chapterfive

Chapter Five
The Drama Queen

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�KUAT!  ITS YOU!�  Rosie shouted, seeing Kuat strolling down the hallway.  He smiled at her and walked faster to stand beside her before they walked into the classroom.  Rose, more commonly known as Rosie, was dressed practically in a pair of blue jeans and a tuscan red shirt.  Her hair was a shiny chocolate brown color and matched her brown eyes almost perfectly.
  �C�EST MOI!  OUI!�  He smiled and shouted back throwing his binder down on one of the tables inside the math room.
  �C�est moi� c�est moi�� Rosie sung, causing Kuat to stifle a laugh.
  �Lovely song Rosie� keep in mind it is but first period. We can�t  use up all our energy in this math class.� Kuat pulled out a chair and let Rose sit down before he took his seat and pulled a pencil out of his binder.
  �X-man is coming over this weekend��  Kuat trailed off as he wrote his name on a piece of paper to get ready for the daily assignment and waiting for Rose�s reaction.
  �X-man?�  Rosie raised her dark brown eyebrows, interested in who Kuat called x-man.
  �The guy in dad�s band� I believe he�s characterized by the x�s he has for nipples.  The one who plays the flute when dad�s not banging out the tunes on that guitar of his��Kuat laughed, thinking of Marvin Fontaine� Marvin Fontaine was of course, the x-man.
  �OH THE FLUTE PLAYER.� Rosie nodded, recalling old Marvy.  He was an interesting man, who played the flute and painted.  He loved children.  It was a pity that he was forever known as x-man because of his nipples.  Nobody would�ve called him that but the press found out about his surgery and spread the word of the x�s across the united states.
  �Kuattie!  ROSE!�  Natalie ran over to her seat at their math table as soon as she entered the classroom and noticed Kuat and Rose.  Kuat looked to her before a grin crawled across his face and a laugh escaped his mouth.
  �Hey Nat��  Kuat rambled on, twisting his neck to look back at the chalkboard to write down the homework assignment.
  �AHEM� Class!�  Mr. Nosklralc clapped his hands and walked over to the overhead.  Daniel Noskralc was a middle aged man with dark brown eyebrows and a bald head.  His glasses were accented with thick black rims and he scratched his forehead with his fingertips facing the class and his elbow behind his head.  Kuat smiled and sat up straight.
  �All right�  does every one remember the ZERO EXPONENT PROPERTY???�  He asked in his bellowing voice.  Nobody in the class moved.  Kuat stared at the teacher while Natalie and Rosed looked at each other to laugh.
  �Come on EVERYONE?  YOU MUST!  Well� never fret��  Mr. Noskralc pulled a banana out and placed it in the middle of a portly boy�s table.
   �With this banana��  He began, raising his index finger up authoritatively and twisting his body back and forth looking over the faces of all his somber looking students.  �I will demonstrate the powers of the zero exponent property.  After THIS experiment� you all will know it�s obscene mathematical profundity.�
  �Looks like Mr. Noskralc is having a little too much fun..� Kuat leaned and whispered to Rosie.  She broke out in giggles but stifled herself when the instructor fixed his brown eyes on her for a moment before turning his attention to the experiment.
  �All right� counting down.  THREE-TWO-ONE!� Mr. Noskralc counted.  Without warning he brought his fist down on the innocent banana.  The overweight boy blinked as splatters of banana hit his face.  After licking the banana off from around his mouth, he looked up into the teacher�s eyes.
  �Can I go to the restroom?�  He asked.  Kuat began laughing uncontrollably and Rosie began laughing with him.  For a moment the boy glared at the two of them but stopped after the teacher nodded that he was free to go.
  �What did that teach us about maaaa-th?�  Whined a girl sitting in the corner of the room.  Next to her was the quarterback of the football team.  His name was Christian Hochershmidt.  A born leader, he always had all the prettiest girls around him.  They were also the most discriminating and na�ve people in the whole school.  Kuat glared at the voice that came from beside Christian� not only because it was annoying to hear a person whining and chewing gum at the same time but also because the first day of seventh grade Christian had brutally beat Kuat up because he danced ballet.  While he was beaten up, the girl had stood and laughed at him.  That�s what she did.  She placed her hands on her hips and chuckled away as Kuat was bruised up just before his first picture in the famous Junior High.  Being beaten up had ruined a perfect day.  Kuat kept looking at her for a few seconds, trying to put a finger on his thoughts until he finally realized� Kelly looked the same as she had on that sunny fall day back in September of 1997.  She was still dressed in the same style of powder pink shirt and the same flared khaki pants.  Her make-up was much thicker than that day in seventh grade, but she still outlined her eyes in gleaming white bands of iridescent white eyeliner.
  �Grrrr��  Kuat heard Rose growl under her breath as she stared at Kelly.  Smiling, he waved a hand in front of her face.
  �Calm down she laughed at me, not you Rosie dear.  Besides� wasn�t it worth it to see that rotten banana squirt into Kyle�s face?�  Kuat raised an eyebrow and broke Rose from her angry trance.
  �BUT KUAT LOOK AT HER� she looks like my sister.�  Rose grumbled, writing down the notes that the teacher had recently written upon the board.  A boy across the table looked up at Rosie condescendingly after he heard her shout randomly, but returned to his work quickly when Kuat playfully glared at him.
  �Sorry Rosie�� Kuat followed Rose�s example and began working on his notes over the day�s lesson.  Natalie had already begun working and was halfway done with her notes.  Casually Kuat leaned over and peered over her shoulder, smiling.
  �You don�t mind if I copy those do you Nat� best best friend��  Kuat raised his eyebrows innocently as he looked at her notes.  �Remember� I�m nearsighted?�  Kuat shoved his glasses in their place inside his shirt pocket.  Natalie shrugged and scooted her notebook toward him so that he could write down the notes.  �Thanks so much� really appreciate it Nat.�  Kuat was soon immersed in copying the notes.
  �That demonstration was great wasn�t it?�  Natalie questioned Rose.  Blinking a few times, Rose tore her gaze from Kuat and looked at Natalie.
  �Yes� it was great.  I wish that we didn�t have so many spoilsports in this class. The three of us should be in a lower math class� where the people are our kind of people��
  �What do you mean, our kind of people?�  Kuat was paying more attention to the outside conversation of Natalie and Rose than he was to the math notes he was transferring to paper.
  �You know� different.  Colorful people.  Us people who don�t care about fitting in with everyone else... People like the x-man.�  Rosie laughed and looked into Kuat�s eyes confidently.
  �OH US PEOPLE.  Well I�m proud to be a me��  Kuat hurriedly added on a few more words to his notes after he realized the math class was nearly over.  Only two more classes until lunch, the time when students could really hang loose.
  �I�m proud to be a me��  Natalie proclaimed after Kuat.  Rose laughed.
  �Of course you�re proud to be a you.  That�s why you�re not running around in low rider pants and a face plastered with make-up.�  Kuat laughed his friends and closed his math book.
  �Well ladies� nice staying but��  Kuat trailed off, looking up to the clock until the bell rang.  �Its time for all of us to run along� have fun in drama you two�� Kuat watched Rose and Natalie walk of in the direction of their drama class.
  �BYE KUAT!�  Rose shouted to Kuat, not turning her head as her and Natalie pressed onward.  Merrily Kuat strode through the hallway, heading for his own class.  Only one more class before he would be with his Nowell, unfortunately second period was the longest period of the day.  It wasn�t because the world history was boring, rather the teacher had a poor style of teaching that didn�t present the material in an exciting manner.
  Carefully Kuat wove his way though the students milling through the school�s hallways, not wanting to get in anyone�s way.  There was but one hallway that gave Kuat trouble and that was known by all as Hell�s Corridor.  He always knew where he was when he reached it.  It was the hall that housed Maeko and Matts� lockers.
  In Hells Corridor things were always different.  When Kuat reached it he noticed Maeko standing with his girlfriend making out with her in the hallway.  Matt stood beside him, arms across his chest and his eyebrows furrowed in jealousy.
  �Hey Matt� brighten up that face!�  Kuat walked over and stood in front of the glaring Matt.  Matt�s gaze softened and he stood up straight as fast as possible.
  �Kuat I�m sorry I didn�t mean to look so disrespectful��  Matt hung his head out of habit so that his eyes didn�t turn into Kuat�s.  Laughing, Kuat placed a hand on his shoulder and brushed his fingers down Matt�s cheek so that he could look into his eyes.
  �Matt believe me its ok� I still say you should tell Maeko you know what��  Kuat nodded to Matt before hurrying off to his class.  Maeko pulled away from kissing Valerie�s neck and looked at Matt�s little figure standing against the locker.
  �Tell me what Matt?  He knows what?  You talked to Kuat?�  Maeko rolled his eyes and opened his locker.
  �Yes, I talked to Kuat.  It wasn�t about anything.  I only- well I told him about Phil.�  Matt melted all over again when he could look over Maeko as he slammed his locker shut.  Anytime Maeko wasn�t looking at him Matt felt safe to let his gaze wander over him.  Valerie noticed Matt�s behavior but kept it quiet as she wrapped an arm around Maeko�s waist staring at Matt to provoke him on purpose.  Matt bit his lip trying not to retaliate against her little game.
  �Maeko�� Valerie smiled seductively and stared up into his eyes.  The usual serpent-like smile still present on her burgundy lips.  Discreetly she moved her hand down to Maeko�s waist, still staring into his eyes.  By then Matt�s hand was throbbing as if he were about to slap her.  Matt chose to calm himself by taking a deep breath.  Anger would get him no where at school.
  �Hay hay hay girly� we have a class to get to�� Maeko laughed and ducked out of Valerie�s arms.  Matt came out of his trance once Maeko was released from Valerie�s clutches.
  �Aww� well fine.  I�ll see you and Matt at lunch then��  Valerie flicked her hair and tromped to her class angrily.  Maeko paid no attention to it.  He didn�t care if Valerie was angry.
  �So� marvel that we have the great US History class to get to now�� He mumbled, staring straight down Hell�s Corridor.  The halls had thinned considerably as more and more students had reached their designated classes.  A few people ran towards their classes, as if they would be late.  Despite knowing that they had to get all the way across the building to their class, Maeko remained unruffled as he walked through the hallways.  Faithfully Matt walked by his side, clutching a battered plastic binder to his chest.  Phil rarely bought him new things.
  �How do you think you did on the test Friday?�  Matt asked as they turned a corner.
  �There was a test?�  Maeko turned his eyes into Matt�s and looked at him blankly.
  �Yes Maeko there was a test.  You know, about the Industrial Revolution?�  Matt�s eyes sparkled.  History was his best subject, mostly because it reminded him things in America had been so much worse.  It helped him to remain steadfast in reminding himself that everything was going to be all right someday.  Things always get worse before they get better.  Maeko, on the other hand, detested History.  He and the teacher had quickly become worst enemies.  Half the time Maeko was earning himself suspensions in the class and the year had only just begun.  Maeko allowed his jaw to drop as he continued to look into Matt�s eyes.  He�d never noticed Matt had been so keen on what went on in class and had just realized he didn�t even know what the Industrial Revolution was.
  �Test?   Industrial Revolution?  Matt I think we better keep walking��  Maeko darted his head sharply to the side and tried to change the subject.  Changing it would allow him some room to play it cool that he didn�t know much about what was going on in school.  Matt chuckled to himself quietly and nodded.
  �Yes Maeko we�d never want perfect old you to look stupid now would we?�  Matt raised an eyebrow as a grin formed on his face.  When talking to Maeko he couldn�t help but smile.  Nobody could make him feel as good as Maeko could.
  �Hey look� its Yancey�s hellhole� or should I say it�s heaven��  Maeko trailed off as they reached the door to the classroom.
  �Yes that�s right Maeko.  Remember� no rock music� its bad� there is no bad that Mr. Yancey could ever do.�  Matt laughed heartily while Maeko smirked at him.
  �GOOD AFTERNOON MAEKO!� Chirped Mr. Yancey.  Maeko rolled his eyes as he walked slid his binder across his table and took his seat in the front of the room.  Matt walked up to Mr. Yancey, still smiling and holding his binder in front of his chest.  Only then did he have Mr. Yancey�s attention.
  �All right� good afternoon to you too Matt� now go take your seat.�   Mr. Yancey gestured his hand across the room.  He was very against anything dark and accused Matt and Maeko of being crazy Satanists because they dressed in black and wore black eyeliner.  Years prior Kuat had taken his full dose of the crazy teacher, although Kuat seldom picked fights with teachers so he probably hadn�t felt the full wrath of Mr. Yancey. 
  �Good morning Mr. Yancey.  I believe that�s what you meant.  I was just wondering� what did I do wrong today?�  Matt sat his binder down on the nearest table and put his arms down at his sides trying to look as innocent as possible, palms facing his instructor .  Mr. Yancey scanned his eyes over Matt, looking at his eyes that were carefully outlined in black eyeliner, and then over his clothes.  Matt was wearing his black shirt, pants, and the same black fishnet shirt underneath it all that he�d been wearing all weekend.
  �Wait I have a better question Mr. Fischman, do you remember when Halloween falls?  Isn�t that when your god comes out?� Mr. Yancey walked to his desk, turning his back to Matt.  Apparently Matt�s instructor was through with talking to him for the day. Only a month and a half into school and Matt was already warring with an instructor.  Regardless of the fact all Matt�s questions were asked in a playful manner, Mr. Yancey always took them seriously.
  �My name is Matt� I am not a Fischman��  Matt muttered on his breath as he walked toward the corner of the room where Maeko sat tearing apart the cloth of his binder.  He preferred not to be called by his last name, since he didn�t even know his father.  Fischman was just a name he had to use, not one that he took pride in.
  �Our teacher is a damn prick.�  Matt pounded his binder to the table and sat down, his eyebrows arching downward in anger.
  �You were just now figuring that out?�  Maeko asked.  The sound of the bell muffled his words.  Upon hearing the bell a mischievous grin crept across his face.
  �Hey Matt� we actually made it to this damn class on time��  Maeko rested his neck on his hand and let his eyes follow the teacher as he made his way to the front of the room.  Mr. Yancey was a very easy individual to spot.  He was tall, bony, and had a head of slightly curly toilet water blonde hair.
  �ALL RIGHT.  Class, we�re a month into school now I think you know what it means when the bell rings.�  Mr. Yancey continued to speak in a high voice as he made his way toward the overhead to grab a stack of papers.
  �My wife and I graded all your test scores this weekend� I have to say I�m a little disappointed in some of your grades although I do have some congratulations to give to all that received high grades.  I will call each of your names and you can come up here to get your test and a free ice cream coupon for the lunch line��  Matt cast his eyes down toward the planner in his binder.  All over it were various little doodles.
  �Mary Kline�� Recited Mr. Yancey, beginning to read off the high test scorers.  �Congratulations!� Matt heard between the sarcastic clapping of Maeko who was actually paying attention.  
  �Watch� just this once I�ll be in there��  Maeko bent over to whisper into Matt�s ear and began laughing.  Matt also laughed out loud.  
  �MATTHEW FISCHMAN!�  Mr. Yancey shouted.  Startled, Matt twitched in his seat and turned his head to look over at his teacher.  Afraid that he was in trouble he looked straight ahead at the chalkboard.
  �MATTHEW FISCHMAN.  I demand you listen to your name right now young man or I�m sending you to the office with a referral.�  Maeko rolled his eyes at the teacher for a second time that day and got back to his ripping.
  �Matthew Fischman?� Mr.  Yancey raised both eyebrows and slumped back on one leg, leaning on the overhead looking at Matt angrily.  Matt still refused to be called by his last name.
  �Well Matthew� here.  You take your test, your coupon, and your binder and go visit the vice-principal.  Say goodbye to your friends.�  Mr. Yancey pulled a yellow referral slip from under the overhead as Matt stood.  He�d finally heard his name the way he wanted it to be but it was too late.  He would spend his day in suspension.  That was never fun.  Phil always found out.  Phil was always angry.
  �Oh�ok Mr. Yancey��  Matt took his test and the referral slip and left the room.  Maeko looked up at Matt, rage growing in the pit of his stomach over the way the instructor was treating his best friend. 
  Once in the hallway Matt looked at his test.  Near the heading of his test, written in Mr. Yancey�s freakishly neat handwriting was his score and a small insulting note.

45/ 45 Good Job Matt.!  Now if only you can pass the next test and take that eye goop off your face.  Halloween, or whatever you call that holiday (for your like it is probably like Christmas if you know what I mean and I�m sure a Satanist like you would), falls on October 31st.  You really are a great student, but I�d rather have a good kid than a smart kid in my history class.  Thanks- 
                                                                                                                       Elias Yancey.

Matt stared ahead, an irritated look spreading over his features.  His little mouth pouted and he felt his hands tightening around his perfect test grade.  He could dress however and where whatever on his face.  He was sick of being called Satanic by a silly teacher.  As Matt neared the school office his anger lifted and he laughed.  At least he was having an effect on someone.  Now that he knew how to affect one person, he may be able to find a way to bring about positive stirrings in people, such as a stirring of feeling in Maeko.

***

Matt never had to fear being sent to the Vice-Principal from Mr. Yancey.  By then Mr. Tate knew Matt�s name story by heart.  Matt was always so respectful that Mr. Tate always let him off the hook.  Even better,  Mr. Tate allowed him to stay in his office until the lunch-bell rang.  Matt got to miss a whole class for free.
  Once he strolled back into the dark hallways of the windowless school, Matt ran toward the cafeteria where he knew Maeko would already be waiting with his enormous lunches that he was always willing to share.  Just as he was about to round the final corner and reach the cafeteria, Matt felt a tight grip on the neck of his shirt.  Nervously he turned his gaze over his shoulder and stared into the beady eyes of Hank the Tank.  His name was really Henry Kramer but they called him Hank the Tank because of his sheer size.
  Hank played defense on the school football team and was not a person who Matt appreciated to come across in the hallways, especially when traveling alone.
  �HEY fisherman.�  Henry turned Matt around and grabbed Matt�s shirt at the shoulders and forced him against a locker.
  �H�hu�hu�Hank I�m sorry.  Do you think you could let me off this once?�   Matt curled his chin against his chest and cracked his eye halfway open.  He didn�t feel like getting beaten up by Hank.  His back still stung in the band of back where Phil had cracked the belt.
�Stuff it fish.�  Henry brought up his knee right into Matt�s waist, causing him to release a gasp of pain and the muscles of his stomach want to seize.  If the pain hadn�t been enough to knock the wind out of Matt, Henry�s breath certainly could�ve done the job.  He nodded, through tears and his clenched jaw, and turned his melancholy green eyes into Hank�s, as if begging for the pity from him that wasn�t there.
  �You little loser�� Henry pushed Matt to the floor and began to punch him in the chest madly.  Even though he was being unjustly beaten, Matt covered his face with his hands again and closed his eyes.  Every time he felt Henry�s fist blow into his side he squeezed his eyelids shut tighter and bit his lip to keep from releasing an agonized yelp.
  �Pl-please let me go!�  Matt cried, trying to squirm out from under Henry.
  �Sorry no can do��  He answered, putting a hand over Matt�s neck cutting off his airway which caused him to be in an even more helpless position.  He coughed and he sputtered, trying to shout for help but failing miserably.  To try to get him to be quiet Henry grabbed both of Matt�s shoulders and shook him.  Once he finished shaking him, he placed a hand on either side of Matt�s chest and forced all his weight onto his hands.  Just as Matt lost all control over his mouth and released a long wail of pain as he felt something near his neck crack, he heard the pounding of feet down the hallway.  To his rescue again was the friendly Fedrick.
  �Let him go Hank.�  Fedrick said, thinking quickly enough to grab around his belly and pull him back.  The assistant Principal had also heard the shout and bounded from the hallway.  Upon seeing Fedrick hoisting the large boy off of the little heap of black clothing, the principal rushed over to join in the task of breaking up the fight.  Once Mr. Tate had successfully broken up the fight he rushed to beaten little Matt and stared at the area around his left eye that was already bruising.  He whimpered out loud from the pain that throbbed near his shoulder.
  �Matt what happened?�  The Principal asked, turning his head to look at Fedrick.
  �You- go get the nurse please, and make sure she has her walkie talkie.�  He pointed down the hallway toward the office door he�d just bounded out of.  Fedrick nodded and shuffled in the direction the Vice Principal was pointing.
  �And you��   He continued, turning his eyes toward the sweating Henry.  �You go to my office.  Don�t talk to anyone just wait for me until I get this sorted out.�  A glare formed across Henry�s face and he followed Fedrick at a much slower pace with his heavy chest proudly thrust out.
  �Matt where does it hurt��  Mr. Tate stopped talking when Matt let out a few more loud wails and raised a trembling arm to point toward his collarbone.  It was evident a little bit of the bone was beginning to press up toward the surface of the skin.  Fedrick came out of the office, with the nurse in tow and clutching an ice pack in his hands.
  �Here��  Fedrick said.  Matt darted his pain-glazed eyes up to look into Fedrick�s calm friendly ones.
  �Th�GAHHH�for saving me again Fedrick�.�  He mumbled, wincing as they draped the  bag over his shoulder and his broken collarbone.  He hadn�t really even felt his collarbone crack, but the adrenaline was beginning to leave him and the pain was intensifying by the second.
  �Betty you better go call for assistance, I think it�s broken��  The nurse nodded and walked primly back down to her office.
  �So you helped him, did you boy?�  Mr. Tate looked at Fedrick with his jaw held.  He looked very prestigious.  The look was somewhat condescending to Fedrick, who had helped Matt.  It spoke that Mr. Tate didn�t care what the heck Fedrick did because most likely he was still going to get into trouble. Fedrick kept himself calm and lowered himself to the floor to sit down and be closer to looking into the teacher�s eyes.
  �Yes.  I did.�  Fedrick smiled at Matt, Matt smiled back through the tears that were falling down his cheeks.
  �Think you�re pretty hot stuff, for saving Matt?�  Mr. Tate raised an eyebrow and continued looking at Fedrick in the same manner.  Fedrick smiled at him and nodded.
  �You betcha.  I was just a-walkin down this hallway and stumbled upon� Ha�Henry here atop Matt beatin the crap outta that poor little body.  Bones I call him��  Fedrick nearly let Hank the Tank escape his lips but he didn�t use the nicknames during his conversation with a school official.  It would not look good on his �notice of involvement� slip� in other words his referral for helping Matt out of his rock and a-hard-place position.  He had to look as innocent as possible, of course Fedrick was completely innocent of anything.
  �I see� well good job.  I believe you Fedrick.  I can see Matt chuckling over here� you must be friends.  Don�t worry Fred,   Mr. Kramer will be paying dearly for beating on a student like Matt.�  Mr. Tate looked down the hallway and saw the nurse approaching.
  �We have an ambulance coming for him Mr. Tate.  We thought that would be best� since it�s a broken bone.  We couldn�t reach a parent at his household.�  She placed a hand on her hip, covered by a pair of white pants.
  �All right.�  Mr. Tate propped an arm over his thigh as he pushed himself up to stand, glancing down at Matt.  He turned his tear stained face up to the teacher and moved his jaw open and closed a couple of times before speaking.
  �Can� can I ask a favor?�  Matt asked.  Fedrick looked at the Mr. Tate with a playful smirk on his face.  The vice principle looked at each of their  open young faces and chuckled softly.
  �Matt.  You have the broken bone, what would you like?� The teacher asked.  Matt attempted to crack a smile but failed, grimacing just as he almost made it.
  �I wanted to know if Maeko could come with me.  To the hospital.  Maeko- and Kuat.  Maeko and Kuat Trouillefou along with my.. my��  Matt glanced at Fedrick wondering what he should call his savior.
  �Friend.�  He smiled, giving Matt another opportunity to smile.  Matt took the opportunity, and managed to smile for a  short period of time.
  �My friend Fedrick Duval.  If its not too much could you let all of them out of class for the day? Please Mr. Tate, they�re my only friends�.�  Matt trailed off.  The vice-principal bit his lip nervously, not wanting to say no, but at the same time wondering if in his position he was allowed to let the students accompany Matt. The heartbroken look in Matt�s eyes helped Mr. Tate come to his decision.
  �Yes, they may accompany you.  Betty- would you place a call to excuse the two Trouillefou students and Fedrick Duval from their classes please?�  He arched his eyebrows and looked toward the nurse.  Nervously she nodded and placed the call into her walkie talkie.
  �Kuat is on his way, and Maeko should probably be coming down from lunch anytime.  Matt sat back on the palms of his hands and darted his eyes back and forth between the teachers towering above him until he saw the dark Maeko approaching.  A warm feeling washed over him as he stared at his friend.
  �Matt?  What the hell happened to you?  You look like you�ve been sitting in Hells Corridor for a week.�  Maeko continued walking toward the little gathering in the hallway.  A teacher stood at each end to keep curious students out of the hallway for when the paramedics came to take Matt away.
  �I look pretty fucked uh��  Matt grimaced again as a sharp pain tore across his chest again.  �Up don�t I?�  he finished.  Maeko laughed, shaking his head and darting his vision toward the ground before he felt his brother�s hand wrap softly over his shoulder.  He could tell it was Kuat, nobody else came up to him and placed their hands on him so gently.
  �Maeko� what are we down- OH MATT� you poor thing.�  Before Kuat could even finish asking why he�d been called.
  �Matt� sweety� what in God�s name happened to you?�  Kuat knelt beside the vice principal and looked into Matt�s eyes.
  �Hank the Tank� again��  Matt watched Kuat nod understandingly.  He dropped his jaw a little when he saw two people dressed in white uniforms carrying a stretcher toward his position in the hallway.
  �Wow� Matt you get to go outta this school in style.�  Kuat beamed, catching sight of Maeko rolling his eyes.  Matt smiled and laughed, causing another shot of pain to flow through the upper region of his body as the men began to buckle him to the stretcher.
  �They�ll talk about you for years to come��  Kuat tried to follow the stretcher but was stopped by Mr. Tate�s hand wrapped around the sleeve of his jacket.
  �Kuat� you and Maeko are going to be accompanying Matt to the hospital he says he wants for you two to go with him more than anything.�  Mr. Tate released his grip on Kuat�s shirt and began to walk away.
  �Thanks Mr. Tate� see you later.� Kuat waved at the vice principle as he scampered toward the stretcher that was being carried toward an ambulance.
  �Only one can accompany him in the ambulance.�  A paramedic said to the group of Maeko, Kuat, and Fedrick.  Matt scanned his eyes over the whole crowd, his jaw quivering in pain and indecision. His eyes wandered into Maeko�s.  They looked back at him, causing Matt to feel the same warm feeling wash over him as the one he�d experienced in the hallway.  Maeko had to have been the loveliest thing in the world to him.  To Matt, Maeko was the single scarlet rose that sat amongst the sea of spiny dark brown thorns.  He opened his jaw slightly, ready to recite his decision.
  �Can Maeko come?�  Weakly Matt raised the arm on the side where the part of his collarbone had been cracked.  The paramedic nodded and walked behind Maeko, slightly brushing his back to coax him forward.
  �You two may drive on your own��  The paramedic turned his smiling face to Kuat and Fedrick, the leftovers.
  �We may drive on our own� do you hear that Fedrick?�  Kuat looked to Fedrick and tried to keep himself from laughing.  Kuat managed not to let a laugh escape himself but Fedrick burst out in a crazed laughter.
  �It wasn�t that funny��  Kuat trailed, walking in the direction of where he�d parked his car.
  �I know it wasn�t, but you know we all need things to spice up this life.�  Fedrick murmured.  He examined Kuat carefully.  This must have been the brother Matt had talked about at the party.  Kuat was every bit as lovely as Maeko, possibly lovelier.  Fedrick pondered this silently to himself.
  �You�re right� life is like a bed of roses but we must be careful of those pricks along the way don�t we?�  Kuat laughed and entered his car, crawling in and opening Fred�s side.  Fred joined him inside the car and sat staring at him for a few seconds.
  �Yeah� we do.  Kuat, my sources tell me that you�re gay.  Or so Matt says.�  Fedrick looked at the corners of Kuat�s eyes narrow downward as he broke out laughing.  He gripped the steering wheel of his cars and laughed for a few moments before returning a serious gaze to Fedrick.
  �Yes I am� as if the rainbow hanging on my windshield wasn�t enough�  I�m gay and damn proud of it too.  If the world wants to turn its back on me I�ll turn my back on it and it can kiss my fucking ass�� He laughed again and started his car.  Fedrick smiled and leaned back into the seat of his car that had warmed up from sitting in the sun for the whole morning.  He wallowed in the heat that was slowly sinking through his skin, through his muscles, and into his bones.
  �Don�t worry I aint got no problems with it.  I aint got no problems with you either.  You seem so smart� and so perfect.  Usually perfect people bug me� but you don�t seem like you know you�re perfect.� Fedrick placed a chubby hand on his knee and started laughing softly.  He was still wearing his faded green army jacket.  His hair was gelled up into the usual green mohawk and the loop through his nose was still present. 
  �I�m glad I don�t bug you� because I was going to say that you are sort of stuck with me.  That is, until we get to the hospital and you are reunited with your friends.�  Kuat smiled casually, both his hands loosely gripping the steering wheel as he leaned back.
  �Do you like candy?�  Kuat laughed and raised an eyebrow looking at Fedrick for a brief moment before returning his gaze to the road. Fedrick snorted as he leaned back into the seat with his fat arms across his chest. 
  �Yeah sure I like candy.�  Fedrick spoke apprehensively, wondering what Kuat was going to do.
  �Well here�� Upon reaching a stoplight Kuat reached across the seat and opened the glove compartment of his car, revealing a large assortment of different candies.  He had everything from lifesavers to nerds.
  �Knock yourself out buddy� just keep that damn stuff away from me otherwise you will be driving with a Kuat under the influence.�  Kuat laughed and watched Fedrick grab a wintergreen lifesaver out of its bag.
  �Thanks� so much.  I thought Maeko was wicked awesome but you are too.  In different ways, of course.  You two are born brothers.  By the way, what influence will you be under?�  Fedrick opened the lifesaver and popped it into his mouth, looking curiously to Kuat.  Grinning, Kuat expanded his chest outward taking his breath.
  �I will be under the influence of sugar and you do not want that.  Not when I am driving� plus take a look at my backseat.� Kuat cocked his head toward the back seat.  Fedrick let his gaze wander over and skim over the scene of Kuat�s backseat.  Other than one of Kuat�s plain brown leather jackets was an immense amount of candy wrappers.  Fedrick laughed at them.
  �You just keep getting even more interesting.�  Fedrick laughed, returning his head to its place looking straight forward through the front window of the car.
  �Good I�m glad.  I�d never want to bore anyone.�  Kuat looked carefully over the hospital signs to see where he was supposed to go.  The campus was rather large and it was very easy to end up in the maternity ward when you were looking for the emergency room.
  �Hay don�t even worry about it.  For me you do a lot of things, and boring me is not one of them.�  Fedrick kept his hand on his knee and pointed at the big red bar of a sign marking �EMERGENCY.�  Kuat followed the line of his finger and laughed.
  �OH.  Well we might find some success there� right?�  In embarrassment Kuat smiled a small, humbled smile and drove into the emergency parking lot.
  �Well Fedrick.  Its been nice getting to know you a little better� what do you say we go find out what they�re doing to our poor little friend?�  Fedrick nodded.  The two made their way across the early-afternoon lit parking lot and toward the automatic doors.  A nurse looked at the couple of young men apprehensively as Kuat and Fedrick neared the information counter.
  �Do you have a Matthew Fischman� or a broken bone or some crazy thing on this level of the hospital?�  Kuat tilted his head to the side and looked into the woman�s eyes.  She swallowed, not being able to tear her thoughts away from the vision of the fat boy in the mohawk but managed to press her finger on a spot on a small map that was taped to her desk.
  �You are here� they took him here.�  She slid her finger across the surface of the map to a small room marked 12E.  �Go there� that�s where they took him.�  Kuat nodded to the woman and walked briskly down a hallway behind him.  The signs were marked fairly clearly, enough so Kuat could get into the hallway that contained the doors to the rooms 11E-15E.  Sure enough he could hear Maeko�s low voice echoing out of the small room.
  �Wow Matt.  You�re the proud owner of a broken collarbone� how does it feel.�  Matt smiled, his eyes sparkling as they made more contact with Maeko�s. �Maeko�s girlfriend is sooo spoiled�� He thought to himself, through the grin that he showed to Maeko.  There were no doctors in the room.  When Kuat entered he was taken a little by surprise at the lack of effort to get Matt�s pain to lessen.
  �It feels� oooh oooh painful.�  Matt closed his eyes and laughed.  A stringy hair draped over his eye and ended over his mouth.  Surprisingly, Maeko walked over and brushed the hair behind his ear.  Tingles scattered throughout Matt�s body.  Once again Maeko the miracle-doer established an aura of peace in the strained fibers of Matt�s body.
  �What kind of a hospital is this?  Matt needs attention quick.�  Kuat walked in and saw Maeko touching Matt�s forehead, and the pleased expression on Matt�s face.  He stopped talking there.  He didn�t want to mess up what looked to be beautiful.  After all, Matt seemed to be getting goods out of bads. 
  �FISCHMAN, Matthew?�  A velvety voice sounded from behind Kuat, who was standing in the doorway.  It sounded so very familiar and Kuat turned around to look at the doctor who had called Matt.  It was none other than to voice of his elder  brother Abhidar who had been practicing medicine for two years.  It amazed Kuat because it felt as if only the other day Abhidar had been running around the house excitedly proclaiming his acceptance into medical school. Well, as the years passed Abhidar went through school successfully and had now begun his career.
  �Ab� I didn�t know you worked here��  Kuat smiled and watched his brother walk into the room and search over all the faces, only one of which was unfamiliar to him.  Everyone but Abhidar knew the stranger as Fedrick.  Upon seeing Matt, Abhidar didn�t need any who�s who talk.
  �It�s been three weeks now, actually��  Abhidar smiled and walked over to Matt, who was sitting up on a small blue table-bed and leaned down sliding one of his large hands just above his knee to support himself.  �Hello Mr. Blue� what can I do to assist you?�  As Abhidar smiled, resting a hand on Matt�s shoulder, Matt rolled his eyes up from the ground and stared up into Abhidar�s and blushed a deep red as he smiled and looked back down to the ground.  
  Aged twenty-five and intellectually brilliant, Abhidar made up a dazzling mix of both his youngest brothers.  His eyes were green, his hair was black, and his smile was as warm and welcoming as any of the Trouillefous.  He was also newly wed, married to a pretty young computer game designer from Aytr�, France named Terynka.  Like his other brother, Caspar, Abhidar stood at what was probably his full height.  He was merely a few inches taller than Kuat and Maeko.
  �So what�s your ailment?�  Abhidar brushed a hand up and felt each side of Matt�s neck, making sure nothing other than his collarbone was causing him any trouble.  Gently he ran the pad of his thumb under a dark circle under Matt�s eye, which wasn�t even the bruise.  The circle was there from lack of sleep and nutrition.  �They say broken bone� but boy you look like you just had an all expense paid stay in hell� look at the chart over there and rate your pain for me.�  Abhidar stood up briefly to gesture toward a sign that hung on the wall.  There was a cartoony picture of a sad face, getting sadder and sadder as his pain was worsening as the faces went along.  At the very end of the line of faces was an exaggerated pained face, rated 10.  For a few seconds, as Abhidar pressed his stethoscope against Matt�s chest to hear his heartbeat, Matt thought about his pain level.  Fedrick had taken the chair in the corner and watched his group of new friends near the doorway.  He rested the side of his fist, making himself comfortable.
  �Well that�s normal��  Abhidar pulled Matt�s shirt down and placed the stethoscope on Matt�s back.
  �I�d rate it erm� a five��  Matt gasped as Abhidar accidentally touched the stethoscope to the point where Phillip had belted him the other day.
  �Take a deep breath for me� you know that old chestnut��  Abhidar laughed, a grin similar to that of his father�s spreading across his face.  Matt did as he was told and darted his eyes over to Abhidar when he stood up and sighed, scratching the nape of his neck with the fingers of his left hand after pulling the stethoscope from his ears.
  �Thank you� now lets figure out what�s wrong with your bone.�  Abhidar turned around and walked to a small closet to pull out a medical gown for Matt.
  �Here- put this on.  We�ll go get you an x-ray.  Do you think you�ll need any help?  Maeko do you want to help your friend?�  Abhidar looked down slightly so that his concerned gaze met Maeko�s curious one.
  �Well� he�s gonna need help.  If you won�t help him I suppose Kuat could but� I figured since you two are best friends you might want to do it.�  Abhidar began walking toward the doorway.  Maeko turned his head and looked at Matt who had begun to tremble.  It was not from the pain anymore.

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