"I still don't understand" Donnie said softly, turning his back to Nate who suddenly appeared in his doorway.
"I don't either Donnie." Sean said with a sigh. "Dylan is stubborn though, he won't say why, he just told me to leave you be for a while."
"Your brother always has a reason."
"Doesn't help, does it?!"
"No." Donnie hesitated a moment: "Is he mad at me for something?"
"What?! No! You haven't done anything and Dyl knowns it. I don't think he wants me to see King and Chris though."
"Why?!" That sounded even more unlikely to Donnie.
"He has some kind of history with them."
"He has?! I thought he didn't know them."
"So did I. Anyway, I can hear Dylan outside so I have to end this, I'll call later though."
"Okay, try to get him to talk. We need to find a way around it."
"I will, bye."
"Bye"
Donnie turned back around towards his brother who had yet to leave the room.
"So much for everything being alright."
"Dylan says Sean can't come over anymore."
"Why?"
"Because he knows King and Chris, that's all I know."
"That's no reason."
"It is if he doesn't feel welcome around here."
"Has he told you that?" When Donnie shook his head Nate continued: "Then don't assume that is the real reason."
"It probably is, you know how scary Chris can be."
"I also know how nice he can be. All I'm asking you to do Donnie iss to not jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts. Nobody likes to be accused of something."
"You probably think I should talk to them and that that will solve everything once again."
"I don't. Not this time. As I said nobody likes to get accused and whatever it is is between them and Dylan, not Dylan, Sean, you and them. Do you understand me Donovan?"
"Yeah."
"A little more sincerity would be nice."
"Yes sir."
"You better remember Donnie because I don't like repeating myself."
-Principals and mentors-
"Sean." Dylan sighed when he received no response from his brother. "Sean, let me in."
"I'm busy."
"Doing what?"
"Making your life miserable." Dylan opened the door and gave his brother an unimpressed look.
"I've told you a hundred times that that isn't my intention buddy. I just don't feel comfortable with you around King or Chris and I know they feel the same now that they know who I am. I'm sorry Sean, but I can't let you go over there, not even with Dylan."
"Whatever."
"Sean." The only response Dylan got to that was Sean returning to his book. Giving up Dylan started for the door when Sean's voice caught him off guard:
"What do they think you did?"
"I did it. All three times. But not for the reason they think."
"Why did you do it then?"
"I had my reasons Sean."
"As long as you don't tell me you can't expect me to understand."
"I still think it was the right thing to do Sean, I hope that helps you understand."
"No."
"Bud…"
"I get that you and they don't get along, but what does that have to do with me and Donnie?!"
"I told them you'd be staying away from Donnie."
"Why?"
"They told me I wasn't welcome near Donnie anymore, you are the mini-me, I'm sorry Sean, but you know what that means." Dylan saw the exact moment the words sank in. Sean's face went blank before he tried to cover up the hurt that followed.
"Go away." The words were choked up and Dylan was at loss of what to do. "I said go!"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry"
"Just go." When Dylan was out of the room Dylan started sobbing. He had believed them, every single word. They had even given him a nickname. He wasn't sure whom he was angrier at; Chris and King for the way they had treated his brother, or Dylan for messing up what he had going for him.
-Principals and mentors-
Donnie sat at the dinner table picking at his food. The conversation flowed on around him, but he didn't pay attention to it.
"Donnie?"
"Huh?"
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Donnie shrugged his shoulders. "Buddy?" King's tone was more insistent this time.
"Sean."
"When is he coming over?"
"He isn't." Donnie stated flatly.
"Did you two have a fight?" Chris asked.
"Noup."
"You do know he is welcome over here?!"
"I do."
"And he doesn't?!" Chris asked having caught onto what Donnie was truly saying.
"I'm not sure."
"Dylan?" Chris asked grimly.
"He says Sean can't come over anymore."
"That's his right buddy." King said before Chris could answer.
"I guess."
"What is it Donnie?"
"Nothing."
"Do we really have to go over the rules again?!"
"No sir. I spoke to Logan who told me what Dylan refuses to say: what you two don't agree on."
"And you think we are being unfair?!"
"Nate says I'm not to judge."
"How much do you know?"
"Logan didn't know much except that Dylan had a good reason for everything he did."
"He has never told us the reason and that is why we don't trust him around you Donnie. We never said anything about Sean though; it was Dylan's own idea to keep you two apart and unfortunately there is nothing we can do about that."
"There has to be! Can't you and Dylan sit down and talk or something?! It's not fair to me and Sean!" Donnie shouted.
"It's not, but the decision to talk has to be Dylan's. We can't force him Donnie."
"So you are simply going to sit there and watch me loose my best friend?! Unbelievable!" Donnie stood up and ran to his room, hearing Nate calling for him but ignoring it. If they weren't going to do something, he would have to do it himself, he wouldn't lose another friend, he couldn't.
-Principals and Mentors-
"What are you doing?" Nate's tone suggested that whatever Donnie was doing was ridiculous to say the least.
"I'm packing up and going home."
"Mom and Dad aren't back yet."
"I know."
"Donnie, no. You can't."
"Then I'm going to Sean."
"Planning on moving away from us?!" King's voice echoed in the room, causing Donnie to freeze. "Donnie?" King carefully took the clothes Donnie currently held and placed them on the dresser before taking Donnie by the arm and leading him into his own bedroom and shutting the bedroom door behind them. "Care to explain?"
"You and Chris won't do anything." Donnie finally muttered, eyes on the bedspread.
"Eyes." Donnie's eyes snapped up on their own accord. "Now would you care to repeat that?"
"No." King's hand started massaging his shoulder and Donnie relaxed which made it hard for him to keep being angry. King didn't say anything for a couple of minutes, simply waiting Donnie out.
"You really need a haircut one of these days." King stated casually as he let his other hand run through his boy's fringe. "It's getting too long."
"Don't want one." Donnie muttered without any real heat.
"No?" Donnie shrugged his shoulders. "Scoot back against the headboard, bud." Donnie did that and was joined by King who threw one arm around his shoulders and drew him close. "I know it's frustrating, but I doubt it will last Donnie. Dylan will soon realise that the two of you mean more than his stubborn pride."
"Dylan won't back down easily."
"Then we might have to talk to Ethan and Nancy."
"But you said…"
"We said we wouldn't talk to Dylan since we already tried and he isn't ready for it. Ethan and Nancy are another matter."
"You really would do that? Dylan wouldn't be happy though."
"Dylan's happiness isn't my biggest concern; your is."
"Thanks. I'm sorry for earlier." Donnie looked up shyly through his fringe.
"Thankyou for apologising. Next time though; try to trust us and talk to us before deciding to do something yourself."
"Sorry."
"It's okay, bud." King brushed his hair away from his face. "Do we have an understanding now?"
"Yes sir."
"Good boy, now go apologize to your brothers."
"Yes sir." Donnie scurried of the bed, but not before King managed to land a firm swat to his backside.
"That was for the attitude." King called after the departing boy before sinking back down against the headboard and fished his phone out to look for the information he would need.
-Principals and Mentors-
Standing in front of the light blue house in the small clearing King thought back to the moment Chris had unwillingly came to him with the news:
-Flashback-
"King, have you got a minute?"
"Of course, son. What's on your mind?"
"Sean Connor, or to be more precise; his brother."
"Dylan?" Chris nodded and put down a rather thick folder on the table. When King's gaze turned questioning Chris explained:
"I knew the name sounded familiar but I couldn't place it at first."
"Have we met him?"
"More than once. Just open the folder King, it will explain it better than I could." King did so and got the surprise of a lifetime at the face staring back at him.
"Black Eye?!" King questioned. "I never thought I'd hear about him again after the last time."
"I don't think he is aware of his brother and us."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. Not if he is a as thorough brother as he is a thief."
-Flashback ending-
"Can I help you gentlemen?" The woman who opened the door carefully asked. She had blonde hair and was dressed in a casual outfit of jeans and a T-shirt.
"I'm Dwayne Pride and this is Christopher Lasalle." King introduced them.
"King, Chris." She recognized with a smile. "Sean went on and on about you the other day, you've really made an impression on him. Come on in."
"Thankyou ma'am, we are happy to hear that." King responded.
"Please call me Nancy."
"Only if you call us Dwayne and Chris."
"Deal" She smiled and showed them into a bright living room overlooking part of the surrounding forest. "So, what brings the two of you all the way out here?"
"We would like to have a word with you and your husband as well as Dylan if possible."
"Unfortunately, Ethan is at work right now, he tries not to work weekends but there was some kind of emergency he needed to tend to at work."
"And Dylan?"
"Dylan left a couple of hours ago, he and Sean has been fighting all morning so he needed some fresh air."
"Did they tell you what they were fighting about?"
"No, but I get the feeling you might know."
"We have a pretty good guess at least. Did he tell you were he went? We can chat without Ethan if needed, but Dylan is a key part of the conversation we need to have." In truth King and Chris were wary of Dylan's reaction to his foster parents letting Sean and Donnie meet against his wishes, so they wanted to be there if things got ugly.
"No, he didn't and truth to be told I'm surprised he isn't back yet." Kings phone suddenly rang and he answered it after checking the caller ID"
"Yeah?"
"Can you describe him?"
"Yeah, we'll be there in half an hour, keep him there for me. If necessary, have the guards detain him in my office. And switch out everything he orders to non-alcoholic-he isn't close to 21 yet. Thankyou."
A/N: If you are curious about Sean and Dylan there will be more information revealed about them in Typical Teenagers so check that story out if you haven't yet. There will also be a lot more information in the next chapter where their past will be revealed. It will definitely get ugly before it gets better though, and who is at Delilah's? Any guesses?
It has been raining almost non-stop here and it won't let up for some time so if you know any great fanfictions I could read ( preferably discipline fanfictions of some kind ) I would be very thankful for some suggestions!