxy and Faye both screamed as Masterson doubled over in pain. Danny rolled backward to get out of the way as Chris jumped out of his seat. Stark jumped out of hers and made a move to go toward Masterson, but stopped herself when he stood.

He was out of breath a bit, but it wasn't that bad. "You're a bit of a son of a bitch, aren't you? It must run in the family." Masterson laughed and ended up coughing.

"You're insane." Roxy breathed from her seat. "You have to be insane." She shook her head.

"He's not insane," Stark spoke up. "he's just bored."

"I think we all are." Chris thought out loud. "It'll only take a half hour or so to write the paper and I'm sure half of us won't even bother."

"New rule." Sean told the others. "As long as we don't bother each other or get Mr. Golden in here, we can do what we want." The others seemed to agree, but Sean was unsure about Masterson. "Masterson?"

Masterson looked around at the others, they all seemed to be into it. "Yeah, okay." He nodded a little, finally they might have a little fun.