A few steps out of the door Peter fell in step next to him. “Come on.” Peter commanded and put a hand on Troy's shoulder to guide him to the office. The bigger kid had been thinking about the pictures and what to do all through his past few lessons and he could only come up with one course of action. He knew it would be a fight to get Troy to go, but he was sure it was the right thing to do.

“Where are we...” Troy stated to say, till he realized where Peter was going. “Peter, I don't want to go to the office.”

Peter stopped and turned to face Troy. He lowered his voice so only Mary Beth and Troy could hear him. “You need to tell the principal. He knows about you, so you need to tell him that someone is trying to cause problems.”

“He's right, Troy. If Mr. Harper knows, then he should know about the picture.” Mary Beth stated in a whisper.

Big thanks to Djkauf for the editing

We pick up where we left off, Tracy in class, after the pictures have been left.

January 26th 1983

As the last bell for school rang, Troy waited for everyone to get up. He was still worried that whoever had left him the picture was in his own class. Mary Beth waited till all but Troy, the teacher and herself remained and she came over to him as he slowly stood up. Mr. McCoy came over as well. “You still not feeling well.”

“I'll be fine, it's nothing.” Troy said as he avoided the teacher’s gaze.

“Well, go home and take it easy.” Mr. McCoy said, not sure what to think. “No point in burning yourself out when you get home. Don't want to miss more school though.”

“Thank you sir.” Troy said as he grabbed his stuff and headed for the door.

A few steps out of the door Peter fell in step next to him. “Come on.” Peter commanded and put a hand on Troy's shoulder to guide him to the office. The bigger kid had been thinking about the pictures and what to do all through his past few lessons and he could only come up with one course of action. He knew it would be a fight to get Troy to go, but he was sure it was the right thing to do.

“Where are we...” Troy stated to say, till he realized where Peter was going. “Peter, I don't want to go to the office.”

Peter stopped and turned to face Troy. He lowered his voice so only Mary Beth and Troy could hear him. “You need to tell the principal. He knows about you, so you need to tell him that someone is trying to cause problems.”

“He's right, Troy. If Mr. Harper knows, then he should know about the picture.” Mary Beth stated in a whisper.

“What can he do about it?” Troy asked.

“Who knows, but I'm taking you there.” Peter looked down at Troy. “You know your mother would want you to go.”

“Peter, I don’t want more trouble.” Troy replied.

Peter just stared at him. “You got trouble already. You need to tell someone, and if you don't tell him, I will; then I'll make sure your mother knows too.”

“Peter....” Troy started to argue with him, but Mary Beth cut him off.

“I'll go with Peter and tell him. No matter what, We'll tell him. Please come with us.”

Troy looked at both of them and realized he was outnumbered. He sighed, but followed his friends as Peter led the way to the office. As they passed the seventh grade classes, which were getting out, Emily May saw her sister and came jogging over. “Hey, what's going on?” She asked as she saw the determined look on Peter's face.

Mary Beth leaned over and whispered in her ear. Her sister gasped and then looked at Troy. “You want me to find Vance?”

Before Troy could answer, Peter did. “Yes. Tell him we'll be in the office.”

“Peter.” Troy growled.

Peter stopped once more and glared at his friend. “If they are leaving you the pictures, they may be doing the same to Vance. I may not like him, but he should be told about what's going on.”

“He's right.” Emily May stated. “I'll go find him.”

“You can't.” Troy stated. “He's in Chico for that basketball tournament. They left already.”

“Crap.” Mary Beth replied. Peter started walking again and reached the doors to the offices and cafeteria. He pulled the door open for Troy and the two girls. Troy seemed to walk slower, but Mary Beth grabbed one arm and dragged him along.

“You tell him, or we do.” Emily May replied as they walked Troy into the principal's outer office.

“Can I help you?” The secretary asked as they came in.

“We need to speak to Mr. Harper.” Mary Beth said.

“I'm sorry, but he's in Chico at that Basketball tournament.” the old secretary replied. “Mr. Nelson is also the vice Principal, can he help?”

Peter looked at Troy who just shook his head and spoke up. “No, We'll speak to Mr. Harper tomorrow.” None of the kids at the school liked Mr. Nelson. He had a reputation for hating children, yet he worked with them. Troy didn't want his secret in any other hands, so he could wait.

“I'll make an appointment if you want? Tomorrow around lunchtime for your grades?”

“Yes.” Peter answered.

“Okay, Patterson, Lowery and Higgins.” The old woman said as she wrote. She looked up and smiled. “There, all good.”

“Thank you.” Troy said as he turned and headed for the door.

Peter caught him as he walked out of the hall that connected the offices and cafeteria. “You could have told Mr. Nelson.”

“No.” Troy said. “Mr. Harper knows about me, no one else does. I don't want that hassle.”

“He's right, Peter.” Emily May said. “Mr. Nelson isn't the nicest guy here.”

“Fine. But I'm making sure you get on that bus.” Peter stated.

“We'll ride with him.” Mary Beth stated.

“Yeah, but isn't your stop way before his?”

“Yeah, but we'll check up on him when we get home.” Emily May said.

“I'll see if my mother can drive me over there. At least then your father won’t want to kill me.”

~o~O~o~

The ride on the bus was uneventful, but nerve racking. Troy sat near the front, worried that whoever had left him the note was with him. Emily May and her Sister had stayed near him till their stop. Then Troy rode in silence till his stop. He shuffled off the bus and stopped every few steps, making sure that no one was following him to the house.

When he got home, he noticed his Grandparents were gone, and with his mother not due back for an hour or two, he was left all alone. He quickly entered his house and locked the door behind him, then he put the door chain on and set the dead bolt. After the picture he had received, his nerves were all on end. He put his backpack on the couch. He plopped down on the couched and began to cry lightly. His hands shook as he reached into the pack and pulled out the pictures that he had found in his pack and desk. He was going to change when he got home, at least that had been his plan that morning, but now that someone knew, it changed everything.

He screamed and jumped when the phone rang. He hadn't been expecting a call. He reached out and picked up the phone and held it to his ear, hoping that it was Sage, or Rachel and the girls, but he forgot it wasn't Friday and the chances of them calling were slim to none. “H-hello?” He tentatively asked.

“Hello, fag.” A voice grated over the line. It sounded young, but not one that he knew. “That's a nice dress you had on.”

His heart pounded as he sat there. His life was over and he knew it. “W-who is this?” He asked.

“Wouldn't you like to know.” The voice replied. “I told you that I knew.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I'm going to have so much fun with you, fag.” The voice replied. “Maybe I should just come over there now and beat the shit out of you. Teach you your place in life.”

Troy slammed the phone down and he sat there, shaking. Seconds later it rang again and he looked at it. He began to pray that it was Sage this time, or his mother. He even hoped for Peter to call. “H-h-hello?” Her voice quavered with fear.

“I'm going to get you, Fag.” The voice replied. Tracy began to cry and slammed the receiver down, but her hands fumbled it and it dropped on the floor. Moments later there was a knock at the door. Tracy attempted to be quiet, but her tears wouldn't stop. Whoever it was knocked again.

Troy got up and looked for something to protect herself. Tears were starting to race down his cheek as the phone began to sound out the fact that it was off the hook. He went to the stove and picked up the ax that her father kept for chopping wood. If they came in the house, he wasn't giving up without a fight. He tired to steady his nerves and he called out as the person knocked a third time. “W-who is it?”

“It's Mary Beth and Emily May.” A female voice called out. “Can we come in?”

Troy dropped the ax and ran to the door. He opened it up and saw her two schoolmates there, then he launched himself into Emily's arms, sobbing against her shoulder.

“Whoa, what's wrong. Is this about those pictures?” Emily asked as she held Troy. Her crying friend nodded slightly. “Come on, let's get you in the house.”

“What happened?” Mary Beth asked, stopping to see the fallen ax on the floor. She heard the phone buzzing, so she went over and put in to the cradle. Seconds later the phone rang again and Troy began to cry harder. Mary Beth picked it up, watching her friend, as she spoke. “Hello?”

“Oh so the little fag has a friend. You know he's just a pathetic little fag in a dress, right?” The voice asked.

“Who is this?” Mary Beth asked.

“Ain't telling.” He replied.

“You put those pictures in his bag, didn't you?”

“What do you think?” The voice asked.

“Look fucker, just leave Troy alone, or I'll tear your nuts off and feed 'em to you.” The voice laughed, and Mary Beth hung up the phone. “This happened before?”

“Just a f-few m-minutes ago.” Troy sobbed out.

“Are your grandparents home?” Emily May asked.

“No.” Troy shook his head.

The phone rang again and Mary Beth reached down and grabbed the receiver. “Look you pathetic little fucker. You call Troy once more and I swear I will find you and bash your stupid skull in! You understand me?!?”

“Um?” A female voice spoke on the other end of the line. “What? Who is this? Is Tracy there?”

“No, you first!” Mary Beth snapped back. “Who the fuck is this?!?”

“It's Sage, is this Mary Beth?”

Mary Beth's attitude softened quickly. “Sage?” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh thank God. Yeah, it's Mary Beth.”

“What's going on there?” Sage asked. “I hear crying, is that Tracy?”

“I wish I knew. Emily and I just got here and some asshole called.” Mary Beth replied. “Tracy was crying when she opened up the door.”

“Could be a wrong number and he's just fucking with ya. Stay safe though.” Sage answered.

“Sage, he knows about Tracy.” Mary Beth stated. “Someone left pictures in her backpack and desk at school today. It's of Tracy. No one else saw them, but they were there.”

“Oh, Crap.” Sage was quiet for a moment, then Mary Beth could hear tapping on the other end. “Give me a minute.”

“Okay.” Mary Beth replied. She looked over to Tracy who was watching, but still crying into her sisters shoulder.

A moment or two later, a new voice came on the line. “Mary Beth, this is Persephone, Sage's mother. She just told me about the calls and pictures. Do me a favor and take Tracy to her grandparents they live in the trailer next door, okay. Then have them call Maggie.”

“Ma'am, she said they aren't home.” Mary Beth stated.

“Shit.” Persephone was quiet for a moment, then she spoke up, forcing her anger back. “What about her parents?”

“Hey, when is your Dad coming home? Or your mother?” Mary Beth asked.

“Dad's at that game in Chico with Vance. Mom's at work.”

“Ma'am, Her father's in Chico, with Vance at a school ball game, Her mother's at work.”

Through the phone, Mary Beth could hear the motherly concern of Persephone as she spoke. “Do me this favor. Lock the door and keep an eye on Tracy. I'll have Sage call in a few and we'll try to talk to Tracy, okay? I'll call Maggie at work and let her know what's up. If anyone knocks on the door, don't answer it, okay?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

~o~O~o~

Persephone hung up on the scared girls, wishing that she lived closer. She realized she was still standing as she began to pace while the phone rang. After three rings, someone picked it up. But when the voice spoke, it was an older woman, someone Persephone didn't know. “Wright cleaning services, how can I help you?”

“Um...hi...” Persephone started. “I was wondering if Maggie Patterson was in?”

“I'm Sorry, she's out of the office today, can I help you with something?”

“My name is Persephone Miller, I'm a friend of hers from the bay area. I need to get a message to her. I need her to call her house. I just talked to her youngest and there is a major problem going on there. So if you could get her the message when she gets in?”

“Problem at home? Well, she won't be back here for an hour or so. We're short-handed and she's taking a couple of the cleaning jobs to help out. But I'll leave a note for when she stops in.”

“Please and thank you.” Persephone replied.

“No problem at all.” The older woman stated.

~o~O~o~

Peter had tried calling Tracy's place a few times when he got home, but he got a busy signal or no answer. This worried him. His mother was at work still, so that left him home alone. He quickly scribbled a note saying where he went, then hopped on his bike and made the trek thought the rain to his friends house. He knew William would kill him for being there when no adults were around, but he didn't care. His friend was going to need him.

So twenty minutes later he was hopping off his bike, making sure to cast a quick glance to see if Troy's grandparent's were home. He saw no car, so he knocked. He listened closely and thought he heard someone on the other side. But not just one person, a couple of people. He knocked again and put his ear against the door.

“Troy? It's Peter, you home?” He called out. Then he lowered his voice and called again. “Tracy, it's me, you okay in there?”

The door opened up and Emily stood there. Behind her was Mary Beth. Troy was in his father's chair, talking on the phone. Peter could see the tracks of tears on his friends face, but he didn't want to interrupt the phone conversation. He looked at the older of the two sisters. “What happened? Why is he crying?”

“Who ever left the pictures called here before we showed up.” Emily May replied, shutting the door as Peter stepped in, then she locked it.

“Yeah. I talked to him. Total asshole. No idea who he is though.” Mary Beth stated.

“So it's a him.” Peter nodded slowly, thinking to himself. “Bet you it's Clark Millet.”

“But how did he get those pictures?” Emily May asked. “Someone had to know Tracy when she was Arden Fair mall. Plus they know where he lives, cause he took a picture of me hugging Tracy at that door.” she gestured to the front door.

“The Millet Family knows about the Patterson house. I've seen Bruce here a few times and he brought Clark once.” Peter said. He hooked a thumb towards Troy. “Who is he talking to? Or is he Tracy right now?”

“Troy still. He's too scared to go get dressed.” Mary Beth explained. “And it's Sage, Tracy's friend from the Bay Area. They called earlier cause she's seeing some doctor and had news for him. She called after I had hung up on the asshole. I tore her head off over the phone.”

Peter smiled. “Thank you, well for yelling at that guy, not for yelling at Sage.”

“Won't you get in trouble for being here?” Emily May asked. “Tracy told us about the rules that her mother and father put down.”

“Worth it.” Peter stated. “My friend got threatened. If someone were to come over and do something, I'd feel bad if I hadn't come over. Besides, right now, her safety is higher priority.”

“Are her Grandparents home yet?”

“Didn't see them.” Peter replied. “But we'll hear them then they pull up.”

“Good. I don't know how long we can stay. Dad will want us home around dinner time.” Mary Beth said.

“Take off when you have to. I'll stay here.”

~o~O~o~

Troy had just hung up the phone with Sage when the phone rang again. He yelped and jumped in his seat. Emily May and Mary Beth had already left, so Peter went over and picked up the phone, to save his friend from any hassles. “Patterson's house, can I help you?”

“Um..Hello...Peter?” Maggie’s voice came from the other end of the line. “First of all, what are you doing there with no Adults.”

“There's been a problem or two. Someone put pictures of Tracy in a skirt in Troy's backpack and desk, at school and they were calling the house, threatening him...her.”

“Oh God. Is she...” Maggie started to reach that panicky mother mode fast, but Peter cut her off.

“She's okay, just jumpy. But Tracy is scared, so it's Troy right now.” Peter explained.

“Put my child on, please.”

“It's your Mom.” Peter handed his friend the phone and then went to look out the window to see if the Grandparent's had gotten home yet. Troy spoke up, voice still shaking.

“Hello?”

“Hey, I'm not back in town yet, I took some of the cleaning contracts today because we're short handed. I got a call from Persephone telling me to call home, but the line has been busy.” Maggie stated.

“Sorry. Sage was talking to me while I calmed down.” Troy replied.

“What happened?” Maggie asked.

“Someone put pictures of me in a skirt in my backpack. It was when we went to the mall in Sacramento.”

“Damn.” Maggie muttered. She knew there was a slight chance of people seeing her daughter, but she never figured that she'd be caught that far out of town. “Peter said someone called?”

“Yeah. They kept calling, then Mary Beth and Emily May showed up and Sage called.”

Maggie sighed, knowing it would be a bit longer till she got home. “Okay, have your grandparents gotten home yet?”

“I don't know...Peter, are they home yet?”

“No... wait. Yeah, looks like he's pulling in.” Peter replied.

“They just got home.”

“Okay, go next door. Stay there till I get home, okay? Take Peter if you want and tell your Grandfather everything.”

~o~O~o~

Maggie only knocked once as she got to the door of her in-law's house, then she stepped inside. She looked at her father-in-law who gestured to the kitchen. “Modine and Tracy are cooking some dinner.”

“Thanks.” Maggie rushed into the kitchen. Maggie knew what her youngest was wearing was Troy's clothes, but it didn't matter to her. This was her daughter, there was no doubt about that. When Tracy saw her mother, the two rushed into each others arms. Maggie kissed the top of her daughters head and held her for a moment. “You okay?”

“No.” Tracy shook her head. “Better, but not okay.”

“Did you tell anyone?”

Tracy shook her head. “Mary Beth and Emily May know, so does Peter.”

“Can I see the pictures? Did you bring them over here?”

She went to the kitchen table where her backpack sat. It had been Peter's idea to take the pack, along with the pictures, so the grandparents knew what happened. Tracy knew if she didn't show her mother, her grandmother would. So the young girl pulled out the two pictures and handed them to her mother.

“I meant your teacher. Did he see it, or Mr. Harper?” Maggie asked.

“No.” Tracy shook her head. “I didn't tell Mr. McCoy, and Mr. Harper is at that basketball game in Chico.”

“I'll get a hold of him tonight, or at the school tomorrow.”

“We got an appointment set up.” Tracy said. “Peter did that.”

“Good. Remind me to thank him for staying, too.” Maggie then focused on the pictures and she had to bite her tongue from uttering something bad. She could see the stores of the Arden Fair mall behind her daughter. The thought that someone followed them there chilled her to the bone, but she didn't want her daughter to see the fear.

Modine seemed to pick up on it. She moved from the stove and put a hand on her Daughter in law. “Are William and Vance going to be home for dinner?”

“No, they're eating out.” Maggie replied though gritted teeth. She wanted to find the person who had taken the pictures and beat him, or her, within an inch of their life.

“Then relax. We've got enough for two more. No point in being at the house alone right now.”

~o~O~o~

Maggie and Tracy had waited for William and Vance to get home before they went home themselves. They were met at the door by William who arched one eyebrow and looked from his wife, who looked very angry, to his scared child. “What's wrong? Started to worry when no one was here.”

“I forgot to leave a note, but we need to talk.” Maggie gestured to Tracy to sit on the couch.

“Did something happen today?” William asked. “Was Peter here?”

“He was, but this is bigger then that and I agree that this time he should have been here.” Maggie went to the kitchen and called down the hall to her kids room. “Vance, we need you in the living room.”

“Okay, Mom.” A voice called back. As she went to the couch where her daughter sat, she held out a hand and Tracy handed over her backpack. Maggie fished out the pictures as Vance entered the room.

Maggie handed the two pictures to her husband. “These were left in Tracy's backpack and desk during lunch today.”

The blood drained slightly from William's face as he stared at the pictures. He knew one was taken at the house, but the second one puzzled him. “Where was this one taken at?”

“Arden Fair mall.” Maggie replied.

“So that day after her appointment?”

Maggie nodded. “Has to be. That was the skirt she had on that day.”

“Damn.” William looked at his daughter. “Who put them in your bag?”

“Don't know.” She replied back. By this point, Vance was moving towards his father and craning his neck to see the pictures.

“What are they?” He asked.

William sighed, then handed the pictures to Vance. “Did you tell your teacher? Or the Principal?”

“No. Mr. McCoy doesn’t know.”

“Mr. Harper was at the basketball game with us.” Vance supplied. “Nice dress fag?” He repeated the words on the picture in a questioning tone. “And they left them for you?”

“Yeah.” Tracy nodded.

“After they left them, did anyone talk to you differently?” William asked.

“I don't know. I...I was afraid that everyone knew already.” Tracy said.

“Who all knows about these?”

“Peter, Mary Beth and Emily May.” Tracy replied.

William looked at her for a moment, working over the last two names. “Mary and Emily....OH, those girls that came over last week.”

Tracy nodded. “Yeah. They came over after school, so did Peter.”

William slumped his shoulders and glared at his daughter. “Now I told you about having Peter here with no adults.”

Maggie cut him off, holding up a hand to stop any fatherly tirades. “William, whoever left the pictures started calling the house.”

“Here?” He asked.

“Yeah.” Tracy nodded again.

Before William could make a comment, Maggie jumped in. “I'm glad Peter was here and if this keeps up, I'd rather there be people here when she gets home.”

William was going to argue it, but he saw the wisdom behind her thought. “Tell me everything.” He said as he sat in his chair. Tracy started, telling him everything that she recalled from school, then going on to when she got home and the calls she received. She watched as he gripped his chair in anger, his knuckles going white as he focused on a point by the door.

Maggie took over, filling in the parts she knew, which wasn't much. When they were done, Vance had taken a seat by his sister and both parents were in their chairs. William tapped his fingers on the arm rest of his chair. “New rules for you two.” He said soft voice. “When you get home, if we are not home, go next door. That is for both of you.”

“Both of us? I didn't get anything...” Vance started to say, but his father cut his off.

“I want you together. This may be nothing, but after that Bruce asshole attacked Tracy once, I won't take chances with either of my children.” William rocked in his chair a few times, then he stopped and leaned forward. “Tracy, this isn't your fault. We knew someone could find you, but I hoped it wouldn't be this soon.” He held out his arms. “Come here.”

She slowly got up and went to him. He pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. “You said you got a meeting tomorrow?”

Tracy nodded. “Yeah Lunch time.”

“Good. I'll let work know I need to be there.” William stated.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“No problem, Princess.”

Tracy looked up at him. “But do I have to go tomorrow? School I mean. What if that person leaves another picture.”

William sighed and looked at his wife. “I don't know. There's not much we can do. Either way you have to go to school.” He stated.

“But Dad.” She started to stand as she whined.

“No buts. You have to go to school, there's a law about that.” William said. “Just act like nothing is wrong.”

“There's always home schooling.” Maggie offered. “You know how kids can be. We let her go back, and they'll tear her apart.”

“Maggie, who'd teach her? We need the money your job pulls in.”

Maggie nodded at him. “Yeah, but Your Mom could do it.”

“Grandma?” Tracy's face lit up. “Could we do that?”

“Stop.” William held out a hand. “We'll ask tomorrow. I'll discuss it with your mother and grandmother too. We have to get her okay on that as well, if the school system would allow her to do it.”

Tracy slumped her shoulders and leaned against her father. “Okay.” She replied.

~o~O~o~

Morning hit and Tracy lay in bed for a few extra minutes. She could hear her mother talking to her father, but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Vance was already in the shower when she stood up and moved into the kitchen. Her mother was at the table, drinking coffee. Her father looked up for a moment, then back at his own cup.

“Do I have to go?” Tracy pleaded as she stood by the table.

Maggie nodded her head slightly. “You need to get ready to go. I tried to call the school, but no one answered yet. I'll try before the bus is to get here. But you may need to go. We'll figure things out when we go in for the meeting.”

“Fine.” Tracy grumbled. As she turned to leave, her father reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Baby, we want you safe, but if you miss too much school, they can hold you back, or get the law involved.”

“Daaad.” She started to whine.

William stood up and glared down at his daughter. He hated being the bad guy, but she had to go, at least he thought she should. “Tracy. You're going to get ready to go, get dressed, as Troy and get ready for school. We'll find a better alternative today, but for now, you have to go.”

“Can’t I just stay home?”

“William, living room, please?” Maggie said as she stood up and standing between the two of them.

“Fine.” He said as he stood up, then he looked at his youngest. “But you still need to get dressed.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Tracy stated as she slowly walked to her bedroom.

William followed his wife to the living room and she just shook her head. “William, sending her there may be a bad idea. I'll try and call in sick for her, but in her current state, you really think sending her to school while someone is leaving pictures of her there is a wise idea?”

“Maggie, if we can't get the home schooling started, she's going to have to return.”

“But right now, we send that child there, she'll be more worried about who is going to do what, that she won’t watch the teacher.”

William sighed, but he saw the logic in her argument. “Fine, call the school. Let them know she's sick or something and I'll meet you there for the meeting.”

~o~O~o~

Clark watched the clock from his seat, a grin on his face. He barely watched the teacher as he sat there, planning his next move. Lunch was coming soon and he had to follow the plan. Halfway though a science lesson, he held up his hand and the teacher stopped and looked at him. “Yes, Clark?”

“I gotta go to the bathroom.” He began bouncing in the seat.”

The teacher looked to the clock, then at Clark. “Lunch is only forty minutes away, are you sure it can't wait?”

“No.” Clark said in a half grunt, half groan that all kids seem to make when they desperately need a bathroom.

“Okay. The teacher sighed and went to his desk and grabbed a piece of wood that served as the classes hall pass. “There and straight back.” He stated.

“Thank you sir.” Clark jumped up, grabbed his coat that hung on the back of his seat and threw it on, then he went to the teacher and got the pass. He kept up the strained look on his face till he was out of the class. He passed by Troy's room and saw that Troy's desk was empty. He felt slightly cheated, but his plan was still going to continue. He walked towards the bathroom, then stopped and looked around. Once he was sure no teachers were watching him, he went on to the seventh grade classes.

He went to the door of the next class that Vance would had and he peeked in, making sure that no teachers were in there, then he quickly slipped in and began pulling several pictures out of his coat pocket. He placed a few of them on the desks nearest the door, then he slipped back out and went to the next room, where Emily May had her next class. He looked in once again and when he was sure the teacher wasn't in there, he slipped in and left a few pictures on the desk nearest the door, these had a shot that he didn’t leave with Troy, It showed a good view of Tracy and Emily May.

He hopped out of the classroom, then made his way back to his classroom, proud of a job well done. But it wasn't over. He had one more set to give out that would wait till lunch. He wanted to do it on a day that Troy was at school, but he couldn't wait.

~o~O~o~

Emily May went to her class and found her teacher holding a stack of what looked like papers. She started to go to her desk when the teacher called out to her. “Emily, could I speak to you for a moment?”

Emily went over to his desk. “Yes, Mr. Walkley?”

“Emily, I found something and I need you to run these to the principal’s office.”

“Me? Why me?” She asked.

“I found these on a few of the desks. Someone left these for the kids. I need you to get these to Mr. Harper.” He gestured for her to move closer and he showed her the pictures that he had found in his room.

Her jaw dropped open as she saw a clear shot of her and Tracy. The words at the bottom were in black ink. “Emily May's little fag friend, Troy Patterson.”

She put a hand over her mouth and gasped. “Oh, Crap.”

“Now you see why I want you to take them.” He stated and handed her the hall pass. “Go now, tell the Mrs. Olsen that you can only give these to Mr. Harper.”

“Yes, Sir.” Emily May turned and almost sprinted out of the class as the last of the student's trickled in.

~o~O~o~

Vance walked into his class, wondering if he should have asked for the period off to be in the office with his brother. He had been wondering who the person who had called the house was. He knew if he had heard the voice, he could have figured out who it was.

He wondered if it was Clark. Bruce's brother seemed to be the only person who had a growing hatred for his brother. Vance knew it wasn't Troy's fault, but no one would ever convince Clark that. His pondering was interrupted by someone who burst into laughter. One of them stepped closer to him “OH my God and you live with that?” Vance looked up and saw several people holding pictures in their hands, but he couldn't see what they were of.

A short woman walked in and cleared her throat. “I do believe you all still know how to find your seats?”

Vance wondered what they were talking about, but he slowly headed to his seat. The little lady began her prepared lesson on the Korean War and Vance did his best to pay attention.

It was about ten minutes into the lesson when a boy who sat behind him passed him snickered. “So do you have your own dress too?” He asked in a whisper.

Vance looked back and growled, in a hushed tone. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You know...” The boy turned the picture of Tracy so Vance could see it.

Vance's eyes popped open as he looked at the picture. He reached out and snagged the photo before the other boy could pull it away. The words at the bottom were printed in black block letters. “Troy Patterson, Vance's faggot brother.”

He didn't realize he was halfway out of his seat and grabbing his backpack, till the teacher spoke up. “Vance, can you take your seat please?”

“Ma'am, I need to go to the office.” He replied.

“You could have gone during lunch. I'm sure whatever it is can wait till the next break.”

“But Ma'am...” Vance started to plead.

“Vance Patterson.” She said through clinched teeth. “You just had forty five minutes to take care of any personal business. If you don't take your seat, we'll be seeing the principal about detention.”

“Mrs. Burns, it can't wait.” Vance said.

“Seat now!” She raised her voice which caused the kids in her room to fall silent. Vance knew his parents would be in the office by this point and with the new picture, he knew he had to let the principal know about it right away. He didn’t want detention, but he had to show the pictures to Mr. Harper.

“Ma'am, I have something the Principal needs to see.” Vance replied.

“Vance, it can wait. Take your seat now.” She growled at him.

He looked at the picture in his hand, then at the teacher. He was still unsure of Tracy at times. There were up points and he couldn't deny that his sibling was happier as Tracy. These pictures were setting out to destroy what happiness she had found and he began to understand the true meaning of being the older brother. He was to protect her and he was damned in the teacher was going to stop him.

“No, it can't.” He replied and started walking to the door.

“Mr. Patterson! Take your seat now, or it's detention for a week!”

“Fine.” He replied and kept walking to the door.

She glared at her class. “None of you move a muscle, I will be right back."

Yep, another To be continued.