A/N: Hello readers, thank you to those of you that have reviewed. In the coming weeks, I will be busy with work, I'll try to keep a schedule for updating. Bear with me, I promise I'll try to get back to updating Rising From The Ashes it's just been difficult because I've got writer's block for that particular story. All errors are my own. I don't own the Thunderbirds, they are the works of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson.


Over the next couple of days, Alan and Fermat made it a point to try to meet up and have lunch. Alan was happier having Fermat as a friend, sure he had friends at the school but after learning more about Fermat and getting to know him Alan was more than happy to separate himself from his other group of friends. They tended to talk bad about the other 'brainiacs' of the school, Fermat included. Fermat on the other hand had not had a single friend at the school that he associated with. So, Fermat was still finding it unusual meeting up every day to have lunch with someone.

The only true downfall was, Fermat wasn't immune to bullies despite being friends with Alan now. Darren had returned after two weeks suspension and he was not about to let Fermat slip from his grasp. Unfortunately for Fermat, the older boy had managed to corner Fermat in the commons room of their dorm building and Darren made it clear he hadn't forgiven Fermat.

"What gives F-F-Fer-Matt? Why'd you go and get me in trouble? Did you think that a simple little suspension would be enough to get rid of me?" Darren asked, sneering in Fermat's face when the smaller boy tried to shake off his fear of the older boy.

"I d-didn't get y-you in trouble. Y-You did t-that yourself." Fermat said, knowing his argument was weak. He had previously been determined to stand up for himself, but having Darren practically bearing down on him made his resolve shrivel up and hide. The older boy knew that Fermat feared him and so he exploited it.

"You trying to pick a fight with me?" Darren asked, pushing Fermat back closer into the corner.

"N-No, I'm telling y-you why y-you got s-suspended. I d-didn't say anything t-to get you in t-trouble." Fermat said. He didn't hear the door at the end of the hall opening or closing and neither he nor Darren noticed the footsteps headed their way. But as soon as the footsteps reached the commons room, Darren found himself shoved away from Fermat and Alan was between the two boys.

"You only just got back Darren and you're already picking a fight with a guy three years your junior?" Alan asked, he stood up tall against Darren. The older boy glared at Alan, not appreciating Alan challenging him. But not wanting to get in trouble again so soon after returning to the school, Darren conceded and left the commons. Fermat on the other hand wasn't mad, but he did wish he could stand up to bullies the way Alan did so that Fermat wouldn't need Alan to fight his battles.

"T-Thank you again." Fermat said, feeling a little embarrassed to have needed Alan's help again.

"Don't worry about it. That's what friends are for." Alan said before he turned to face his younger and smaller friend. "Truthfully, though…I should teach you how to throw a decent right hook, in case I'm ever not around and Darren or someone else thinks they can push you around."

"O-Okay." Fermat said with a thankful grin. "B-But first I n-need to g-get to our d-dorm, I n-need to g-grab my b-bookbag before I g-go to s-study group."

"Okay, well at least let me walk with you for a bit, I'd hate for Darren to bring friends next time and gang up on you." Alan said before he went with Fermat back to their dorm. Alan continued talking with Fermat, learning about him and offering various information so that the younger boy could learn more as well. Alan walked with Fermat until they made it to Fermat's study group and then Alan took his leave. He didn't notice if he was being followed, but he made his way to the equine stables where he prepared for his daily ride.

His father and brothers didn't understand why Alan always requested going to his grandma's for spring break or why he'd always jump at the chance to go to Penny's when she'd offer to keep Alan for a fortnight. Particularly it was because they both had horse stables. Penny had some of the finest horses in all of England, they were purebred stallions that bred healthy foals. Once in the equine stables Alan changed into his riding gear and went out to greet Freckles. Once they were outside in the riding corral, Alan climbed up into the saddle and he let Freckles do a few warm-up laps.

He allowed his thoughts to turn to Fermat and he wondered why the younger boy had such a hard time connecting to those around him. He was a nice boy, polite, shy but he was also friendly. Alan didn't understand what made it so hard for Fermat to make friends. Alan was glad however that he at least managed to become Fermat's first friend. He didn't want to imagine anyone else attempting to befriend Fermat and potentially making a big mistake. Not to say that any of the other boys of Wharton's were bad boys, but there were a few bad apples. The kind that Fermat didn't need to be associated with. Such as Darren for example.

While Alan was lost in thought, he didn't see a rock go flying in his direction, nor did he see it strike Freckle's haunch, but he did feel a weightless feeling when Freckles reared back and sent Alan flying from her back. When Alan landed, it took him a moment before he got his breath back. He rolled over, gasping as he tried to gulp down air. When he was able to sit up, he looked around and didn't see anything that might have spooked his horse. Standing up, Alan brushed off the seat of his riding pants before he went over to Freckles who after bucking Alan off had run to the far side of the corral. Alan managed to get Freckles to hold still while he mounted the saddle again and took to continuing the laps.

Again, five minutes later something made Freckles give a disgruntled neigh while she reared up. Alan managed to stay on Freckles this time, but he felt like he was part of a rodeo. Freckles continued rearing up and kicking up her back legs. Alan held on tightly, trying everything to get his horse to calm herself but something continued stirring her up and agitating her. She didn't stop bucking up and down until she'd successfully thrown Alan off her back once more. This time it took Alan longer to get up. His neck and his back were both sore and Alan was thinking it was time to let Freckles cool out before he put her back in her stall.

Once Freckles was back in her stable, Alan changed out of his riding gear and began his walk back to the library where Fermat's study group should be wrapping up. The walk was slow as Alan could feel both times he was thrown from his horse in nearly every bone in his body. He was a few minutes late retrieving Fermat and their walk was slow to accommodate Alan's stride. Fermat kept looking over at Alan, curious about why Alan was looking so stiff, but he didn't dare ask. He knew Alan wouldn't volunteer the information. But he had his suspicions. If his intuition was right, then Alan likely got into another fight. It never occurred to Fermat that maybe Alan had been bucked from his horse twice in the course of one afternoon. When they'd made it back into their dorm, Alan made his way into his room before he crawled in on his bed and laid on his stomach. He hadn't bothered to close his bedroom door, so Fermat just watched the older boy from their connected hall between rooms. He briefly questioned if he should say something, but figured it'd be a bad move on his part.

Instead Fermat went into his room and closed the door before he walked over and sank down on his bed to stare up at the ceiling. He replayed over and over the last couple weeks that Alan had really become a friend to him instead of just another person that shared the same island home as him or a spoiled rotten rich kid which before knowing Alan better Fermat had been guilty of thinking Alan was a spoiled rich kid. Later that evening when Fermat went to get Alan he found the older boy sitting in his bedroom with an electrical heating pad plugged in and draped over his back. Alan had his head down and appeared to be asleep. Fermat walked over and gently poked Alan's forearm before he got a response.

"What is it Fermat?" Alan moved his head just so to look up at the younger bespectacled boy to inquire just why he was being woken up.

"Are y-you okay?" Fermat asked as he crouched down so Alan wouldn't have to look up at him.

"My back hurts, I got thrown from Freckles twice earlier and I landed on my back." Alan replied. Fermat eyed the heating pad; he was curious to see Alan's back but figured it impolite to ask. "Are you ready to go get dinner?"

"Y-Yes, I thought w-we could e-eat together again, b-but if y-you're in too m-much pain I c-can just g-go alone." Fermat said before Alan reached out a hand to stop Fermat when he went to stand up.

"No, I'll go with you. Can you give me a hand up?" Alan asked.

"S-Sure." Fermat said, before he pulled the heating pad off Alan's back, meanwhile catching a glimpse of the bruising mottling Alan's back. Fermat internally winced. He could only imagine how bad those hurt. Alan sat up slowly and his shirt which had been rolled up to just a little above his shoulder blades had fallen back down to cover Alan's back from view. Fermat then offered a hand to Alan when it came to the older boy standing up. Alan did stand, slowly.

Once Alan was up on two feet, he and Fermat both left the room and made their way across the campus green to the cafeteria to get in line for dinner. They each grabbed a tray of food when they made it to the serving window where trays were handed out the window to each boy. Alan and Fermat found a seat at their usual table and they both got comfortable. The room was filled with the din of usual noise, cutlery scraping through food, grating across the plates occasionally. Alan and Fermat talked a little bit about their classes, even picking each other's brains pertaining to lesson plans they shared for lit class. Everything seemed fine during dinner that was until Darren walked past and a sharp hit to Alan's back had the older boy hissing in pain.

"Come o-on Alan. L-Let's head b-back to our d-dorm." Fermat said as he stood to dump his and Alan's trays. Everything was eaten, including their mixed berry cobbler for dessert. Neither boy had any more reason to remain in the cafeteria than anyone else still there.

… … … … … … … … … … …

Over the next couple of days Alan's back pain lessened gradually, primarily because Fermat kept on Alan like he'd done previously for him when his asthma got bad. Fermat reminded Alan to take his ibuprofen that the school nurse suggested he take after Fermat made him go to the medical wing. The bruises became an ugly greenish yellow as the days went on and the next time Fermat saw Alan's back he didn't grimace quite as much as he had earlier. Fermat personally thought it was funny that a little over a month previous he was content to keep to himself. Nobody ever seemed interested in being his friend and Fermat wasn't overly concerned with having anyone around. The young genius hadn't ever really longed for a friend, so it seemed foreign to have someone to talk to and to pal around with.

Fermat's dad had taken notice of his son's different attitude as well and as much as Fermat tried to hide it, his father pointed it out on several occasions that Fermat said that he and Alan were spending more time together. Hiram did also express his concern that Fermat not get involved in a bad crowd, Fermat however defended Alan and the fact that while he had found a friend in Alan; the older boy wasn't a bad influence on the young genius.

"I t-trust though t-that if Alan b-begins leading y-you down t-the wrong path t-that you would b-be responsible e-enough to break a-away." Hiram advised during his and Fermat's weekly video chat. "I've n-never had r-reason not to t-trust Alan would b-be a bad kid, b-but I don't k-know if I l-like the c-change in y-you."

"I u-understand father, b-but Alan is n-not the problem. He's a g-good guy I p-promise! I k-know not t-to get in w-with the wrong c-crowd and I can g-guarantee that A-Alan is far f-from a bad g-guy. He's s-smart and he's s-simply protecting the w-weaker guy and t-that's why his d-dad is always g-getting calls f-from the H-Headmaster." Fermat said trying to persuade his father not to judge Alan until he knew him better.

"I o-only know a-all those t-times that I've b-been present f-for those p-phone calls t-that Alan's b-been in t-trouble. I'm l-looking out f-for your best i-interests." Hiram said, trying to get his only child to understand. As happy as Hiram was that Mr. Tracy had offered to pay for Fermat's schooling, he did wish that Alan wasn't so close to affect his child's education. He worried that Alan was a bad apple in the bunch. But he'd try to not judge Alan, he'd put his trust in Fermat. If his son said Alan wasn't a bad kid, then he'd have to just trust and have faith in his only child.

"C-Can we c-change the s-subject?" Fermat asked, not wanting to be on the receiving end of the third degree from his father any longer. Nothing put Fermat in a bad mood like getting reprimanded by his father.

"S-Sure. How a-are your c-classes going?" Hiram asked. He wished his son didn't have to be away for schooling, but the arrangement with Mr. Tracy assured that he'd have a splendid education and he'd want for nothing when he became of age to attend college. Wharton's was a school within the upper echelon and Fermat would have many doors opened for him after he completed his education.

"They're g-good, they're c-challenging enough a-and keeping m-my attention." Fermat said trying to assuage his father's earlier concerns. He was looking forward to their spring break. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be for another month and Fermat was beginning to miss the island. As much as he enjoyed his schooling here, he'd much rather be back at home.

"G-Good, see t-that you k-keep your h-head down a-and try not t-to get in any m-more trouble." Hiram said before he leaned away from his screen to look off camera. The look on his face told Fermat that he'd have to discontinue their chat. Fermat saved him the trouble of ending their talk and he told his dad that he was going to meet up with his study group so he'd have to go.

Once Fermat and his dad had disconnected their talk, Fermat took off his glasses to rub his eyes. He never imagined that his father would ever try to dissuade him from being friends with Alan. Before now, Fermat hadn't the desire to befriend the older boy. They were too different and at least Fermat had thought they wouldn't be friends for longer than a couple hours if not days. So far though, Alan was proving Fermat wrong and for that matter Fermat was beginning to appreciate his friendship with Alan. … … … … … … … … … … …

Hiram sat at the dinner table, his thoughts wandering back to his and Fermat's earlier conversation. His inattention was observed by those around the table simply because he was staring off into space. Jeff noticed as well, and he wanted to say something to his longtime friend but didn't know if Hiram was simply lost in thought because of the anniversary of his late wife's passing was fast approaching. He certainly didn't think that the cause of Hiram's inattention was his youngest son's newfound friendship with the resident genius's only child.

"Hiram, is everything okay?" Jeff asked from his place setting at the end of the table. He noticed Hiram jump like he'd been startled, but Jeff talked softly so as not to rattle the other man. "You've been miles away for several minutes now."

"Y-Yes, I'm f-fine. J-Just thinking." Hiram said, not wanting to bring Jeff's attention to Hiram's worry that Alan was not a suitable friend for his child.

"Okay, well if you need to talk you know where to find me." Jeff said before he stood when Onaha took his empty plate to the kitchen to be washed. "I'll be in my office."

A little over an hour later, Hiram found himself back in his lab in the Eastern wing of the villa. On his desk was a photograph of his late wife, she was holding Fermat when he was but a toddler. She was smiling up at Fermat who when the picture was taken had been squealing wildly because Audrey had been dancing around their apartment and Fermat loved when either she or Hiram lifted him in the air and playfully sang his name to him. Hiram remembered it like it was yesterday. How could he not? It was a little over a month later that Audrey would discover she was pregnant with their second child and they'd begin preparing to bring in another life that she'd perish from a ruptured placenta.

Hiram took off his glasses for a few minutes, tilting his head back as he tried to come to terms with what his son told him. He was friends with Alan's father and he valued their friendship, so why couldn't he value his son's friendship with his friend's child?

… … … … … … … … … … …

Fermat heaved a sigh of relief almost a month later as he was packing his bags to go back for a week to the island for spring break. He had been on his best behavior and kept his nose out of trouble, he unfortunately couldn't say the same for Alan. The older boy and his father had continued their almost weekly arguments like it was nothing to them. Fermat however had gotten a pair of noise cancelling headphones as a congratulatory gift on passing one of his major exams from Alan's brothers who were made very well aware of how much Alan and their father's legendary arguments bothered Fermat. The young genius had been witness a number of times that Alan has gotten into a bully's face for pouncing on a smaller kid which without saying Alan had gotten in trouble for fights more times than Fermat could count. So when Alan was told that as punishment he'd have to stay at Wharton's during Spring break, Fermat questioned if he should stay as well because he was why Alan continually kept getting in trouble. Darren had rallied his friends and they all would gang up on Fermat who now rarely stayed alone. His personal bodyguard took it on himself to jump in the fray to protect Fermat like he himself didn't have anything to lose.

"Fermat, you should go home. Don't worry about me, besides I can spend time with Freckles." Alan said as he held a cold cloth to an abrasion along his cheekbone from his latest scuffle. Fermat frowned at his friend when he pulled the soiled white cloth away to check if the bleeding had stopped yet or not. "I'm fine Ferm, just go home and soak up some sunshine for me."

"B-But Alan…" Fermat started to say before he went quiet at Alan's glare.

"But nothing Ferm, you deserve to go home. Go, enjoy your week away from here and take in some sunshine for me. I'll be fine here." Alan argued before he tossed the clothe in the hamper to be washed. He and Fermat exited the restroom, the younger feeling guilty to be going home meanwhile Alan would be forced to stay for a week of in-school suspension.

Fermat didn't envy Alan who was gracefully accepting of his punishment. Fermat almost wondered if Alan had some ulterior motive up his sleeve. But he didn't dare ask, he knew that Alan wouldn't tell him if he did because the less he knew. Unfortunately for Alan the boys that Alan had been defending Fermat and other students from were being made to stay as well and that meant that Alan would be solely alone if he was accosted by any of them.

Alan and Fermat had sat up that night watching movies in Alan's room on his laptop. Just because Alan was to be punished, didn't mean he couldn't enjoy a movie or two before lights out for the school campus. The following day Fermat would leave with Penny and Parker who had already agreed to pick up the young genius and deposit him back at home. Alan had walked his young friend to the airstrip after he'd been excused by the principal and the onset of spring break. Alan was dressed down from his school uniform poplin white shirt and black dress slacks. He was wearing a pair of his baggiest jeans and a pair of what looked like well-worn sneakers and a faded t-shirt. Being that it was spring break, there was an unwritten rule that students that stayed behind could dress however they wanted within reason. Alan rarely ever got to return home for spring break, always conveniently in trouble the last few years it seemed.

Alan waved to Fermat from a safe distance after the young genius had climbed into the small pink private plane that Penny owned. After the small plane had taken to the skies, Alan had turned to leave. He was due to meet the chemistry professor in the lab for in-school suspension. Having already been briefed on his punishment, Alan knew he was to help the professor perform a variety of different tests to make sure they could be done safely in class. The nice thing about having in-school suspension was that Alan got to choose his punishment and Alan enjoyed his chemistry class. He and his professor had already discussed what tests they'd do and what chemical elements they'd need.

Meanwhile Fermat felt a sense of dread at having to go home without Alan. Not that he disliked the island without his friend, it was just this was going to be the longest Fermat would be separated from Alan since they started palling around over the last two months. And Fermat couldn't shake the bad feeling that was screaming in the back of his mind. He just hoped that nothing happened. Normally Fermat enjoyed flying, it gave him a sense of freedom he couldn't explain and it relaxed him, but this flight just seemed to drag on endlessly. When he did land back on the island, he was greeted by his father exuberantly as well as Mr. Tracy who looked only slightly perturbed.

"Fermat, how are you enjoying school?" Jeff inquired of the young genius and this time Fermat couldn't contain the smile. He enjoyed it more now that he was friends with Alan.

"It's g-good." Fermat answered honestly. Fermat though would be significantly happier still if he had his new friend there to pal around with. Not that that'd probably ever happen. Alan lived with his grandmother almost full time when he was off from school. Alan had suggested that maybe he'd talk to his father about either he and his grandma relocating however permanently or splitting his time between his grandmother's homestead and the island. It was a type of agreement that Alan would live with his grandmother when outside of school to help her on the farm as well as giving Alan the ability to have a life away from the island to have a normal life instead of one filled with secrecy. At least the boy stayed out of the tabloids when with his grandmother.

Hiram took Fermat's suitcase, following his son across the landing pad resuming his earlier conversation with Jeff as they both tossed figures back and forth at the other concerning some experiments they were doing. Amidst all the chatter, Fermat couldn't help but to let his mind wander back to school. Alan should be starting his first day of in-school suspension punishments.

… … … … … … … … … … …

Alan did as his chemistry professor suggested with combining the two elements together and was amazed at the reaction. Mr. Zurlo said under his breath that he was glad that Alan chose to do his 'punishment' with him considering Alan was one of his best students especially concerning his most hands-on student. None of his other students wanted to get close to the reactive elements for fear of having the experiment quite literally blow up in their faces. But not Alan. He loved to get his hands dirty so to speak and he was always the one Mr. Zurlo called on when he couldn't get a volunteer in class simply because he knew Alan was careful with paying close attention to the resources so as not to have a disaster strike amidst class.

"I think we've done all we can do today Alan. Thank you for helping me today. We'll meet the same time tomorrow to resume testing experiments." Mr. Zurlo said. He dismissed Alan once they got their mess cleaned up and then Alan was free to have the rest of the day to do as he pleased. Once finished, Alan returned to his dorm to drop onto his bed. He stared up at the ceiling while he let the fact of his punishment soak in. It didn't seem fair to Alan but then it was a price he paid for trying to be better than his peers and not let bullies win. Turning his head, Alan redirected his gaze out the windows. The trees were in bloom and soon everyone on campus would be starting their final quarter of the year before school let out for summer. Alan heard a knock at the door and he stood to answer, not expecting a box to be the first thing in his vision let alone the recognizable scarred knuckles of Gordon to be the one holding the box.

"Surprise! Since you couldn't come home, I figured I'd come to you." Alan stood in stunned awe before his thoughts made him look out in the hall to make sure Gordon was in fact alone.

"What are you doing here? If dad finds out you're here, I'll get in even more trouble!" Alan said, his voice a mix of anger and shock.

"Relax, he won't know I was here. He sent me to pick up some dry cleaning and papers from the office and I got a rental car." Gordon said before brushing past Alan to deposit the box of stuff on the table inside the door. "I also brought you some stuff that you've told me that you've missed from the house. Like Onaha's hot chocolate mix. Onaha however knew I was coming this way and she gave me some goodies to give to you." Gordon removed a glass jar of cocoa powder that Onaha mixed with a variety of spices to make her own.

"Onaha knows?" Alan asked, worried that the matronly housekeeper would spill Gordon's secret thereby marking Alan to get in more trouble.

"It was her idea that I bring this box of stuff to you. She swore she wouldn't tell dad or anyone else that she was sending me on an errand. But she did conveniently forget to pick up the dry cleaning, so she'd have an alibi for telling dad that she'd forgotten. And I was kind enough to be her errand boy." Gordon said with a play bow. "So, can I come in little brother or am I going to be forced to stay on your doorstep for the remainder of my longed for but short visit?"

"Get in here." Alan said as he grabbed his brother's bicep and pulled him in before he shut the door. Gordon had only just sat down when Alan's phone rang. Gordon laid down so as to be out of view and he sighed in relief when he heard Fermat's voice. Though it did pique his interest that Alan and Fermat were talking. He wasn't aware that his little brother and the island's youngest genius had developed a rapport with each other. When Alan hung up with Fermat, he was instantly grilled by his brother.

"So…Fermat. I thought you said you'd never make friends with the little nerd?" Gordon inquired with a smirk, instantly seeing Alan get defensive.

"Don't call him that. He's not a nerd. He's my friend." Alan said, looming over Gordon who was reclined back against Alan's bed, propped up on his arms. Seemingly satisfied that his older brother wasn't going to further dis on his younger friend, Alan took a seat at his computer desk. Gordon rolled his eyes before using his foot to push the box from Onaha towards Alan so he could dig through it. When Alan finally started unearthing things from his 'care package' he couldn't help but to smile. It made him happy to know that despite his distance from the island home, people did care that he hadn't been able to come visit.

"I didn't get to see Fermat before I left, I actually spent the night at the penthouse. So what changed your mind? I mean, I heard you say you were never going to befriend him and now suddenly you're buddy-buddy with him. I can't help but wonder what you've got up your sleeve." Gordon said, leaning back to cross one leg over the other.

"You know you don't have to say it like I'm some criminal mastermind plotting to take over the universe. And for the record, no I don't have anything up my sleeve. The friendship we've developed has been nothing but honest. He's truly a neat guy once you get around the intelligent mumbo-jumbo and the stutter. He's got a great sense of humor and he's also got similar likes." Alan said before he spotted a book from Tin-Tin. It was one she said she would loan to Alan to read sometime and Alan felt touched that Onaha had thought to include that for him. "So, tell me how everyone is doing. I know dad probably wants to kill me."

"Not kill you, but he's mostly been quiet. Dad doesn't talk to me about how he's feeling or if he's mad. According to Virgil, I'm not serious enough for him to talk to. That's why John or Scott are his sounding boards and not me or Virgil." Gordon said before he leaned forward. "As for how everyone is, besides dad being quiet, Scott just seems to brood all the time, John is a deep-thinking space cadet, Virgil is still breathing art and music like it's air and I'm going stir crazy without my second in command by my side."

Alan rubbed his eyes with a yawn but still he stood up to put his box of stuff on his desk. Gordon however didn't stay long, only staying long enough to drop off the box of goodies and visit with Alan a couple minutes before deciding he'd stayed too long and to avoid detection he'd best get going. Gordon grabbed Alan in a quick hug which became a chokehold to which Gordon gave Alan a noogie before letting his little brother up. Alan returned the earlier hug before he tried to give Gordon a wet willy to which Gordon avoided like a pro.

"I'd better get going. Dad could start to wonder why his favorite suit isn't back from dry cleaning." Gordon said before he saw himself out. His parting words to Alan however made Alan a little puzzled. "Be good and try to stay out of trouble."

"I'll try." Alan said softly as his bedroom door clicked closed.

… … … … … … … … … … …

Over the next couple days after Gordon's impromptu visit, Alan's thoughts were plagued by questions of if his dad was disappointed in him for getting involved with Fermat. Not to say that since they'd become friends that life was any different. Alan still defended the smaller man on the totem pole so it's not like his being friends with Fermat was making his record look any worse. Just now Alan was defending the same person more than once from everything simply because he was weaker physically and couldn't defend himself from bullies that harassed him daily.

Alan thought over his being friends with Fermat and asked himself if it was a good idea many times over the last couple weeks and it was the only idea that came to mind as he knew Fermat wouldn't last long if the bullying continued. Fermat Alan knew was a fragile soul and he wasn't thick skinned like Alan was. For heaven's sake when the students were gossiping about Fermat after he'd helped Darren cheat on his assignment, the rumors nearly drove Fermat to distraction.

By the end of the week, Fermat had returned as had the other students from their weeklong spring break. Alan was happy to see his friend, but he wasn't happy to see Darren. Of all people to be permitted to go home Darren was given the opportunity instead of Alan. Not that Alan cared, sure he'd have loved to see his family, but he'd have two short months more before he'd get the opportunity to return for summer break. Fermat greeted Alan with a smile before he immediately took his satchel off from his shoulders to remove a food storage container.

"It's f-from Onaha. She said y-you needed to f-fatten up b-before you c-come home n-next or s-she won't let y-you leave t-the dinner table." Fermat said before he handed Alan the food which was a slice of apple pie. Alan couldn't help but to smile as he accepted a plastic fork from Fermat before sitting down at his computer desk to enjoy one of his favorite guilty pleasures.

"Thanks Fermat." Alan said before he looked up at Fermat to see him looking around the room, almost guiltily. "What's wrong dude?"

"N-Nothing…just t-that my d-dad has b-been trying to t-talk me out of o-our friendship." Fermat said, head sinking lower on his shoulders the longer he spoke. "H-He d-doesn't t-think y-you're a g-good i-influence o-on m-me."

"I can understand that." Alan said, gazing sadly down at his now empty bowl. He appreciated Fermat's friendship and he didn't want to lose that because Fermat's dad saw him as an unfit friend.

"But y-you're my f-first friend! I d-don't care t-that my dad d-doesn't like o-our b-being friends!" Fermat argued, his eyes narrowing in anger.

"Fermat, I know you don't like it. But maybe we should at least pretend to our fathers that we're not friends to let them believe they're controlling who we're friends with." Alan suggested knowing that Fermat didn't want to hide their friendship like some sordid affair. "I know you don't want to hide it anymore than I do, but maybe we should at least let our families think they've got us. We can still be friends, but just not in direct view until our families come to accept our friendship."

Fermat seemed to visibly cave in on himself at the idea that they'd have to pretend like their friendship didn't exist. It wasn't what either boy wanted, but they'd have to do something to get their fathers off their backs.

"It'll all work itself out in the end Fermat, just have patience and things will get better." Alan said trying to soothe Fermat's stung nerves. "Anyway, thanks for the apple pie…I've got another workshop with Mr. Zurlo that I've got to get to."

"Mr. Zurlo? W-Why are you d-doing workshops w-with him?" Fermat asked, surprised to hear that Alan had to basically spend their weeklong spring break in the chemistry lab. Mr. Zurlo was not exactly the most lenient professor rumored on campus, he had very rigorous assignments that tried even the smartest students. If Alan had to spend his spring break with Mr. Zurlo, Fermat couldn't help but to feel pity for his friend.

"It was my punishment for spring break, he's not too bad though. I mean you know he is meticulous, but he's got good reason to be. We are handling extremely dangerous elements when combined which could have horrible ramifications if something is added incorrectly." Alan said before he stood from his desk to gather his notebook. "Anyway, I'd better get going. Mr. Zurlo said he'd make this extra credit for me if I can continue to attend through the end of spring break to help him with the experiments before we do them in class."