A/N: Thank you to those that have left reviews, this story is almost finished - one more chapter left. I'm working on another update for A Broken Wing, work has been insane the last two weeks and I've been too tired to do much writing during my six day work weeks. As always, please leave a review if you like my work - no flames.
I do not own the Thunderbirds - they are the property of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson.
The first month dragged for both Fermat and Alan. The latter of the two was being kept busy on the farm all summer and he welcomed the surprise visit from his brothers when they all came out to see their grandma. Alan was rendered speechless however when he was called in from the field by his grandma and came in to see not only his brothers but Fermat. The younger boy waved, and Alan walked forward to give Fermat a high-five until he realized his hands were filthy from working in the field.
"What are you doing here Fermat?" Alan asked in astonishment.
"Your d-dad suggested t-that I take a-a break f-from the island a-and go out f-for a couple d-days and y-your brothers v-volunteered to b-bring me on t-their way t-to visit you a-and your g-grandma." Fermat explained.
"Your dad accepted my dad's suggestion despite his dislike of me?" Alan asked, his astonishment becoming curiosity.
"Yeah, I might have had something to do with it though." Virgil said with a shy grin as he raised his hand, volunteering himself to Alan's probable ire.
"What did you say to change Brain's mind?" Alan asked in surprise.
"I just suggested that it'd be good for Fermat to get away from the island for a few days and we'd be more than happy to let him tag along in our visit to our grandma's. Fermat's dad wasn't exactly privy to it at first but then he changed his mind when dad said it'd be healthy for Fermat to get away from the island so he didn't become a hermit." Virgil said as he walked over to hug his grandmother. "And grandma might have played a part in it too."
"Grandma?" Alan inquired with surprise.
"I might have said that I wanted my other grandson to come out to see me as well. And Fermat's dad knows not to disobey me since he's known our family for many years. I'll have you know that he will call me 'mom' as well occasionally." Grandma said as she accepted a hug from Virgil and even went on to kiss his cheek.
Alan didn't focus too much on the how's or why's of the situation. He turned back to his grandmother and asked if he could grab a quick glass of lemonade before he went back out to work in the field. His grandmother was very accommodating, and she grabbed him a glass and tossed in some ice before she poured the lemonade drink. Alan drank it down like he'd never get another drink and with that he went back outside.
Fermat was a little peeved that Alan wasn't choosing to hang out with him, but his irritation was cut short when Gordon suggested they go outside to see what Alan was doing in the field. When they made it out onto the porch, Fermat saw that Alan was busy loading hay bales into a pickup truck with another boy. Fermat wondered who that was helping Alan and he had to admit that his curiosity got the better of him.
"W-Who is t-that?" Fermat asked as he pointed at the other boy.
"Oh, that's grandma's neighbor and his son. They come over to help grandma tend to her land when none of us are able to be here to help." Gordon explained as he led the younger to sit on the porch steps. "Alan and Nick actually don't like each other much. But they tolerate each other's presence for grandma's sake."
"R-Really?" Fermat asked, surprised that Alan wasn't best friends with this other kid.
"You sound so surprised. Alan likes to pretend he's friends with everyone, but he's not that popular." Gordon explained. "Once they're done, Alan will be back in for supper."
Gordon and Fermat sat and watched Alan and Nick heft hay bales up into the bed of the truck and Fermat wondered if this was what Alan did every vacation that he returned to his grandmother's homestead. When they finally finished in the field, Alan and Nick shook hands and Alan waved at Nick's dad Justin who was driving in the cab. Alan soon came back up onto the porch and noticed his immediate older brother and best friend sitting and looking out at the field.
"What's up?" Alan inquired, curious as to why he was being observed and Gordon took the initiative to explain.
"I was showing Fermat what you were doing in the field. He was curious if you were here surrounded by beauties and being treated like a king, I showed him that the only beauties you're surrounded by are in your dreams."
"I didn't need to know that, but thanks." Alan said before he used his arm to wipe away the sweat collecting on his forehead. "I'm going in to take a shower."
"I'd wash twice, you stink Sprout." Gordon quipped with a mischievous smirk.
Alan turned and stuck his tongue out before he went into the house. Gordon and Fermat heard grandma scold Alan for trying to sneak a cookie and the teenager laughed as he hurried out of reach of her wooden spoon. Gordon shook his head before he stood to go inside as well.
"You going to come inside? Or did you want to stay out here until supper?" Gordon asked from the doorway. The younger looked back before he answered.
"I t-think I'll stay o-out here for a-a bit." Fermat said as he gazed out at the field.
"Okay, but don't wander off. The cattle don't like most newcomers and have been known to charge, at least the bulls do." Gordon advised before he went inside. Fermat adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and gave a cough. The hay particles that hung in the air aggravated Fermat's lungs but he didn't want to go inside. He'd never been to Kansas before and he wanted to see the place that Mr. Tracy had grown up and the place that Alan went to every summer now that he was no longer required to live with his grandmother. Fifteen minutes later Alan came out with a milk jug filled with water.
Fermat looked at his best friend and smiled. He'd missed Alan and he was glad for the opportunity to visit without having to hide at the villa.
"How have you been Fermat?" Alan asked as he walked over to sit beside his younger friend on the steps.
"R-Ready to g-get back t-to school." Fermat replied honestly. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the time he got to spend with his father, it just felt suffocating being around his dad every single second of every day and he disliked not being able to tell his dad about the fun he and Alan got up to when they were away at school. He felt like if his father spent more time with Alan, he would see him in a different light than he did currently, and it made him mad that his dad wouldn't just accept Alan as his friend. Alan was not the monster that his dad thought he was. If Fermat were being honest, he thought he was doing better in school since becoming friends with Alan and having someone to call his friend. Not only that but there's been a significant drop in the number of times that Fermat was jerked around by Darren expecting him to complete his homework or other assignments.
"It can't be that bad." Alan said before he uncapped his milk jug and took a healthy swig of the water. Fermat watched his older friend with a raised eyebrow. Alan shrugged but didn't offer an explanation. "Maybe you'll get lucky and find someone else to be your friend and your dad won't have to worry that I'm being a bad influence on you anymore."
"Why w-would you e-even say t-that?" Fermat asked, a little offended like Alan didn't want to be his friend.
"Not because I don't value our friendship, it's just sometimes I think your dad wished I was someone else. Anyone else besides Alan Tracy." Alan said as he reflected on how he could better his behavior so that Fermat's dad could be a little lenient and thereby make it easier on Fermat so he could quit stressing.
"Dinner time! Boys come and eat!" Grandma hollered from the kitchen, her voice carrying to the porch where both teens were sitting. Alan stood and offered a hand to help Fermat up.
"Come on. With the other guys here, there might not be much left if we don't get in there." Alan said before he led the younger boy into the house.
… … … … … … … … … … …
The following morning, Fermat woke up early if his watch was anything to go by and he looked out his window as he watched Alan jump into the bed of the neighbor's truck. It was still dark out and Fermat wondered what Alan was doing up so early. Glancing at his watch he took notice that it was four thirty in the morning. He didn't have to wonder for long though what Alan was doing because he fell back to sleep. The next thing he knew it was later in the morning and the truck was back, Alan, Nick and Justin were all sweaty and covered in wheat particulates. Fermat jumped up and hurried to get dressed, disbelieving that it was after ten in the morning. When he ran out of the guest room, he was greeted by Grandma Tracy who asked him to help her take lunch out to the boys in the field. He ran over, taking the platter of sandwiches and the pitcher of lemonade for Grandma Tracy who grabbed a stack of glass cups, plates, a bowl of macaroni salad along with a Tupperware box filled with homemade cookies.
The young genius was surprised to find when he and Grandma Tracy stepped out on the porch that Alan's brothers had been outside helping in the field as well and he felt uncomfortable to know that he hadn't been out helping but inside sleeping the day away. Virgil ruffled Fermat's hair with a tired smile when the youngster was closer, and it made Fermat feel a little more included. Nick didn't respond and he kept to himself while he ate his meal.
"Hey Fermat, maybe when I get done with the field work maybe I can take you into town and we can get a milkshake. My treat." Alan said around a mouthful of food. Scott cuffed Alan for talking with his mouth full, but Alan didn't get upset. He turned with a cheeky grin before taking a healthy drink of his lemonade. Fermat nodded eagerly at getting to spend time with his best friend without having to hide. It got tiring keeping up pretenses that they weren't friends.
"I suppose you boys could take a break tomorrow from bucking hay, after all it's not like it's every day that you boys get to just hang out and be a couple of kids." Grandma Ruth said as she handed Alan a plate complete with macaroni salad and a cookie to go along with the sandwich he'd already begun eating.
Over the next few minutes, talking was kept to a minimum and before long Justin stood after he'd finished his lunch. "Thanks for the meal Ruth, but the boys and I need to get back to it so we can get everything done."
"I call shotgun!" Nick said as he pushed off the tailgate where he'd taken to sitting while he ate lunch. Alan stood from the porch and handed his grandmother his empty plate and hurried to join Justin and Nick with finishing their work. "Thanks for the meal Mrs. Tracy!"
Fermat was left with Grandma Tracy as the truck pulled away from the main homestead and returned to the field. Scott and his immediate younger brothers followed the truck on foot after at least helping Fermat and their grandma gather the soiled dishes. Fermat helped to haul the dishes inside where he and Grandma Tracy set about washing everything. The young genius was quiet but then Grandma Tracy asked him a question.
"So, Fermat; how's that fancy school treating you? Enjoying it?" Grandma Tracy asked as she handed Fermat a cup to dry.
"Yes, m-ma'am. It's a p-pleasure studying t-there." Fermat stammered.
"You know there's no need to lie to grandma sweetie. You can tell me the truth. What you tell me stays between the two of us." Grandma Tracy said with a smile, trying to encourage her pseudo-grandson to spill the beans.
"O-Okay, the s-school is g-great…" Fermat began but was intercepted by grandma Tracy.
"But?" She inquired, still trying to get Fermat to tell her how he really felt about that fancy school that her son convinced Hiram would be appropriate for his only child.
"It's s-sorely lacking i-in honest students and f-faculty that g-genuinely want t-their students to succeed." Fermat said hoping that he wouldn't have to admit to the bullying or the need to conform to avoid trouble.
"That was what I was afraid of. I had a feeling that school wouldn't be your cup of tea. But any attempts to sway my son were met with deaf ears." Grandma Tracy said.
"It h-hasn't been a-all bad t-though. Alan's b-been there a-and he's b-been one of m-my only f-friends in t-that place." Fermat said as he accepted another dish to dry. "Before A-Alan, I w-was alone, n-no friends t-to speak of a-and then w-without even t-thinking about it A-Alan was there a-and I d-don't think h-he intends o-on forgetting m-me."
"If there's one thing I know about my youngest grandson, it's that he is a true to the core friend that will always be there through thick and through thin. All of them for that matter. Their father raised them right. At least he and their mother raised them right." Grandma Tracy started before she led Fermat to the table. "As I'm sure you're aware, Alan's momma is no longer around. Much like yours."
"He t-told me that s-she died." Fermat said softly.
"That she did. She had Alan with her and had to take him to a pediatrician's appointment. He'd needed some shots and there'd been a bad winter storm that had been about to blow in. Alan's daddy tried to convince Lucy to reschedule Alan's appointment, but Lucy was nothing if not studious and she didn't want Alan to fall behind on his inoculations. So, she waited until Jeff had taken the boys to school and she took the other family car. There'd been a thirty-car pile-up and Lucy was killed when she got out of the car to get Alan. Another driver was driving too fast for the conditions and slid right into Lucy. She never stood a chance." Grandma Tracy said before she took Fermat by the hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You know your momma died as a result of a heterotopic pregnancy?"
Fermat shook his head mutedly. He thought he remembered his mom and dad telling him he was going to be a big brother, but he'd never actually been told how his mother died. Any time he mentioned his mother to his father, it never failed to make him emotional and so to spare his feelings, Fermat continued living in ignorance.
"Your mother was pregnant, another little boy. But neither her or your father ever dreamed of the other little life that was growing in her body. Only this other little life wasn't in the right location and she suffered a ruptured fallopian tube, causing her to hemorrhage internally. They made it to the hospital, but your momma was too far gone and there was nothing they could do to save either her or your brother. Your daddy was never the same after that. He was half of a whole and he pulled himself up by his bootstrings to save face and be there for you. Then he and Alan's daddy became thick as thieves as they were before they'd fallen out of touch with each other as people do when they move on and start families of their own. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, for either you or Alan."
"B-But my d-dad doesn't a-approve of our f-friendship. He d-doesn't want me to be f-friends with Alan, b-believing him to be a bad i-influence on m-me." Fermat said seeing Grandma Tracy shake her head.
"I know your daddy is a genius, but sometimes he can be as stubborn as a bull. And sometimes you have to take the bull by it's horns to make it listen. You leave your daddy to me. I'll deal with him." Grandma Tracy said with one final squeeze to Fermat's hand. "Now, why don't you take the bucket over there outside to refill the pigs' slop. Alan should be done here in a few more hours and then you two can go maybe catch a movie. Or hit the arcade. You might as well have some fun on this summer vacation."
… … … … … … … … … … …
The next couple hours went by particularly quick as Grandma Tracy kept Fermat busy with household chores, she asked him to help her change light bulbs she couldn't reach and gather the bed linens to wash then hang out to dry. Fermat would have to admit that he was having fun and now he understood why Alan didn't mind going every summer. It wasn't so bad. Then Alan returned from the field soon enough, having finished gathering bales of hay early with the added help of his older brothers. After a quick shower, Alan met Fermat on the porch. The younger gave his older friend a high five before both boys ventured off the porch with a promise to call periodically and check in. Grandma gave Alan a curfew of no later than nine PM. Alan and Fermat walked the half mile length of dirt road until they made it to the main throughfare. The road wasn't often traveled, Grandma Tracy lived three miles from town but the stretch of road was occupied mostly by neighboring farms, so traffic remained at a minimum unless someone not familiar was in town.
"So, d-do you like being h-here at your g-grandmother's? You s-seem more r-relaxed." Fermat asked, noticing how here Alan didn't seem to get in trouble unlike when he was away at school and this was a different side of Alan that he didn't get to see often if at all.
"Yeah, I like being here. Not as much as I like being at home, but it's nice here. Grandma's not as strict and I've got a decent schedule for helping her with farm work. But I also like being at school too despite popular belief. I mean, there we can just be friends and there's nobody really but the faculty to have to answer to. Being at home is nice, but I always worry that your dad is going to say something to make my dad mad and I don't want you two to be forced to move because your dad put his foot in his mouth."
"I j-just wish t-there was s-something we c-could do to c-change my d-dad's mind." Fermat said as he walked beside Alan. He turned his gaze to the vast fields, some with cattle roaming and others with horses or wheat and corn. Fermat tugged at the collar of his shirt, surprised at the warmth. He never imagined that Kansas was as warm as it was but the only difference was the Tracy island was more or less humid on a good day especially being surrounded by ocean meanwhile Kansas was dry. The heat was different.
"We'll figure out a way Fermat. Maybe we just have to let time take it's course and eventually your dad will come around. Besides, grandma said she would try to work some magic on him and if I know grandma, it's that she is nothing if not persuasive." Alan said before he led Fermat across the road to the hill that led down into town.
It took both boys about forty-five minutes to walk into town and by the time they made it Fermat was practically gasping for breath and Alan was watching him with a careful eye. Alan led them into a diner and there they were able to get a glass of water while they waited for the milkshakes they ordered. Alan paid for their milkshakes and following their stop for milkshakes, Alan led them down to the arcade. The boys had fun by the time the sun started to go down, the boys decided it was time to walk back to the homestead.
As the boys walked home, they started talking seriously about how to better handle the bully situation at the school when they returned for their following semester. Alan insisted they continue Fermat's lessons on self defense at the very least so Alan felt safe in leaving Fermat by himself if it came down to it. Alan already knew his class schedule for the following year and some of his classes would interfere in Alan being able to walk Fermat to his classes and Alan knew that could spell trouble for his younger friend.
"I j-just don't k-know Alan. M-My dad was m-making noise l-like he w-wanted me to b-be put in a d-different dorm." Fermat said, worried that his dad would follow through and would force the boys to be separate even in sleeping quarters.
"My dad won't let that happen. You know that if we're separated neither of us will be able to discuss IR operations because that would cause others not in the know to be made aware of our family's involvement. Dad would never allow something like that to happen and I think that was in his plan for offering to pay for your schooling. He knew your dad wouldn't be able to resist the idea of you getting a more than decent education and it would lessen the likelihood of someone not aware of our family moonlighting as IR. It's protection."
"M-Maybe." Fermat said before a vehicle honked from behind them. The boys both stopped and turned to see Scott driving their grandmother's truck.
"Hey, how about I give you a lift before it gets too dark for you to see." Scott said to which Alan and Fermat both clambered into the bed of the truck and sat on the tire well side by side so they could keep talking without yelling for the duration of the drive. The drive back the homestead took less than five minutes and soon the boys were following the oldest up unto the porch as he carried a small grocery sack. He walked in and handed his grandmother the arthritis relief tablets.
"You two boys have fun?" Ruth asked as she struggled to open the bottle Scott gave her. The oldest took the container back and popped the lid before handing it back to his grandmother. "Thank you, sweetheart."
"You're welcome grandma."
… … … … … … … … … … …
The weekend passed by entirely too fast if anyone asked Alan and Fermat. Both boys had fun in between working on the homestead property and when Scott asked Fermat the night prior to returning to the island if his bag was packed made both boys' smiles fall. Fermat immediately went quiet with a sullen shake of his head. Alan's shoulders dropped but he tried to maintain a picture of calm. Both boys knew the likelihood of a longer trip was unlikely, but they had hoped that things would go in their favor. Fermat stood from the table where he had been playing cards with Alan and Grandma Tracy and went to gather his belongings.
Alan felt guilty in a way for Fermat's behavior because he kept thinking that if he was the kind of kid Fermat's dad approved of then they wouldn't have to hide their friendship in plain sight. Each of Alan's brothers were now aware of his and Fermat's friendship and fully supported them hanging out. Scott hadn't understood why Alan and Fermat kept their being friends a secret and suggested unhelpfully that they just be friendly when around Brains and Fermat nearly choked on his retainer at the suggestion. He was just shy of freaking out while Alan worked to calm his younger friend down. Didn't mean that the oldest understood the dilemma either way.
Grandma Tracy suggested that Alan go and help Fermat pack his bag, including the few souvenirs that Alan helped him pick out for Fermat and Hiram back home. Not that the young genius thought that little gifts would put Alan in favor with his father. Once Alan and Fermat were out of the room, Virgil couldn't help but to heave a great burdened sigh. He didn't know how he could possibly talk Brains out of his disdain for his younger brother when even he knew that Brains was entitled to his opinion of his brother. Didn't mean that Virgil agreed with him. Granted he was biased seeing as Alan was his little brother. But either way, there wouldn't be much that Virgil could do or say to change Brain's mind. It would be up to Brains.
… … … … … … … … … … …
When school returned in session, Alan was pleased to find that he still shared a common dorm with Fermat. He walked up to greet his young friend as he hadn't gone back home before coming to the school. His flight from the homestead in Kansas to the private school was uneventful, Alan took the time to change into his uniform, so he didn't stick out like a sore thumb in his holey blue jeans and hand-me-down t-shirt that was ripped in places from jumping between the barbed wire fence to escape his grandmother's bull that had given chase a number of times. Fermat was happy to see him as was Alan. They both couldn't believe the summer had gone by so fast.
What neither of the boys thought of though was that Darren would still be enrolled. And to make matters worse, he was just down the hall. Fermat groaned under his breath as he dropped his head into his upturned palms.
"Hi there, F-F-Fur-Matt, looks like we get to be best friends again this year." Darren said as he walked up behind the young genius and wrapped him up in a tight chokehold. Alan saw the look on Fermat's face before he heard the squeak.
"Knock it off Darren, why don't you leave the kid alone? Didn't you get enough of him last semester?" Alan asked as he tugged Fermat away from Darren and pushed gently to the other side of Alan. Whether Fermat's dad liked Alan or not, the older boy was still making it his duty to defend the younger boy from the piranha's that existed in their school.
"What's your problem Tracy, your little puppy off-limits?" Darren asked, shrewd tone of voice that caused Alan's ire.
"You're the problem. Didn't you learn anything from last semester? Just stay away from Fermat." Alan said, before he turned to usher his younger friend away. "Come on Fermat."
Both boys left the area, not noticing the look that Darren was giving either boy and they went back to the dorm that they were assigned until Alan announced he was going to go to the stables to check on Freckles.
Fermat stayed where he was unpacking his room, it always made his transition from island to school life easier if he had most of his room organized at the start. Alan on the other hand had never really gotten his room unpacked, he got the necessity items out, but things he didn't absolutely need every day usually stayed in a box in his closet. That much Fermat knew just from observing his friend's habits and usually if he couldn't find something, he'd go digging in his closet. Needless to say that Fermat wasn't looking forward to another school year especially knowing that Darren would be attending most of their same classes. The young genius was hoping that maybe he could avoid Darren for much of the term unless the older boy got himself expelled.
Later that evening, after they had eaten dinner – Alan and Fermat had moved the desks in their common area putting them in the doorway of their bedrooms so they could spar and Alan could continue teaching Fermat how to defend himself. Fermat and Alan had to go back over some of the stuff Alan had previously taught him, as they hadn't been able to practice at all during the summer. By the time Fermat's lesson came to an end, the young genius was ready to fall into his bed. Alan promised he'd help Fermat move the tables and chairs back to their original places after he went to take a shower. Fermat was content to stay and work at getting everything organized.
Alan had closed the main door to his and Fermat's dorm and he went down the hall to get a shower. He encountered Darren leaving the bathroom and got shoulder checked, but Alan wouldn't rise to the challenge of exchanging more than a glare Darren's way. He didn't see a point, Darren was going to do what he was going to do and Alan was determined to not be the one to throw the first punch. He was not going to let Darren win.
… … … … … … … … … … …
Fermat and Alan were leaving class a week into the new school term and had separated at the path that led to the stables and Fermat hurried along to get to his study group, meanwhile Alan walked down to the corral. He didn't immediately notice anything was amiss but he turned none the less and got a fist to the face by none other than Darren who must have been following the older boy. Alan fell to the ground, cradling his face which was pounding in time to his heart.
"Damn, what was…" Alan groaned until he sat up to see what hit him. He barely had time to collect his thoughts before another strong hit knocked his lights out.
Fermat on the other hand was running ahead to his study group when a thought occurred to him that he forgot to tell Alan. He glanced at his watch, realizing he wasn't as late as he thought, and he slowed to a walk. Figuring it would be better than forgetting again, Fermat turned around to go tell Alan what he'd overheard their fathers talking about that gave him hope that his dad would lighten up on Alan.
As he ran down the path to the stables, he noticed Alan on the ground, his face bloodied up. Fermat paused for a brief second to understand what he was seeing until his legs began to move of their own volition. Standing over Alan, winding up to kick the other boy was Darren. Fermat felt anger to see Alan unable to defend himself and he tackled Darren. Both boys tussled until they were picked up and apart from each other by a couple teachers.
"That's enough both of you!" One of the teachers yelled before he opened his cell phone to call for help from security.
When one of the security officers arrived five minutes later, he saw Fermat standing off to one side with the teacher that pulled him off of Darren meanwhile Darren was kept quite a distance from Fermat and by proxy Alan who was laid out on the grass. The security officer knelt by Alan and tapped Alan's face to get him to come awake. The youngest Tracy groaned but stayed out for the count and the security officer gently picked the boy up. Once Alan was secured, the officer and the teachers walked back up to the school.
Alan's father was called right away to report that Alan had been knocked out and hadn't regained consciousness yet meanwhile Fermat was being seen to by the nurse as he'd gotten a few minor abrasions including scraped and bruise knuckles from punching Darren to defend Alan. Darren on the other hand was hauled to the Dean's where he was told he could no longer remain a student at Wharton's because of his need to stir up trouble where there was none. His father and mother came to attempt to talk the Dean out of such a decision, but the man made up his mind.
Jeff, Virgil, Scott and Brains were all there at the school so fast it would make heads spin and the Tracy patriarch was a formidable man, especially where his children were concerned. Virgil and Scott were by Alan's side and glad to have the opportunity to take their brother home for observation. Brains on the other hand looked at Fermat with disbelief. He couldn't wrap his head around how his son did what he did and he was a little disappointed that Fermat was caught fighting on campus again. Brains almost voiced it to Fermat but he showed concern for Alan instead when the boy came to and started to groan about having 'a hell of a headache'. Brains pulled his pen light from his jacket pocket and shone the light in Alan's eyes to test pupil reactivity.
"Well, I d-don't think h-he has a concussion…b-but it w-would be a g-good idea to w-watch him." Brains said as they waited for Alan to come awake. Brains escorted Fermat back to his dorm with the intention to pack a bag, meanwhile Scott followed to pack a bag for Alan as they were both being sent home for the rest of the week. Not because either boy was in trouble, but to give Alan a chance to recover and Fermat to calm down. The kid wasn't normally the first to respond with violence, on an ordinary day he usually thought first then decided. Today however, it was the complete opposite. Brains didn't know what to think. To say he was disappointed in Fermat would have been way off the mark. He wasn't disappointed, if anything he was stunned.
Once father and son were alone, he paused to ask Fermat a question.
"S-Son, please a-answer me h-honestly. Do y-you like attending t-this school? I-If you don't, w-we can l-leave the island s-so you can g-go to a r-regular school." Brains inquired, watching Fermat's jaw drop.
Fermat couldn't believe his father was actually asking him for his opinion. When he was first given the ability to attend this school, his father eagerly accepted Mr. Tracy's offer without consulting his son. He so badly wanted the best education for Fermat because he and his mother never got the same opportunities for themselves. Before becoming friends with Alan, Fermat hated that he had to attend this pre-ivy league school because he never felt like he felt in. Now that he had Alan to pal around with, it wasn't so bad. Truthfully, he enjoyed it.
"H-Honestly d-dad…I c-can't imagine b-being anywhere e-else than h-here. I m-mean, it's the k-kind of e-education you a-and mom a-always wanted f-for me. If y-you had a-asked me b-before, I'd h-have been o-on my hands a-and knees begging y-you to take me h-home. But n-now I like it h-here…and a-as mad as y-you will be t-that I've b-been lying. I'm f-friends with Alan, h-he's why I w-want to s-stay. He's t-the first friend I've e-ever had that w-wasn't just friends f-for his own b-benefit. He's s-smart, he's k-kind and he's b-been my protector. I'm n-not just the s-smart kid that e-everyone picks o-on. He m-makes me l-laugh, he b-breaks me o-out of my s-shell and m-makes me s-step out of m-my comfort z-zone. You t-think he's a b-bad influence, b-but he's been t-the kind of p-person I want to b-be. He's c-confident, he's f-funny and he's t-the kind of p-person who s-stands up for w-what he b-believes in." Fermat said, looking his dad in the eyes as he admitted to the friendship he'd been denying every time his dad asked. It was concern and embarrassment that kept him hiding his friendship like it was something he should be ashamed of. But he was tired of hiding.
"S-Son, why d-didn't you j-just tell m-me. You d-didn't have t-to lie." Brains said, disbelief that his son had been lying to him this whole year.
"Y-You wouldn't l-listen to m-me. You k-kept on t-telling me Alan w-was a bad i-influence on me, b-but you'd never l-let me explain t-that before A-Alan I'd never h-had a single f-friend at this s-school. And the f-first incident when I g-got in trouble f-for plagiarizing…I w-was writing a p-paper for a f-fellow student. He k-kept pushing m-me around and g-got me to w-write his p-papers for him t-to avoid t-the bullying. A-Alan just b-brought to light w-what I was d-doing, showing m-me how wrong I w-was. So in t-truth, I w-was the bad i-influence while A-Alan was t-trying to g-get me out o-of the bad d-deal." Fermat said, feeling the weight of a years' worth of lies lift off his shoulders though he knew that his admission would likely get him grounded into the next century. But if that was how things played out, then it was worth it. Just so long as his dad changed his mind about Alan and Fermat being friends. He was tired of keeping their friendship hidden and he wanted to be able to pal around on the island. Not just when they were at school. "Dad, p-please say something."
"When w-we get h-home, you're g-grounded. No v-visiting with A-Alan and I d-don't want y-you two s-sneaking around. I h-haven't made up m-my mind how I f-feel about y-you two b-being friends yet." Brains said as he shouldered the bag packed for the rest of the week.
With that both father and son left the dorm, Scott having already left because packing Alan's bag was easy as it was hardly unpacked. The pair made it back to the infirmary where Alan was finally sitting up albeit cradling his head in his hands. Jeff carefully helped the teen to his feet and escorted him along behind the group. Alan was unaware that he and Fermat's friendship had been outed and he didn't know that Fermat had just gotten himself in hot water.
