Confused and Alone

Part 1

"Don't misbehave," said Mr. McLoughlin, "or you'll be sent to a private school somewhere else. Right now you'll be spending your time in this American public school. Understand?"

"Yeah, I know dad. If I act up again it's going to be another transfer, another swarm of lectures, more bible summer camp, the entire rampage of rules upon more rules until I, 'get my act together,'" said Sean McLoughlin.

"Alright, glad you understand. A simple 'yes' would have been sufficient, son, but congratulations on the dramatics. I have requested the principal to arrange a student escort around campus for your first week at school. This student is supposed to be the smartest on the grounds, and seems to be first chair clarinet and vocals, as well as lead in the school play, and football captain; basically all I've ever wanted in a son that I have yet to receive from you, even though all your brothers have met my 'ridiculous' requirements."

"Yeah, I get it. I'm a terrible disappointment. I can play instruments too, Dad. I play drums, I get straight A's in Art and Music, why is that never enough? I try to meet your giant standards, and I never come close, why don't you just give up on me then if you hate what I've turned out to be?! You hate my ear gauges, my music, my green hair, my personality, my shortcomings, why do you still even try to make me a perfect son?!"

"Because," said Mr. McLoughlin, "you are my son. As much as I despise your failure to live up to your name, you are still linked with us and I can't have you tearing down the family name. Dragging me, your mom, and your siblings down with you! I don't want you to end up being a hooligan all your life! Now, you will finish up this year of high school in the states and then you will come back home and continue the rest of your schooling and go to college to make something of yourself that this family can be proud of!"

"Yes sir."

--Inside High School, January 9th--

"Everyone, this is Sean McLoughlin! He will be joining us late this year but he will finish the same semesters on schedule like everyone else. Since the first semester ended yesterday, I guess we will all be starting fresh. Any materials he is lacking will be provided by the school, and hopefully any class notes he may need his first few days here will be shared with him from a polite and kind fellow student. Now who would care to be that kind soul?" said Mrs. Pricefield.

One solitary arm shot up into the air, with a loud declaration of, "I will!"

"Why thank you Mr. Fischbach! Sean, well isn't this convenient? You two will be sitting next to each other, which should make it even easier to trade notes. I'm sure you two will be thick as thieves!"

Without any response, he took his seat and let his backpack fall to the floor next to the overly excited 'Mr. Fischbach'.

"Hi, I'm Mark! Mark Edward Fischbach, and your name is Sean! Well, I mean, YOU know your own name, and she said it to the rest of the class including me, which is how I know, uh...those are...really pretty earrings."

Feeling annoyed and then embarrassed at Mark's comment, Sean pulled down his beanie to cover his ears and said, "They aren't pretty, they are being worn by a guy. I'm not some preteen girl that fauns over necklaces and 'earrings', as you call them. They are my ear gauges, and they aren't 'pretty', or 'cute', or 'adorbs', or any of that sweet BS that you probably spout all the time. Don't ever say that kind of stuff about me."

"Um, okay. I was complimenting you, but I...guess some people get touchy over compliments. I'm sorry if we have already gotten off on the wrong foot, uh - let's start over! I'm Mark Fischbach, and you are -"

"Doesn't matter. We probably aren't going to be friends anyway, so forget it. I'm just here to finish off the year so my dad will get off my case; you don't have to give me those notes. I'm sure I'll be fine without them. If I need help, I'll figure it out myself. Just don't talk to me with the intention of being buds or chums, alright?"

"Oh - okay. I guess if you want it that way - "

"I do."

--End of First Class, January 9th--

"Sean, I would like you to sit here until your student escort arrives, please and thank you," said Mrs. Undyne.

"Yes ma'am," said Sean as he plopped into a small plastic chair with a dim blue cushion covering the seat.

After about 30 seconds of sitting, or more like slouching, Sean suddenly heard upcoming footsteps fast approaching him, until a strong and manly voice said, "I'm here! I'm here! I'm sorry I'm late!"

"Oh God no," said Sean, audible to Mark.

"Oh, yeah! You're who I'll be guiding for the next week! Well, I'll be escorting you today, then the following week. Crazy that the second school semester begins on a Friday, huh? I would've told you I'd be your escort, but then you basically said outright not to talk to you, so I decided you'd find out soon enough, and here we are! I was hoping we would get to know each other. I didn't learn very much about you except from the information packet that Mrs. Pricefield gave me that said you had transferred from Ireland, which is clearly obvious from your Irish accent, and also that you seem to be, quote, 'a rebel-rouser that is nothing but trouble, but all in all a talented kid going down the wrong path - "

"Listen here and listen good," said Sean, "you know nothing about me or my life, so stop saying things like you do. You don't have to give me the time of day or 'escort' me to my classes, hand over your notes or anything, but I also don't have to have you dragging me along as my warden in this prison, just let me be and we can go our separate ways. If anyone asks I'll say you did your job."

With a slight snort, Mark responded cheerily with, "Sorry Sean, no can do, because that would be lying for one, and I don't lie to teachers. Two, I think now even more that you DO need to follow me around and let me guide you! Without my help you would be cold and alone, and I won't allow that to happen to you or anyone. You need a friend and I'll always be there for you! So since we are now stuck together, we might as well get on with the tour. There's usually no work to do on a Friday, and today you and me are excused from all other classes to help you get a feel for the place."

"Hey, I never asked for you to - wait, we have no classes? Then why are we still standing here?!"

"Because it's during school hours, why would you even ask that?"

"Are we unsupervised...?"

"Yes...?"

"Then let's go somewhere fun. At my school back home me and my friends would tag stuff under the bleachers. Wanna go have some fun...friend?"

With that, Mark lost some of his exhibitions at the thought of maybe cracking the rough exterior of Sean.