Chapter Three- Robin's Birthday.

Robin came flying into the common room and tossed a ball of paper at each of his friends. Confused, and in some cases rather annoyed, they unscrewed the paper to find invitations to Robin's 18th birthday party. He would be the first of the gang to turn 18, so was having a party at his house, since no one else would be able to drink in a bar.

"So, everyone's coming right?" he was jumping around like an excited child.

"Yeah I guess." Much muttered, rolling his eyes sarcastically.

"Yeah."

"I'm in."

"It is free beer right?" Allan grinned.

"Count me in."

"What about you Will? Coming to my party?" Robin looked at him expectantly. Will had been his friend since first school, and it was killing Robin to see him in this state and not know what was bothering him so much.

"I'll see. I'm not sure if my dad will let me break curfew again." It seemed to bother him that he was the only one with a curfew, the others stayed out all night sometimes, but then he was also the only one in a children's home, so why bring it up now? The others watched him closely as he rummaged in his bag for his mobile. Staring at the display he smiled and flipped it open.

"Dad? What's up?" he covered the mouthpiece with his hand and mouthed 'I have to go'. "that's brilliant. When? Oh my God that's amazing."

They watched him as he left, puzzled.

"You'd think he hadn't spoken to his dad for months the way he smiled when he saw who was calling him." Much remarked offhandedly.

"He hasn't." everyone turned to look at Charm, who had rejoined the gang, ever since her disastrous date with Gisborne at the Fall Prom last month. "He hasn't spoken to his dad since before the summer break, since about April in fact."

"But how, they live in the same house, and now Luke's gone it's not like he has to compete for his dad's attention." Djaq was concerned, Will was keeping something from them.

"He's not been at home." Marian spoke up, ready to unburden herself of Will's secret. "Will told me last week that he's been in care since his mum died. The Social Services didn't think his dad was financially secure enough to care for him."

"His mum died? When?" Robin was in shock, his friend had been suffering through all of this and hadn't even told them. Everyone suddenly felt very guilty, why hadn't they paid more attention to him?

"End of March. And then someone reported his father to the Social, said that Will looked mal- nourished and that his dad wasn't working, and then they took him into care at the start of April." Marian closed her eyes to stop herself from crying. A wave of relief washed over her, followed swiftly by guilt. She had broken Will's trust, but at the same time, at least the others knew now.

"How could he have been going through all of this and not told us? I don't get it." Allan was really angry now, angry at Will, his so called best friend, for not telling him what was going on in his life, especially when things were this serious.

Just at that second Will walked back into the common room and dropped his phone back in to his bag. He looked around, wondering why everyone looked so serious. His eyes fell on Marian, who looked at him and mouthed 'sorry.'

"You told them? I can't believe it. I fucking trusted you and you told them! I hate you."

"Will I'm sorry but I thought they had to know. It's just... well... we're all worried about you. We hardly see you anymore, you never turn up to classes, when you go out, you leave really early. I had to tell them." she tried to hug the distraught lad but he pushed her away.

"Leave me alone you slag. Just fuck off."

"Will, there's no need to fucking talk to Maz like that. I can understand you being pissed off but don't take it out on us." Charm stood up and looked him square in the eyes.

"Fuck off back to Gisborne." he shot back, knowing it would cut her down.

"Will Scarlet, what the fuck has gotten into you?" Robin had had enough. He couldn't stand seeing his friend in such a rage. "Calm down. Talk to us."

"No because you don't understand."

"We can try." Allan raised his eyebrows at Much, trying to urge him to shut up, this was Will and Robin's battle, they had to fight this out between the pair of them.

"How can you try to understand what it's like to always be the one everyone picks on, leaves out, and beats up?" Will was close to tears now. They just didn't get it.

"Is this about Gisborne and Carter? Cos you know me and Allan can always go sort em out for you?" Robin watched as Will turned away from them.

"There's more to it than that. It's not just them."

"What do you mean?" Much was completely baffled by all this by that point.

"Can you girls leave us to sort this out?" Robin looked at Marian, Eve, Djaq and Charm, all of whom huffed and stropped out, Will was as much their friend as he was the boys. "Will what are you talking about?"

"You three. You pick on me and leave me out all the time. You obviously don't realise you're doing it." Will put his hands on his head. "For fuck's sake."

"What? When have we... oh... er right." Allan suddenly got numerous flashbacks of all the times they had blown Will out to spend time with the girls on group dates. "Sorry mate."

"When have we ever picked on..." Much interrupted Robin.

"Rob, you do it all the time. And you Allan. Snarky comments, pushing him outta the way, ignoring him, whispered conversations about him in front of him. I can't say I'm completely innocent, but you know." he shrugged.

"Apologise all you want but it's too late." Will sat down heavily.

Across the common room Gisborne and Carter watched the scene with interest, waiting for Robin, Much and Allan to leave Will on his own so that they could get in there while he was still pissed off. That would make an interesting fight no doubt.

As the others left, Guy and his crew swiftly surrounded Will and began laying into him. Much to Carter's surprise he landed a solid punch in Guy's stomach, causing the bigger boy to stumble backwards in shock.

"You'll pay for that Scarlet, trust me."

"And if I don't trust you?"

"Cheeky little prick ain't he?" Carter laughed before grabbing Will's arms an forcing them round behind his back. "Now be nice, before I turn very nasty."

"I heard that your daddy called you earlier? Good news was it?" Gisborne punched Will in the stomach, hard.

"Yeah, Social said I can go back and live with him, now that he's got a new job. I move back this weekend."

"What about Robin's party? Can't miss that now can you? Tut, tut, thought you were a loyal friend Will." Guy shook his head in mock concern. "It would appear someone has become rather selfish of late. Looks like another lesson is in order. What do you think Carter?"

"I think we should initiate the new guy."

"Or you could let my friend go before I seriously hurt your friend." Gisborne and Carter turned to see Robin, holding Vaisey in a similar fashion to the way Carter was holding Will. "On the count of three let him go, or I take Vaisey here outside and teach him a lesson that resembles the one you two taught Will last week."

Guy nodded, he couldn't risk Vaisey getting hurt, his parents would kill him.

"One..."

Carter loosened his grip on Will and Robin on Vaisey.

"Two..."

They both pushed the boys forward.

"Three."

They let them go and each walked back to their own gang. Will barged past Robin and Allan and stropped into the canteen.

"Will wait. What's up?"

"Don't bother trying to be all friendly now Rob. It's too late."

"But you should be in a great mood, you're going back to your dad's this weekend mate. That's brilliant, right?"

"Oh right, so you're past talking about me behind my back, you'll just listen into my conversations instead. I'm not telling any of you anything anymore so just get used to the silence." Will turned his back on them and went to buy himself lunch, ignoring the girls as they called for him to go and sit with them.

XxXxX

Will was so happy. It was 6 pm Saturday evening and he was finally back at home with his dad. Dan Scarlet crept quietly into the front room and looked at his youngest son curled up on the sofa watching Tv.

"Will. Isn't it Robin's party tonight?"

"Yeah but I'm not going. We kinda had a fight at school."

"You should go. I'm sure he's over it by now. You two have been friends forever. Don't let one stupid argument ruin all that."

Will nodded, his dad was right. And if Robin brought it up, he would be the bigger man and just walk away. Standing up, he went upstairs to get ready.

Throwing open the doors of his wardrobe, Will shifted through his clothes until he found the perfect outfit. Looking at the clock he realised he had less than half an hour to get ready and get to Robin's, who lived 20 minutes across town.

Will pulled a pair of black skinny jeans and a My Chemical Romance tee. He scrabbled in the shoe cupboard downstairs until he found his beaten up black and green flecked Adio trainers. He pulled them on hastily and grabbed his black leather jacket from the hook.

"Dad, I'm off. I'm gunna take my bike. Ok?"

"Sur, but if you drink stay at Robin's. Don't drive back. Or ring and I'll come pick you up." Dan called from the kitchen.

"Sure thing dad." Will slammed the front door behind him and smiled to himself, it was good to be home.

He pulled up the garage door and starred at his Yamaha TDM900/A, he had missed this baby. Smiling as he pulled on his black and scarlet helmet, he laughed to himself as the machine roared to life.

"Let's get this over with then." he sighed as he set off for Robin's house.

The noise of the motorbike cut through Robin's house and sent everyone running to the front garden. They looked on in shock as Will climbed off the bike and pulled off his helmet.

"Hey guys wassup? You're acting like you've never seen a motorbike before." he laughed softly as he passed them all and went into Robin's kitchen, where he grabbed a beer from the sink and downed it in one. "What no one talking to me or summat?"

"Not being funny or anything mate, but are feeling alright? I mean first of all, you act like a complete twat at school on Thursday, then you didn't show up at all yesterday. And now, you ride up on a fucking motorbike and act like nothing's happened." Allan grabbed the second can of beer out of Will's hand. "And you're drinking, you never drink Will. What's going on?"

"Nothing. It's a party. Aren't you meant to be having fun or snogging Djaq or summat?" Will snatched the can back from Allan and winked at a passing girl, who smiled back and wrapped her arm around his waist. "Hey sexy, what's your name?"

The girl giggled, and Allan just starred as Will peeled off his jacket and dropped it on a nearby chair.

"Take a photo Allan, it'll last longer." Will grinned at Allan and raised his eyebrow as the girl lead him out the room, tugging his hand as she made her way to the stairs.

"Oh my fucking God."

XxXxX

Will rolled over and stared at the girl lying next to him.

"Morning sleepyhead," she murmured. "How are you this morning Will?"

"Tired, that was some party."

"I'll say. Look I gotta go, but call me yeah?" she tilted her head and pouted at him.

"Will do babe." he kissed her lightly on the lips and brushed past to get into the bathroom before Robin saw him.

"William Scarlet, why the fuck were you just leaving my sister's room?"

"Sorry dude. I didn't realise she was your sister until this morning." that only seemed to make Robin even more livid.

"Take your shit and get out, yeah?" Robin launched Will's clothes across the lading at him. "Fuck off Scarlet."

"I'm going, I'm going." Will muttered as he pulled his clothes on. He glanced at his watch, shit, he was meant to be meeting his dad at the café in 10 minutes.

He jumped on the bike and shot across time, pulling into the car park with minutes to spare. He sat down opposite his dad and ordered a strong black coffee.

"Good night then son?"

"Better than you could ever imagine." Will replied smiling.

There you go, a nice long chapter for you. R&R please.

BTW Will is not an Emo. I only picked out that outfit for him because skinny jeans are by far the easiest thing to wear when you are riding a motorbike and I just picked out MCR for the tee cos I saw one on the end of my bed.

Much Love

SxBx