A/N Thank-you all for all the positive feedback, I really enjoyed it, so here is the second chapter. The story's gonna run on for a while before they all leave so I can develop everyone.
Special mention to Ellen… my wonderful friend who was only expecting 'mediocre' (thanks for the faith). JK I love you really.
Chapter 2: School time
It wasn't widely known that JT was a genius, he couldn't be good at everything from hand to hand combat and escaping to Warp core mechanics… well it turns out he was.
He had tested right out of high-school after Tarsus and so, every morning when all the other kids, including his best friends, boarded the school bus into town, he stayed behind because, frankly school was too easy and too boring for someone like him. Unfortunately a bored JT never ended well…
The staff had no ides what to do with him; he was cocky, troublesome and almost impossible to control. He used to be able to do pretty much anything he wanted from reading every single manual and book available to exploring around the orphanage and beyond. However that didn't entertain him for long and after many 'adventures' (many of which landed JT in the hospital) the manager signed him up to two PhD course online. Naturally JT was furious at this, no one could tell him what to do but after some careful thinking about it he decided that he really needed the challenge and it wasn't so bad. It passed the time until him friends got back and he could go back to being JT 'arrogant but loyal'.
The only other person who didn't go to school was Spock, because he had grown up on Vulcan, and so was also far smarter than the school system on Earth was prepared for. However unlike JT he spent his time much more productively. He helped out around the large house with everything from using his Vulcan strength to move and carry things like shopping (chef didn't like to use replicators for main meals). He also enjoyed (enjoyment is illogical my ass) computers and spent a vast amount of time upgrading and improving the orphanage's computer system, so much, JT thought, that is probably surpassed Starfleet's. JT probably (read: definitely) could have done it, but really couldn't be bothered when he could be out getting into more trouble.
Also JT didn't like to boast about being a genius, if anything he was pretty shy about it. There was only a few people who knew how smart he really was. Spock, because he was only other one there during school and saw him working out all these complex equations all the time. Bones knew because He was JT's best friend and was the one who finally convinced him to do both of the college courses. He had spent half the night ranting about how if would be good for his future (yeah right, what future, I'm a screw-up JT thought at that). Before Bones finally worked out that the only way was to challenge him to do it and so, had stated that: "If you think it is too hard for you then I'm sure Spock could do it, he's just as smart if not more so than you, I'm amazed you ever beat him once at chess". At that JT had stormed out of the Bones' room to him own. It was only the next day after he had agreed and Bones had left for school that JT realized he had been played. Spock had raised an eyebrow after JT's loud exclamation of 'DAMMIT' and subsequent fist slamming onto the table next to the computer containing the day's work and induction. He'd been pretty pissed but had ultimately forgiven Bones because he was only looking out for him like a brother would.
During school time JT didn't really bother Spock and actually enjoyed his company most of the time. They spent a lot of their time in the library in the attic of the building. This is where their sort-of friendship came from; being the only two genius level orphans here they were stuck together, while everyone was gone. The time they spent together was often in a comfortable silence and JT often found himself mesmerized by Spock studying intently on the computer across from him. His online course was pretty easy and nothing he hadn't done before so, he did often get distracted, which is what he put it down to. Definitely not the fact that Spock was a very mysterious person. And he hardly knew anything about him.
He never spoke about Vulcan, although JT knew from books that it is a desert planet and was the first planet to form an alliance with Earth. JT often wondered how Spock was half-human considering he knew that Vulcan's mated for life and you'd have to be a pretty patient human to put up with one all the time, and living on a desert planet couldn't be easy. I mean surely there would have been some sort of record of a Human and Vulcan marriage; it wasn't exactly an everyday thing. But since Spock had never volunteered the information and JT really didn't want that Vulcan strength used against him if he pissed the Vulcan off (no emotions be dammed). He never knew how Spock got to Earth (wasn't there an orphanage on Vulcan) he must have come with someone, maybe his parents were killed here and he didn't have any other family. He really wanted to ask him about it but since he didn't want anyone knowing about his past his figured Spock was the same.
And so the Vulcan remained a frustrating mystery to him.
At around four in the afternoon everybody came home and he could go do something fun. Bones and Scotty were always first off the bus, being older and able to get to the bus faster followed by Sulu and Pavel who were always chatting about one thing or another, they were almost inseparable and JT loved seeing them so happy together. Uhura was always last off the bus, having sat at the back with her group of 'girlfriends', who included another girl, an Orion called Gailia. She was pretty with her glowing green skin and red curly hair that framed her face. She looked completely different to Uhura with he chocolate coloured skin and straight black hair held back in a tight ponytail.
Gailia was going on about how some guy from Starfleet came into talk to them today about their futures. Uhura was listening intently and didn't notice when she reached the first step. She would have tripped had JT not launched himself from where he was leaning against a pillar and caught her, stopping her from toppling over.
"hey, watch your step there Uhura, don't want to ruin that lovely jumper you're wearing today" JT spoke smoothly winking at her, Bones rolled his eyes from where he was standing next to Scotty on the steps. It was a routine for them: JT would attempt to flirt and Uhura would shoot him down. It was the only way his ego could be stopped form consuming them all like a black hole.
"Thanks JT, and no I will never in this universe or any other be interested in you in that way, so shut up" she retorted but she was smiling at him when she said it so he knew he didn't really mean it. Well maybe just a little, she was very pretty.
"Are you sure? I'm very talented and not bad looking and neither are you, we'd make a good couple" he said I fluent Andorrian, just to impress her.
"I really am not interested in you, no matter what language you use" She said back in klingon. Before flouncing inside after Gailia, to continue the conversation about the 'super hot guy from Starfleet'.
Despite having no idea what was being said Bones and Scotty sniggered at him before too sauntering inside JT following behind them as the last of the kids trickled in and away to their rooms or the various recreation rooms dotted around.
"so what fun and laughs did you get up to today Bones, had for maths again?" JT knew Bones hated the guy, he had these huge glasses and always wore beige shirts, he had seen from a holo-vid Sulu had taken of him giving Bones a detention for falling asleep in a lesson. He had laughed as Bones slunked off the detention and even more as Sulu had his comm Taken away for using it in class.
"Oh shut up, just because you don't need to go to school and get to spend all day with the pointy-eared bastard doesn't mean you get to annoy me about the potato who attempts to teach me maths." He glared at JT as he spoke.
"Well I had an excellent day, I got to have sandwiches for lunch and cheese grits after, they were delicious and chef made them fresh because I fixed the replicators from when I last altered them to make everything in the shape of a heart for valentines." JT gave them sly looks as they both glared at him. Sandwiches were Scotty's favourite and he was outraged when he found out the school didn't serve them because they believed the everyone should have a good hearty meal for lunch which meant that anything snack like was automatically banned. He had written a letter of complaint to the school however they still refused and had given Scotty a detention when he had brought one in for lunch.
Bones was still glaring at him, cheese grits were, despite Pavel's best efforts to convince him that they were 'inwented' in Russia, a famous southern recipe and Bones had pretty much been brought up on them. Chef hardly ever made them because he deemed them 'like totally unhealthy and completely unsuitable for a meal'. Bones had argued that he had turned out fine and that calling them unhealthy was an insult to the south and his heritage who: 'would be out working hard in them big old cotton fields seven days a week' (Bones to any insult about the south very personally)
"Guys seriously its okay, I got him to save some just for you plus he made cornbread, just how you like it and Scotty you think I would just say something like that and leave you, you wound me" he waved his arm dramatically in front of him in feigned horror before continuing "I got some sandwiches, submarine ones with cheese, ham and mustard just how you like them" He smiled slyly and watched as two of his closet friends made a mad dash for the kitchen pushing a few people out of the way as the went.
JT laughed at the sight of them like Uhura after a shoe sale and made his way upstairs into the TV room, Sulu and Pavel were watching some reality show and waved him over. He meandered over waving to few people he vaguely knew and sat down next to them. They were locked in a fierce debate over something.
"… I'm telling vou, Fwencing was inwented in Russia, Kowrea just borrwved it from thewm" Pavel pleaded at him
"Pasha not everything was 'inwented in Russia you know" Sulu did a very good impression of Pavels accent and Pavel pouted before crossing his arms and turning back to the TV where Real housewives of Andorria had just come back on. Sulu rolled his eyes at JT and he laughed at the two friends before settling down to watch as on Andorrian was crying shopping for shoes with her husband who was arguing with her over spending all his money. Their argument was pretty heated and JT laughed as she stomped off in a huff leaving him carrying about 7 pairs of expensive looking shoes.
Uhuras voice above him startled him "Ooooh they are gorgeous shoes, I wish I could afford those, I saw them in the latest issue of Federation Vogue" She gushed and they all rolled their eyes at the predictability of her. 'Woman' JT mouthed at Pavel and Sulu and they all started snickering quietly at she stared at the screen mesmerized.
"UHURA, EARTH TO UHRUA CAN YOU HEAR ME!" Gailia's loud voice made them jump from behind. Uhura spun around and shrugged apologetically to her before leading her out of the TV room probably to go gossip over some knew piece of irrelevant information from some news feed.
It was then that the bell for dinner sounded and everyone in the TV including the three of them scrambled to get out and down the kitchen, Today was a Friday so chef always made something awesome so they an down the stairs loudly. BY some miracle they all made it down to the cafeteria before most of the other kids. They joined the queue and picked up a tray before being handed a hearty portion of pie and making their way over to the usual table where Bones and Scotty were already sitting munching on cheese grits and sandwiches.
"Hey guys, chef was obviously taking requests today, totally should have asked him for some sushi" Sulu muttered as he sat down next to Scotty and opposite JT who was pushing his pie around his plate.
"Nah, JT got it for us he already ate at lunch… not hungry JT" Bones joked at him.
"You got it, I ate far to many cheese grits at lunch, those things really fill you up" He smiled back, not quite reaching his eyes. By this point Uhura had joined them and was delicately eating, being careful not to get any on her new jumper.
"Haha yeah, seriously you really shouldn't eat so much at lunch, it ruins you r metabolism and can make you gain weight, dinner is one of the most important meals of the day and you never seem to eat much" She said as she placed another piece of pie in her mouth and swiping a crisp off Scotty's at the same time.
"Oi, what you doing lass? You got your own there" He said with no real bite to his words, everyone knew Scotty had a soft spot for her.
"Oh crap, I got to go, I have a tonne of homework to get though and fencing practice. Hey, JT you sill up for that later?" Sulu said as she shoved the last mouthful of his pie in his mouth and swiftly getting up.
"hmmm what… oh yeah sure eight all right with you?" JT snapped out of his past and looked up at Sulu, a tight smile graced his lips and he too stood up. "Hey, anyone want this, I'm full?" he asked
"Aye, give it 'ere, she swiped one of my chips and now I have less" Scotty said and grabbed JT's plate and stared shovelling the pie into his mouth. Everyone rolled their eyes as Sulu and JT left the room chatting about the upcoming Federation Fencing tournament. However JT was still distracted about what Uhura had said about gaining weight, it wasn't as easy as she said he thought bitterly as Sulu carried on about fencing unaware that JT wasn't really listening. They went their separate ways and as JT was walking down the corridor to his room at the end he ran straight into Spock, who let go of the PADD he was holding, JT caught it as it fell to the floor. "Oh hey sorry Spock, here you go" JT handed him the PADD and Spock gave him a tight nod as he hurried off down the corridor.
It was only as Jt was entering his room that he wondered where Spock had been coming from, His room was on the floor above along with Bones and Scotty. He gave it little thought as he changed quickly and made his way down to the exercise room in the basement and picked up a sword. HE made his way over to Sulu who was putting his mask on.
"hey, you ready for me to kick you ass?" Sulu challenged
"In your dreams" he retorted
In the end it was in Sulu's dreams as JT thrashed him multiple times leaving them both exhausted and achy as he stepped into the shower and washed quickly soaping himself up and humming quietly. He all but collapsed on the bed after, slowly dragging himself under the covers as he thought about what he would do tomorrow. It was a Saturday and he was due to go for his quarterly allergy test at the hospital. He needed them so often as they were always finishing new things he was allergic to, He needed a way to get out of it as they always weighed him when they did this and he hated it, he was really self-conscious about his weight and generally hated doctors in general. He opted to get up early and go get the early bus into town, he had some money from when he last went (he was a master pick pocket) and could do with some new trainers as his last pair were about to rip. That decided he drifted off into a hopefully dreamless night.
A/N so second chapter, review still needed. Where do you want me to go form here I was thinking about doing one of JT's 'adventures' where he ends up in the hospital and Bones ranting at him.