When Gary stopped at the school, Johnny pushed open the backdoor and nearly ran into the crowd of kids, without looking back.
"Gee," Karen said softly and Gary grabbed her hand.
Brad leaned up on the front seat and said, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll break in."
"Good," she nodded and touched the back of his head when he kissed her cheek.
"Be careful, Brad," Gary said softly, "Eight psychologists couldn't break through those walls."
"No worries, man!" Brad laughed and slugged Gary on the shoulder. "Have fun at work you two!" he laughed and got out of the car.
He slung his backpack on his back, waved at his Mom and jogged off. He ran up to Jeff and Charlie. "What's up today?" he smiled.
"History test I didn't study for," Jeff smiled.
"Did you get algebra homework done?" Charlie frowned as they walked into the cafeteria.
Brad looked around and spied Johnny sitting at a corner table by himself. He took a step in his direction, "Yeah, but I had help."
"Where ya goin, man?" Jeff asked and pointed in the opposite direction.
"Girls!" Charlie waved back at them as he followed Brad.
"Here's the guy that can help you!" Brad said proudly and held his hands out to Johnny. His black eyes blinked and he jerked off his glasses, snapping his book closed.
"The new guy?" Charlie winced as they sat around the table.
"He won't be new if you meet him today," Brad laughed.
Sierra frowned at Brad as she sat down, "Bradley, your English!" she moaned.
"I ain't the English major of this group," he shook his head and looked at Johnny, "You've been invaded," he sat next to him.
"So I see," he said softly and looked around at the full table of kids.
"He speaks," Ellen smiled down at him. "Can I sit next to you?"
"Sure," he said with a shakey voice and she walked around him. She put her leg over the bench seat and sat between Johnny and Brad.
"Where were you yesterday?" Brad frowned at her, "You call off?"
She nodded and swallowed hard, "I'm okay today."
"So you know Algebra?" Charlie asked Johnny and he nodded. "Great!" he sighed and pulled out his notebook. "Gimme number 12," Charlie looked down at his notebook. Johnny laughed and took out his own notebook. "Just let me have it," Charlie took it from him greedily and looked it over.
"Is that what you got?" Brad laughed. Charlie shook his head looking at another problem. He hummed a little "told you so" tune and sighed. He slapped the notebook on the table and looked at Johnny.
Johnny looked at him for a minute, then laughed nervously, "What?"
"You one of those Brainiacs?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Sorry," Johnny blushed.
"Great for me!" Charlie smiled suddenly and started copying the work into his notebook.
"Don't get caught!" Ellen hissed and they all looked around for a teacher.
"It's Friday," Jeff looked at Brad, "Are we practicing in your garage?"
"Sure," Brad shrugged, "Mom and her boyfriend are wanting to go camping up at the lake," he sighed, "So we'll have to cut it short."
"And you have to go?" Jeff groaned.
"Yeah, we both do," Johnny sighed, laying his head in his hand.
"You too? Why you?" Jeff looked at him.
"Johnny's Dad is Mom's boyfriend," Brad laughed.
"You guys will be brothers!" Sierra gasped.
"No," Brad scolded.
"If they get married," she nodded and looked at Johnny, "Does your Dad love Brad's Mom?"
"I dunno," he laughed, turning red.
"How cool!" Ellen smiled.
"Yeah," Brad winced.
A school bell rang, "Well, that's me!" Ellen hopped up and jogged off.
"Ellen," Brad ran up to her and took her elbow. He stopped infront of her and looked over his shoulders, then back at her, "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"Yeah. Why?" she frowned up at him.
"You missed school yesterday and you weren't sick," he stood closer to her. "It was your Dad," he whispered.
Her eyes widened and she looked around them, then up at him, "Look. Don't tell anybody. Dad was sorry afterwards. He said he didn't mean to. He won't do it again."
"Ellen, he shouldn't hit you like that," Brad said angrily.
"Please, don't tell," she put her hand on his chest, "He was just tired. Please understand, Bradley," she whispered his name. A tingle went down his spine and he pulled her closer. "Brad, you won't tell on me," she blinked, "Will you?"
"No," he smiled and kissed her softly. Students around them ooo'd and whistled and a teacher cleared his throat loudly. He broke the kiss and smiled at her, "Kiss ya later."
"Okay," she laughed and ran off.
"Let's not have anymore of that Mr. Lang," the teacher growled in a warning tone as Brad went to his seat.
************************
Brad sat down at Johnny's table and picked up the apple, "Is this all you're eating?" Johnny took it back and glared at him, then returned to reading. Brad looked down at the book, "English?"
Johnny looked up at him said, "Extra credit."
"Not me, man," Brad laughed, then said seriously, "Hey. You want to practice with us tonight?"
"Practice what?" he laid his cheek in his hand.
"The guys and I have a band," he shrugged, "I was hoping to get a gig tonight, but can't now."
"Why?" he frowned.
"We're camping," Brad sighed, "Remember?"
"Maybe we can stay home," he smiled and closed his book.
Brad shook his head, "Mom won't let that happen."
Johnny slid his glasses on top of his head, "Gary will."
"Your Dad?" he started to feel hopeful. Johnny nodded. "That would be great," he gasped, "Can you ask him?"
"Me?" he wailed.
"If I ask Mom, it'll be a straight no. If you ask Gary and HE asks her," he shrugged, "it might be a maybe."
