Blue Striped Tie

Chapter 6: The adorable Katie

After the first few days of introduction, the school year kicked off. Instead of basic round ups of the course and lectures on what to expect, teachers started to actually teach course material, and Ross got an idea of how hard A Levels actually were. People said that the jump from GCSE to A Level was bigger than the jump from A Level to University. Ross could see how that could be true.

It wasn't as if he found any of it hard, most of the concepts were pretty easy to understand. Ross managed to take notes and store most of the information in his head, but his mind kept wandering to the persistent worry about Chris and Alex. The boys clearly had secrets, and it bothered Ross that everyone seemed to know them but him.

At lunch, he and the others lounged in the pod. Sjin had bought in some cool space invader cards, and a furious game of go fish was underway. Ross had chosen not to participate, instead engaging in conversation with Chris.

"I like your backpack." Ross started, meaning to question the boy on his intense love for the animal.

"Thanks." Chris replied, his hand moving down to feel the fabric of the worn bag. He took a piece of course material between his finger and thumb and stroked it, smiling. "I've had it for a long time."

"Guess you like walruses then." Ross prompted, watching Chris' face.

"Yeah, when I was a kid I loved them. Mum took me to a special aquarium in London just to see the walrus show." Chris said, looking down at the backpack. Ross caught a sense of far off longing in his expression.

"I remember that show." Ross smiled, also looking down at the bag. "My family went to see it too, for my sisters birthday. I remember getting soaked, actually. Don't know how I remember that though. I must have only been three or so, cause it was my sisters thirteenth birthday."

"That's quite an age gap." Chris commented.

"Yeah." Ross sighed. "There was supposed to be a middle child, but... didn't make the birth."

"Sorry man, that sucks." Chris said, looking up at Ross with a pitiful expression.

"It's alright. Happened before I was born, so I don't really know what it felt like." Ross said, looking down at his hands. He frowned at his bitten fingernails, and wondered how they had diverted from Chris' family life to his own.

"Well, at least they got you in the end." Chris said. Ross looked up, and chuckled at the brunets sorrowful smile.

"Yeah, I guess. Kept me around for a bit, I suppose." Ross shrugged, and Chris' smile dropped.

"Do you not see your parents much?"

"Nah." Ross smiled. "Once my sister got her own place and finished uni, I moved in with her. Must have been about thirteen at the time, my sister twenty three. Dad stops in sometimes, but his job takes him everywhere. Mum just went off somewhere, travelling the world in search of 'enlightenment'. She was always into the buddhist stuff; whatever works for her I guess."

"So it's just you and your sister?"

"Yeah. Which is alright, actually. She's amazing at cooking and doesn't mind me hanging around, so I guess it works out well." Ross shrugged. Deciding to get back on task he tried to steer the conversation in Chris' direction. "So do you live with both your parents then?"

"Yeah." Chris said, Ross frowned at the slight strain in his voice. "My mum and dad both, plus an older brother. Nice little nuclear family we've got."

"That's good." Ross said, smiling politely.

"Yup. Might as well have a white picket fence to go with it."