Sunrise over the tango factory's A/N: Hi. Bet you didn't expect us so soon did you? It was only Monday when we last posted and here we are again! Okay, thanks for all your reviews, they bring sunshine to an otherwise crummy life! This chapter is marginally nicer then the last…so enjoy!
Raging Tree Trunk's A/N: Once again I've been a lazy bum, but i'm getting back into it now but you know why don't you.... no? MY MUSE IS BACK!!!!! Does muse is back dance anyway, I want to tie this story up soon before the ideas float away so we should be updating more often- lol anyway toodles i'm too happy to sit still!
Lister raced down the corridor, hot tears streaking his cheeks. He didn't even knock as he flung open the door to Helen's office.
She jumped, but smiled as she saw it was him… her smile vanished however when she realised something was dreadfully wrong.
"I'll call you back, Jen" she said quickly, before dropping the phone back onto its cradle without taking her eyes off Lister.
A moment of awkward silence existed between them,
"What's wrong?" she whispered, moving her hand to the seat next to her.
Lister ignored her gesture; he stood frozen on the spot, tears still cascading down his already wet face.
"He hates me," he breathed, before screwing his face up in anger "he fuckin' hates me"
A vile, enraged demon inside of Lister reared it's ugly head, spitting and hissing spiteful insults and criticisms, filling his vision with red, sending the power of raw anger flowing like a tidal wave of blood through his body.
Lister felt a scream tear itself from his throat, through a haze of tears he kicked out, trying to exorcise the anger that was welling up inside him.
He lashed out, screaming, cursing, crying, he beat both fists against the wall but that wasn't enough…he then kicked it.
Until finally, like a limp rag doll, he sank to the floor, and pulled at the front of his fringe, sobbing his heart out.
He felt a warm pair of arms wrap round his shoulders and pull him into a maternal embrace.
The beast inside him was instantly soothed as he curled himself deeper into the hug. He'd never really been hugged, not even as a young child.
None of his girlfriends were into hugs and it seemed he'd forgotten how safe and content you felt when someone wrapped you in their arms.
Helen hushed calming noises at him, rocking him gently, smoothing down his hair. Lister gazed up at her, and managed a weak smile.
At that moment Helen saw the little boy in his eyes.
When she first met him, she noted his dark, forbidding eyes…eyes that had no doubt seen more hardship than a grown up.
Lister had the eyes of a man who'd witnessed the bloodshed and horror of war yet now, they were softer, it was as if the child inside him that had been forced to grow up so quickly was being reborn…being given a second chance.
She sighed, pulling him towards her even tighter as he retold the events of his and Hazza's fight, she found herself crying at some of the things Hazza had said to Lister.
Children were so cruel, they instantly knew a persons weak spots and their insults were designed to wound the soul.
She found it hard to believe that it was the same boy that had sat in her office just that morning, who'd just said such terrible and hurtful things to Lister.
"My poor, Dave. Why's life always treating you so bad?" she said, before offering him a tissue from her pocket
Lister wiped his nose on her offered tissue, but said nothing.
"I know you'll hate me for saying this" she murmured "but I think you should let him be…just leave him alone"
Lister stiffened, but still he remained silent.
"He wants to become his own person, and he thinks to achieve that he needs to ditch you, so…I say let him do it. It'll be hard, I won't lie to you...but in 50 years, 20…maybe even a years time, he'll wake up and realise he lost the best friend he could ever wish to have…"
Lister nodded, he should have seen this coming, best friends don't beat each other up then walk off as if nothing had happened.
"I think you're best off" Helen continued, "leaving Hazza-"
"Don't call him Hazza" said Lister suddenly, making Helen jump slightly as up until then he'd been quiet.
"D'you mind if I ask why?" she said, turning Lister to face her.
He averted his eyes, "Hazza was my best mate" he smiled "but he's gone now...forever probably...the only 'thing' that's left is...the lad out there...Aaron Harrison...the anti-Hazza!"
Helen nodded understandingly "I suggest you avoid this...Aaron Harrison character, just leave him to his own devices"
Lister nodded "I knew I shouldn't have trusted him in the first place..." he said shrugging his shoulders.
"What makes you say that?" asked Helen,
"Aaron Harrison, initials A.H…know anyone else who's a total head case with the initials A.H?"
Helen frowned in thought "I can't say I know of any?"
"Adolf Hitler" Lister smirked "shame he's long dead, he and Harrison could have struck up a very close friendship!"
Helen laughed, "cheeky" she teased.
There was a sudden bang on the door, which supposedly was meant to be a knock, and without waiting for an answer the door was kicked open.
Mr Granger entered, his face red, his glasses askew and his chest was heaving.
"You" he growled, jabbing a finger at Lister "Arse. Office. Get it up there. NOW!"
Lister looked towards Helen, as if begging for her protection.
"You'd better go, Dave," she said, patting his back "I'll catch up with you later"
So Lister reluctantly pulled himself off the safety of the floor and followed the still wheezing Mr Granger to his office.
He barely noticed anything whilst he walked down the corridor, his brain however suddenly kicked into gear when he saw who was slumped outside Grangers office.
Aaron Harrison.
He was holding an already sodden tissue to his nose, which appeared to have not stopped bleeding yet.
Lister felt a small tug of guilt; he'd really kicked the shit out of Hazza…he hadn't realised it at the time…
Granger hurled open the door of his office.
"IN!" he snarled, jerking his head towards Lister, who reluctantly followed.
He could feel Hazza's eyes on his back, he tried to ignore it by reminding himself he had bigger problems just ahead.
He'd barely passed beaneath the door frame before Granger had grabbed hold of his shirt, forced him into a chair and slammed the door with such a force, his certificates all fell off the wall with a crash.
"I've just been talking to that little twerp outside…he says you beat him up!" Granger bellowed, leaning on the desk as to get as close to Lister as possible.
"He beat me up first" replied Lister sullenly.
The headmaster made a noise like a pig caught in a trap "I can just about handle you and Aaron Harrison being the biggest pair of trouble making in this school, but when you two fight against each other …" he left his sentence hanging "I'm one truancy away from a heart attack!" he cried, collapsing dramatically into his chair before jumping back up again after noticing he'd left his rant half done.
"The fact is Lister, you've spent more time in my office in your school life then I have. Your detention time mounts up to nearly a whole school year. Your permanent records so full with your wrongdoings…it has it's own room! Your attainment grades are so low; you'd being beaten in everything by the spiders that live in the P.E cupboard! To put it short Lister…you are a scruffy, moronic, idiotic waste of space!"
Lister opened his mouth to protest, but Granger was in no mood for interruptions.
"You've been a thorn in my side for years now, you're a festering, loathsome little runt! You've achieved nothing and the only thing you've gained is a reputation for being a troublesome little git!"
Lister felt like he's been punched in the chest, a cold blanket enveloped him as he glanced down at the floor.
Granger was right. He never he'd thought he'd admit it- but the old git was right!
A lone tear crawled down Lister's cheek, his day was going from bad to worse and then somehow going from worse to 'people have killed themselves after having a day like this'.
Mr. Granger continued rambling, "-You see this calendar boy?!" he roared, jabbing to the one on his desk "This calendar is counting down the days till you leave this godforsaken building- but why wait? Why not just get you out now! I have no objections- and my insurance company would be thrilled no doubt at the reduced risk of heart attack." Mr. Granger paused for dramatic effect, "Lister. I think it's best you leave Ashbury."
The tears rolled down more steadily now, until a chocked sob left Lister's throat, "You're expelling me sir?"
Mr. Granger blinked twice, just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
Dave Lister.
Crying in his office- a boy no less! One of the toughest boys in the school sobbing right before him!
He shrugged uncomfortably, "Well…perhaps not a permanent exclusion I suppose…"
Lister sniffed and glanced up.
There was a strangely warm look in Grangers eyes, he gave Lister a small grin, and "You know I was a troublemaker at school, Lister?"
Lister tried to imagine Granger 40 years younger in a scruffy schoolboy's uniform but failed miserably. In his mind, Granger must have been born an old bugger. He shrugged,
"No sir," he finished lamely.
Granger grinned wistfully, "ah yes, best days of your life-"
Lister frowned, "what school did you go to?!"
Granger blinked coming out of his reverie, "Yes well- anyhow- you're expelled for two weeks Lister, I want to see you back on the 24th- anyway…"
Lister smiled slightly, promising himself as soon as he came back to school…he'd be a changed boy, "Thanks sir."
Mr. Granger nodded and grunted, pointing to the door silently whilst settling himself in his chair.
Lister grinned slyly, "You know…I've always seen you as a father figure sir."
Granger's eyes flew up, his eyebrows disappearing under his brow, "Wh-What?!" he spluttered,
Lister grinned, "Nah. You're right. You're more of a mother figure really!"
Granger shot out of his seat and bellowed, "Get out of this office!"
Lister dodged the chalk Granger threw at him and slipped out of the door grinning.
He still had a chance to make everything right.
Maybe not with Hazza, but with everything else…
