Wesley ran away from home around the age of 18. It was just too much pressure, staying in England and trying to live up to his father's expectation. The first thing he did after leaving England was change his name. Matthew Wesley Pryce. All he did really was switch his middle name with his first and get rid of the Wyndam in his last name. Yet it was good enough to stay hidden from his parent's radar.
Pine green Virginia was his second stop from New York City to Miami. Yet young 22-year-old Matthew Pryce needed some money so he decide Pinegreen was good as any place to stop do an odd job and then leave.
Pinegreen was a small town. In a small valley with a lake in the dead center. Surrounded by mountains and a small forest. There was only one Start bucks, and it was the kind of town that everyone knew everyone else. So when he had showed up in this small town and entered the star bucks everyone looked at him. This mysterious young man, looking likes bad news all over. From his flannel shirt, to his ripped jeans, to his pierced ear, to his messy hair, and to his piercing blue eyes.
Wesley remembered entering the star bucks, seeing everyone's glare and quickly leaving. He took his jeep to the only park in the small town to sit on a bench and read the paper looking for a quick paying job. Like dry walling, or subbing, or worse comes to worse he'll sing at a coffee shop for a few tips.
Yet it was when he was sitting on that park bench he heard something. The groaning and mumbling of frustration. He glanced up from his paper and saw an African American man at a basketball hoop. He had a small smile on his lips from the frustrated man.
"Bend your knee's more." Matthew Pryce had said. The African American man looked at him obviously annoyed.
"Think you can do better British?" he said having heard his accent. Matt had simple stood up, bounced the ball once and it went in the hoop without any real effort on his part.
"I believe the term you Americans use is "Swoosh?" he said still smugly. The African American man grinned.
"Think you can do it in a game?" he grinned and that's when it all really started. When Matthew, or his real name Wesley had met this man.
"Whets your name British?" asked the African American man as he checked the ball to him.
"Matthew Pryce you?"
"Wren Oak." and the game were on. Dodging, shooting, stealing and bouncing plus, Wren wasn't having any trouble shooting now. The game went on, both young men-loosing track of time. They played until it became too dark to see.
"Damm British where you learn to play like that?"
"New York City, Boston, and some in Italy."
"Those dam Italians." he joked as they both left the court sweating. Suddenly 2 things knocked both Matt and Wren down.
Matt felt something breath upon his neck as he folded his hands together and slammed the thing in the stomach and the vampire fumbled backwards. He stood up just in time to see Gwen kick the vampire away. He and Gwen soon got back to back.
"My mother was a slayer you?"
"Watcher, head boy 18 years."
"Well British welcome to Pinegreen." he said as the pair fought back to back.
Wesley looking back remembered how well they fought together. Being able to predict the others moves. He remembered how they always had each other's back. Sure Gunn and he had been good friends yet the connection he had felt with Wren was much more powerful. The pair after fighting stood in slightly shock of what the other had just done. Yet they both smiled and went to get a bite to eat at local dinner.
"So what brings you to Pinegreen?" asked Wren as they waited for their food.
"I am just passing through. Hoping to get a job, a few bucks, and then leave for Miami."
"Well British it's your lucky day." he grinned. "Are you any good with kids?" he asked arching a brow.
First graders...Wesley remembered pacifically never being so terrified in his life.
"Ok well I am ouch Mr. Pryce. I'll be here until Mrs. Leos comes back after having her baby." he said nervously. He remembered Wren's words. "The first graders smell fear."
"I have no real rules...except it's your grade and you sure care about it."
A small girl sat up front raised her hand. Long brown hair, in a ponytail, and Wesley rememers specificly about how really amazing her green eyes where.
"So if I jump up and down right now would I get in trouble?" she asked innocently.
"You would be only embaressing yourself." he grinned slightly relaxing.
"Would you care if I brought in fireworks?"
"Is this a quiz?"
"Is this school?" she said grinning now devilishly. She was trying to break him.
"Whats your name?" he asked grinning a plan forming in his mind.
"Emma Wattson." she smiled back.
"Well class thanks to Emma I was reminded that this is school. Take out a pencil, and write the words CAT, HAT, PAT, and SAT 10 times each." moans and groans could be heard. Little did they know it would of been thier classwork anyways yet he knew he could use it to his advantage. Emma gave him a deadly glare and he merely grinned.
It turned out he did have a knick for teaching. It suprised him as much as it surprised Wren. He was patient, and had the upper hand because as the kids said it he was "cool". With his earring, loose cloths, and cool jeep.
Wren and he soon became best friends. Wren was a teacher for the third graders. They would sit with each other at lunch and discuss, teaching methods, movies, music, girls, and fighting techniques. A couple of regular Joes really.
Matthew had been working thier a week, and it was December I'd when it happened. Emma was being very cold, speaking out in class, yelling at other kids, and to the point where she kicked Mr. Pryce in the shin. Everyone gasped, yet she stood her ground. Matt had remained calm and took her out in the hallway while Wren watch his class for a few moments because the third graders where at Gym.
"Whats wrong Emma?" he spoke squatting down.
"Nothing." she said still coldly. This wasn't like Emma. Sure she was spunky, yet over all she adored Mr. Pryce and was well liked from the class.
"Emma..." he said in a warning tone as she turned away from him. "Emma I want you to look at Me." he spoke calmly and gently. Yet the first grader didn't turn around and folded her arms. He merely had sighed and stood up when she finally did turn around tears where in her eyes and her mouth was trembling.
"There dead." she merely said before finally breaking down. Sobbing, in fact. Her parents had died a year ago that day. Wesley remembered feeling his heart melt ever so slightly for that little girl as he took her hand and took her to the office in which called for her guardian. Wesley had to leave; yet knew that her guardian whom he heard was her older sister would come and pick her up.
Matthew had knocked on Emma's door it least 13 times before he finally opened it.
"Hello?" he murmured. Suddenly he heard a scream and looked up and saw a girl falling from the balcony of thier stairs. He quickly caught the young woman like a groom would hold a bride after a wedding.
The young woman had long chestnut brown hair, which was quite messy. She had puffy green eyes, and seemed extremely pale. Dark circles surrounded her green eyes which where much like her sisters that seemed to give off her own light. She was wearing and old dirty pink robe and under it a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
Matt had never seen something so beautiful in his entire life.
Wesley awoke from his dream with a start. He must have dozed off and remembered the rest in a dream. He was sore, yet a bit better today then last night. Yet the pain was still there. Grinding his teeth he got up took a shower, which eased his muscles then went off to work.
Wesley was sitting in his office when Lorne came in all of a sudden.
"Hey Wes, Angel wants-wooo...reading your aura there." He stopped and studied Wes who was stoned face. "Who's Liz Wes?" Wesley's heart stopped.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said coldly.
"Well your aura is screaming a lot of pain and the name Liz."
"Liz is the name of the girl we screamed last night, and the demon through me across the air." he lied.
"Oh I see." he said not totally convinced. "Well anyways Angels needs you to come to an emergency staff meeting."
"We have to be on out guard his entire time-" yet that's all Wesley really heard as he went off and day dreamed about his past life.
They just stood there, with their eyes locked. A mixture of shock and just a daze. Suddenly a small voice cleared her throat making the pair comes out of their gaze. They both looked to see Emma standing on the stairs. Immodestly both realizing what they where doing, Matt had let her down laughing nervously.
"Nice Catch." said the angelic voice, which to most people would sound hoarse, and whispy. As if her throat was extremely soar.
"Mr. Pryce what are you doing here?" asked Emma.
"I came by to see if you where alright, and to give you this." he said handing her a small neatly wrapped box.
"Your Mr. Pryce? I'm Liz Wattson.... I didn't expect you to be so..."
"Young?" he said which is what most people would of said.
"British." she said smiling shaking his hand.
Emma meanwhile was quickly opening her present which inside held a paper full of words.
Emma throughout the week he had known her would of asked for next weeks words stating she already knew this weeks. Yet he would constantly challenge her to spell this weeks words and the little first grader would always mess up.
"This is my present?" asked Emma disapprovingly.
"You said it should be my Christmas Gift to you." he said smiling warmly.
"I was kidding Mr. Pryce." she said rolling her eyes.
Suddenly Liz sneezed froucesily. A candle stick flew across the air. She sneezed again and this time it was a picture. Once more and this time a pillow came straight at Pryce knocking him to the ground.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I just-"
"Quite alright." he said causually. "You'd be suprised, compare to what normally knocks me to the ground a flying pillow it quite nice." he said standing up.
"You mean your not freaked out?" asked Liz slightly shock. "Usually I can keep it under control, but lately...it's been getting harder to do so."
"Your powers must be growing." he said causually shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Powers?" asked Liz shocked.
"Well telekeiness's to be more exact." he yawned.
"Can you make Liz better?" asked Emma. Pryce locked eyes with the 7 year old. "Can you make her control her floating thing?" he glanced at Liz and it scared him. She was so weak, helpless and horrified of what his true intentions where.
"I can try." he said trying to give Liz a reasuring smile.
They had a total of 2 new stundents the next week.
RJ Oak, obviously Wren's little brother. He unlike his brother was quite, glass's, and slightly lighter skin showing his dark brown freckles. Yet he has his brothers face, nose, and eyes.
Then Luke Pryce. Normally he would of passed it off if someone had the same last name as him because Pryce was like Smith. Yet this boy...dark redish brownish hair, and his eyes. An amazing pericing blue color. Yet Matt didn't say anything. He was able to make it through the class...he was able to make it through the day...he was able to make it to his jeep...he was able to make it to the apartment building...he was able to make it to Apartment 21 yet when that door opened he saw 3 people. He knew right then and there by the connection he felt with them that they where his siblings. He remembered what they looked like perfectly, because it was the last thing he would ever see.
