So tomorrow I'm going back to school so I thought I'd celebrate that with some more OzNz! Though it's not that much in this chapter, enjoy!
Patrick's POV
"I wan't to go back to bed, Shamus."
"Hush Pattie, you can sleep soon."
"Where are we going?"
"A magic castle."
"With fairies?"
"Fairies and dragons and unicorns. But we can only find it if you are quiet."
"Will you keep it down, you're waking Peter."
"I was trying get him quiet, you idiot."
"So now I'm the idiot, I'm not the one…"
"Knock it off, both of you. You're scaring Patrick."
"Sorry William, I guess it's the nerves."
"How far is Scott?"
"Shouldn't be too far."
"Richt here, I am."
"Scottie."
"Hush, me wee lad, we must be quiet."
"Sowy."
"Don't worry lad."
"Enough of the small talk, let's go before…"
"BOYS!"
"RUN!"
"How could he find us so soon?"
"Damn it, Mr. Drofing must have seen us leaving the house."
"Who cares just run!"
"Come Shamus you have keep running."
"I can't keep this up without scaring Patty. Don't worry I'll take another rout and meet you there! That way it'll be harder to track us!"
"Are you mad? We have to stay together!"
"Don't worry Artie, we'll see each other in no time."
"Ye better leave now then Shamus."
"See you soon.
"This is our new home."
"Where is Scottie, Willy, Artie and Peter?"
"They're coming later. Don't worry."
"Where is daddy?"
"D-daddy is at home, resting."
"No more daddy?"
"N-no more daddy."
"Does that mean I don't have to be like him?"
"You can be whoever you want."
"Pattie, I know you don't like Ben but was that reason enough to hit the poor kid?"
"He pissed me of."
"How?"
"He nagging about his perfect life and family."
"Oh yeah his birthday is also comming up huh?"
"He kept bragging about how his dad is going to give him a guitar and a new computer and stuff..
"Well Pattie, I'm not your father and I can't really buy you a new guitar but if you don't tell any adults we can do something really really fun and illegal."
"Like what?"
"I'll show you how the bar works. How to make drinks, kick out trouble makers all the fun stuff that you shouldn't be teaching a 14-year old!"
"Really?"
"Just don't break anything."
"Thanks Shamus, you're the best!"
"I know."
"P-pl-please stop! I-I'm sorry."
"Not sorry enough you ungrateful brat."
"Shamus?"
"And here you tell me that none of your brother's are here."
"P-p-please don't hurt him. H-he's done nothing wrong."
"W-who are you! What have you done to my brother!"
"Don't you even recognize your own father."
"M-m-my father? NO you can't be! He's dead!"
"Do I look dead to you?"
"J-J-Just stay away from him dad. He's just a child."
"A child endeed. But you know what I do with disobedient children."
"Dad, please, no… PATRICK!"
"HOW DARE YOU!"
"RUN PATRICK!"
"Shamus? What about you?
"I'll be right behind you! Just run!"
"B-but…"
"Just run!"
"Yes my son, just run! Run and lead me to your brothers."
"SHAMUS!"
I shot out of my bed in alarm already feeling hot tears streeming down my cheeks as I tried to catch my breath. It was just a nightmare. Calm yourself down Patrick Matthew Kirkland. Just a dream. Shamus was just on the other side of that door and he would laugh at my strong reaction and assure me that all was fine. I kept my eyes closed for another few minutes while the tears stopped and my breathing evened. I was startled by a quiet knock on the door.
"It's time to wake up."
I opened my eyes in confusion before everything dawned on me. It wasn't a just a bad dream. Shamus was in the hospital and I was all alone in a strangers house. Carefully I looked around the room. It was nothing much. Light blue walls, a desk, an empty closet, a shelf and a drawer. Nothing like my home. The knocking came again followed by a girls voice.
"Are you awake?"
Feeling a bit embarrased I quickly threw on the clothes I had discarded last night and opened the door. The girl in front of me was about my height with dark hair, skin and eyes. She smiled at me.
"Good morning, I'm Marie, did you sleep well."
I flushed a little. I wasn't very used to girls so having to talk to one wasn't very pleasant.
"Whatever." I responded automatically and looked away.
Marie smiled anyway.
"Well dad says you're welcome to join us for breakfast, so I was just going to fetch you since you don't really know the way yet."
I shot her an attempted glare while muttering another 'whatever' but I still followed her. On the way I got a chance to look at the house. It was complete opposite to my home. Shamus and I had never been very tidy so we chose to call the chaos, artistic cleaning. This house looked spotless, save for a few drawings on the walls and was filled with classical framed photoes of the family and friends. It was just too normal for me. Entering the kitchen I was met with the sight of two little kids sitting at the table with an asian kid. My 'brother' was at the stove, cooking something that smelt burnt and next to him with her back turned to me was a short, thin girl with curly blonde hair. Another guy was leaning against the countertop with a sleepy expression. My lips twitched a bit as I saw him. Although last night felt like years ago one thing I could remember clearly was that guy being there when I arrived. He'd been tense and strangely protective over the blonde girl going as far as to clinging to him. I had already decided that I did not like him one bit. The guy seemed to share that feeling because he noticed me he shot me a glare and moved closer to the girl. My smirk widened. If he was acting this supicious now, I'd have some real fun here.
"What on earth are you doing in the doorway, Patrick, go and have a seat."
I snapped out of my scheming at 'Arnold's (?) voice and quietly follwed his directions. The room was quiet until Arnlod turned from the stove and set the food upon the table. Well it looked like breakfast a bit, I guess. Burnt bacon and something that looked like rocks seemed to be the new base of my diet. Maybe I could lie and say I wasn't hungry.
"It's not as bad as it looks." A soft male voice said and I was surprised to find it belonging to the blonde girl who had sat down next to me. Well now that I looked at her more closely I guess she kind of looked like a him.
"Whatever." I muttered while stabbing a piece of bacon with my fork.
'Arnlod' smiled slightly.
"Thank you for those kind words, James."
The boy refered to James, smiled back at him.
"Alright Patrick, I do not know how long you will be staying here."
Hopefully not long. I thought bitterly.
"However, as long as that may be, I would like you to stay out of trouble."
"There goes that plan." I responded sarcasticly but 'Arnold' ignored it.
"Jamie, since the two of you are in the same class, I'd like you to take care of Patrick until he manages to get around."
"I'll manage myself." I muttered. It wasn't like I was planning on going to school anyway. No friends and no-one to flirt with.
"I'm sorry Patrick but concidering everything going on I'd rather you not being alone."
I sighed in annoyance, how paranoid was this man.
"What's going on dad?" Marie asked curiously, causing Arnold to freeze.
After a paused he replied.
"I'll explain another time, you should get ready for school now."
As if on command all of the kids rose from the table and placed thier plates in the dishwasher. Since I was already dressed, I stayed at the table, with 'Arnold'. My lack of movement seemed to remind him of something.
"Logan." The tall guy, who I already disliked, paused.
"Yeah?"
"I would like it if you could borrow some clothes to Patrick. Just until I can buy him some new after school today."
Logan gave me a long stare.
"He's not exactly my body size." he stated bluntly with a slight smirk.
I glared at him while Arnold had his eyes on Logan.
"You are a little taler than Patrick, yes, but he is taller than James so your clothes has to do for now."
I watched intently for Logan's reaction and found that he looked about to complain but he swallowed it.
"Yeah I'll try and find something good."
Arnold smiled at him warmly.
"Thank you Logan."
He waited until Logan was out of the room before he turned to me.
"Haven't told them 'bout the old man eh?" I asked with a smirk.
Arnold responded with a stern glance.
"You do well not to mention to anyone about our father. I have put my everything in making sure my children get a safe childhood and I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible."
"By lying to…"
I was interrupted by a pair of jeans and a T-shirt hitting me square in the face. I took them out of my face to find Logan grinning in the doorway.
"Think fast." he said cockily. "Sorry if they're a little big, it's the smallest I've got. "
I knew he was mocking me, challenging me to answer with fire. I could have given him a perfect reply right then about something of his that was sure to be smaller than this, but doing it in front Arnold would only mean a victory for him. Instead I grinned at him.
"Cool, you're also a punk?"
Looking at how carefully planned his outfit looked, I guessed he was one of the popular kids but calling him a social outcast by insutling his clothes was sure to piss him off. Sure enough, Logan's eyebrow twitched.
"Nah, just figured you were." he said with a forced smile.
"Well, you've got clean clothes, Patrick so I'd suggest you go change we're leaving in a couple of minutes."
"Whatever." I muttered, feeling I'd said too much in the course of one morning. "I'll go change."
It turned out to be a black T-shirt with Mickey Mouse printed on the front and a pair of baggy jeans. It was a good thing I had a belt, cause otherwise I'd be pulling at my jeans all day. It seemed as though Logan had chosen my clothes carefully. I threw my usual clothes at the desk but I left my good old hoodie on the bed. My eyes spotted a red sharpie at the desk and I couldn't help but smirk. If that Logan wanted a battle, a battle he would get.
I made sure to keep my hoodie zipped up when I left my room to gather with the rest of the Kirklands. I noted lazily how Logan quickly made sure to sit down next to Jamie while I sunk down in the passanger seat next to Arnold.
"Hey, Arthur?" Jamie asked after we started driving.
Arthur? I guess his name isn't Arnold then.
"Yes James?" Arthur replied.
" Um, I was just wondering if I could join the drama club after school. It's with Mr. Williams and Yong and Hyong are going as well so I won't be alone. And it's only for an hour and…"
"Say no more Jamie, as long as I get tickets for the premiere it's perfectly fine." Arthur said with a smile.
Drama-club. I'd applied for the one at my old school but they kicked me out, claiming I was too wierd. In reality I was just too good.
"Really? Thank you so much dad!" James said excitedly. I looked in the rearview, curious to see how the ever so protective Logan would react to this but surprisingly he seemed very much pleased with the news. I deffinately needed to do something about that. Before I could however, the car stopped in front of a brick building with a dull aura around it. Obviously a school. Arthur parked at the nearly empty parking lot and one by one, we all got out. Except for me.
"Is something the matter, Patrick?" Arthur asked with a frown. "It must be a lot smaller than your old school but Paron is a nice place and you'll find your place in no time."
I knew the words were supposed to be reassuring but it didn't do much.
"Is it alright if I also join the drama-thingy? I mean, I' m not sure how long I'll be staying here but it would be nice to have something to do, you know."
To my surprise Arthur reached over and ruffled my hair.
"I guess I'll pick you up an hour later then."
I shot him a weak grin.
"Thank's Arthur."
"No worries, now run along, before you get late."
I gave him a short salute before I grabbed my bag, which Arthur had lended me and hurried towards the school.
I found James waiting for me at the gate with two asian boys who he was talking cheerfully to. He waved at me when I neared, and having no idea where else to go, I trudged over.
"Guys, this is my uncle Patrick," I cringed at the sound of that, "And Patrick, these are my friends, Yong and Hyong."
One of the boys smiled brightly at me but the other just looked away angrily.
"Hey." I said awkwardly. I really didn't like large groups. Hanging with the popular kids wasn't my idea of a good day. I heard the one with short hair whine something about tests before he left with his head down.
"We should get to class as well," James said. "Come on, I'll show you were we are headed."
The good news was that my science teacher, and mentor, Mr. Jones was awesome and allowed me to keep my hoodie on. He didn't nag on me to tell about myself and had me seated next to James, who I'd learned to tolerate as the class progressed. He clearly wasn't a cool one as I had first thought. Instead he, and the silent Hyong, were social outcasts but they seemed fine with that. By the time lunch rolled by I'd even gotten to know Hyong's brother, Yong, an airheaded guy with deep thoughts. The bad news, were that apart from those three guys, most of the students were complete meat-heads.
I ducked as another carton of milk flew my way, and I sighed in annoyance.
"Are they always like this?" I asked.
Hyong sighed as he caught a paperball that was aimed for James.
"They don't like different things, at this school, and you are very much different." he explained.
"They don't like outcasts either." Yong added, but in a more cheerful tone.
"Just ignore them," James said. "They're just out for trouble."
I scanned the room silently until I found Logan glaring at us. I grinned at him as I scooted a bit closer to James, just to see Logan's hands clench around the plastic fork until it snapped in half.
"Then I guess I should just stay away from them then."
So yeah, Patrick is a bit of a bitch aaaand... that's about it!