Chapter Text
“Fuck, Isak they’re back!”
At the sound of my name, I turned around to see Chris by the window with his eyebrows higher than I’ve ever seen them before. I knew if he was stressed, I should be too, and I felt the colour immediately drain from my face. Shit, there was no getting out of this one.
Racking my brain for excuses, or ways to even still potentially get out of this, I didn’t see Chris fighting through the bodies to make it half way across the room to where I was standing.
“We need to get the music off, or at least turn it the fuck down,” so I can hear myself think.
“Dude, there’s no point now.” Clearly Chris had surrendered. “Half the fucking school must be here, we can’t get them all out.”
I knew he was right. I’d pushed it too many times, maybe I deserved this? It would be useless to even try and cover this up. Looking around I don’t recall ever seeing the living room in such a state. No, there was no running from this. I had to just own it.
“Then let’s give them something to talk about on Monday then.” I smirked, feeling like a complete douche for doing this to my family once again, but that’s the price you have to pay if you want to be popular in school, right? No one gets anywhere with a nice personality. All this lot seemed to care about was drugs and booze and someone else’s house to do it in. I provided them with that, and in return everyone knew who I was.
The killing of the mood and reduction of noise around the house brought me out of my head and back into the room. People can sense parents a mile off, besides me of course. Because if I could I wouldn’t be in this fucking situation.
“Where’s Isak?” I heard my father’s voice, and everyone in the living room and hallway stilled. Knowing he wasn’t asking anyone in particular, people seemed to part like the red sea, clearing a path until his sight finally landed on me. “What is this?”
A year ago, he would have already kicked half the asses in this room out onto the front lawn, but since then, hundreds of parties later, he’d taken a different approach.
“Well it was a party, then you guys decided to come home.” I replied, my hand gesturing towards them, still stood in the doorway. I knew I sounded like a dick, and I regretted the words the minute they left my mouth. I also hated that Lea had to see this, but she’d soon forget it. My reputation wouldn’t.
“Isak, clear the house. We need to speak.” Pulling his scarf off from around his neck, my father hung it on the coat rack next to him. It also held at this moment a few bras, a condom – that even from across the room I could tell was most definitely used – and an inflatable donut. I wasn’t sure which I preferred, the version of events where my father screams the house down, or does this - the ‘disappointed’ act.
“We both know how it’ll end Dad, why not just have it out here?” In my peripheral vision I could see a few people’s eyes widen, and I knew what they were thinking. Did I like speaking to my Dad like this? No. Would I blame it on alcohol later? Of course.
“Isak, honey-“ My mother began, but my father raised a hand and it silenced her immediately.
“There’s nothing to have out I’m afraid, it’s been decided.” Tilting my head slightly and narrowing my eyes, I could feel the lines creasing on my forehead. I crossed my arms across my chest, to complete the fuckboy look.
“And what’s that then?” Go ahead and ground me, none of these people are my friends. I won’t miss anyone. Not even Chris, he just follows me around. Take my phone off me? Awesome, Lea charged me to let me use hers last time, I’m sure that can be arranged again. There’s no punishment he could give that I could care about.
“You’re moving. We’ve transferred you to a boarding school.” If I wasn’t utterly stunned at the words that just came out of his mouth, I’d actually feel kind of sorry for my Dad. Even the way he said it, he just sounded tired of me. I suppose I was too, to an extent. Not a fucking boarding school extent though.
“Dad, what are you-“
“Get these people out of my house, clean it, and then pack your things, I’ll take you tomorrow.”
I had barely even opened my mouth, ready with another snide comment in an attempt to smart my way out of it.
“And don’t even bother saying anything,” he held his hand up, palm facing me, “I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
It had gone 3am by the time the house was acceptably clean. My mother helped, despite my father’s wasted efforts telling her to leave it to me. We didn’t speak. But when she told me to leave the bag I had in my hand by the door so she could take it out in the morning, I spoke for the first time.
“Is he serious?” I asked. As rude as I was, I would never be purposefully rude to my mother.
“You’ve done it too many times, honey. We thought getting the police involved last time would-“
“We?!” I cut her off. “You agree with this?”
She lowered her head, but nodded once.
I didn’t say another thing to her. I set the black bin bag down at my feet, and turned away.
Once I got into bed, I fished my phone out of my jean pocket which was strewn across my floor. At least I got to keep my phone, I internally laughed. I had seven new messages, but I could only be bothered with two of them. In fact I couldn’t even be bothered with these two but I knew I couldn’t leave them until morning.
CHRIS: Bro your dad was joking right??
Are you actually leaving?
Sick party tho dude, had a great time
People will definitely be talking about it on Monday
Its already all over fb
Oh great, my Dad giving me a bollocking is on Facebook. Fabulous.
Deciding there was nothing much to say, I didn’t reply and tapped onto the second conversation that probably did need answering.
SARA: This can’t be happening
I think I’m hyperventilating
This isn’t real right? Maybe I can get my Dad to call your Dad?
Isak I love you, I can’t have you taken away from me!
I rolled my eyes. I hadn’t seen Sara all night, and last time she was at one of my parties she was getting off with some third year in my parent’s en suite.
But I knew I couldn’t ignore her, so I did what I do best.
ISAK:
Love you too x
Lie.
When I woke up, I found my phone unplugged on my bedside table, which is definitely not how I left it. Sitting up quickly, and regretting it almost instantly with the head rush that came with it, I scanned the room. Things were missing, there were no clothes on the floor, and my wardrobe doors were actually shut.
Flipping over, shifting my weight to the other side, my eyes widened when I saw my mother sat in the chair in the corner of my room, a mug of something warm clasped in her hands. Part of me was impressed she’d actually managed to sit in it, usually it was covered in random shit.
I opened my mouth to try and speak, but my throat was dry and I was still too tired to even form words.
“I packed your things for you, I hope I remembered everything. If I forgot anything just call or text or whatever, you know your dad or I can run it up to you, whatever it is. Or just buy it, I’ve put some money into your account. I’m not sure how much you’ll need, and I know giving money to a teenage boy is like handing him a grenade, you’ll pull the pin whether you need to or not so don’t worry about spending it on anything you want.”
This was typical of my mother. But if anything, it showed me how she felt. When she was uncomfortable she rambled. Her verbal diarrhoea was luckily something that Lea nor I seem to have inherited.
“I’m actually going?” I forced out. Part of me had hoped it was a dream. Sure I could be a pain in the ass, but boarding school?!
“It’ll be good for you, honey. All of my brother’s went to boarding school, and look how affluent they are.” She tried to reason.
“I don’t want to be affluent, I want to be at home.”
“I know it’s hard. This isn’t a decision we’ve made lightly, but it’s also one that we won’t be talked out of.”
“I haven’t even had a say in it! Don’t you think that’s unfair?” I sat up, using my arms to express myself.
“I’ve lost my son to partying and childish behaviour for the past year of his life, don’t you think that’s unfair?”
Without another word, my mother stood up and left the room. It was then that I noticed my suitcase and another large bag packed and ready to go by my door. Sighing, I threw myself back onto my pillows. I reached out of my phone, the text messages from last night still there and then some. I had 23 Facebook notifications, not that I had any intention of opening those right now.
It was already nearly noon. Deciding to face the music, I got up and got dressed, still not quite believing that this was actually very real.
The whole car journey I didn’t say anything to my Dad, and he didn’t speak to me either. Perfect. Mum and Lea stayed at home, since Lea would probably get more upset if she came with us. At least someone would miss me.
I checked my Facebook in the car, not sure if the reception would be any good wherever the hell it was we were going. In the back of my head I was hoping my Dad would do a u-turn and drive me home. I saw a few videos from last night on my timeline, but decided against watching them with my Dad in the driver’s seat right next to me. There were a couple new messages from people (most of whom I didn’t know) all wanting to know one thing. Are you really leaving?
I haven’t got a clue buddy. Not a clue.
We were in the car for about two and a half hours, maybe three. I forgot to check what time we left, but it was definitely long enough to be trapped in the car with my Dad. I could practically feel the passive aggressive anger from last night radiating off of him. And if the car journey wasn’t torture enough, my punishment was about to come true.
My Dad pulled up right outside a huge grey stone building. It looked more like one of those country heritage houses than a school, and on any other given day I might have thought it was somewhat decent. But this wasn’t any other given day, I was being dumped at boarding school by my parents. I had every right to be pissed off, didn’t I?
“You know Isak,” my Dad’s voice shocked me, I wasn’t expecting him to speak, and what with not talking for a few hours it sounded much deeper than usual. “We don’t want to have to do this. I don’t want to have to say goodbye to you, but you’ve given us no choice. We can’t cope with this behaviour anymore. At first the parties were acceptable, but the more popular they became the more wild they got. Your sister found a group of boy’s hot boxing the cupboard under the stairs.” At this I smiled, and tried so hard not to laugh.
“I know, at first I thought it was rather funny too. But the minute your mother and I couldn’t get through to you, it stopped being funny.” His sight landed on something behind me, outside the car and I turned to see what it was. A woman, wearing a grey pencil skirt and suit jacket was walking towards the car, with a bunch of what I assumed were pupils in tow.
They sure has a thing for grey around here.
My Dad got out the car, and walked around the front as the woman got closer. I hadn’t got out the car, I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to be here.
“Hello, Ms Bech Næsheim.” My father held his hand out to shake the woman’s hand, the smile on his face most definitely fake.
“And you must be Mr Valtersen, we’re so pleased you could come.” She replied, her smile most definitely not fake. If I wasn’t completely against this school I would have found her rather welcoming. The pupils that came out with her stood a few paces behind, each of them staring at me. It was only when I shifted my glance from them back to my father that I realised he was giving me the look. The one that said get the fuck out of the car.
Reluctantly, I got out and slowly made my way towards the adults.
“Hello Isak, I’m Ms Bech Næsheim your new headmistress. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Shaking her hand, I found myself smiling back. I muttered a ‘you too’ before dropping my hand to my side.
“This here is Elias, head boy.” She motioned towards one of the boys behind her, but I missed which one she pointed to exactly, there were about six boys standing behind her, all of them looking rather intimidating, except- “And this here is Jonas, he’s what we call your ‘big brother.’ You’ll be sharing a dorm with him, and we’ve given you similar timetables, so any questions and he’s your go-to.”
My Dad stepped across me, holding a hand out to shake Jonas’ hand, and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. I certainly wasn’t going to shake this guy’s hand. Big brother? Please, he was about half my height.
“Now if that’s all Mr Valtersen, I’ll have Jonas help Isak carry his things up to his dorm.”
“Yes of course, and thank you again, especially on such short notice.” My Dad could be a beg when we wanted to be, it wasn’t like I was a crack head. Then he turned to me.
“We’ll be back for you at Christmas,” he started, and I nearly wanted to ask if he was sure he could be bothered, but I bit my tongue. “Remember to call your mother, she’ll miss you.”
“That’s not my fault, is it?” Again, on any other given day my Dad would have taken the bait and started an argument, but this wasn’t any other given day, and we had a fucking meet and greet party watching us, so he chose to drop it.
We got my bags out of the car in silence, Jonas helping where he could. It’s not that he deserved me to be rude to him, I was just in a bad mood and didn’t need some private boarding school snob to help me carry my shit. I didn’t hug my father when he left. We rarely hugged. The last time we hugged was when my Grandfather had died, and that was years ago. We weren’t hugging people.
I watched his car pull down the long gravel driveway. He was actually going to leave me here. Not sure whether to cry, run after the car, or shut myself off from the world, I chose the latter.
Ms Bech Næsheim was already almost back inside, as well as most of the other boys, but a certain three seemed to be loitering about the entrance.
Jonas and I struggled to roll my suitcases along the graveled pathway, so we each ended up carrying them.
“It gets easier man, I promise.” Jonas could sense my mood, hell even I was getting fed up with my mood and I’d only been in it officially for about 15 seconds.
As we walked closer to the entrance, a boy with short hair and a ‘Head Boy’ pin on his lapel was to my right. Choosing not to make eye contact, I looked straight ahead, facing my punishment straight on. But I wish I hadn’t.
I felt my body fall forwards, and tried to stop myself quickly, which proved to be difficult with a weighty bag slung over one arm, but I managed it, and with the help of Jonas who’s hand reached out to steady my shoulder, preventing me from falling forward any more. As a regained my footing, I turned my head slightly to see ‘Head Boy’ with his foot stuck out, and a mock shocked look on his face.
“You know, I don’t know what you did to get yourself wound up here, but word of advice, don’t mess with me, got it?” He spat.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” I asked, hoping to knock his ego.
“Elias, head boy here. Don’t give me reason to speak to you again.” He took a step closer, and if it weren’t for Jonas’ hand still on my shoulder I’d have taken one too.
I knew guys like this, I knew just how to push his buttons. Turning to Jonas, I decided to wind Elias up a bit.
“Is this guy all there?” I asked, tilting my head toward Elias, “He does realise he spoke first right?” Jonas cracked a smile, letting out a small laugh.
“Just drop it, okay? I thought we were bigger than picking on the new guy.” Jonas reasoned with Elias, who took a few steps back, his minions walking in time with him, before he spat on the ground and turned his back to us walking away.
“You think they rehearse that?” I laughed, and Jonas nodded in agreement.
“Our dorm is on the fourth floor. We have a lot of stairs to make it up, come on.” So I followed a few paces behind.
My mood was all over the place. I wasn’t angry anymore with my parents, just bitter. I wasn’t pissed off with Elias, just confused. I didn’t want to be mean to Jonas, it was just my defence and coping mechanism. And annoyingly enough Ms Bech Næsheim seemed like a nice person, I couldn’t even blame it on her for fucks sake. I had a feeling my mood was going to be much like the rest of this place. Grey.