3 – Primary School (Year 6, 12 years old)

"Ianto, what've we got?"

"Math."

"Damnit."

Ianto grinned. "Forgot to do your homework again?"

Jack smiled apologetically. "Maybe?"

Ianto sighed. "Look, you can copy, but only if you actually do it this afternoon."

"… well, see, I'm not very good at fractions…"

"You want help?"

"If it's okay…" Jack looked embarrassed, so Ianto decided not to tease him about it. "Fine. I'll come round after school."

Jack smiled with relief. "Thanks, Yan."

"Anything to get out of our place."

"Is it getting worse?"

"Nah… I'm used to him, but if I've got an excuse to get out of there…"

Jack nodded in understanding. "You know you can always come to our place. Even if it's not because of him, you're always welcome."

Ianto smiled. "Thanks, but I'm fine. C'mon, we're gonna be late for maths."

X.x

That Afternoon

"It's like division – 1/2 means one divided by two, which is a half. So the simplified version of 6/3 is two…"

"No, I don't get it... why isn't it two divided by one?"

Ianto sighed, and then laughed.

"Because that would mean…"

It was going to be a long afternoon.

X.x

Highschool (Year 8, 14 years old.)

Jack couldn't sleep.

Ianto's sister, Alice, had left home. Alice had been the only one who'd stuck up for him, and, since she'd left, Ianto had been turning up at school with bruises. And today… Ianto had been sad all day, barely able to get through maths, which he loved. He had been in sick bay for bits of the day, and Jack wasn't allowed to see him.

He looked at his clock. 11:39 blinked at him, soon switching to 11:40.

There was a knock on the front door, in a rapid succession that he could barely hear. He got out of bed, and rushed to the door, quietly so as not to wake his parents.

There was another knock, quieter this time.

"Oh my God, Ianto? Is that you?"

Ianto was covered in bruises, and holding one of his arms in the other.

"Yeah. Can I come in? I stopped the bleeding, I won't get blood everywhere, promise."

Bleeding? "Ianto, what happened?"

"Nothing, I just got cut, I'm fine."

Jack shook his head, amazed that Ianto thought he was that stupid.

"I'm not an idiot. Something happened – but come in. I'll get the first aid kit… go to my room. I'll bring it up."

"Thanks" Ianto muttered, not looking up.

X.x

"So what really happened?" Jack was bandaging the – probably self inflicted - cut on Ianto's wrist.

"It was stupid."

"You don't usually do stupid things."

"Well, I did today."

"Did you do that?" He asked, pointing to the bandage, or rather, the cut that they both knew was under the bandage.

Ianto sighed in defeat. "Yes."

"Oh, Ianto. Why?"

"Jack, I'm so tired – can I crash here tonight?"

"Of course! Do you want a shower?"

"Nah."

"Okay, I'll grab a pair of PJ's."

"Thanks."

After Ianto got changed, Jack helped Ianto onto his bed.

"I can't take your bed." Said Ianto "Where will you sleep?"

"I'll just sleep on the floor, I'll be fine."

"No, I can't sleep up hereby myself anyway. Come sleep with me."

Ianto's reasons for wanting Jack to sleep with him were almost entirely selfish – when he was close to Jack, There was some sort of … something… that made him keep coming back for more.

X.x

I have no idea how school works in Wales – or anywhere except NSW, for that matter. But we have 12 years of school (6 years primary school, 6 in highschool). If anyone is welsh (or knows anything about welsh schools) if you can tell me how it works, that'd be great. Thank you!