Disclaimer: I don't own. I wish I did though.
Whose wondering what's going on in John's head at the moment? What kind of flashback will he have? Will it be good, or bad, or what? Well read and find out. This one is pretty long. I think anyway. Oh, a hot press, for those who don't know (I probably should have put this at the end of the last chapter-sorry) is a room with a boiler type thing in it where you put clothes and stuff that aren't being uses or to warm clothes up. They're also neat places to hide in if you don't want to be found because you can pull a bunch of clothes on top of you and nobody can find you. And a file block is like a book of paper with holes punched in the side that you can put in a file/binder type thing, they're really handy. They're like exercise books only the pages come out easier. I've never had to explain one before-so this probably doesn't make sense. Sorry.
Anyway, on to the story.
Chapter 4
John shifted a bit on the table and sighed. He hadn't really reached the peace of mind he had been looking for. If anything he had just gone from angry at his family to despondent. A feeling of resignation, it had happened so many times before, it was bound to happen again.
All in all, he didn't really mind, usually. After all, his brothers loved him, he knew they did, they just had so many other things to do-especially Scott and Virgil.
But they were always there when it counted-after all, he couldn't expect them to just drop what they were doing to come to a science fair, not after everything they had done for him
One incident stood out squarely in his mind.
Xx
"Hey Tracy!"
John groaned inwardly at the voice, but he didn't move, still keeping a lookout for Scott and Virgil. They had promised to eat lunch with him.
The owner of the voice, one Gary Simons took the seat opposite him, the three goons of his backing him and blocking John's view of the school. "My brother told me all about you Tracy's, pompous know it alls who get away with everything because your daddy's rich-isn't that right Johnny Boy?" Gary said darkly.
John frowned over at him. Gary had been muttering about him all week. "I don't know what you mean Gary, I-"
"Oh you know exactly what I mean-teachers pet on the very first day? I bet your daddy bribes the teachers to like you, doesn't he? There's no way anybody could like such a goody two shoes freak like you!"
John's frown got deeper. "Look Gary. I'm not a teachers pet-I just-"
"Shut up Tracy! I don't like teacher's pets. So I've decided to teach you a lesson." Gary smiled. His goons were moving round the table towards John. John watched them apprehensively; just knowing this would come to blows.
"Hey, Virge, who do you reckon these guys are?" Scott asked, coming to stand behind Gary, Virgil beside him.
"I don't know Scott-but it does seem like their thinking of beating on our little brother." Virgil said, glaring at the goons.
It didn't take long for them and Gary to clear off. Scott sat across from John, while Virgil sat on the table, his feet on the bench beside John.
"You ok Johnny?" Scott asked worriedly.
"Who was that?" Virgil asked.
"I'm fine. That was Gary Simons, he's been doing that all week since we started-he says I'm a teachers pet." John sighed.
Virgil ruffled his hair. "You can't help it if the teachers want to teach someone whose willing to learn."
John smiled at him.
"Simons? Hey Virge, isn't there a Simons in your year? He's on the football team. He was always getting on your back a few years ago?" Scott asked suddenly.
"Yeah-Marty. Man he's a total screwball-always picking fights." Virgil nodded.
"Hmm-yeah… anyway, how's today been aside from this?" Scott asked looking at John.
Lunch passed quickly.
Xx
"You sure you're ok to walk home by yourself?" Scott asked.
John rolled his eyes. "I'm eleven Scott-I can walk home my myself, I'm not a kid!"
"Fine, fine, just checking." Scott grinned, ruffling John's hair. "Tell dad I'll be home at six, Virgil's staying after his lesson to wait for me. You're sure you'll be ok?" he laughed when John glared at him. "Ok, go. I'm going to be late for practice if you don't move." He turned and sprinted to the football pitch.
John watched him go with a grin before he turned to go home. He didn't get as far as the school gates before someone grabbed his shirt and pulled him back towards the school and slammed him into the wall. John looked up, dazed at the senior, very confused.
He suddenly got a fist into his gut, his breath left him with a 'whoosh'. He didn't get a chance to double up as the pain hit him, as the seniors hand wrapped round his throat and pulled him up.
There were no words exchanged, just blows. John didn't know who this senior was, or why he'd been targeted.
When he left John slid to the ground, shuddering-he hurt everywhere. Not even fights with his brothers hurt this much. He huddled up painfully and buried his head in his arms.
Xx
"John? Johnny?" Virgil was shaking him. "Johnny, what's wrong?"
John groaned and looked up at Virgil, rubbing his eyes, removing the evidence of tears. "No… nothing… I…"
"God Johnny." Virgil reached out and touched his cheek, where a dull red mark was already darkening into a bruise. "Who did it Johnny? Was it those little bastards from earlier?" Virgil asked, his whole manner angry.
John shook his head, and, croaking a little through his sore throat said. "It was a senior, I don't know who."
Virgil's eyes widened. "Come on, we're going to get Scott." He pulled John gently to his feet.
John winched as he straightened. "Sorry Virgil-I only meant to wait until the pain went away before going home-I didn't realise I was there so long." He said softly.
"You have nothing to be sorry about John. Come on." Virgil's eyes were narrowed and he was angry. He helped john to the football pitch and sat him on the benches and waved Scott over.
John was concentrating on not thinking about how much he hurt-it would be worse tomorrow, then he would have full blown bruises. So he was taken by complete surprise when Scott laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You ok John?" he asked.
John looked up, seeing Scott's face tighten when he saw his cheek. "I'm ok Scott-it'll hurt tomorrow though."
"Who did it? I swear if it was those little-"
"It was a senior." Virgil muttered darkly.
Scott turned to him. "A senior?"
Virgil nodded.
Scott looked down at the pitch. "Marty Simons was late to practice today… Virgil, I think we need to have a word with Mr. Simons, don't you?"
Virgil nodded. "Oh yes. Nobody hurts my little brother and gets away with it." He made his way down to the pitch and across to Marty Simons, slowly.
"Scott, you. He. Can't…"
"Don't worry squirt, we won't hurt him-we wouldn't sink to his level. But Virge is right; no one hurts our little brother and gets away with it. We'll be back in a minute and then we'll take you home, alright?"
Without waiting for an answer Scott sprinted after Virgil.
Ten minutes later they were back. Scott ruffled his hair lightly. "Come on kid, it's sorted, it won't happen again-ever."
Virgil helped him to his feet and they went home.
Xx
Scott hadn't lied. No one had even looked at John so much as cross-eyed since then. So no, imposing on his brothers just wasn't something John was going to do. They did enough for him as it was.
Done! Yay! Go Scott and Virgil! Virgil seems a lot more confrontational than Scott isn't he? I wonder why. Ah well. I like how it turned out hope you did too. Next chapter soon. I promise.
(I feel so weird that my story inspired another-I don't think that's ever happened before. I never even realised until I went to read it again. Thanks PTB, you're the greatest-a chapter will be dedicated to you.)
