ADJUSTING
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the novel or the boys.
Jack growled, and punched the wall in front of him. He winced in pain, and scowled at the dark mahogany wood, shaking his hand out. His confrontation with Ralph did not go as he had hoped. He ran his hands through his hair, and leaned against the wall, sighing deeply. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and straightened up hurriedly. He saw Roger exit through the door, looking pre-occupied. Roger glimpsed him, and ambled slowly over towards him, finally settling to lean sideways next to him, watching him intently. Jack shifted nervously under Roger's penetrating gaze, and cleared his throat. Roger smirked at him, and drew himself up to his full height, a good few inches above Jack. He looked at him imperiously, at waited for him to speak. Jack looked at him, out of his element.
"What're," here, his voice cracked, and Roger's smirk widened. 'What're we going to do about Ralph?" Roger studied him, as if evaluating him. He paused, thinking.
"We keep at him." He said firmly. "We keep at him 'til he breaks." He finished, impressively. Jack nodded eagerly, and voice his assent, hoping to please Roger. Roger acknowledged him with a condescending wave, and glided off down the hallway, meandering out of sight. Jack gulped, and tried futilely to convince himself that it was he calling the shots. He stayed leaning against the wall for a few seconds, then abruptly sped off in the opposite direction, absent-mindedly bumping into Sam and Eric on the way. As he brushed past them, knocking the books in their hands to the ground, they watched him hurry away, and shrugged at each other, collecting their books and continuing on. As they walked along the hallway, they were accosted by a grinning Roger, who smiled at them and cracked his knuckles. Sam and Eric looked at each other, and simultaneously began inching away from him.
Ralph was walking slowly along the hallway, engrossed in a battered copy of Robinson Crusoe, and his mind barely registered his surroundings. But even he, involved as he was in his reading, could not fail to hear the plaintive wail coming from a few doors down. He hesitated, but as the cry grew louder, he threw caution to the winds, and wrenched open a nondescript door, to reveal a terrified Sam and Eric, and an oddly blank-looking Roger. Sam and Eric bolted out the door, averting their eyes to the floor, and hurrying back to the dorm. Ralph watched them go, and when he was sure they were out of earshot, rounded on Roger.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He hissed, vehemently. Roger's expression darkened, and he moved to push past Ralph, but Ralph pushed him and he stumbled back. He glared at Ralph, and moved to pass him again, but Ralph blocked his path, and stared him down. "What did you do?" He asked again, more forcefully. Roger glared at him, sullenly, and gave in.
"Nothing." Ralph made a noise of disgust, and pushed him again.
"Tell me!" He shouted, and shoved him. Roger had had enough, and began fighting back. The two boys were tussling furiously, when the door banged open. A pair of hands pulled them apart, and they looked at their livid headmaster.
"Detention tonight." He said curtly, and exited the room. Roger and Ralph glared at each other, and left the room, heading in opposite directions.
A/N: Review please. I update much faster with reviews. I'm not really sure if I should continue this story—feedback?