No

New Boy

Alex was still the new boy. He had been at the school for less than a week and a half. Yes he had made a few friends, but surely it was too soon for them to invite him for dinner? Yet he still found himself walking down the street to Lafayette's house all the same. The houses they were passing were alarming large compared to what Alex was used to seeing. Lafayette had never shown any sign of being rich as far as Alex was concerned. Although he didn't have much to go off, he was sure rich people were snobby. Selfish or at least rather full of themselves?

The small boy was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by Johns, another new friend, voice reaching his ears.

"Alex, what's your favourite movie?"

Alex looked at John for a moment before answering his new friends question.

"I've...err never seen a movie before, sorry..." he tried to say it as quietly as possible with a hoper John wouldn't hear him and move the conversation along. Unfortunately, much to Alexanders dismay, Johns super hearing heard every word.

"What?!" he exclaimed, "Even Hercs seen movies!"

Hercules, or Herc, was Alex's third and final new friend. He wasn't the most well off, nut he always appeared to be a rather happy and healthy person. To tell the truth you probably wouldn't know anything about his money situation, at least until you got to know him anyway.

By now any hope Alex had held of keeping this conversation low-key was gone. Mainly thanks to Johns shout of surprise when Alex had informed him of his lack of entertainment, Lafayette and Hercules were now very much involved.

"you've never seen a movie!?" Lafayette started at him, "Not even a Disney movie?"

"Uh...no." Alex replied preparing for whatever bombardment was about to come his way.

"Right we're fixing that." Was all he received from Hercules before being tugged off down the path.

By the , they had reach Lafayette's house they are all gasping for breath, having ran the rest of the way. Stumbling through the door Laf leads the others through to a large kitchen. The walls in the room are a soft creamy colour, with pristine white tiles halfway up. A large table is situated to one end of the floor, with enough chairs to seat a family of eight. John flops himself down on a chair, whilst Herc and Laf grab a bottle of water each from the fridge.

Everyone seems so calm and relaxed here. Everyone that is except Alex. His shoulders are hunched and tense, and his hands are fiddling with the bottom hem of his jacket. Suddenly aware of how he is presenting himself he tries to change and cover it up. Not quick enough it seems, because Lafayette speaks up.

"Mon ami, take a seat. You do not need to stand!" he beams at Alex trying to reassure the smaller boy. Noticing his motive Alex sits and before long visibly relaxes.

A few hours later the four boys have finished watching The Lion King, which Alex has been told is a classic, and are finding joy in just chilling and giggling at each other. They are in Lafs bedroom when his parents call them downstairs for dinner. From what Alex, can tell they seem to be nice people.

Once the boys reach the kitchen table the two adults, who Alex has learned are called Martha and George Washington, are already sat and ready to eat.

The boys take their seats and Mrs Washington takes up the job of serving everyone. Murmuring his thanks as Alex is handed a plate, he tries to shake off his nervousness, and begins to watch the others eat. Studying how they hold their cutlery and eat each mouthful.

"Alex, son?" Mr Washington cuts through his train of though. "You can eat now, you don't need to wait."

Alex flinches at the word son but nods and begins to slowly mimic the others actions to the best of his ability.

They eat in silence for a short while, before Mr Washington speaks up again. "Boys." He begins addressing Hercules, John and Alex. "I can give you a ride home after we have finished eating." He finishes his sentence and Herc and John nod in agreement.

But not Alex. No, he was lost to panic. No, he couldn't get a lift home, he had no home to go to. He needed to find a way out, and fast. However due to his state of panic his limbs wouldn't coordinate, they were frozen. They only thing that he could do was run one word through his brain at full speed.

'No'