Haha, well sorry for the delay, but wouldn't let me log in. Anyway, this is a long chapter, slit into two parts. I'll update the second part tomorrow.

This is a timeskip of about four/five years and it's Charlie's chapter. So, remember to review!

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The Dragon and the Rose

Chapter Thirteen

My first day at skool

Part One

'Do I 'ave to go?' Charlie asked, looking up at his mum with his bottom lip pouted. 'I wanna stay at 'ome with you!'

'You 'ave to go to school,' Lucy laughed, kneeling down so she was level with the blonde five year old. His brow furrowed as he let out a big sigh.

'Can't you come with me?' he asked.

'I thought you were excited to go to school?' she asked. The two were stood at the gates, mums and dads walking around them.

'I am.'

'And it's Jenny's birthday today. After school, we're going to a party!'

'Will I be able to make 'er a card?' he asked, looking uncertainly at the school. It was huge!

'Sure you will,' Lucy smiled. 'C'mon; Miss Smith will be waiting for you.' She straightened up, taking his hand.

'Who's Miss Smith?' he replied suspiciously, as the two walked towards the entrance. Lucy shook her head; he was just like his dad. He hated changes.

'She's your new teacher. She's really nice.'

'She don't support Millwall, does she?' Charlie asked, lips curling in disgust. Lucy burst out laughing.

'You'll 'ave to ask her yourself,' she replied, following a couple with a young girl into the reception classroom. A young woman with her dark hair pulled in a bun was stood by the board, a smile on her face as she watched the children go around and get used to each other. Her smile broadened as Lucy and Charlie approached.

'Hello,' she said. 'I'm Miss Smith. What's your name?' she asked. Charlie glanced nervously up at Lucy and nodding at Lucy's encouraging smile, he replied, 'Charlie.'

'Ah,' she replied. 'Do you want me to show you were to put your bag?' He nodded. The two followed Miss Smith across the room to a small corner where there were two rows of low set hooks on the wall. She scanned the names, before pointing to one with a football. 'That's your name.'

'Do you like Millwall?' Charlie asked bluntly, staring up at her. Miss Smith glanced at Lucy in surprise, before shaking her head.

'I have to admit I'm more of a Tottenham fan to be honest.'

'Oh, my dad says they're a bunch of sissy cunts.' Lucy cringed into the silence that followed. Miss Smith's eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of her head.

'I… must… probably… other parents,' she stuttered, before hurrying off.

'What did I say?!' he demanded, looking up at Lucy. She knelt down and took his arms.

'Charlie, you can't go around saying things like that!'

'Dad does.'

'Look, he's naughty okay. And he's an adult. You're still just a kid.'

'But it's true.'

'Yeah, it may be true, but don't say things like that. You could get me and Dad into a lot of trouble, okay?' He sighed, nodding. Leaning forward, she kissed the top of his head. 'I best go, okay. 'Ave fun.' Charlie nodded again, looking around as Lucy got to her feet. She told Miss Smith that she wouldn't be picking him up after school in an undertone, before moving towards the door. She was almost back to the car when something grabbed onto her leg. Looking down, she saw Charlie.

'What are you doing?!'

'Don't leave me!' he pleaded.

'Did you run all this way?' she demanded, picking him up.

'I don't want to go!'

'Charlie, don't do this to me, please,' she begged. 'You'll have loads of fun.'

'But, I don't know any body,' he said, bottom lip wobbling. Lucy felt bad. Heaving a sigh, she turned and began to walk back to the school.

'You'll make friends.'

'No!'

'It'll be fun.'

'No! I hate it!' Lucy crossed the road as Charlie tightened his grip on her, teeth biting into the material of her shoulder.

'Don't bite me,' she warned.

'I ain't going!' he growled in reply, voice muffled. Going back into the school, she pushed open the door to the reception classroom and yanked Charlie from her.

'Stay!'

'Mum!' he sobbed, laying in a heap on the floor. Lucy sighed, feeling tears sting her own eyes. Miss Smith hurried over.

'Come on, Charlie,' she said. 'We're going to get all our new things. Do you want to choose your seat at the table?' she asked. He didn't answer. 'I can take it from here,' she said to Lucy, who nodded.

'Thank you. Don't let him escape again,' she added. Miss Smith nodded, flustered for a moment. Charlie sat up as Lucy walked out, a growl escaping his lips.

'I hate you,' he told Miss Smith.

'Come and choose a seat,' she replied, straightening up. Climbing to his feet, he charged ahead, pushing a boy out the way to get the red chair. 'Now, Charlie, we don't push,' she said. It was going to be a long day.

Once Miss Smith had a class settled and in chairs, with the right name labels stuck on their tables in front of them, she clapped her hands together.

'Over here,' she said, pointing to a shelf against the back wall. 'This is where we keep our trays. They have our names in it. Any work we do we can put in it and take it home at the end of the day.'

'Are we gunna make a card?' Charlie frowned.

'When we want to ask a question, we put our hand up until asked,' she replied politely. Charlie paused for a moment, before raising his arm. 'Yes, Charlie?'

'Are we gunna make a card?'

'If you want, we can do that after lunch. But only if you're good.' Charlie nodded. 'You can put your hand down now.'

Clearing her throat, she continued. 'I'm going to give out some folders, and inside will be some activities you can start when you get yours.' Going around, she placed a pot of colouring equipment and chunky pencils on each desk, before giving out the already named folders.

Charlie grabbed his when she set it down, tugging open the Velcro straps and peering inside. Pulling out the sheets of paper, he frowned.

'I don't know my numbers.'

'Hand.' Charlie raised his hand. 'Yes, Charlie?'

'I don't know my numbers.'

'That's what we're going to learn today,' Miss Smith replied. Going to the board, she picked up a marker pen and wrote a big 1. 'What number is this?'

'One,' most of the class chorused.

'That's right. This is the number one.' She drew a simple fish on the board under the number. 'There is one fish.' This continued all the way to five, but by that time most of them were bored.

'Ben, don't throw that. Melissa, don't draw on your arms! Kara, stop standing on the table!' She turned her irritated gaze to Charlie. 'Charlie Bovverington! If I see you punch Kieran again, you'll be put in the naughty corner!'

'He punched me!' the blonde protested. Miss Smith gazed out over the small group of five year olds, knowing they wouldn't pay attention to her. It was the same every year… Going to her desk, she took out a horn. Moving to stand in front of the board, she squeezed it loud and clear. All the children stopped what they were doing and stared at her, before it was an instant rush to stand around her feet.

'Lemmie 'ave a go!'

'No! Me first!'

'I was 'ere first!'

'Get outta my way!'

'I want everyone to go back and sit at their desks,' she said slowly. 'Now.' The children moved away, except for Charlie who was still staring up at her. 'That means you too, Charlie.'

'What is that?' he asked, nose wrinkled as he gazed upwards.

'It's a horn. To get your attention.'

'Why?'

'Because I can't teach you if you're all loud and noisy.'

'Why?'

'Because I need you to listen and do as you're told.'

'When can we make a card?' he asked, tilting his head to the side. Miss Smith sighed and knelt down to level with him.

'I said we'll make cards after lunch, but you have to be good.' Charlie paused for a moment as he thought.

'What if I'm really, really good and everyone else is bad. Will I still make a card?'

'If you're good, you can make a card,' she reasoned. 'But, you have to be good.'

'I will be,' he said, suddenly bright.

'Go and sit down,' she smiled. He nodded, hurrying back to sit at his desk. Miss Smith returned the horn. 'Okay, I want everyone to pack away their sheets and sit up straight with their arms folded. Whoever can do this can go to break first.' There was a rustle as sheets were stuffed into folders. Charlie put the Velcro straps down carefully, before sitting up straight and folding his arms. Miss Smith looked at them, an exaggerated look of thought on her face.

'Melissa, will you put your folder in your tray and line up at the door,' she said. 'Erin… Ben… Greg…Charlie…' the blonde beamed as his name was called, slipping off his chair and going over to the trays. Looking for the football picture, he located his tray, before going to line up behind Greg.

'You don't like Millwall, do you?' he asked. Greg looked at him with a frown.

'Who's Millwall?'

'It's a team. A football team.' Greg shrugged and turned back to face the door as Miss Smith led them out.

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Charlie sat alone on the small bench of the small playground, watching the others younger children play. Picking up the small milk carton by his side, he drank a bit through the straw, before sighing. He wanted Mum back. Charlie put down the empty carton, thinking about Jenny. He wished he was at her house now. Uncle Swill would set up the football posts and they'd have a good game. Even Jenella got a few goals every now and again.

Angrily, he fought off tears. Horrible Mum and Dad, sending him 'ere when he didn't want to go. It wasn't fair.

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'Okay. This afternoon, we're going to have an art and craft lesson,' Miss Smith smiled to the class after lunch.

'And make cards,' beamed Charlie, sat forward in his seat. Miss Smith nodded, pointing over to an area of the room they hadn't been to yet. 'I want you all to go over there and get an apron. The red table has the glues, paints and all the things to stick on your pictures or cards. The blue table is where you can play with the sand and the green table is where you can make small animals out of pompoms. Miss Beck is coming down to help us today,' she indicted to a blonde woman by the door. Charlie slid out his chair and followed the other children to the aprons. Grabbing a red one, he pulled it on.

'Do you want some help?' the strange woman asked.

'Yeah,' he replied. Kneeling behind him, she tied up the apron, before patting his bum.

'Off you go.' Squeezing his way through the others, Charlie slammed his hands on the red table to secure his place. Grabbing a piece of yellow card, he placed it in front of him.

'Who's your card for?' asked Miss Smith curious, coming over to watch him.

'For Jenny,' he replied, smearing glue over it.

'Is she your sister?'

'No, she's my friend,' he said, grabbing the glitter bottle and tipping most of the contents on the paper. 'It's 'er birthday. Mummy said I can make 'er a card.' With his hand, he smeared the glittered over the rest of the card, so no more yellow was visible.

'I'll come back later and see how you're getting on,' she said, smiling.

'Nah, I got it sorted, love,' he replied, imitating his dad perfectly. Grabbing the bag of jewels, he tipped the shiny plastic objects onto the table. Picking up a star one, he stuck it in the middle. He grabbed a few circles ones as well, dotting them around. Throwing a few sequins on the card as well, he smiled.

Wiping his hands on the front of his apron, he picked up the top corners of the paper and shook it down. Glitter fell like snow, before he folded it in half. Opening it up again, he grabbed a marker pen and scribbled inside, tongue jutting out his mouth in concentration. Then, he held it up proudly. 'I done it!' he yelled, before running over to his tray, leaving a trail of glitter in his wake. Opening his folder, he slid the card inside.

'Have you finished already?' asked the strange lady. He looked up at her. She smelt funny.

'Do you like Millwall?' he asked.

'Yeah, I think they're great,' she nodded with a smile. 'Why? Is that your favourite team too?' Charlie stared back at her in horror, before instantly reacting. Giving her a good kick in the shin, he turned at her howl of pain and raced to the other end of the room. Miss Smith looked up, eyes wide at the cries from Miss Beck.

'What happened?' she asked, coming over as the younger woman leaned against the wall.

'He kicked me! I said I liked Millwall and the little shit kicked me.' Miss Smith sighed, before going over to the boy. Pulling the apron over his head, she sighed and took his hand.

'Come on, Charlie. Naughty corner.'

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Ah, he's just like his dad xD Review!!!!