HOME | DD

Description

Matthew observed from the side as William strolled through the school gates, putting on a brave front as he smirked at the kids in the younger years and nodded at his fellow year ten students. Matthew knew only too well that being a fifteen year old lad at Bonus Herring High was hard enough without having to keep your reputation up. A lot was expected from William, being one of the most popular kids at school. He was captain of the swimming team, vice-captain of the chess team, a star football player, he managed to get good grades, and, on top of it all, he had the good looks. His vivid blue eyes were paired perfectly with his smooth, olive complexion and his fair hair. He was also extremely masculine with broad shoulders, muscular arms and an extensive chin. It must have felt good not having to worry about how you looked.
As William entered through the school lobby, Matthew followed and found himself admiring the beautiful architecture for the first time. The lobby was a stylish, yet elegant room. The reception desk and all the door frames were made from the finest oak. Cushion adorned sofas and chairs were scattered around the sophisticated four marble pillars. For the year he'd worked at the school, he'd never taken the time to stop and examine the place in all its glory.
As Matthew looked around and spotted William, back up against a row of lockers, a boy collapsed at his feet. Matthew watched from the side of the lockers, not wanting to influence William's decisions. William looked around. He seemed to be wondering what had happened though it was fairly obvious that he'd been attacked. There didn't seem to be many suspicious looking people around. Perhaps they'd gotten away? He knelt down and turned the boy over. Evan Baxter. Evan was one of Williams peers but he wouldn't go far enough to say a friend. Evan was a tyrant of his own level, no own would hesitate to say. Blocking toilets, starting fights, vandalising staff member's cars- if you could name it, Evan had done it.
Matthew squinted as William examined his wound. Evan's dark hair was drenched as was his skin and there was some minor swelling around his closed eye and, combined with his deep cut from his ear to his chin, it looked like as if he'd taken quite a beating. Gently, William lifted him up and propped him up against the locker. He was out cold and needed to get to Student Services. Making sure than Evan was well supported; William rested him against his own body and cautiously began to drag him through the halls.
Matthew wondered whether or not he should step in and lend a helping hand. He didn't want to influence William's actions, yet Evan seemed badly injured.
Matthew's train of thought was disturbed as William cried out. William fell back against the wall as Evan grew heavier.
It was then that Matthew decided to take action, had he left it too long? "Is he alright?" he yelled as he lifted Evan from Williams hold, expressing neither emotion nor surprise.
"It wasn't me, I swear!" William's brows furrowed. "He was just…there."
Matthew wiped the blood from Evans face. "I know, just tell me what happened?"
"I was only helping. I was walking and before I knew it, he was thrown into me. I don't know who did it, they were already gone,"
"It's going to be fine, don't worry." Matthew stern expression remained as solid as ever. "Come on; you're coming with me to Student Services."
William nodded and began to walk alongside Matthew.
Pushing the door, the three men entered the Student Services office.
"My goodness!" exclaimed Miss Poynter, the school nurse. "What in the world happened?" she cried as Matthew carried Evan into the medical room. The short woman hurried after them, ushering William alongside.
Matthew placed Evan onto one of the beds and took a seat, "Perhaps you should ask Will, I wasn't there, Ma'am," he'd always found it hard to lie, but both his jobs were dependant on it in the present moment.
William froze.
Miss Poynter beady eyes stared. "Well then, don't just stand there. Tell me what happened?"
"I-I don't know." he mumbled. "Sorry Miss." William bowed his head.
"Nonsense boy."
"Someone threw him at me." William stammered. "I have no idea who- they had already disappeared."
Miss Poynter wasn't satisfied. She turned to Matthew. "You and William may leave," adjusting her blouse, she continued, "I shall take care of Evan."
"Yes, of course." Matthew nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Ma'am."
On the way down the corridor, Matthew struck up conversation with William as he seemed quite shaken. "Do you need a late note?"
"No thanks; I was planning on coming to see you this period. If you haven't got an appointment already, that is."
"You were? You haven't been in a long in quite some while, Will."
"Yes, things have been going well lately…until now." William scratched the back of his neck. "I've been, well, I've been having some strange dreams."
Matthew pushed open the door to his office. "Take a seat."
William obeyed.
"So, in these dreams, what happens?"
"Well, I think I'm standing on a building…it's a tall building." William closed his eyes, as if trying to remember. "I recognise it, I just can't think where from."
Matthew took out his notepad, labelled 'William Ray', and began to scribble down some notes.
"I look around, no one is there." William faltered and took a deep breath. He'd been here a countless number of times and knew exactly what Matthew wanted. He just had to close his eyes, and talk. "The wind is strong, it lifts me higher and higher, I'm not scared but instead excited and yet so nervous. Then, it's all over. I don't know what happens because my dream seems draws to a halt."
Matthew's brow wrinkled as he scribbled in the pad. "What do you think this means, Will?"
"I think…I don't know." William shrugged and opened his eyes.
"You really don't know?"
"Well, I…" William cringed. "I think that it means that I can fly."
Matthew's face went blank. "I'm not a expert in this topic Will but just think about it." Matthew leant forward. "Are you sure that there isn't any other logical explanation? Nothing?"
"But what else could they mean…" the light drained from Williams face.
"Think about it, Will." Matthew wasn't trying to crush his dreams, just show him the reality. "It takes someone very rare for someone to fly, you could say one in five million. You're special Will, you really are. You have achieved extraordinary things, but I do doubt that you can fly."
"But what if I am that one in five million, Matt?"
"Then I am very honoured to have known you." Matthew ended the conversation, not prepared to give away any more information than necessary. Not prepared to let slip that he knew…that he knew everything before they even met.
"Do you remember what you said to me when I entered this room for the very first time?"
"Indeed I do." Matthew wasn't one to forget anything, never mind anything as significant as this.
"You said these exact words: Only child. Divorced parents- you live with your mother. Insecure. Born in February 1996- I'm unsure of the exact date." William paused. "Then you wrote it all down, introduced yourself and welcomed me in."
"So, you reckon I can tell your future if I were to be able to tell you you're past?" Matthew smiled. "Think again."
"How do you know? You didn't try?"
"Yes I did." Matthew leaned backward. "I tried before you asked. I always do."
The bell rang, sounding second period.
William stood up. "I don't understand you…" he exited the room.
Matthew began to mutter. "And you never will."
As William left the room, Matthew let out a long sigh. He leant further back into his chair and slowly pulled out his phone from his pocket. As he ran his finger over the keys, wondering what to do, a thought came to him. He pictured Evan in the back of his mind. The deep gash that travelled half way across his face stuck in his mind. There was something familiar about the way it was marked. It took a while for it to come to him, but, suddenly, he realised what it was.
He picked up his phone and dialled Alex's number. "Alex."
"Matt, what is it?" Alex's muffled voice travelled from the end of the line.
"I've got it all linked together." Matthew leant back and smirked. He was better than better.
"What do you…Chains…," Alex gasped, finally catching on, "Wait - has he reached you?"
Silence.
"Matt?"
"I wouldn't doubt it…"

Description

Matthew observed from the side as William strolled through the school gates, putting on a brave front as he smirked at the kids in the younger years and nodded at his fellow year ten students. Matthew knew only too well that being a fifteen year old lad at Bonus Herring High was hard enough without having to keep your reputation up. A lot was expected from William, being one of the most popular kids at school. He was captain of the swimming team, vice-captain of the chess team, a star football player, he managed to get good grades, and, on top of it all, he had the good looks. His vivid blue eyes were paired perfectly with his smooth, olive complexion and his fair hair. He was also extremely masculine with broad shoulders, muscular arms and an extensive chin. It must have felt good not having to worry about how you looked.
As William entered through the school lobby, Matthew followed and found himself admiring the beautiful architecture for the first time. The lobby was a stylish, yet elegant room. The reception desk and all the door frames were made from the finest oak. Cushion adorned sofas and chairs were scattered around the sophisticated four marble pillars. For the year he'd worked at the school, he'd never taken the time to stop and examine the place in all its glory.
As Matthew looked around and spotted William, back up against a row of lockers, a boy collapsed at his feet. Matthew watched from the side of the lockers, not wanting to influence William's decisions. William looked around. He seemed to be wondering what had happened though it was fairly obvious that he'd been attacked. There didn't seem to be many suspicious looking people around. Perhaps they'd gotten away? He knelt down and turned the boy over. Evan Baxter. Evan was one of Williams peers but he wouldn't go far enough to say a friend. Evan was a tyrant of his own level, no own would hesitate to say. Blocking toilets, starting fights, vandalising staff member's cars- if you could name it, Evan had done it.
Matthew squinted as William examined his wound. Evan's dark hair was drenched as was his skin and there was some minor swelling around his closed eye and, combined with his deep cut from his ear to his chin, it looked like as if he'd taken quite a beating. Gently, William lifted him up and propped him up against the locker. He was out cold and needed to get to Student Services. Making sure than Evan was well supported; William rested him against his own body and cautiously began to drag him through the halls.
Matthew wondered whether or not he should step in and lend a helping hand. He didn't want to influence William's actions, yet Evan seemed badly injured.
Matthew's train of thought was disturbed as William cried out. William fell back against the wall as Evan grew heavier.
It was then that Matthew decided to take action, had he left it too long? "Is he alright?" he yelled as he lifted Evan from Williams hold, expressing neither emotion nor surprise.
"It wasn't me, I swear!" William's brows furrowed. "He was just…there."
Matthew wiped the blood from Evans face. "I know, just tell me what happened?"
"I was only helping. I was walking and before I knew it, he was thrown into me. I don't know who did it, they were already gone,"
"It's going to be fine, don't worry." Matthew stern expression remained as solid as ever. "Come on; you're coming with me to Student Services."
William nodded and began to walk alongside Matthew.
Pushing the door, the three men entered the Student Services office.
"My goodness!" exclaimed Miss Poynter, the school nurse. "What in the world happened?" she cried as Matthew carried Evan into the medical room. The short woman hurried after them, ushering William alongside.
Matthew placed Evan onto one of the beds and took a seat, "Perhaps you should ask Will, I wasn't there, Ma'am," he'd always found it hard to lie, but both his jobs were dependant on it in the present moment.
William froze.
Miss Poynter beady eyes stared. "Well then, don't just stand there. Tell me what happened?"
"I-I don't know." he mumbled. "Sorry Miss." William bowed his head.
"Nonsense boy."
"Someone threw him at me." William stammered. "I have no idea who- they had already disappeared."
Miss Poynter wasn't satisfied. She turned to Matthew. "You and William may leave," adjusting her blouse, she continued, "I shall take care of Evan."
"Yes, of course." Matthew nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Ma'am."
On the way down the corridor, Matthew struck up conversation with William as he seemed quite shaken. "Do you need a late note?"
"No thanks; I was planning on coming to see you this period. If you haven't got an appointment already, that is."
"You were? You haven't been in a long in quite some while, Will."
"Yes, things have been going well lately…until now." William scratched the back of his neck. "I've been, well, I've been having some strange dreams."
Matthew pushed open the door to his office. "Take a seat."
William obeyed.
"So, in these dreams, what happens?"
"Well, I think I'm standing on a building…it's a tall building." William closed his eyes, as if trying to remember. "I recognise it, I just can't think where from."
Matthew took out his notepad, labelled 'William Ray', and began to scribble down some notes.
"I look around, no one is there." William faltered and took a deep breath. He'd been here a countless number of times and knew exactly what Matthew wanted. He just had to close his eyes, and talk. "The wind is strong, it lifts me higher and higher, I'm not scared but instead excited and yet so nervous. Then, it's all over. I don't know what happens because my dream seems draws to a halt."
Matthew's brow wrinkled as he scribbled in the pad. "What do you think this means, Will?"
"I think…I don't know." William shrugged and opened his eyes.
"You really don't know?"
"Well, I…" William cringed. "I think that it means that I can fly."
Matthew's face went blank. "I'm not a expert in this topic Will but just think about it." Matthew leant forward. "Are you sure that there isn't any other logical explanation? Nothing?"
"But what else could they mean…" the light drained from Williams face.
"Think about it, Will." Matthew wasn't trying to crush his dreams, just show him the reality. "It takes someone very rare for someone to fly, you could say one in five million. You're special Will, you really are. You have achieved extraordinary things, but I do doubt that you can fly."
"But what if I am that one in five million, Matt?"
"Then I am very honoured to have known you." Matthew ended the conversation, not prepared to give away any more information than necessary. Not prepared to let slip that he knew…that he knew everything before they even met.
"Do you remember what you said to me when I entered this room for the very first time?"
"Indeed I do." Matthew wasn't one to forget anything, never mind anything as significant as this.
"You said these exact words: Only child. Divorced parents- you live with your mother. Insecure. Born in February 1996- I'm unsure of the exact date." William paused. "Then you wrote it all down, introduced yourself and welcomed me in."
"So, you reckon I can tell your future if I were to be able to tell you you're past?" Matthew smiled. "Think again."
"How do you know? You didn't try?"
"Yes I did." Matthew leaned backward. "I tried before you asked. I always do."
The bell rang, sounding second period.
William stood up. "I don't understand you…" he exited the room.
Matthew began to mutter. "And you never will."
As William left the room, Matthew let out a long sigh. He leant further back into his chair and slowly pulled out his phone from his pocket. As he ran his finger over the keys, wondering what to do, a thought came to him. He pictured Evan in the back of his mind. The deep gash that travelled half way across his face stuck in his mind. There was something familiar about the way it was marked. It took a while for it to come to him, but, suddenly, he realised what it was.
He picked up his phone and dialled Alex's number. "Alex."
"Matt, what is it?" Alex's muffled voice travelled from the end of the line.
"I've got it all linked together." Matthew leant back and smirked. He was better than better.
"What do you…Chains…," Alex gasped, finally catching on, "Wait - has he reached you?"
Silence.
"Matt?"
"I wouldn't doubt it…"