Benevolence

Chapter 7

He had been led straight into his father's study which normally would have excited him because the study was the forbidden room and he was finally catching a glimpse of it. Needless to say it wasn't at all that interesting. It was large cube room where the cream colour of the walls was blocked out by the many family photographs plastered over them. Well one wall anyway, the other one was covered with dull blueprints and sharp white paper filled with small print paragraphs. One wall occupied a fairly big window draped with light brown curtains and before it sat a massive mahogany desk cluttered with papers, ink pots, stamps, pictures and somewhere amongst the mess a Macbook too.

He smiled slightly at his father's untidiness before he noticed that the room was eerily silent. Then he remembered who had taken him into the study and became sober once more. The weight of his father's look on him felt like heavy chains thrown onto his shoulders, causing them to sag under the burden they were carrying. He gulped nervously and wrenched his eyes off the floor to look at his father.

The anger contained in his eyes chilled him to the bone and if looks could kill he would already be dead. He deserved worse and he knew that very well as did his father probably. His gut was twisted in the unpleasant knowledge of his participation in Theo's condition. It frustrated him to no end that no one was going to tell him how he really was.

His dad was looking at him rather impatiently and he realised he'd been lost in his thoughts yet again. Giving his dad his full attention he fidgeted slightly on his feet and his fingers got tangled with each other, his mind worked up a nerve flurry.

It was this insane craziness that took over his mind making him panic in stressful situations so he'd named it the nerve flurry back when he was 14.

He waited for his father's fury with bated breath and found he would much prefer it to the intense scrutiny he was receiving right now. Finally his father looked away at the window with a tired sigh before looking back at him and beginning his lecture; one that he couldn't zone out.

‘I never thought I would have to deal with something this severe and wrong with my children. Maybe I have been utterly neglectful and should have spent time with you. Is that it Will? Am I the reason you struck Theo out of jealousy? Because he got to see his parents all the time yet I was hardly around? I'm sorry Will with the little time I gave you all. I know you've had it the hardest compared to your siblings but I never thought it was this bad. I see now that I have to rectify my mistakes and fix what I've done. I tried to equally divide my time though I knew you needed it more. For that I'm incredibly sorry my son and that is why I have decided to cancel my trip to America.’

It was just so typical of his dad to blame himself entirely for his actions and his admiration for the man rose higher yet his father wasn't to blame for his heinous acts. He had done them and he alone was responsible for his actions yet he was curious to see what his dad had in mind. Because really, if dad thought he was at fault then he would be left with a lighter punishment.

‘Dad that trip to America is super important you said. For the treaty! You can't leave it!’

‘Will, a colleague will go in my place because I see now it's vital I remain here. My family means the world to me and if one of them needs help I have to be there to help. Nothing is more important to me than your welfare and health my son. Absolutely nothing. Now Will you are to go back to school in a week as your suspension will be over and you are not to leave the house otherwise. James will be your begrudging guardian to watch over you for a while, ‘ he said with a small smile, ‘ and you shall also go to a psychiatrist. Now I know you aren't crazy Will but you have issues that you feel you can't talk to us about. If you could tell me exactly what happened that day and why you did it the psychiatrist will be unnecessary but Will just understand that we are all so very worried for you. I mean you have no idea how awful it feels to dupe the justice system. The justice I have been fighting for so long but we did it for you son because we couldn't bear to see you get hurt. We condemned an innocent man to jail for your crimes and I hope never to do something like that ever again.’

Will wanted to protest because there was no way in hell he was telling any random doctor anything but he also knew his dad was beyond frustrated and was trying to help him. Like he said he’d lied to the judge and wanted an answer that Will couldn't give him. Maybe he could make this crazy doctor dilemma work.

‘You know Will, your excuses gave us a ground to work with at court but your mother and I both know it isn't true. Your face even now says it is a lie but if you aren't willing to tell us its fine but then your sessions start tomorrow morning. Louis will take you.’

He wondered why life was such a bastard sometimes, towards him. Maybe others had it worse and he was just being whiney and self pitying but he didn't care. With a tight smile his dad got up and patted his head before kicking him out of the study.

In any normal circumstances he would brag about seeing it to his siblings but nothing was ever going to be normal again. And here he was being melodramatic again.

He made his way down the corridor shuffling quietly to his room when his arm was jerked and he was turned around. He blinked dumbly at his sister Olivia, who was watching him with a determined yet slightly scared look in her eyes.

‘Will I just wanted to tell you that you messed up my life really bad with the whole hurting Theo drama. I mean I am so glad it's not your fault and it was some creepy smelly dude who framed you. Will, my friends didn't want to hang out with me because of my psycho bro and I had to eat lunch ALONE! Do you have any idea what it's like being unpopular?!? It sucks big time but now they all said sorry and like now we're gonna hang out after school at the mall. So yeah just wanted to tell you not to like be part or be around anything that's gonna ruin my social life okay because with having a crush on Rob Patterson and acing the finals I don't need drama from my squad. I mean they love me and we are soul sisters but that kinda thing is messed up enough to break us up. Anyway I told them all you'd never do something like that like ever.’

Will felt his heart warm up to know she had enough faith in his humanity and heart to know he would never hurt Theo. Finally someone who was firm in believing his innocence even if that person was his spoilt princess of a sister which was a tad bit weird.

‘I mean Will you are such a pathetic little wimp. I remember James dared you to kill a butterfly and you didn't want to hurt it. If you whimper and tremble at killing a butterfly how can you hurt a person let alone your best friend Theo. It's crazy impossible for you.’

Scratch that she didn't believe in him for the nice reasons he'd thought she had but still at least someone thought he wouldn't hurt his closest friend.

‘Thanks Olivia......I think?’

‘Don't mention it. Seriously though, don't mention this conversation ever again or I'll murder you and by the way, have fun with the kuku doctor.’ With a laugh she skipped off into her room, closing it with a loud bang.

Sighing wearily he turned to his room to find James lying on a camp bed next to the cupboard. It was bewildering to talk to so many people in one day when he hadn't had conversations this long with even one person and here he was having to do so.

‘What are you doing in my room? I don't recall inviting you to sleep over.’

James casually turned around and gave him a lopsided grin. The amusement didn't reach his questioning eyes. s**t, when was James the smart one?

‘Trust me lil' bro I find no pleasure camping out in your room as opposed to being at Sara's tonight but it is my duty to watch over you and make sure you don't gut any more people.’

Will winced slightly that didn't go unnoticed by James who, like dad, seemed very interested in eye balling him intensely and did nothing to ease the stress he was under. After like ten minutes James went back to his phone with a small smirk- he could never conceal his emotions and thoughts though he would say he could- and Will inwardly groaned at the thought of putting up with this till he was deemed innocent.

Basically he was going to be under surveillance for a long time. .......

He was drowning in a sea of thick dense crimson liquid. It was sucking him under and screaming. Since when could liquid scream? It was telling him he deserved this and that he was a murderer. He was gasping for air and flailing, trying to keep himself above the scorching hot liquid but to no avail. It was pulling him in and he screamed in horror as he felt a hand grip onto his leg and pull him under with the strength of a boulder. He tried scrambling to the surface yet with each tug he was pulled under more and soon found his airways and mouth blocked by the red sea. To his horror just before the world went black he could taste a familiar metallic tinge as the blood swam before his vision.

In the darkness he heard a strange eerie laugh before he was plunged harshly into the warmth of the glowing light.

‘Wake up Will, wake up or we are going to be late for your first session! For god's sake WAKE UP!!!’

Will drowsily sat up still reeling from the nightmare he'd had. He could feel himself drenched in sweat and his heart thudding like a hurricane as he looked up at Lou. He did not feel up to managing a therapy session with a doctor but obviously he had no choice in the matter so decided not to make things worse and get it over with.

After a silent morning breakfast and drive with Lou he found himself sitting opposite a terrifying woman who called herself Miss Fletcher. Dressed up in a casual floral dress with a chunky pink hair band in her candyfloss blonde hair. If he felt nervous to begin with now he felt completely undone and scared. He supposed she was going with the whole casual friend look but her ‘subtle’ lingering gazes said otherwise.

Needless to say he felt extremely uncomfortable. Her dress was alarmingly tight up top with her top button about to burst open with the slightest applied pressure. Her dress barely covered her thighs and he knew this because she was sitting sort of sideways.

He gulped nervously, worried about how the meeting was going to commence when Miss Fletcher grinned at him, flashing all of her pearly white teeth and with a sugary voice began her introduction, ‘My dear, I am Miss Fletcher and I am to assist and guide you through this troubling phase of your life. I may emphasis this a lot during our talks but I am not here to fix you because you aren't broken. I want to help you Will and I want you to be able to confide in me for I am your friend. Anything you say will not leave this room either and it will be just between the two of us.’

Queasily he wondered what else wouldn't leave this room and then shook his head clear of such thoughts because damn it, she was professional! Her dress was supposed to be a friend's thing. Maybe she dressed like this all the time.

Besides his dad recommended her and he was careful in his searches so there was nothing to worry about. He knew how he was going to handle these sessions. Firstly he was going to make sure that he would stay silent and not tell her anything important. Secondly after a while he would talk but it'd be lies that appear believable of course. His backup plan involved bribing her to lie.

As this was going to be the first session of many he was going to stay silent. He couldn't be too willing to talk because naturally he was a broody person. Little did he know how impatient this woman was and how fidgety she was moving around on her sofa. She was constantly readjusting her dress and oh......

He wasn't an oblivious innocent guy regardless of everyone thinking him so yet really she ought to be more professional and keep her intentions obscure. His plan was going smoothly until he was startled by her large cleavage in his face. Flabergastered he looked up at her, praying his face wasn't scarlet and kept quiet. She locked her eyes on him and licked her thickly painted lips as she simpering said, ‘Will you must co operate with me if you want to leave this room quickly. At this rate we will be stuck here forever until I feel we have made a bit of progress.’ With her final word she looked at him seductively with her eyes hidden under her thick coal eye lashes.

Perplexed, he wondered where she was going with this. Every book he had read had patient psychiatrists that thought it a success if the patient even responded and here she was slightly threatening him? He groaned inwardly as he realised he had been given no official ending time for his sessions by his parents and helplessly wondered what the hell he could do.

There was no way in hell he was giving her what she wanted because he wanted to maintain some dignity but knew he had to do something to get out of this tiny sweet scented suffocating room.

Frustratedly he wished he knew how to make her agree to lie and let him leave when it came to him. He had read a lot about the fantastic eureka moment's people had and this was his. He wasn't a Capricorn for nothing- well a Sagicorn due to the cusp but whatever.

‘Will I hope you're listening to me,’ she said in her high pitched voice dripping with honey, ‘because I want to make this work, really I do but for that your co operation...’

He looked up at her with what he hoped was a smouldering look and rose to his feet. It seemed that he had had some sort of effect because she seemed awestruck and speechless. He walked up to her and kissed her lightly on her cheek with a small shy smile flitting across his face. What an actor he was......right now really, since normally he was terrible.

‘I hope my co operation will suffice for our meeting today,’ he smiled at her, ‘and I hope to see you tomorrow Amelia.’

Her brimming smile and stutters of goodbye were enough to guarantee him this meeting a success which was a surprise to him but also an immense relief.

With a quick call to Leo to pick him up he smiled cheerfully, still incredulous at his success. There was no way in hell he would tell that slut anything because if he did it was off to the loony bin or juvie for him yet there was no way any of that was gonna happen.

.................

The week whizzed by extremely fast and before he knew it he was standing in front of Oakwood High with his brother annoyingly by his side. For some reason James took this escorting and supervising thing really seriously. It surprised Will how quiet James was being because words usually erupted out of James's mouth even if he had nothing to say at the time. He'd always wondered if James was physically unable to stop himself from talking. He pondered over what James was thinking right now because James could be serious sometimes which was surprising!

He noticed how people kept their distance from him and steered clear of him so he kept his head down because he'd rather not give anyone more reason to hate him. On the plus side no one would pick on him being so scared yet having James by his side was a real embarrassment.

He felt James jerk him back and looked up in surprise to see Mark. The bastard who started all of this, unknowingly. He sighed and looked to the side to see Mark's cronies flagging him. He did not have the time or patience to put up with their bullshit.

‘Can you please move Mark I need to get to my locker?’ He wondered what the guy's deal was.

‘No I don't think so Will. See we all know you went to the locker room after our pal Theo and he would be humiliated if he could remember but the thing is he says he can't. Now as a good friend I need to know exactly what you wanted to do and what you did when you went after him. Because he isn't tainted like you are you filthy swine and we already know how much you want to jump him so tell me.’ With that Will was pushed up hard against his locker with a crash and tried to suppress the anger building up inside him. He liked Theo but to assume he would do something of the sort...

As he was about to reply all hell broke loose. It was like watching something from an action movie because man did his bro have some mad skills.

Like a bloody ninja James swung his fist into Mark's face and attacked him with a succession of kicks and punches. Fists of fury from-a show he'd watched-rained down on Mark and his pack ran off down the corridor whimpering and wailing like babies.

Will let out a shaky laugh as James held Mark by the scruff of his neck against the locker and demanded to know why Mark was assaulting his brother and threatening him. James let him go in disgust a few minutes later after telling him that if he so much as lay a finger on Will he was road kill.

After that Mark scampered down the corridor with an indignant squawk through the throngs of hysterical kids booing him. James grinned at him and wiped the blood from his cut lip before telling him they needed to talk.

His face was bruised and bloodied but his eyes were sparkling with mirth that dulled slightly as he turned on Will.

‘Now Will what the f**k was that about? This happens to you a lot does it? You get bullied. Being dad's son you shouldn't, I mean he saved Britain for crying out loud. So why do they pick on you and why on earth do they think you're gay and like Theo?’

Considering the fact that he had just bruised his ‘gorgeous’ face for him and kinda knew he would tell him albeit some details (the snog) would be missed.

‘....but I swear I didn't go there to do anything like that to him and I didn't hurt him. Honest!’

James looked at him with a strange and confused glint in his eyes and nodded distractedly muttering, ‘C'mon let's get you to class, I need to go and charm the head to get me out of trouble.’

‘But she hasn't called you yet? Why go now?’

‘See, that's the beauty of it. Do you think those losers were the first people I fought with here? Nah and I've been in trouble heaps of times but the thing is whenever she was close to calling me out I ‘fessed up and got off scotch free.’

As if he could do that with his situation.

The rest of the day was strange and all he could hear was about James and his trial. In fact it almost felt like he was popular with everyone coming to him- for a few minutes- and asking him about both things. It seemed like he was the hot topic yet it saddened him to see R was still refusing to talk to him. Lessons went by with ALL the teachers staring at him and ensuring he didn't hurt anyone. He sighed and continued with the day. It was last period and so far nothing had changed except the horde of ‘fans’ circling James like vultures and the girls gushing over him. He was so lost in his thoughts and work that he didn't notice the crumpled up piece of paper lying next to him on the table that had been thrown fiercely at his head by the R.

The bell had gone when he noticed and opened it with overwhelming curiosity. It told him to go to the gym locker room. The smile swept of his face to be replaced with a frown and he felt chilled to the bone. The sender had no need to write her name because knowing her since reception, the writing was uniquely hers.

Blinking disbelievingly he ran out of class and made his way to the locker room to see her sitting on the bench closest to the showers, by the place where he'd been holding Theo.

Gulping, he swallowed his fear and looked at R with ice in his eyes.

‘You wanted to talk to me.....here? Even when you knew what happened to me here?’

‘Yes. I wanted to see if you'd feel guilty at the scene of your crime and it seems you do,’ she said quietly with venom in her tone, ‘See Will you are so very convincing with your innocent ‘I was used’ act but here's the thing I'm not buying it. You know why?’

He didn't want to know why at all but she carried on regardless jumping nimbly to her feet.

‘Because he told me. He told me everything Will about how you cornered him and wanted him so bad that when he tried getting you off you hurt him. That is so sick Will and never would I have thought you capable of it. You might be wondering why I came to see you alone with no protection. The answer is that your brother knows about this meeting and if you so much as touch me he'll know.’

Will was speechless as his heart broke into a million little pieces. Theo......Theo had told her. That he’d....he'd molested him and hurt him. HIM.

He tried to speak but no words came out and he felt like he was choking just as he had in his nightmare. He felt a panic attack coming on and he looked at R to see her startled expression at his apparent seizure before an outraged glare hit him. It felt like she had physically punched him in the chest and he gasped for air.

He felt the blood rush to his face and tried to breathe but could get nothing out except choking gasps.

‘I can't believe the theatrics you're trying to pull right now. You're trying to blame me for this, you dirty lying scumbag. Making it look like I.....I did this to you. Well I'm not letting you pull it over on me in fact your brother is right outside. JAMES COME IN YOUR BROTHER'S HAVING A SEIZURE!!!’

Like lightening James was by his side showing him how to calm down with breathing exercises whilst R stood by him, white with rage. It wasn't a good look on her he thought, as he regained his composure. It made her freckles stick out like she'd put on a load of powder.

James looked relieved as he sat up and turned to R asking if she was done to which she shook her head. He told her she had five minutes before leaving them alone again. Taking a deep breath to calm down a bit she turned to him and told him that if he had an ounce of love for Theo as he said he did then he would own up because otherwise he didn't care about Theo at all and wasn't truly in love with him like she was.

She looked at him with concentration, her eyebrows furrowing as though she was trying to remember something crucial before shrugging her shoulders and flouncing out of the room.

On the way home with James he remembered that R had said something about a message from Theo and she had never told him. The encounter with her had left him a mess because here was the final confirmation that he had done the atrocious acts as Theo had said it himself.

Hitting his head in helplessness against the bedpost which had James by his side questioning him, he wondered why he couldn't remember what he'd done to Theo when he was the one who'd done it.

Everything would be a lot clearer if he remembered his point of view and actions in the locker room.