Hiya,

Thank you to all that have review. (im not aiming for grammatically correct, lol, i normally forget paragraphs but thanks i try and get it right in this chapter, hopefully.) I hope you like this chapter. The next one should be up by thursday, i hope.

Chapter 4

A loud knock echoed down the deserted passageways. Alex frowned he hadn't thought he knocked that loudly. He strained his ears to hear anything other then the fading echo of his knock, sounds floated in from the window seemingly distant, the laughter and chattering of carefree teens, rejoicing, the weekend was here.

"Enter" the voice brought him back to where he was and why, he entered the head office. Alex left the door open as he walked to take a seat in front of the headmasters' desk.

Mr Henry Bray, the head, was slightly impressed with the boy sat across of him. He had walked in and made no comment on the 7 other teachers in the room.

"Mr peters could you please shut the door" he said still examining the teen opposite of him. "Do you know why your here Alex?" Mr Bray asked kindly.

"I'm guessing your going to tell me" was all the reply that was forthcoming.

Mr Bray sat confused, he had always thought of Alex as mature for his age especially recently but still a teenager all the same, and although the words coming out of his mouth were the ones countless other teens had said in front of him, they sounded different coming from Alex. The words themselves had not changed but the attitude that went behind them and the emotions usually involved with being sent to see the head just wasn't there, Mr. Bray came to the conclusion at the same time the door banged open, making every one jump, and another teacher walked in.

"Sorry I'm late" Mrs. Davis apoligized smiling as she looked around.

Alex hesitated before answering the heads question.

"I'm guessing your going to tell me" he stated shortly. He had decided that he should act like any other teen would and answered with the words expected of a rebellious teen. Alex was only half concentrating on what he said for he had heard another set of footsteps heading towards the office. He determined that they were female because they were quite light, but not to light enough to be that of a professional, probably short and thin as they didn't make much sound.

He pulled his mind back to his eyes to see the head staring at him with light grey eyes flecked with sliver, contemplating him. He realised, too late, that he should have put more emotion behind the response he gave. Every one jumped as the door banged open, every one except Alex that was. He had heard the footsteps and been ready for it.

"Sorry I'm late" a voice bubbled from behind him. He turned his head slightly to the left and saw Mrs. Davis, the schools main physiatrist, standing in the doorway. He felt himself shut down instantly, he hated physiatrists, and he was not going to see one no matter what. He was seething silently and cursing in every language he knew how.

Everyone in the room looked at Alex to see how he would react, but there was no difference, Alex sat there face blank and quiet. The head teacher stared in amazement, normally they got some reaction when Mrs. Davis walked though the door but this boy was completely closed, his face betrayed no thought or emotion.

"That's ok Freda , Alex, the reason you have been called here today is because we need to talk about you studies and your well being." He paused to see if this statement had any effect on the boy. It didn't.

"Well I guess the first thing to discuss is your studies, they have gone downhill and although its not your fault you get sick so often" (no-one there believed that Alex got sick, and sat their looking at the teen the head thought that it would take a lot to make this boy ill) "it is having an impact so we would like to move you down to the foundation paper". The head stopped talking and waited for a response from the boy, Alex realising they were waiting for an answer said slowly

"Shouldn't my guardian be here for this". The head looked amused, they had in a sense just said he couldn't keep up and he was asking about protocol.

"Well, we have already talked to your guardian on the phone" he said carefully. Alex's eye intently caught the discomfort and locked on.

"What did she say about it" he asked slightly amused now, knowing full well what jack would have said. The head stared at the boy opposite him as amusement spread across his face; it was the most emotion he'd showed since entering the room.

The head squirmed in his chair as he remembered the convocation that had occurred earlier that day

"Well that's unimportant, what is important is how you feel about it?"

"I think I would rather know what she said" Alex replied evenly. The head eyes narrowed, he was sure Alex knew what his guardian had said. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if the whole school knew, the way she had yelled at him down the phone. It had been a long and tiring day, put it that way.

"She said she thought you should stay in the higher papers"

"then that's my answer too"

"but do you really want to, the foundation would properly be better for you" the heads tone took on a wining note, he was known for always wanting the best for his students, and he thought Alex would struggle with the higher papers.

"Your first exam is in a couple of months I need to submit you for the papers you're going to take by the end of this week." Alex sighed.

"I know you mean well" he said resignedly "but I think I would like to go in for the higher."

"Alright we'll do it your way for now" said the head, backing down as he realised that Alex wasn't going to change his stood

"Well if that's all, I have football practice" he started to head for the door but stopped as Mr. Bray said

"not quite". Alex turned to face him again but didn't return to his seat. The headmaster cleared his throat

"well, a few teachers have issued concerns about you Alex." His eyes betrayed the teachers who were concerned by flickering to them swiftly before focusing back on Alex, "we think it might help if you see Mrs Davis for a while." He was careful not to say the word physiatrist, many of the children flipped at that.

"Thanks but I'm fine" said Alex turning for the door again.

"Well we disagree, we don't think your fine" Mr Bray said softly.

Alex stood still, too still for a child his age but no one noticed as Alex said slowly over his shoulder

"I thought all children in this school could refuse to see a physiatrist, isn't that what the school prides itself on, the free will of the students" Every one in the room stared at him, he'd stated it so matter of fact, calm, cool and in control, not the usual yelling and shouting that accompanied the suggestion.

"Well yes" said the head recovering the fastest, indeed Mrs. Davis was staring at Alex opened mouthed, "all pupils have a choice whether or not to attended counselling but we urge you to accept, we feel it will benefit you."

Alex was seething quietly to himself even if he wanted to go, which he didn't, he wouldn't be able to say anything and he was not going to waste his free time sat talking to someone, just to tell more lies.

"I think I would rather not see a physiatrist" Alex was having trouble keeping the anger and frustration off his face and out of his voice.

"As you said lets do it my way for now, and for that matter can you ask the teachers to stop watching and following me its getting very tiresome." With those parting words Alex walked out leaving a stunned silence behind him.