I'm sitting in one of those really cheap plastic chairs outside Mr. Hartfey's office. It's my first day at school and I'm absolutely clueless how I managed to mess up on my first day. I bet Den's never done that before; mess up on his first day that is. I guess that makes me a record holder. Hoorah.
People walk buy the principal's office and eye me suspiciously, like I'm some kind of scum or something unpleasant in their plate of dessert. I just about die with embarrassment when Fin walks by. He stops right in front of me and his eyebrows are knitted in deep contemplation as if he can't work out why I'm here.
"Ice…?" Finland begins. He is clearly puzzled.
I avoid eye contact because it's too demoralizing to see my older brother severely disappointed in me. The bell rings, and I wait until I hear the sound of moving feet; the sound that Fin has left.
Inside the office, Hong Kong's sitting in a plush chair that faces Mr. Hartfey. I'm sure he's getting a good telling off, but since he's the new top scorer for the first years, he probably has it easy. He might even be blaming it on me. Smart fella, that guy.
Halfway through my wait, a man who's wearing baggy and faded denim jeans and a plain white shirt runs in to the office. He's wearing market sandals, and his charcoal black hair is tied back into a ponytail. He's too young to be Hong Kong's father, probably a brother. But I can't quite figure out why his brother would be sent down, I mean, Hong Kong should have parents, shouldn't he? His family can't be as twisted as mine. Or maybe it can. Who knows?
Then it's my turn.
It's scarier than I thought. I'm sitting in this oversized red plush chair that makes you sink in when you sit on it. The room smells like lavender air freshener and there's a sad, drooping potted plant behind the giant wooden worktable of Mr. Hartfey. The principal's pretty patriotic too because the only decorations on his table is a small stand with our country's flag perched on it and that amazingly annoying pendulum that doesn't stop swinging.
"So," Mr. Hartfey begins, "Iceland, I'm sure you're aware that vandalism is a serious offence in school and in public?"
I sniff. Of course I'm aware. I'm glowering slightly at Hong Kong. He dragged me into this mess! Ok, not entirely, it was optional, but I had a point to prove.
"It was a dare," I mutter under my breath.
"So you both say. Though I don't see what's there to prove," Mr. Hartfey says tiredly. His face looks about a hundred years older when he frowns and says solemn things like that.
"You don't understand! Hong Kong thinks I'm a wimp because I chose to ignore his intolerable rants in class! I proved my bravery by doing graffiti on the gym walls. He dared me too!" I appeal. Life is so unfair sometimes.
Mr. Hartfey shakes his head sadly and removes this gargantuan folder from one of his shelves. As he flips through the folder, he peers over the rims of his silver plated glasses and asks, "Class?"
"1-2," I say, resigned to my fate. This will definitely leave a mark on my record.
"Iceland huh," Mr. Hartfey says. He looks me over and adds, " the fifth brother I see. I understand you don't have parents in the same household anymore, so I will be calling the eldest brother in."
I nod. My throat is dry like parchment and suddenly, it feels like I've just swallowed a jar of dust. I'm dying for a glass of water.
Mr. Hartfey picks up the telephone that's been wired and installed on his desk. He dials the number for Den's cell phone, and we wait and wait. The ringing on the other end of the phone is distractingly loud, and my gut twists in anticipation. Even Den won't go easy on me.
After three failed attempts, Mr. Hartfey caves in. Den doesn't answer, and I am beyond relief. I let out a sigh of relief and this catches Mr. Hartfey's attention.
"Not so fast young man." Mr. Hartfey is fast in stamping out my hopes. " We'll call in the second eldest brother."
My heart sinks and my stomach flips. Since Den won't let me off the hook lightly; Sve will be even more unrelenting. He'll kill me, strangulate me and throw me into the river just beyond. The police will find my body, afloat and lifeless in a sully river. I swallow hard as the numbers are dialed, praying hard that Sve doesn't answer either. Too bad, because he does on third ring.
Angry does not begin to describe Sve. True, his face is like a stone with features etched in it, he doesn't show emotion; just like Nor. But you can feel it radiating off him. It's a dark, tense aura that makes you shiver as if the temperature's subzero. The principal has gone into a long speech on discipline and counseling. I'm baffled. I'm not that bad! And it's only my first time too…
"I'll talk t' h'm at h'me," Sve says, but his voice is so dark that not even Mr. Hartfey dares to challenge him. Scary.
ooOoo
I am dismissed from the office with a frowning Sve walking in front of me. Sve has to return to school while I need to return class. And how I hate to go to class now. Did I mention that I am in the same class as Seychelles? And unluckily, with that Hong Kong kid who just dumped a whole sack of trouble on my head?Well there. And nope, I'm not thrilled at all.
Sve turns to me aand he looks almost exasperated. "G'tta go t' school n'w. W'll s'ttle this at h'me."
I realize I'm in for it. Big time.
ooOoo
I'm having mathematics now, and we're doing algebra. All the numbers make my head spin and I'm wondering how Den could possibly love something so senseless. The even sadder part of school is that I have to sit next to genius Hong Kong, whom I haven't forgiven yet.
It was only a matter of time before he starts to disturb me, like the pest he is.
"Hey Ice, you haven't done a single question yet!" he teases.
I frown.
"What's the matter?" Hong Kong doesn't get it. I wonder how someone as dull as him could ever have been top scorer. " Ice…?"
I snap my head in his direction. Acid is boiling in my throat, threatening to spill. "What?" I snap, harshly. Who gave him the permission to call me 'Ice' anyway? I barely know him. And he's certainly not on my 'good' list.
"Woah, chill. You're so fired up. What happened? We were having a fun time just now, weren't we? Did Mr. Hartfey say something bad?" He's watching me with those secretive, emerald eyes, and I have to restrain myself before I poke them out with my ballpoint pen.
Fun? Great, he's not only slow but he also reads a dictionary that 99.999999% of the world population doesn't use. How is getting in trouble fun?
"Excuse me!" I snarl, " You've just landed me a whole load of trouble with my brothers, thanks to you and your dare!"
"Well your welcome." Hong Kong looks like he's about to laugh. " At least you're in trouble with your brothers. I'm in trouble with my parents! Isn't that worse?"
I feel like slapping him. His words kinda sting, because I want parents too. But it's not like I have any.
"I don't have parents!" I hiss. " Happy now?"
I'm trying not to be a bother to my brothers, but this idiot comes along and puts me in trouble straight away during lunch break. First day too, or do I have to reiterate?
"Sorry…" Hong Kong whispers as he returns back to his algebra equation. He can be sorry all he wants but he'll never understand what it feels like, with brothers too busy to care for you and no parents to run to.
ooOoo
When I reach the front gate, Nor and Fin are waiting for me. Fin's all smiles and laughs, but Nor is a complete different matter. He looks at me tryingly, analyzing me.
"Don't ask." I sniff before Nor has a chance to ask. He'll hear about it during dinner, I expect. When Sve and Den are back. Then I'll have a whole long night with Sve's lecturing.
Fin says Nor and I shouldn't worry that much. Sve doesn't scold much. It's easy for him to say that, because he's Sve's favourite brother. It's very obvious. Sve's inclined to give Fin some special treatment that nobody else gets. But we're not jealous. We're used to it.
It's only 3 o'clock when we return home. I slug off to my room without saying anything because there's plenty of time to talk when it comes to that. Fin is busying himself in the kitchen, preparing afternoon tea for us. He likes chamomile tea, so that's what he's probably making.
I've always been curious to how Den and Sve manages enough money to pay with school fees and house bills when they're both so busy with school. I'm aware that they work part time after school from 7 to 9.30pm. Then we have dinner at 10 ( I know it's late, but hey, that's how we work) . They must make enough money to cover us all the time, what with the groceries, stationeries, and clothing we still need to buy. But I don't fuss. I'm grateful for what I have.
I trudge up the stairs and into my room. Funny how I was so excited for school this morning and now I'm feeling completely stumped upon return. I fling my bag aside and launch myself onto my cozy bed. It's warm and inviting, and I think I need a rest from all that hubbub of the day.
I drift off as the kettle starts whistling below. I hear Fin open the squeaky cabinets to take out the jar of ice cubes. There's a clink of cups and then there's the sound of Fin opening the fridge. Probably to take out some home made butter cookies to go with the tea. The smell is tempting, and Nor is probably waiting in the kitchen. I'm too tired to bother though, so I just shut my eyes and fall asleep.
ooOoo
I wake up to the blaring music that buzzes from my phone. A noisy, heavy metal music erupts from the small mechanism and it's disrupting my nap. I look out the window with bleary eyes before I realize it's really late and I've just slept the day away. I pick up my phone and flick it open. My phone is a pretty navy blue colour, the metallic sort which makes it look cool.
The screen lights are blindingly bright and I'm dazzled by it for a nanosecond before I can fully register the words on the screen. I check the number ID to find that it's Den calling.
"'lo?" I mumble. I'm still half dead in the dream world.
"Hey Ice!" Den's voice is another sharp contrast to the peace in my room. There's a lot of squabbling and noises, and softly I can hear Den say 'shut up, Sve!'. "Ice? I'm at the pet store now. Gonna get you a parrot, or would a greenfinch be better? Robin? Sparrow? Your pick!"
Personally, I'd go for a puffin, but I don't think they have that at pet stores. It's still pretty neat for Den to do that though. Considering the trouble I've caused today. I'm sure he knows of it already. "Uhm, a parrot would be fine." I say slurring my words and I probably sound like Sve.
"Mm'kay! I'll see ya later then!"
The line clicks and hangs dead. Time to help out with dinner.
ooOoo
At 10 on the dot, both Sve and Den make it home, with a caged parrot screeching. Sve is sighing, and I'm pretty sure I know why he is. He doesn't think I deserve anything, what with being in trouble with the graffiti and all. I don't blame him.
We're seated at the table with warm slices of freshly baked bread on a centre platter. There's a steaming bowl of creamy garlic and potato soup. Little, fried potato wedges are heaped on a plate and a bowl of salad is set in the middle of the table. Fin's good at cooking, he's interested in food sciences. Surprise, surprise.
The table is awkward and silent after Den comes and gives me a bone-squeezing hug. He smells like chemicals in the school lab and pencil shavings. Weird. Then we're ushered to the table for a meal and then an awkward silence floats into the room.
Sve hasn't touched his food and he's staring at me intently.
"I can explain…" I begin dubiously, because you know, when people doubt you, you start to doubt yourself too.
The clattering of utensils and clinking of glass stops immediately. All eyes are on me and Sve's face is as rigid and lifeless as stone.
I'm feeling extremely shamefaced and right there and then, my tongue feels heavy and refuses to move. I can't explain myself because it's too shameful and thinking back, I probably did have a choice to do it. Can't blame Hong Kong, it's all my fault. Mine, mine and mine alone. Sad, I know.
After the silence has dragged on long enough, Sve sniffs and says, " I th'ght so."
I know I'm defeated without my side of the story. Well, I was never going to win anyway.
ooOoo
It's night already and I'm sitting at my desk with algebra worksheets spread out on the table. Den's sitting quietly in the corner working away at his laptop while coaching me my algebra. We put Puffin ( my parrot's name, I really want a puffin see?) in the living room because he squawks noisily all throughout the later evening.
When I'm down to the last question, it's already 1 in the morning. I've just wasted a good hour doing it and I don't like that. I probably need a little more practice in. The other hour after dinner, was mainly a lecture with Sve. Eurgh.
As I snuggle into my blankets, Den walks to the door frame and sees me to bed. "Good night, Ice." The lights flicker off.
"Den…?"
He stops in mid-turn, about to leave my room.
"'m sorry. It was a dare! A good to honest dare! This kid in school, he was bothering me and flaunting his grades to me. And I didn't respond because I don't really have anything to flaunt. Not that our family isn't fit for flaunting but, but, but… Then suddenly he's calling me a wimp and I got angry. Because I'm not a wimp, and I don't know, I didn't want to labeled as one. He dared me to do some graffiti with some lipstick he nicked from a girl in class. And we made our way to the gym and on the big, crumbly wall, I wrote "School is for losers" because he asked me to. Then a teacher came in and we were caught and… and… I'm sorry!" I'm gabbling and I know it. But it feels good to admit it.
In the dim glow from the lights in the hallway, I can see Den smiling and his eyes are softening.
"It's okay, Ice." He says softly, almost sadly. As if he knows something bad is about to happen.
Sve's lectured me enough just now, and I'm sure as hell, never going to do something reckless like that again.
"I am! I really am…" I whimper. Pathetic. But I can't help it. I'm desperate for someone to understand.
Denmark comes and sits by my bed. He places his laptop on little drawing desk next to my bed, and leaves the room to return with his sax.
"I know you are," he tells me, and he's grinning his usual smile. Then he plays music, the notes loud and soaring. It's beautiful, but somewhere, inside me, a bomb is ticking down. My seventh sense is counting down to some form of impending doom.
But hey, with a life so peaceful as mine, you'd ignore it anyhow. So that's what I do as I drift off to sleep with jazz music billowing and dancing around the room.
A/N: I love moments between Denmark and Iceland in a brotherly sense :3 Don't youuuuu? (: I apologise for any mistakes. I'm getting into the swing of this story, and suddenly my mind lifts off with a whole plot x)