Feeling the Love

Prologue

DYLAN

"Expelled!" Yelled my dad as we drove away from what was my latest high school. I sat in the passenger seat of Dad's small work car. "Seriously Dylan, again? That's the third school this year! And you stayed there for longer than usual, you almost made it to the end of the year! You liked it at St Patrick's!"

"Actually, I hated it there," I muttered, my tone full of bitterness, "but you wouldn't know."

    "I can't believe it Dylan! You graffitied the statue out the front of the school and as if that didn't cost enough, you set the whole  Arts building on fire!"

    "It was the Maths building. If I had set fire to the Art building dangerous chemicals from the paint would've stopped people from being able to go in there for months without a gas mask or something. And besides, I didn't set the whole building on fire. Just almost the whole building. I calculated it so that it the firefighters would get there before the fire reached the new section. I'm not totally careless, Dad."

He sighed, not knowing how to respond. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you..." And I zoned out as he continued on with the speech that he always makes when I get expelled, chucking in the usual , 'I'm so disappointed in you', 'you have the brains to score top marks in your exams', 'you're athletic ability could get you a scholarship at a good university if just tried in school' and the ever so famous 'you're better than this'. Like I give a shit.

I stared out the window, watching raindrops roll down the glass. I remembered when I was little, before my younger brother Cooper was born. I was the youngest then and sometimes when I stayed home and my older siblings were at school, I would play with Dad. I thought of one particular time, when it was rainy. The thunder scared me and I would hide in my wardrobe. Dad coaxed me out by telling me that thunder is just the clouds laughing and I had nothing to be afraid of. "Why are they laughing?" I would ask.

    "Because they're having lots of fun!" He would reply, then tickle me until we both collapsed in a fit of giggles.

Dad interrupted my train of thought, bringing me back to reality. "What did you say?" I asked.

    "I said the next school's the last school before we send you to a boarding in school in England."

ERIC

"Eric Walker." Vice Principal Lay called my name and I stepped up onto the stage and started to walk across to Principal Saunders, with shaky steps. "First in Art, First in Dance, First in English, First in French, Second in HPE, Maths, and Science. Congratulations Mr Walker." I shook the Principals hand and she passed me a large folder full of certificates. "Please applaud this mornings award receivers." I made my way to the other side of the stage where the rest of the awardees had lined up on the choir stands for photos. I stood in front of my friend, Thalia Roberts. She had received Firsts and Seconds in most of her classes and got nominated Dux of the grade. I looked into the crowd for my family. They all smiled and waved and clapped.

"Staff, students, parents and distinguished guests, would you please give all of our students one last round of applause as we conclude the ceremony."

We exited off the stage and Thalia and I went and found my other close friend, Matthew and my family to go home. But of course Mum insisted on a family photo before we left. Thalia took the photo so that we coud all be in it while Matt stood awkwardly behind her shoulder.

After the photos were taken Thalia's family found us and came to take her home. We said goodbye and the seven of us headed towards our car. Mason, my older brother ran up to where Matt and I were walking.

    "Good job, little bro." He said, ruffling my hair.

    "Thanks, man."

Matt and I sat in the very back of the our big old eight seater van. Jayden and Mason, my older siblings sat in the middle with Tristan, my younger sister between them and Mum in the passenger seat next to Dad.

When Dad had started the engine and we left the school car park Mum turned around in her seat. "I'm so proud of you, honey. First in four subjects! That's a record! And second to Thalia in Maths and Science is still a pretty good achievement."

"You did a good job, son." Dad cut in.

    "Thanks Mum and Dad. And thanks for letting Matt stay with us so that he can fly back with us. What are we having for lunch?"

    "Well, there's this restaurant in town, I was thinking of." Mum said with a cheeky grin. "But I'm not sure if you guys would like it. It's called Starlight Dining." The car erupted in cheers and Mum laughed. "Starlight it is!"