Just us- SBI adoption story (Just me and him book 2)

Chapter 85: the other side

TW-swearing, ableism, verbal abuse, mentions of physical abuse

Techno's POV:

Everyone made me promise I wouldn't fight Dream. Dad held me back in the car and told me it wasn't worth it. I looked out at the window, at my brothers. Wilbur wasn't holding Tubbo's crutches like he always did when Tubbo used his wheelchair to get into school. I didn't understand why Dream wasn't the one at risk of being expelled. It always felt like it got forced onto me.

"Morning boys," James said, walking in a placing his packed lunch in the corner where he always did. Tommy got up from the table we were sat at and placed his there too, smiling at James.

"Good morning," James signed and said, then helping Tommy to sign it back to him.

"Morning." Wilbur and I mumbled.

"What's everyone's first lesson?" James then asked.

"I got music I think and you've got Maths haven't you Tubbo?" Our brother nodded in reply to Wilbur and bit his lip before looking back down at his phone.

"I got a free."

"Oh okay, you staying here Techno?"

"Yea, well I was going to. Tommy's got a free too right?"

"Yea, that's okay. I think Mr Manifold was just hoping to catch you at some point for a quick chat." I groaned. "Nothing bad, just you know." I did know. This was about yesterday. Sure I shouldn't have blown up at him or sworn in school or anything like that. But I always got told off for my reaction to Dream's bullsh-t that goes unpunished.

I busied myself on my laptop before the school day even officially started. James was busy trying to help Tommy get his jumper off which had got stuck to the velcro of his school shirt. A couple other kids joined us but it was pretty quiet this morning.

There was a knock on the open door but I didn't turn around. "Techno?" It was Jack. I pretended not to hear him, with my noise cancelling headphones on I could normally fool teachers for at least a little bit.

"Techno, can we have a quick chat?" He was stood just to my side now and I couldn't exactly ignore him. I nodded, pulling my headphones around my ears and turning my laptop off. Tommy looked up at me and then back down at his work. 

Jack closed the door to his office behind me and offered me a seat and a biscuit. I sat down but refused the biscuit. "We need to talk about yesterday."

"I am sorry for losing it and for shouting at you. It wasn't an appropriate reaction and I'm working on it with my therapist." I said almost immediately, totally on script and hoping it would be enough to get him off my back this time as well.

"I appreciate your apology but there's something else."

"What?" I asked, trying not to sound rude this time too.

"We need you and Dream to talk to each other, get to a place where you can both be civil."

"Why? He doesn't like me and I don't like him."

"He's going through a tough time-"

"Aren't we all?" I interrupted, huffing and crossing my arms.

"Yes and that's why he's going to be coming to the SEND department for a bit of extra support."

"Well I don't want anything to do with him."

"Unfortunately that won't be an option. Dream will be on an internal exclusion here for the next week and a half."

"What so around my brothers and other kids he's bullied?!"

"I understand this must be difficult but he needs our support and he will be getting it like any other student that needs support does."