Noises were heard echoing from the main hall, soon followed by common bursts of laughter. Richard and The Gang huddled around in a circle, eating food and drinking beer Geoffrey had snuck in for them. It was the Christmas Dance, and everyone was eager to have a great time.
Warwick stood on the stage, watching them and occasionally, he would take a sip of his drink, amused and yet concerned.
They were all great friends, clearly, but Warwick couldn't help but feel something was going to happen.
Something that could tear them all apart…
"Hey, Hal!" Mercutio yelled suddenly. "Look at this!"
Warwick watched, along with the other children, as Mercutio suddenly moved to the very edge of the room, ran forward, and jumped 5 consecutive front flips in a row, landing on his two feet very close to Hal's face.
"Have you ever heard of a thing called, "personal space", Mercutio?" Hal asked, pushing his friend away slightly.
Everyone laughed, and Warwick smiled again, his worries suddenly forgotten.
Just then, the music suddenly started to play loudly around the room, and the all the school children in the hall and those coming in looked around shocked and confused.
Mercutio's eyes sparkled, and he grabbed Benvolio's hand.
"Come on, Bensy-Wensy! Let's dance!"
"No! Romeo, help!"
Romeo, standing next to Geoffrey, simply laughed and grinned. "Sorry, Ben! Can't help you!"
"HELP!"
From across the hall, George watched Mercutio's attempt at getting Benvolio to dance, and sighed.
He hadn't wanted to come. His mother, Mary, was at home, after another long stay at the hospital for Cancer. He hoped that she wouldn't have to go back there, but he knew that she would be safer there, in the hands of experts.
He never knew his father. John Milton had died in a car accident just after he was born. Some bastard speeding had gone spinning on the road one cold December night, and had hit his father's car. He was killed almost instantly.
George had been only six months old.
Since then, his mother had to support for him and herself, and as soon as he was old enough, he started to help her with the shopping, washing up, and cooking everything.
He never really had a proper childhood…
Then his mother was diagnosed with Cancer almost four years ago, and George had been only 12.
Since then, he had taken on the role and responsibility that an adult had to do. He did all the cooking, shopping and cleaning, though sometimes Mary would insist that she'd do some work, but George was firm and stubborn. He didn't''t want his mother to do any work. She needed rest. Rest and then she would get better.
She would get better right?
George shook his head. Of course she would. She had to. If she died, what would happen to him? He'd be an orphan. Would he have to go into foster care?
This was a mistake. He had to go home to make sure she was ok.
Picking up his guitar, George turned around to go, when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.
"George?" He looked up to see Warwick looking down at him concerned. "Where are you going in such a hurry, son?"
George blinked, stunned, and gently pulled away. "I was going to go home. To check on my mother."
Warwick nodded. He knew about George's family, and was very concerned for the young lad, who was forced to grow up too quickly, and he bent down to his level, like he was a boy of four.
"Your mother's ok, George. She has Lennie's aunt to look after her."
"But she's busy looking after him."
Warwick looked around. "Isn't Lennie here?"
George bit his lip nervously, desperate to get away. He hadn't seen Lennie since break that morning. He hadn't wanted to. He wanted to hide away and pretend that the whole incident had never happened.
But he couldn't, and that made the anxiety worse.
"He's… coming."
Warwick frowned. "You hesitated."
"He's coming. He with his aunt at the moment."
"Doesn't he go around with you?"
George bit his lip even more.
"He's with his aunt."
Warwick looked concerned. "Has something happened, George? Between you two?"
George's head snapped up, eyes wide.
"No!" he cried, causing Warwick to flinch. "No! Nothing's happened! Wh- wh- why are you all accusing me of something?!"
"We haven't-" Warwick tried to say, but was cut off again.
"Why can't you just stay out of my mother's life?! Why can't you just leave me alone?!"
The Gang and other children started to turn their heads towards the yelling, confused. Over by the drinks table, Edouard and The Allies grinned. Prince motioned for Elizabeth to press the play button on the phone Rosaline and she had used, spying on Harry and George at break, and the music suddenly cut off and died away, as the new sound echoed across the hall.
"How does Lennie feel towards you?" Harry could be heard saying
"Like a brother," George then replied. "He said so himself."
"Have you ever told him you loved him?"
"All the time."
"And how does he react?"
"He says: 'Like a brother, George?' and I say, 'Yes, Lennie.'"
"Have you ever said no?"
"No? No, I never have."
"Why don't you then?'
"What, say no to him? He won't understand? What will I say to him?!"
"Tell him the truth," Harry said firmly yet simply.
"Are you serious?! Lennie doesn't know about same gender love. It confuses him."
Students and teachers alike turned to look at George, whose face was now pale white. Edouard started to laugh, and his voice carried across the room. One by one, other students began to laugh.
"There are many males out there in the world who like other males. It's called Homosexuality, George. Or 'Gay,' as other people call it." Harry's voice was clearly heard saying.
"What will I do? What will I say?" an anxious voice replied.
Harry's serious voice could then be heard saying:
"Do you love him?"
"Yes. Yes, I do."
"Then you needn't be afraid of loving someone just like everyone else does. Be proud of who you are."
Warwick looked over at George, who was shaking and shivering all over. Un beknowest to him, Lennie had just been dropped off by his aunt, and was standing outside the door. Listening and shocked.
"My name is George Milton!"George's voice announced."I'm 16 ½ and I live in Middleham, England. I'm in love with Lennie Small, my best friend, and I am proud to say it! I'm proud to admit it!"
The hall erupted in jeers and sneers, and George could hear students laughing at him, pointing…
"Queer!"
"Faggot!"
"Poof!"
"Nancy!"
"Queen!"
George's eyes filled with tears as more and more students joined in on the teasing. The Gang looked at him sympathetically and heartbroken, and Mercutio jumped up onto the stadium, and snatched a microphone.
"Hey, you lot!"
The students turned to look at him.
"Who do you think you are? Are you big? Tough? Making fun of those different to you? You have no right to tease different people for who they are! Those who do have no life! You only pick on those because you are bullied yourself! Why bother? Honestly. WHY BOTHER? Are you one of those little scumbags who hide in the shadows, nothing better to do? You should all be ashamed of yourselves! It's Christmas: the time of being together and being happy! You make me SICK! None of you deserve presents this year, you greedy, vain, spoilt little SH*TS!"
The hall gasped, and Mercutio looked over at the others.
Hal suddenly shock his head.
"Yeah!" he cried, jumping up to join his friend. "You should all be ashamed! You are poor excuses of humans! And-" he pointed, and the students turned to look, "especially YOU: Edouard of Lancaster! You spoilt mummy's boy!"
The crowd burst into laughter and jeered at Prince instead. Edouard blushed furiously.
"You don't deserve to be Lancaster's Heir! The real heir-" and he spun round and pointed at Henry, "is Tudor!"
The students turned again.
"Me?!" Henry squealed. "I'm last in line!"
"But-" Hal said, "you deserve it more. You're kind, and you care about your friends. You don't bully, and you don't swagger the fact in people's faces like he does."
"But personality doesn't count. Succession does!"
"Well we'll just change it!" Hal cried, and sauntered back up the stage again.
Mercutio grinned. "It's Christmas! Don't hate! Love!"
With that, he spun around, and motioned to the music player. "Hit it!"
Christmassy music began to play, and students began to dance.
George watched as a large crowd of students began to walk over to him, and slap him on the back.
"Sorry about that, man."
"We didn't know what we were saying."
"It's okay to be different."
"We won't tease you again."
George felt tears spill over his checks, but they were ones of happiness and he smiled.
"Th-th-thank you!" he exclaimed.
The crowd then turned around. "Let's get him!" one shouted, pointing at Prince. "Get the Mummy's Boy!"
The crowd charged full tilt at Edouard, and the latter screamed and ran off, yelling: "MUMMMY!"
The Gang fell into fits of laughter.
Mercutio and Hal came down from the stadium, getting pats of the back and cheers as they walked past.
George approached them, and hugged them both. "I can't thank you enough! Thank you!"
The Gang circled around him. "You're our buddy, George!" Mercutio smiled. "We stand up for one another! Right guys?"
The Gang cheered. "All for one!" Richard yelled.
"And one for all!" the others replied.
Warwick approached the group. "You know Hal, Mercutio, that was very brave of you, but you were discriminating on someone else!"
Hal and Mercutio looked at each other, gulped and exchanged worried glances.
Warwick sighed. "Just… I'll speak to you two later."
With that, he walked off, and Mercutio and Hal looked at each other, surprised.
"Wow. I thought we'd really have it!" Mercutio cried.
"Me too!" Hal exclaimed.
"Just consider yourselves lucky guys…" Richard said. "Warwick's usually not that lighthearted."
"Yeah! We know!"
George smiled to himself and turned around.
Lennie stood there by the door. Shocked and surprised. George bit his lip, but then smiled, shrugged his shoulders, threw back his head and laughed. Laughed more than he'd ever done before.
And Lennie smiled and laughed as well.
God this took AGES! Sorry I haven't been updating much, but I hoped this made up for it! :-D
We'll find out more about the party in the next chapter! Stay tuned!