The teacher screams at him, "Get out!"

Nick performs a mock bow and says sweetly, "Since you asked so nicely."

When he leaves the class, he doesn't stop and continues to walk.

The empty school hallways are long and winding, almost dizzying in their labyrinth but Nick doesn't get lost. He moves quickly and makes for the school doors, to freedom, wondering if he can get away with making it to the city, by this evening. He can get some food, check up on his friends, and make sure that his absence hasn't left anyone feeling too brave, Nick thinks to himself.

And if nothing else, he's brimming over with stories about the rich kids and Madison Sutton.

She had proved a fresh surprise, looking as perfect and innocent as a sweet rose, but roses have their thorns.

Nick hadn't really thought himself through when he had stormed towards the rich girl, only knowing that she was the reason why his mother had railed at him repeatedly for striking up so many punishments in a record amount of time, in school. He had only remembered his mother's dark sad eyes, her look of disappointment, his stomach clenching in guilt, when he had stormed over to Madison Sutton and demanded her apology.

And he couldn't believe the girl either.

She would own up to nothing, stubbornly lying through her perfect teeth. But, Nick thinks, at least, he can comfort himself with the knowledge that he had rattled her as much as she had annoyed him. The girl looked close to unbound, glaring at him with fury brighter than the fires that had lit his cigarette.

Again, Nick hadn't meant to scare her, though he was used to scaring people with his lighter. He had moved aside and needed a smoke, not realising that she was moving past him, at the very same instant.

Then the bitch had ruined his lunch.

Just because she hadn't eaten anything didn't mean she could take away Nick's only source of sanity within this hellhole of a school. He had seethed, but Mr Bates had been waiting to escort him to class, unwilling to listen to him, and Nick hadn't had an opportunity to satisfy his growling stomach, until now.

"Hey – Hawthorne boy!"

Nick doesn't stop walking but he rolls his eyes. "My name is Nick."

"Nick, then," says the boy. "Where are you going?"

"English teacher told me to get out," Nick says shortly.

The boy has caught up to him, to Nick's annoyance, keeping pace with him easily as he chuckles. Nick blinks at him. Why does he look familiar?

"Pretty sure she probably meant to stand outside of the classroom," he tells Nick.

Nick shrugs. "Not my fault," he says, but he can't stop himself from grinning. "She should have made herself clearer."

The boy snorts. "Elliot Bradford," he says, by way of introduction. "You beat my ass to the ground because I said something stupid."

He almost chokes in his surprise but Nick stops, his fingers lingering on the handle of the doors. So that was why he looked so familiar! Elliot is smirking at him.

"Didn't recognise me without the black eye?" Elliot says, giving a quiet chuckle. "Look, I'm sorry for what I said. It was low."

Nick narrows his eyes. It had been low.

"You're not saying that because I could still beat –,"

"No," Elliot says quickly, shaking his head. He looks apologetic. "I told Madison to back off."

So that was why she held such a grudge against him?

Well, he can commend her loyalty, if nothing else. Nick snorts. "Prissy girl? And here, I thought we were finally getting along," he says easily. When he sees Elliot's face, he adds, "Calm down, man. I won't hold it against you. Besides, rich girl doesn't scare me."

It's true.

Not only does she go up to his chest in height, but she's the equivalent of an angry kitten, hissing at him. While she did surprise him, it doesn't mean he can't destroy her with one hand. He can give as good as he gets.

Elliot is shaking his head. "She should scare you. She's a Sutton, after all. Plus she's, like, five feet of rage," he says laughingly. "She won't go after you anymore, though."

"I'm more worried about her going after my food," Nick says honestly.

Elliot laughs again. "So," he says jovially. "My parents are throwing this brunch on the weekend. Your mother's invited. They told me to invite you, too."

Nick doesn't even have to think about it.

"I'm busy," he says and pushes the doors open.

"Alright," Elliot says easily and shrugs, making to turn away. He turns his head again. "But if it makes a difference, we've got great food."

*

"Cinderella! You've been missed!" Jacob crows loudly, giving him a rough one-armed hug, when he finally arrives.

Nick is grinning all over his face, nodding to the people he knows. These people are the people who took him in, who turned his fists into weapons, who taught him all he knew. They're lazy and languid, jerking their heads at him in acknowledgement, but it doesn't offend Nick. This is what he had tried to make his home, before realising he never could.

"It's Nicholas, now," Killian corrects in a lazy drawl, as he eyes Nick. "Right?"

There is a whisper of malice in Killian's voice and the air around them turns frosty, but Nick holds his gaze steadily. Killian is one of Mitchell's crew and though the boy looks innocently lean and thin-faced, he's been known to use dirty tactics in a fight. Nick has dealt with people who think to use dirty tricks against him and though he's never fought Killian, he knows that he could easily take Killian down.

Killian knows it, too.

"Nah," Nick says laughingly. "Cinderella, forever and always, mate."

The air between them breaks thankfully and Killian gives him a grudging grin, slapping his back in a friendly fashion. "What's it like back there, then? Do they all talk posh and drink tea?"

There is a bark of laughter that ripples out across the crowd and Nick laughs along but he shakes his head. "Worse," he says. "They drink this."

He brings out the bottle of vodka, heavily aged and imported from who knew where. There is a resounding crow of glee from the crowd around them that turns into a disappointed moan when Nick manoeuvres the bottle out of their prying fingers. Killian is eyeing him carefully, the air growing thick with tension again.

"That expensive stuff for Mitchell, then?"

"Nah," Nick says again, but he's very careful now. "I got thirsty."

He doesn't drink from the bottle, but something like understanding dawns on Killian's face. The meaning is clear: He wants no trouble but he's out of Mitchell's grasp now. Mitchell poses no threat to him but if he thinks of making one, Nick has no qualms about taking him down.

He doesn't know enough about his mother to care about her but she's blood, after all. That, and she's perfected that disappointed mother face. Nick won't let her get hurt, either.

Jack is taut and apprehensive beside him. "Well, looks like I'm thirsty, too," he says finally, looking exasperated and not in the least bit thirsty.

Nick lets a smile curve his lips upward as Killian's eyes widen briefly. Jacob's just allied himself onto Nick's side, now. Or rather, he's shown Killian that he's like Nick and wants to be part of no side. It could be a stupid move but Nick appreciates the sentiment and Jacob can take care of himself. He gives Jacob the bottle and Killian watches Jacob take a half-hearted swig.

His eyes are watering as Jacob splutters. "God, that's good," he blurts out, chuckling.

"I'll tell Mitchell you stopped by, Nick," Killian says and his eyes are bright.

Nick nods at him, unafraid. "You do that."

*