Coping With Two Homes:
Chapter 5: New Friends and New Ideas
Just then the bell for first period rang and he ran down the hallways, knowing exactly were to go since Bianca had suggested that they check things out before his first day so he wouldn't get lost.
Brian ran down one hallway and ran into a guy, knocking him over.
"I'm so sorry!" Brian nearly yelled, helping him up.
The guy smiled at him as he dusted off his clothes. "It's no big deal. Really. I haven't seen you around. Are you new here?" he asked.
Brian tore his eyes away from the guys and looked down at the floor, nodding.
"I'm Chad. And you are?" Chad asked, lifting up Brian's chin so he could look at his face.
"I - I'm Brian," Brian said, smiling a bit.
"Are you lost?" Chad asked.
Just then, Brian's cell phone rang.
Brian checked the number and smiled as he realized to was his best friend, Robbie, calling him.
He looked up at Chad. "I got to take this. But it'll only be a minute. I promise." He answered his cell phone. "Robbie, what the hell are you doing calling me? It's five thirty in the morning there!"
Robbie yawned. "Yeah, I know. But I wanted to catch you before you left for school."
"I'm already at school. I'm gonna be late for first period soon," Brian said, rolling his eyes. "Plus, you never get up after seven."
"So? I can get up this early if it's concerning my best friend. So, what time is it there?" Robbie asked, yawning again.
"Eight thirty. Now go back to be," Brian said, hanging up. He looked back at Chad. "I came from San Francisco."
Chad nodded in understanding. "So, are you lost?"
"No, actually, I'm not. I just . . . Okay, I'm a little lost," Brian said, cracking a real smile.
Chad smiled back at him. Then he took Brian's schedule and looked at it. "Hey, you have most of your classes with me. And then the rest with my best friend, Tommy. C'mon," he said, starting to walk off.
Brian smiled wider and followed him.
O.O
Brian took his tray carrying his lunch and looked around for a place to sit.
"Brian, over here!" Chad yelled, waving at Brian from across the cafeteria.
"Making friends isn't that hard at this school," Brian said, smiling and starting to walk towards Chad.
Just then one of the football players stuck out his foot and tripped Brian, causing him to fall face first into his pasta.
"You should watch where you're going, newbie," the football player said, snickering.
"Maybe you should watch where you trip your foot, Eric," Chad said, who had suddenly shown up quickly, a guy standing next to him, which Brian assumed was Tommy. Then he reached down and helped up Brian.
"Well, maybe your little girly friend here should remember not to pass through my section of the cafeteria, Charleson," Eric said, glaring at Chad. The he pushed him backwards into Tommy.
"Oh, it's on now!" Chad yelled, about to punch Eric in the face.
"Chad, he's not worth it!" Tommy yelled, holding him back. "Let's just go. Got it?"
"Fine," Chad said coldly, glaring at Eric before Tommy forced him to walk back to their table, Brian following.
When they got there, Tommy handed Brian some napkins.
"Don't worry about Eric. He's a huge jock who thinks he owns everything he touches. Including Tommy's girlfriend," Chad said, glaring over at Eric.
Then Brian's cell phone rang.
"Not again," Brian said, noticing the number to Robbie's cell. "Hello?"
"Hey, baby!" said Brian's girlfriend, Stacey said from the other end.
Brian smiled. "Hey, Stace. Um, listen, I'm right in the middle of lunch, so-"
"I know! That's why I called now! Because I knew you'd be able to talk," Stacey said, enthusiastic.
"What about your classes?" Brian asked, knowing that it was nine o'clock there.
"We have the day off today. Robbie and I are heading to your house."
"Why? I won't be living there for five months," Brian said, earning confused looks from both Tommy and Chad.
"We want to talk to your dad, silly. Hey, Mr. Halliwell. We're at your house now, Brian."
"Can I finish my lunch now?" Brian asked pleadingly, looking at his pasta, knowing it could be saved.
"You mean you'd rather eat alone than talk to me?" Stacey said in a offended voice.
"I won't be eating alone."
"What do you mean?"
"I made some new friends. Is that a problem?"
"Robbie, Brian made some new friends!" Stacey said in a happy voice.
"No one's going to replace me, are they?" came Robbie's voice.
"Of course not. But you don't expect me to live here for five months a year and not have friends here?" Brian said, pushing his pasta away.
"I never said that! It's just - Oh, wait. Your dad wants to talk to you," Robbie said.
"Hey, Brian. Heard you made some new friends on your first day of school," came Chris's voice, sounding happy and proud.
"Yeah, I did," Brian said, sad that he couldn't see Chris for another five months.
"Can I talk to them?"
"Why?"
"To make sure they're okay, of course!" Chris said. "Ow! Dad, don't hit me!"
Brian smiled and gave the phone to Chad. "My dad wants to make sure you guys are okay," he said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, but then you have to tell us your story," Chad said, putting the phone to his ear. "Hello? . . Yes, sir . . . Yes, sir . . . Yes, sir . . . No, sir . . . Of course, sir . . . Yes, sir . . . Thank you, sir . . . Bye." He handed the phone to Tommy.
That conversation went pretty much the same way, then Tommy handed the phone back to Brian.
"Brian, I miss you," Chris said as soon as Brian said 'hello'.
"I miss you, too, dad," Brian said, getting a bit teary eyed.
"And don't forget that I love you, alright?" Chris said, his voice a little teary.
"I won't, dad. I love you, too," Brian said, sighing.
"Your grandpa wants to talk to you," Chris said, sighing.
"Brian, you better be being good," Leo said.
Brian smiled. "I am, Grandpa."
"And make sure to call your dad often. He misses you a lot. Chris, don't look at me like that. You know that you were thinking the same thing."
"I will, Grandpa," Brian said, rolling his eyes.
"And watch out for demons and dark lighters. You know that if you ever get into any trouble at all, we're only an orb away," Leo whispered into the phone.
"I know, Grandpa," Brian said, sighing. "Can I get back to my lunch now?"
"I guess. I love you," Leo said.
"I love you, too, Grandpa. Take care of my dad for me, will you?" Brian asked hopefully.
"Of course I will. I won't let anything happen to him. I'll talk to you later, Okay?" Leo said.
"Yeah. Bye," Brian said hanging up the phone.
"Now your story," Chad said as soon as Brian had put the phone in his pocket.
Brian sighed and then told them everything. From Chris and Bianca getting a divorce, to him moving here, to how long he stayed in each place.
"I would hate my parents if they did that to me," Chad said as soon as Brian finished.
"No you wouldn't, Chad. They obviously did it because they both love him so much that they both have to see him!" Tommy said, being practical.
"To tell you the truth, I hate my mom," Brian said, sighing. "I hope she dies soon so I can go live with my dad again."
"What, and leave us?" Chad said in a mock offensive tone.
Brian smiled. "I guess I wouldn't want to do that. But still. I miss my dad."
O.O
Chris couldn't help it. He couldn't stop the tears from falling.
It was midnight, and he was standing in Brian's doorway.
Leo walked up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"I - I'm fine," Chris said, wiping off his face before Leo had the chance to see his tears.
"Chris, you know that you can always go to court again, right?" Leo asked, walking in front of Chris so he could see his face.
Chris nodded slowly and sighed. "I know. But I don't want to put Brian through that again."
"But he's going through a lot of pain right now, not being able to see you and all," Leo said, putting a hand on Chris's shoulder.
"I - I have an idea. But I don't think you'll like it much. Neither will mom. Or Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige," Chris said, staring down at the ground.
"And what would that be?" Leo asked, forcing Chris to look back up at him.
Chris opened his mouth slowly, almost unwilling to tell Leo his idea. O.O.O.O.O Hey, everyone! Chapter 5! I know it's short, and I'm really sorry. It also took forever for me to post, and I'm double sorry for that. But review and I promise I'll have the next chapter up soon!
Hannah