Her Light & Tender Heart [Completed]

It Isn't Easy Being Green

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to you, the reader. Not many of my friends or the people I surround myself with actually read for pleasure. It's just nice to see others who share the same pastime.

A/N: I took some liberties with the canon for this one. :)

Nine Years Later...

Sean's POV

Playing hooky was an artform.

It required strategy, a touch of genius, and a very severe lack of self preservation. You had to time it perfectly and make sure you wouldn't be missed.

Playing hooky when your mother home-schooled you was a death wish.

"Yo, Green!" A surprised shout caught my attention, halting my stroll down the hallway. Another boy in the thirteens age group, Aaron Marshall, stood in the doorway to the weights room. "What are you doing here before three? Did Mama Bear go into hibernation or something?"

"Shove it, Marshall. The only thing hibernating around here is your marksmanship score," I snapped back. My eyes narrowed at the big lug, feeling several conflicting emotions over the mention of my mother. None of them were good. "If we supersized a target to the size of your own mother, do you think you could finally hit something?"

"Fuck off, Green bean." His once taunting smile twisted into a dark scowl, glaring at the boy next to him, who snorted a laugh. "At least I don't have to sit through math and science anymore."

Honestly, like I could help it that I was growing faster than I could keep up, with the carbs I ate. I couldn't be blamed if my arms were naturally noodle-like.

"Pity." I spared him a frown, before turning back to the hallway. "How will you know what change to give, when the only job you can get is at McDonald's?"

"I swear to God, one day your string bean ass is gonna-"

"Mr. Marshall." A silky voice sucked all air from the room, as we slowly looked to the left. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you scheduled for Advanced Encryption until four o'clock today?"

Ms. Tulsan, more commonly known as the Wing A Warden. There was a reason I usually avoided this path to the front offices. They claimed she was an expert in the areas of deception and interrogation, but I was convinced she was simply a sadist with a PhD in psychological torture.

Who the hell executes a scientific study by taking away a three-year-old's toys and snacks every time Barney comes on the TV? I still couldn't see purple and green together without feeling irrationally angry.

"Bathroom," Aaron mumbled, with his eyes glued to the floor, him and his friend quickly shuffling out of the doorway to the weights room. He turned in the opposite direction to us, heading forward and cautiously throwing over his shoulder, "I'm on my way back, we just needed to--"

"Don't forget to stop by my office after training finishes today," Ms. Tulsan cut in sharply, her beady little eyes piercing into the young boy's back. "You and your Team Lead can discuss the appropriate amount of hours necessary for skipping."

"Yes, ma'am," he offered weakly, hurrying down the hall before he did something embarrassing, like piss himself.

"Mr. Green, you're a little early for your evening training." Ms. Tulsan turned her sharp eyes to me, a tight frown forming when she studied my clothes. "Is everything alright at home?"