My Brother, The Dentist

Chapter 9

I awoke in the morning with Sam gently rubbing my back and whispering "morning Billy, time to get up i'm afraid." I turned on my bedside lamp to read the clock; it was 6:30 in the morning. I noticed Sam was already dressed and had his hair in the same perfect quiff. He wore black skinny jeans, a white button up shirt tucked into his jeans and a blue and red striped tie.

"Ugh do I really have to get up?" I groaned.

"Yes" he bluntly responded, opening up my curtains and laying my school clothes on the end of my bed.

"And why are you dressed so smartly?" I sneered.

"I like to change up from the scrubs sometimes, and this outfit makes me look professional I think" he gleamed. "Now hurry up Billy, there's not even any time for breakfast. I'll give you some money to stop off at the shop before school." He placed some coins on my bedside table then left my bedroom.

I rolled out of bed and rushed to get changed into my school clothes. I then lumbered into the bathroom, briefly washed my face and gelled my scruffy hair to the side. My top teeth were really hurting so I decided to pass on brushing them, just like last night in the hope Sam wouldn't realise. Afterwards, I collected up my school supplies into my bag and headed downstairs.

"Ah, you ready?" Sam asked, picking his keys up from the side counter.

"Yeah" I groaned, still half asleep. "How are you so wide awake at this time Sam??"

"I'm just use to it, now come on let's go! Also, you might wanna tuck your shirt into your trousers, you look so scuffy!"

I grunted and decided not to obey my brother's request for a change. We headed outside into the breezy morning air, where the birds were tweeting wildly and the sky was orange like ice-cold fanta. Sam locked the house up and I hopped into the car, turning the seat warmers on full blast.

I must have nodded off in the car on the way to Sam's dental office because I awoke with Sam tapping me on my shoulder after what seemed like only a few winks. I managed to make my way out of the car and loitered behind Sam as he unlocked the building.

"Go take a seat in the dentist chair Billy, I just need to drop my bag off in my office, then I'll be through."

Without questioning, I shuffled into one of the rooms, threw my backpack into the corner and fell backwards into the chair, just wanting to sleep. I closed my eyes in hope that Sam would just leave me alone, but I was startled when I heard cupboards being opened and Sam taking supplies out of them. He was now wearing a doctor's coat over his smart attire. He took a seat on the stool next to me, placing the tray of tools in the usual spot and stretching on a pair of gloves, pulling them down his arms then releasing them to ensure a snug fit.

"Think we need to get you some coffee, ay?" he laughed, lowering me back in the chair and positioning the over head light.

"Can't you just work on my teeth whilst I'm sleeping?" I moaned, giving him a disgusted look.

"Don't be so lazy Billy" he snapped, "there's no point going back to sleep now anyway!"

I rolled my eyes at him, turning my head away.

"I'll use the mouth prop again, so that means if you do end up falling asleep it's not that much of a deal. Open up please" said Sam.

I opened my mouth, but before Sam inserted the mouth prop, he rolled up my top lip and looked at me sternly.

"Did you brush your teeth this morning, mister?" he said with severe discipline.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice, my teeth ache too much to touch" I whimpered, trying to earn some sympathy.

"Of course I'm going to notice Billy, I'm a dentist! And you already have loads of plaque build up around the brackets. Unfortunately I don't have enough time to clean them for you, otherwise I would!"

I just grunted at his remarks, yet happy we were short on time.

"Open."

Sam placed in the mouth prop and began his work...

~

"Billy..." I heard someone whisper. My eyes fluttered open. "Billy..." they said again. I looked up to see Sam in my peripheral vision. "It's 8:15, you better start heading off to school!"

"W..where am I?" I asked, looking around attempting to adjust my eyes.

"You're still in the dentist chair, you ended up falling asleep whilst I was fixing your braces. But they're all done now" he smiled, helping me up out of the chair. "Remember I won't be home until later tonight so either come here to the office or go straight home."

"Alright, see you later Sam" I say, grabbing my bag and running out of the room.

"Bye!" I hear Sam call from the distance, but I was already gone!

~Billy's POV~

I made it into school with plenty of time to spare, so headed to my locker to put away my belongings. I saw Charlie off in the distance at his own locker, so I go over to speak to him. Charlie is a good friend of mine and in a lot of my classes. He is a tall kid with blonde curly hair and circular glasses perched on top of his nose. He is very easy to get along with and just a generally nice guy to spend time with.

"Hey Charlie" I wave, approaching him as he slams his locker shut.

"Alright Billy?" he smiles.

"Yeah i'm alright cheers" I grin back.

"Dude! You got braces!" he says with great enthusiasm, pointing at my teeth.

"Yeah I did, but not everyone needs to know!" I laugh, gently smacking his back. We walk into form together and take our seats, Charlie at the front of the class and me at the back with Kyle, the bestie. Yet, he didn't look his usual fun, energetic self today.

"Hey Kyle, now you can see my braces in person!" I laugh, taking my seat beside him.

"Yeah.. they're cool" he responded half-heartedly.

"Kyle? What's wrong?" I asked, relatively concerned.

"Oh, nothing" Kyle responds in an attempt to hide something.

"You sureee?" I tease, trying to ease it out of him.

He groaned at me, rolling his eyes.

"Billy, can you take me to your brother's dentist after school?" he asked hesitantly.

"Err.. sure" I respond with gritted teeth. "Not sure if he'll be free today though, why do you need to go anyway?"

"My teeth are kind of hurting and it's really bothering me. I just want to get them checked that's all."

I nod my head at Kyle, then face the front to answer my name in the register.

~

After registration and first lesson (maths), Kyle and I wandered over to our lockers to sort out our books and folders. I opened my locker, put away the now unwanted books and took out the new, placing them quickly in my red backpack. I close my locker door shut and see Kevin leaning against the lockers beside me with his arms folded and a smug grin covering his horrible face. He was the 'coolest kid in the school' and had a reputation for bullying any kid he could. Behind him stood Jenny and Craig, also glaring me down.

"So, little Billy finally let his brother put braces on him I see. Hope it didn't hurt too much Billy, you little metal-mouthed wimp" he laughed, turning back to his followers to show off. They laughed along with him.

"Go away Kevin" I sneer, turning my back to him.

"What if I don't brace-face" he begins, "you gonna go cry to your mummy about it? Oh wait you can't!" He laughs hysterically, pointing in my face.

"You take that back!!" I yell, face turning red.

"Awww, little Billy's getting angry. Watch out guys! He might get his brother to drill our gums!" he laughs again, which fills me with rage.

"Come on Billy, let's go. He's not worth it" I hear Kyle whisper from behind. But I couldn't let Kevin get away with this. I drop my backpack, run up to him, grab his head and smash it down on to my knee. It was all a blur. I feel Kyle pull me back and see Kevin's nose streaming with blood. Mr Mullunder came running over, surprised to see me involved in the incident.

"Billy and Kevin, follow me now!" he shouted, walking off down the corridor past the staring people. I grabbed my backpack and stomped off behind Mr Mullender with Kevin beside me, desperately holding his nose tight.

~

Kevin and I were seated at opposite ends of Mr Pinnock's office (the headteacher) and Kevin's nose was tended to by the school nurse.

"So," began Mr Pinnock, "what has happened here?"

"BILLY KNEED MY NOSE!!" Kevin yelled, standing up and pointing in my direction.

"Only because he laughed about my mum being dead" I argued, keeping my cool.

"Is this true Kevin?" Mr Pinnock asked, surprised.

Kevin didn't respond, he just sat down and crossed his arms, sulking.

"Alright, Kevin you are excluded for a week, I will have a parent come pick you up immediately. Billy you will have detention tomorrow lunch time for resulting in violence. I will also be calling your brother to let him know what has happened. Billy you may now return to your next lesson."

"Thank you Sir" I mumble quietly, walking out of the office avoiding eye contact with Kevin.

Next lesson, Chemistry...

~

I walked into the classroom to see everyone looking at me, I ignored them and sat in my designated seat next to a dainty girl called Lola. She had blonde, glowing locks and cute freckles on both her cheeks. Admittedly, she was cute!

"You okay Billy?" she whispered in my ear.

"Yeah" I responded, trying to understand the work from the 10 minutes I had missed.

"Kevin is such a jerk!" she whispered again.

"I know" I replied, not looking up at her.

"I don't know why he's so horrible. I think you look really cute with braces" she blushed, smiling gently at me.

Did a girl seriously just compliment me?! A CUTE girl?!

"You really think so?" I asked, wanting reassurance.

"Yeah, really! Anyway I was thinking, do you wanna meet up some time?" she asked, looking slightly embarrassed.

I needed no time to think this answer through. She was cute and lovely, why would I not hang out with her?

"Yeah, of course, I'd love to! Just message me on f*******: or something" I responded excitedly.

"Sure" she smiled, then carried on with answering the questions set.