A/N So here is chapter two. Not much is going on yet but I think it should start changing next chapter. I have almost half of it done already so I'll try to put it as soon as it's ready.
Once again, I apologize for the language mistakes I'm sure I'm making here and there .
Hope you like it and feel free to tell me what you think. I take criticism very well...I think.
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The flight from New York to Westerville was excruciating. Reed was fidgeting in his first class seat trying to figure out his mother's logic. How on earth is going to an all boys school in Westerville fucking Ohio going to help Reed come to terms with what happened to him. He contemplated on the issue for a long time and came up with two possible solutions: 1. Dalton is a magical school and as soon as he sets foot in it he will be all right again and he will go back home, and 2. His mother is insane. Reed never believed in magic so he was left with solution number two. He looked at his mother who was now yelling at her phone for loosing reception (in French since she bought the phone in Paris during the last Fashion week) and decided that solution number two is actually quite rational so he would stick with that.

Letting out a frustrated groan he reached under his seat and starter rummaging through his bag blindly. He felt something cold under his fingertips and pulled it out. It was a brochure his mother gave him when she found The Dalton Academy. Everything about the school was in it in details and she wanted him to go through it and see for himself that said school was perfect for him. Reed took the brochure and stuffed it under his bed not looking at it once. He found it while he was packing and figured he might as well take it since it was obvious his mother was determined and he was indeed going to Dalton.

He looked at the cover and saw a cluster of impressive looking buildings made out of brownish-gray stone, surrounded by a garden that looked like it needed an entire army of people to keep it so neat and organized. Reed flipped the first page and started to read: "The Dalton academy for boys was founded in 1863. by Warren Stuart, Adam Windsor and Nathan Hanover. The three teachers established the school and made it well known for its professional staff, demanding academics and successful students. The school kept that reputation to this very day by maintaining a very serious curriculum along with striking results in various sports, arts, and other extracurricular activities. What makes this school special is its zero tolerance no bullying policy which allows the students to become tolerant, observant and empathic members of society…"

Reeds eyes went wide at the last sentence he read. Suddenly he realized his mother's motives for sending him to this school. He wasn't happy about it, no. But he understood. He couldn't help but feel a tingle of hope waking up inside of him as he imagined a school filled with people who could possibly be his friends and maybe even like his art, and who won't laugh every time he trips over thin air which happens every now and then…well maybe a bit more than now and then…..FINE every five minutes!

But then his mind decided to fill itself with images of golden brown eyes, a friendly smile, that sweet, warm voice….and then those golden brown eyes with a not so friendly spark in them, and that smile turning into a curve of hate, and that warm voice becoming cold, and screaming insults at him while towering over his small frame…

He shook his head and realized he was clutching the armrests of his seat so tightly he left small scratches in the soft leather with his nails. He felt a drop of cold sweat running down his neck, and he knew then that he had to find a way to stay under the radar at his new school. He figured he would just keep his head down, talk to someone only if it was absolutely necessary and that should work right? Right.

Just as he was about to continue reading the brochure he heard a soft voice coming from the speakers asking the passengers to fasten their seatbelts because they will be landing shortly. Reed woke his mother up and decided to spend the last few minutes staring through the window at the unfamiliar landscape of Ohio.

At the airport they grabbed their luggage (and yes, Reed was going to be wearing a uniform but that didn't stop him from packing every last item of clothing he had and ending up with 11 suitcases he was barely able to close…he liked his clothes, so sue him) and made their way to a huge car Hilde ordered to wait for them to take them to Dalton.

Reed sat in the back seat with his mother who was currently looking at him with worried eyes and then decided that a 25 minutes drive to school would be a good time to talk to her son.

"Reed…"- she called softly.
"Yes mom?"- he turned to her a bit surprised by the warm tone in her voice.
"Honey I know you didn't want to move and come to this school. And since I will have to leave as soon as we get your things in and we talk to the Dean I just wanted to talk to you."- Reed kept his eyes on her as if to say that he is listening and she could go on, so she did: "This last couple of months wasn't easy for us. And I would love to take everything bad that happened to you away, but I can't and I'm so sorry for that. I also know you think you're not good enough and that I would rather have a different son, I know you haven't been sleeping and you are constantly looking over your shoulder because you're scared and that makes you even more frustrated and you think you're weak….no please let me finish…"- she said when he tried to speak up and say the same lie he was giving her for the past 6 weeks- that he was fine "…Reed I want you to know that you never have to feel like you're not enough for me. I'm your mom and I would love you no matter what you do or what you are. Now, I realize there are some things you're not….well you haven't figured out yet. But you are only 16 honey and you have all the time in the world to figure it all out. This school, in my opinion, will be good for you. So please give it a try. Stay for this school year and if you don't want to come back after that we can talk about it okay baby?"- she finished taking his tiny hand into her own and feeling how incredibly skinny her son is, how small and fragile he became. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and looked at him.

"Okay mom. I promise I'll try"- he answered quietly looking at their hands clasped together and feeling like he's about to cry because his mom was there telling him she noticed things about him and that she loved him. He squeezed her hand back and cracked a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes but was still an improvement from all the forced grimaces he'd been giving her lately.
The car pulled to a stop and they both seemed surprised time had gone by so fast while they were talking. They quickly got out and started to unload Reeds luggage. The driver was trying to help wondering all the while how it was even possible to own that much stuff. After they pulled all the suitcases out Reed turned around to look at his new home/school. And as bitter and broken as he was he couldn't help himself but being amazed by what he saw.

Right in front of him stood the most impressive building he'd ever seen, and that was saying something because he was from New York. The entire building was made of brown- gray stone and Reed remembered seeing it on the cover of his brochure, but that photo didn't even come close. The entrance was graced with gray staircase whose fence was beautifully decorated with what seemed like flower motives carved in stone. Above the thick, dark-brown, wooden door Reed saw the name of the school surrounded by the same decoration he saw on the staircase. His artistic eye took in the small gargoyles around the rooftop and random patterns spread over the walls. Scattered around what Reed supposed was the main building were three smaller ones. They seemed newer than the main one but were still decorated in the same manner and each had an inscription above the door. The first one on the left said House Stuart, the middle one said House Hanover, and the one on the right had House Windsor written on it. Reed recognized the names he read on the plane and figured those buildings were where the rooms are and wondered which one of the three would be his new home.

He took in the magnificent garden that was already wrapped in autumn colors with leaves on the ground making intricate designs and the trees swaying in the soft breeze. He turned back to his mother only to see five strong looking men struggling with his suitcases and taking them somewhere after a quick consultation with a woman who stood at the door of the main building. Hilde grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the woman.

"Hello. You must be Hilde and Reed Van Kamp. Welcome to Dalton."- she said politely but firmly looking at the two of them and gesturing for them to follow her. She was in her forties but she was really good looking, Reed thought. She was tall, with slim body, dark brown hair picked up in a bun and almost black eyes behind dark rimmed glasses. She walked them through the building to her office, greeting a few students on the way. Reed kept his head down and followed his mother trying to go unnoticed. Looking at the floor he nearly bumped into Hilde when they stopped in front of a door that sad Dean Ramsay. They stepped inside and the woman sat behind a huge desk filled with papers and files but still very organized and tidy.

"Please, have a seat."- she pointed at two comfortable looking chairs on the opposite side of her table and they sat thanking her.
"You don't have to look so worried honey"- she said to Reed "we are just going to go through some technicalities of you're staying here ok?"
Reed looked at her and just gave a timid nod but feeling just a bit more relaxed.
"Okay. Here is you schedule, a map of the school and a list of you classes, teachers, clubs you can join, and activities around the school you can participate in if you want to."- she gave him a big brown envelope with his name on it and what he assumed was a Dalton stamp.
"Thank you."- he said quietly, taking the envelope and placing it carefully on his lap.
"Now you said you are going to board here but I haven't assigned you a room yet because I wanted to talk to you first. I read what happened to you and I wasn't sure if you would be comfortable rooming with someone. I have told one student that there is a chance he would be getting a roommate but I have also prepared a single room for you if that is going to be easier for you. The decision is all yours."- she said looking ad Hilde who gave her a small, grateful smile while waiting for Reed to answer the question.

He thought about it for a while and then said:
" I-I think I would like a s-single room, if it's not a problem."-he blushed and gave his undivided attention to his shoes feeling both grateful she gave him the opportunity to avoid contact with other students and embarrassed because he needed that opportunity in the first place.
"Of course it's not a problem. You will be boarding in the Windsor House. It's the last building on your left when you walk out of the main building. Now we need to discuss one more thing before I let you go unpack and get ready for classes in the morning. New students usually get a mentor of a kind to help them catch up and get used to the school. It's always the current house prefect. Windsor's prefect is Blaine Anderson. He's a really nice kid and I told him you are coming so he will meet you in the morning by the front door of the main building to show you around and take you to your classes, okay?"- she finished her speech looking at Reed and hoping that outgoing and energetic Blaine will be able to help the shy little boy to fit in.

"Okay. Thank you."- he said quietly, hoping to God that that Blaine-guy really is nice and he doesn't hurt him or something. His mother took his hand as if she felt he was scared and spoke for the first time since they sat in the office: "Thank you Dean Ramsay so much. I'm sure Reed will do great in this school. That's why I enrolled him here in the first place. Because it seemed like a good place to start over." – she said sounding sure of herself but the look she exchanged with the other woman told the dean she was worried for her son and she's doing her best to be brave for him. She understood for she was a mother herself and she knew she would keep an eye on Reed just like she kept an eye on every one of her students who came here from a bad place where they were hated a tormented for one reason or another.

"It's no problem Ms. Van Kamp. Reed will get used to the school in no time. Now I know you must be tired from all the excitement of moving and you probably can't wait to get settled in and go to sleep. Let me walk you to your room."- she got up from her chair and ushered them out of her office, out of the main building and into the Windsor House.

They walked in and Reed could hear the commotion that could only be caused by dozens of boys living together in a small place. They walked past what seemed to be a small kitchen and a couple of rooms with couches and flat screen TVs. She took them up two flights of stairs and then turned left into a wide hallway with doors on both sides. She came to a stop in front of the room number 28 and then turned to face Reed handing him a small key with the room number engraved.

"This is your room. Go ahead and take a look."- she smiled at the small boy as he took the key and placed it into the lock. The lock clicked and Reed pushed the door open and stepped into the room only to find that his belongings have already been brought in.

The room was not big but it looked warm and comfortable. On the left side of the door was a big bed and Reed thought that it looked more comfortable than the one he had back home. He cracked a small smile at the thought and continued to observe his new room. On each side of the bed was a small nightstand, and one of them had a colorful lamp on it. On the opposite wall Reed saw a closet that looked big enough to fit most of his clothes and he found that fact even more comforting than a nice looking bed. Under the window there was a big working table that already had all of his book on it. The small door in the back of the room led to a bathroom and Reed felt relieved to know he wouldn't have to shower in a shared bathroom with all the other boys. All in all he liked his room.

"This is n-nice. Thank you."- he said to the dean and turned to his mom: "When does your flight leave?"
"In about two hours. Are you going to be okay honey?"- she asked with an honest concern in her eyes.
"Yes mom I'll be ok. I'll talk to you when you get home ok?"- he came to her and gave her an awkward hug that lasted only a few seconds but was precious to Hilde.
"Of course. I'll call you when I land. Get settled and good luck tomorrow."- she pecked his cheek and then turned to the dean who stood in the doorway ready to escort the blonde woman to the gate.
"Good night Reed. And if you need anything you know where my office is, so don't hesitate to ask. Bye."- with those words she led his mother outside and escorted her to the car. Hilde shook her hand, got into the car and just like that Reed was alone in his new room.
He went to his bed and sat down wondering how he was going to get by on his own. He glanced at his suitcases and decided that organizing his room will take his mind off of scary thoughts. With a sigh he got up and walked to the first suitcase determined to get settled in before bedtime.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day for him, he could just feel it.