A very reluctant Mark climb out of the van for the first day of school, followed by an even more reluctant Cindy, and a highly amused Roger.
Mark barely listened as Sarah called after them, "Have a good day you three, I'll be back after school so you don't have to walk..."
After that Mark tuned her out and headed into the foreign building.
He made it through most of the day without incident. All of the freshmen were technically new to the building, so none of them realized that they had never actually seen Mark Cohen before.
But nothing like lunch time to remind one how lonely they really are.
Mark kept his focus on his own food, not daring to look up when a tray was set across from him, however whatever hope he had was instantly shattered the moment the voice came out,
"Poor Mark's all alone. Good thing I'm here to save the day."
"Fuck you Roger."
"Oo, Marky's got a potty mouth." Roger responded reinstating all urges to put Mark in his place and reluctantly reaffirming where he had decided by sitting.
"What the hell are you doing, Roger? And I thought you were supposed to be a grade below me?"
"Skipped kindergarten." He replied nonchalantly, stating the hardly known fact as if it was really no great accomplishment.
"Yeah, right." Mark got up and decided to wait in other places for lunch to end.
Roger watched as the blonde stormed off. Not too bad, Davis.
"Who was that?" A black haired, blue eyed boy sat down next to Roger.
"That, Stuart, was my stepbrother."
"He goes here?"
"Oh, it gets better, he, his sister, and brother all moved in with us. And now I have to share a room with the pouting wonder."
"What are you going to do about it, man?"
"Do about it? Now, I'm not that evil. Yet."
When the final bell of the day rang, Roger made his way fifteen lockers down.
"You ready to go?"
To Roger's amusement, his question made Mark jump two feet in the air. But instead of answering Mark just glared, through the hallways and all the way to the van. Hoping with the smallest; wishing that if he glared hard enough that maybe Roger would spontaneously combust or something equally torturous or deadly.
"How was your day, boys?"
Her again, Mark thoughts rolled.
"Fine." Mark growled.
"It was good, Mom." Roger sent his own death glare in Mark's direction.
It was another fifteen minutes before Cindy huffed her way into the van, not bothering to keep any negative thought inside her head.
"Well," Sarah interrupted Cindy, realizing that otherwise she would never have a chance, "I hope you have something good to tell your mother, tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Both Mark and Cindy's attention had been gained.
"Yep, she's picking you two and Danny up from school tomorrow; this is her weekend with you guys."
Thank God, Mark relaxed in his seat, maybe she would think that a week and a half wasenough of a chance.
But it was not to be. Ms. Cohen wouldn't hear a word of it even threatening to take them back if they said another complaint. The threat stopped Mark, but alas Cindy didn't believe her, so the weekend was just Mom and the boys.
On Saturday night, while Mark brushed his teeth in the bathroom he could hear his mom talking to Danny in the next room.
"I know it's not like it used to be, but you guys needed to spend some time with your dad."
"It's not that bad, Mom." he could hear the eleven year old reply. "Sure, it's not you, but I still like it. Sarah makes really good sandwiches and Dad reads comics with me and Lee. Roger's kind of mean to Mark, but Mark's meaner to him…and Cindy doesn't like that it that there are two more boys. It's not as bad as Cindy and Mark say."
"That makes me happy to hear. Night Danny."
Mark exited the bathroom as his mom waited in the hall…
"Mark. I know this isn't what you want, believe it or not this isn't the ideal situation for any of us but you've to make the best of it. Please, promise me you'll try."
He just shrugged.
His mom hugged him and allowed him to enter the bedroom where Danny laid in the bottom bunk.
He stared at the foot of the ladder for a moment looking at his brother.
"Traitor."
But Danny merely laughed.
Sorry you guys it took so long to update…I decided I didn't like where I had it going so I rewrote it. Hope you enjoy.
the fun stuff, in my opinion starts in the next chapter.
