the boy with the blue shoes

part 11

there was a new little girl who had joined the house, with her older brother. her name was theodora, but ever called her theo. her older brothers name was ace, he was okay, but he was also my room mate.

i walked into my room, after having to have a talk to maria about not smoking in the house, and i saw ace wasn't there. i didn't really care because he wasn't my responsibility. i took my fags and climbed out onto the roof where i was met with none other than ace.

"what are you doing up here" i said as he turned around. "smoking, you" he asked. i sat next to him. "same" i lit one of my fags and let out a big cloud of smoke. "so how did you get here" he asked trying to make conversation. "abusive dad, you" i asked as i took another inhale of smoke. "parents starts going through problems, got too much for theo, one day she phone child protective services, we end up here" he looked at me.

"what you staring at" i asked as i leant back. "nothing, just wondering some things" he smiled and he looked genuinely happy. "like what, ask away" we turned around to face each other and began talking. "where'd you used to live" "sandhurts just down-" i was cut off by him "i used to live there" he smiled but then got back to asking questions.

"why'd your mum leave your dad" he took a puff of his fag. "brother got diagnosed with cancer, they started blaming it on each other, they split up" i took a puff of mine. "did you have any other siblings" he looked at me with a curious look on his face. "a little brother and sister" he put out his fag just beside him. "how'd you start smoking" he rubbed his eyes a little and the sun began to disappear behind the houses. "my friend, he got caught up in a bunch of stuff and then i got caught up in it, but i guess now it's a coping mechanisms" i put out my fag and he asked the last question. "you actually got any friends here" i nodded "basically the whole school, but morgan's my favourite."

we climbed back inside the house just in time for maria to call for dinner. we both gave each other a fed up look as we walked down the stairs for dinner.

the next day ace started school, he was just told to wear my school clothes and maria had previously got him a blazer. "where's your trousers man" he asked. "just wear skinny jeans, no one will notice" he laughed a little and pulled on his skinny jeans.

"come on boys" she said as we grabbed our stuff and ran down the stairs. we started walking to morgan's house. "where we going" he questioned. "to pick up my friend" i responded. we walked in silence for the rest of the way.

i knocked on morgan's door and she opened it and stared at ace. "morgan" i sapped my fingers in front of her face. "s...sorry" she apologised. we walked to school as we smoked and morgan and ace got to know each other.

we all walked over to where we hand before school. "who the fuck is that" robert asked pointing at ace. "it's ace" me and morgan said in unison. "damn you two look like double" angel said "no angel, your just high as fuck" we all laughed and mr grainger came outside and started walking right over to us. "you three" he pointed at me morgan and ace. "my office now" he walked away and we all looked at each other as we began to follow him.

we arrived at his office and sat in the chairs that were conveniently place. "now i know that ace, you are new and morgan and max, you two are nice kids but are probably not the best influences for ace" he said "excuse me sir but ace is like my brother" i began "he moved to town yesterday" i rolled my eyes. "yeah into my foster home" morgan looked a bit surprised at this news. "that doesn't make him yo-" i cut off mr grainger. "i don't care, i said it's LIKE he's my brother, now if you wouldn't mind, we're getting to class" i said as the bell had rang two minutes ago.

we all stood up and walked out the room one by one. "ace gardner" the receptionist asked as we walked past. "here's your timetable" she handed him his timetable and we walked away. "your last names gardner" morgan laughed "and also, you two are both foster kids" she touched her heart "i was adopted so i kinda get where your coming from" we walked to our forms, luckily me and ace were in the same one.

it was lunch and we were all out smoking. we got back to the school and some guy started saying things to us. "oh look the junkies are back" we just tried to ignore it "hey, hey max, guess what, you're not wanted by anyone, not even your own dad wanted you, why do you think he-" i cut him off by tackling him to the ground as we started to throw some punches. "get off him" one of his friends yelled as he pulled me off "i got this" ace pulled his friend away and dealt with him. i was now on top of him and was just punching his face repeatedly. "that's my wee brother" a girl was now running up to us. "oh no you don't" morgan went and started to beat her up. there was now a huge crowd of people surrounding all of us. chanting fight.

"break it up, BREAK IT UP" mr anderson yelled as he walked through the crowd trying to get me off brayden. a lot of other teacher started flooding out of the school coming to break up these fights. "MY OFFICE NOW" mr grainger yelled as we all slowly started to walk to his office. "HURRY UP" he yelled, we all kinda sped walked to his office.

"all of you, detention lunch time tomorrow, this is your last warning for all of you." he paced the floor and we just all sat there. "ugh" i sighed a little "i would watch it mills, your on very thin lines here" mr grainger spat.