Hey hey. Sorry, I took forever to update. I will be quicker. I promise! My computer had a lot of problems too. Sob. But, anyways, here is Chapter Six. It's a little rushed, but hopefully I'll be back on track in Chapter Seven. Thanks for all your reviews and I hope you keep letting me know what you think. Thank you!

Chapter 6 – The Teenage Life

"Angel, go get the camera."

"Don't you dare."

"Ma?"

"Go on, it's upstairs on my bedside cabinet."

"I can't believe you're doing this."

"Oh, stop being so dramatic."

"Isn't there a law against this kind of thing?"

Angel returned downstairs, camera in hand a few moments later and Evelyn plucked it out his hand, smiling proudly at Jack. The teenager stood in the hall, dressed in loose jeans, white wife-beater and a blue shirt. It was still early morning, but Jack had been dragged out from under his covers, marched mercilessly into a lukewarm shower and handed a bag filled with stationary and a packed lunch. Why? Why else would a fifteen year old make such a fuss? It was first day of school.

Evelyn took the picture and captured Jack's look of total despair at the thought of what was vastly approaching.

"Do I really need to go?" The boy whined.

"Haven't we had this conversation, I don't know, hundreds of times now?" Evelyn shook her head in amusement, licking her finger and wiping it across a mark on Jack's cheek. He scowled and pulled away, running a hand through his hair and glancing to see if Angel was smirking at him from the affectionate gesture. However, the nineteen year old was munching loudly on an apple and glancing repeatedly at his watch and the front window. Jack frowned. I wonder what he's waiting for, he thought.

"Right, it's time to go. Angel is going to walk you to the school and all the teachers have been informed it's your first day there. I know the headmaster from when Jerry and Angel attended, and I know it's a good school, so stop scowling or your face will stay like that when the wind changes direction."

Jack immediately dropped his irritable mask and donned a semi-smile. He sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets, his bag draped over his shoulder.

"Angel? Angel? What is the matter with you today?" Evelyn asked, snapping her son out of his day-dream.

He looked sheepish and scratched his head. "Nothing. Honest. Just got some stuff on my mind."

"Oh, girls?" Evelyn's non-too-subtle approach caught Angel off guard and his cheeks flushed a hot pink colour.

He stalked out the door, with Jack's taunts ringing through his head. Evelyn laughed happily and stood at the door frame watching her two youngest wrestle their way down the street. Teenagers, she thought.

Jack made it to the school fifteen minutes later and stood outside the gate, a little nervous. He lit up a cigarette and smoked it anxiously. It wasn't a large school. There was one main building and four little annexes surrounding it. The playground was splashed with faded colours of hop-scotch boxes and soccer goals. There was a basketball hoop and a rectangular piece of grass behind the main building. Jack rolled his eyes; it was ten times better than his last school - or schools. Since he had been to more than your average pupil.

"Let's get this over with." He tossed his cigarette aside and sauntered into the school. The bell had rang a few moments ago, but most of the children had been ushered inside to attend registration. He walked across the playground slowly, gazing round at the sights before him. He knew by now to go to the front office, where a guide would come and collect him. A teacher frowned at him and then gave a small smile and waved him over.

"Hey. I'm Jack Mercer."

"Great. I'm glad you could make it. You're joining my class so I've been told. Let's get you registered and get your timetable."

Jack smiled and nodded. The woman who had greeted him was young, enthusiastic and had a pretty face. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

Ten minutes later and Jack was on his way to his first class. Music. He beamed at the thought. He would be able to play a guitar. For the first time in weeks! He walked through the sea of whispers from his classmates and took a seat at the back of the class. An older man, with thinning grey hair rose from a low seat and clapped his hands to get the class' attention.

"Today we're just going to practice with our chosen instruments. No theory."

The class cheered and the older man smiled. "Anyone would think you hated theory." He muttered good-naturedly and sat down behind a big pile of marking. The children soon came to life and soon there were keyboards, guitars, drums and flutes all being played in separate corners. Jack stood up and attentively approached the guitars. There weren't any electric ones, but acoustic would do for now. He gripped the body of the instrument and plucked at the strings. They were tight and strong, but needed some tuning. He returned to his desk and perched at the end of it, his foot raised on a chair for the guitar to rest across his knee. He shut his eyes and tuned the guitar quickly. His heart was already pounding with anticipation. Whipping a solid black plectrum out his jean pocket, something he never left the house without, he began to play. His arms relaxed into the guitar, his finger slid down, pressing in between frets. The music he created soothed him and carried his mind off into a day dream. He closed his eyes once more and stuck the plectrum in his mouth and began playing with his fingers, like he needed physical contact, he needed the music to come from his own hands. After the piece ended he reopened his eyes and nearly collapsed off the table in complete surprise. Gathering round him in a small semi-circle were eight of his classmates. Seven of which were girls, eyes wide in lust and mouths parted in adoration. A smaller boy with thick black hair stood blushing on the far left.

"That was so amazing!" One of the girls squealed and set the others off in eager nods.

Jack picked himself up and stuck his chest out.

"Thanks. There's nothing to it." He lowered the guitar to the ground and eyed everyone of the girls, giving each a smile that made their stomachs tingle.

"How long have you been playing?"

"Since I was ten." He spotted the boy inching his way closer and stood up from leaning on the table, uneasy at his intimate stare.

"I'd love to be able to play like that." A girl with long brown hair stepped forward. She had a sexy smile and strands of hair fell across her blue-silver eye.

Jack shrugged and breathed in, licking his lips. She smelled of roses and candy.

"So, new kid, what's your name again?"

Jack had been introduced at registration by Miss Dower, the first teacher he met, but half the children grouping round him had turned up late and missed his arrival.

"Jack Mercer."

"Hmm. Well, would you like to sit with me during assembly, Jack Mercer?" The brunette asked, one wrist covered in skinny, coloured bracelets posed against her hip and she raised a slim brown eye-brow.

"Sure."

"Great." She clapped her hands together and smiled brightly. "My name is Heather." And with that she bounced away, her hair coiling and twisting down her back.

Jack checked the clock on the wall and frowned slightly.

"So when is assembly?" He asked to no one in particular as his fame had been short lived and everyone was back doing their own thing.

The boy, who had been inches away, moved closer, leaning into Jack's ear. He breathed out and the tiny hairs on Jack's ear tingled and made his whole body jump in surprise.

"Will you sit beside me at assembly?" He whispered, ignoring Jack's previous question. The fifteen year old swallowed and stuck his hands in his pockets, sliding away from the boy.

"I take it you don't know then." He tried a nervous laugh and bit his bottom lip, before grabbing the guitar and practically running to sit somewhere else. The young boy watched him with hungry eyes.

"Jack Mercer." He tried out the name and smiled. "My Jack soon." Then he giggled and wrapped his arms around his torso, swaying happily.

"My Jackie. Soon." He grinned.

"What a fag." Muttered Jack and once again got lost in music. He quickly dismissed the smaller boy as an irritable, annoying idiot and focused his attention on Heather. She was laughing and gossiping with her friends – The Flute Group. He was far too wrapped up in watching the girl's exaggerated gestures, that he failed to notice the raven haired boy's hostile looks.

Assembly started off with Guidance Teachers addressing the school and stating the obvious. Too many people were late or skipping school altogether, too much litter on playground, blah, blah. Jack switched off. He was moving his hand millimetres at a time, to touch hands with Heather. Her hand was small and feminine, with a chunky, pink ring on her index finger. Thankfully the scary kid wasn't anywhere to be seen and he had made sure he had sat at on an isle seat, just in case. Fifteen minutes later and Jack longed to go back to music, his eyelids feeling heavy. It wasn't until he heard a gruff, low voice did his whole body suddenly become very alive, but very frozen. He stared at his feet as the voice began talking more and more. He couldn't look up, he knew that voice, knew the man. Oh god, oh god. His fingers began trembling and he placed them on his knees. He felt nauseous and dizzy as his heart began pounding and his mind raced in sheer panic. This man couldn't be he just couldn't be.

"Don't you think our headmaster is just so sexy?" He heard Heather whisper to her girlfriend on her right.

This man, this creature was his headmaster. He raised his head slowly, desperate to find out for sure, but equally reluctant. He looked into the brown eyes. He looked at the short cropped, black/grey hair. Glanced at the build under the grey suit. Watched his hands emphasise his speech. It was the ex-soldier who had beaten him unconscious and starved him for almost three weeks. It was him! This man was in charge of a school of children. How could that be? Jack had thought he was found out when they found him lying, bleeding outside the Children's Home. He must have fed them some amount of lies to get off the hook. He wouldn't know Jack's name. That was why he admitted him to the school. He would recognise Jack of course, but not Mercer.

The abuse was still raw in his mind and suddenly Jack felt like he couldn't breathe. He put a hand to his chest and told himself to calm down. He couldn't get to him, he wouldn't try anything here. So. Stop. Panicking. He looked up again and to his complete dismay found himself locked in the gaze of the headmaster. His eyes widened and he held his breath. His body felt numb and detached. It could only have been for moment, but it seemed like a lifetime to the teenager. The headmaster choked on his words, stared in silence and then his face turned bright red. The children began to murmur at the headmaster's hesitation, but soon silenced when the man collected himself and carried on. Jack felt sick. Bile burned in the back of his throat. He jumped up from his seat and without another glance back he turned and ran out the school. He didn't stop running until he made it home, collapsing inside sobbing loudly.

Bobby jumped up from the couch when the door slammed open. Everyone was out or working except him. Bobby's eye-brows narrowed together and he stuck his head into the hall. A deep concern rose in his throat and he kneeled beside his baby brother.

"Jack, Jack. What's wrong?"

"Bobby?" Jack looked up into the man's eyes and then ducked his head in shame. He wiped fiercely at his cheeks. It seemed every time Bobby saw him he was crying. He was a man. He needed to prove himself. He stood up and Bobby led him by the elbow to the couch. He sat him down and came back with a glass of water in hand.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Jack." Bobby growled. He had no patience.

"It's school." Jack stated miserably, hanging his head in defeat.

"School? School? School has you crying like this?"

"No, not the school. Someone in it."

"Jack, I'm not good at guessing games. Tell me what it is."

And Jack did. He told Bobby the whole story of the three weeks of pain, hunger and depression. How he wished every night to die in his sleep so he didn't need to face another day. Tears were fresh in his eyes and coated his cheeks. Bobby rubbed his back soothingly and then when Jack fell back on to the chair, ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Bobby. I can't go back there. I just can't."

"Don't worry, little fairy. Leave it to me." He smiled and then stood up from the couch quickly. He switched the TV to cartoons and turned to Jack.

"Stay here. Don't go outside."

"Where are you going, Bobby?"

"Back to school." The man stated quietly. Jack's eyes widened.

"No, Bobby. Please don't. You'll only get into trouble. It doesn't matter."

Bobby pushed Jack down on to the couch.

"How can you say it doesn't matter? Now, sit there like a good boy and don't do anything stupid."

"But.."

"Shut it, Jack. I'm going." He pulled on a faded denim jacket and left the house, rage and anger burning through his veins. Jack sat on the couch, full of worry. If anything happened to Bobby, it would be all his fault. If a man could somehow get out of suspected abuse on a child and become a headmaster, what would happen to Bobby after his little 'visit'? Jack cracked his fingers and chewed his lip. He could only wait and see. What have I done? What have I done?