Whatever the rumors were saying they were over exaggerated. Andrew Madden hadn't broken Shane McDonales nose or used any Magic on him. Even for someone like Andy, Magic was still outlawed. He might not have any control over the Sleeping Sickness and its symptoms like the Dream that took over each night, or even the Madness that crept in more and more each day warping his reality, but Andy knew never to use the Magic that supposedly ran through his veins because of it despite never being marked with a collar that would prevent just that. He wasn't a complete idiot. He knew the laws. They’d practically drilled them into his head since he was six.

Andy didn't even know what his Magic might be let alone how to use it to begin with. The Doctors even had signed off saying that they believed Andy was one of the few with the Sleeping Sickness that didn’t possess Magic since he’d never showed any signs, he never had, and was believed never to. It made him one of the lucky few that had a chance of blending into everyday society with only those who’d read his file knowing the truth. That is unless one lived in a small town where everyone thought they knew everything about everyone.

No one cared about that though. Not the students walking by the office pointing and whispering. Not the Doctors in charge of his medications who still tested him every now and then just in case despite them signing the papers saying otherwise. Not even Mrs. Patty when he had come into the office with fresh bruises forming on his face and split knuckles with Shane behind him bleeding from his face. Both had been held onto by other teachers but they had all decided to help Shane McDonale first. They had probably thought Andy might heal on his own, there had been case's where those with the Sleeping Sickness had been able to do so. Andy was not one of those case's and needed to be bandaged as well.

Now Shane and Mr. McDonale were in the office speaking with Principal Martiz, well Andy sat on a hard bench waiting for his own parents. Mrs. Patty waited with him behind the safety of her desk doing busy work, occasionally glazing at him through cat eyed glasses. He couldn't help thinking that if he did have Magic there wasn't much the desk would have been able to do to stop him. History class had taught him that much. Still it made Mrs. Patty feel safer and there was no reason to vocalize that observation as he’d been told the last few times when he had.

Even if Mrs. Patty had left, Andy wouldn't have been alone. Not as long as the flower pot on the desk held chittering flowers and Emmilia sat next to him talking his ear off. Mrs. Patty couldn't hear her flowers or see Emmilia, but they were there when the meds weren't doing the one job they were supposed to be doing. To be fair Andy couldn't remember a time when they had worked on Emmilia. The Madness was always stronger when it came to her.

Another known symptom of having the Sleeping Sickness. Possible Magic for approximately half diagnosed with the Sleeping Sickness, and defiant complete Madness for all. It was the price one paid for something they never wanted. It was the price Andy paid everyday, but that was where the meds were meant to help. There were plenty of drugs on the market these days thanks to desperate testing. Effectiveness however was in question to the majority of them with nothing that could completely work when it came to the Madness created by the Sleeping Sickness. Even when you'd think it was gone, it would only last up to a week at most before the Madness came back. They hadn’t touched on any meds that would work against the Dream or Sleeping Coma either.

"Tap, tap, tappity tap." Emmillia sang to herself as she swung her legs.

Andy frowned at her choice of words. Whenever she said that it meant Sophia was on her way. How Emmilia knew he wasn't sure but it was just another thing he'd never get an answer to. There was no sound of heels trotting down the hall leaving the only sign being Emmilia to warn him of Sophia’s arrival.

Sophia entered the office out of breath and in running shoes, that explained the lack of clacking heels. Her dark eyes darting around till they found Andy, didn't take long when he was the only visible one on the bench and Ms. Patty was the only other one who could be seen in the office. "Jesuses Andy, you look a mess." Sophia cursed as she took a seat next to him on the bench. Cupping Andy's chin she began tilting his face this way and that to get a better look at the damage.

Well she was better than Dad showing up.

Sophia was young with flawless skin and bouncing blonde curls. Her pencil shirt and tight blouses normally showed off her assets in a much too flattering way. At the beginning none of the Madden children had been the biggest fans of hers. Yet somehow she had warmed her way into their hearts. Probably because she was far too honest with them, or maybe because she wasn't the blonde bimbo they had expected her to be.

She had graduated top of her class and one of the best lawyers Andy had ever seen in action. To be fair, till he'd seen Sophia in action the only lawyers he'd seen had been the ones actors played on TV. Quick to think on the spot and always wishing to show people how wrong they were of her. There was also the part where she tried to be understanding of Andy's “problems”. She didn't scare away as they all thought she would, everyone attempted to run when they heard Sleeping Sickness, and instead found her own ways of being helpful.

She also never tried to be Mom. Never tried to fill the role Mom left behind, instead finding her own place with them. Sophia was Sophia.

Snarling at the busted lip and blackening eye Sophia somehow looked more concerned than pissed. Andy tried to hide into his hood which she stopped by pulling at his chin to keep him where she could see and making sure the hood stayed down. "For fucks sake. Tell me you at least won, and there was a good reason."

"Not a very authoritative parenting thing to say." Andy pointed out. "Shouldn't you be yelling or trying to come up with a punishment for me?"

"Not an answer to my questions." Sophia snapped back, fighting a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She wasn't mad, not at Andy at least. That was a good sign, for now, right? "Need all the information before coming up with the cruelest of punishments. Though now thinking of it I'm sure Mathews lacrosse gear needs some cleaning."

"You already force me to share a room with the monster, isn't that punishment enough?" Andy asked wrinkling his nose only to wince at the pain.

"Not even close." Sophia promised. “And what have we said about calling your brother a monster?”

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Before Andy could respond the sound of a clearing throat stopped him. Looking over, Sophia quickly got to her feet letting go of Andy. "Mr. McDonale. What do we owe the pleasure?" There really was no need to answer that question. Everyone knew the answer given Their current situation.

Principale Mariz's office door was open, Andy had wished Emmilia would have warned him about that happening. She was busy now looking over Mrs. Patty's shoulder at the computer screen ignoring the rest of them.

Mr. McDonale gazed at Shane, his young double, still holding a paper towel to his nose. By this point Andy was curtain he was just doing so to gain sympathy points. It didn't look any more bloody then it had when they had first got to Principal Matiz office. It was for obvious sympathy points that he was unfortunately gaining. The giggling flowers worrying over someone who would never hear their shrill voices proved that much.

"Unfortunately I do believe it is because your son attacked mine, Mrs. Madden." Mr. McDonale stated looking back at them clearly unimpressed.

"Attack?" Sophia looked at Andy. He sank down into the bench finally able to pull his hood up to hide. With a sigh she looked back to the McDonales. "Well I'm sure that isn't the case. They are boys and sometimes horsing around can get out of hand, most times unintentionally. We shouldn't make accusations without valid proof Mr. McDonale. We should all be careful of the words we choose to use. After all, our boys have had problems in the past with getting along."

Problems with getting along wasn't how Andy would have phrased it. More like Shane enjoyed pounding the shit out of him and pointing out to the rest of the school of how freakish he was. Just like now at a certain point it would become too much and Andy would snap. This time the snap had involved fists. At the time Andy hadn't regretted throwing the first punch, now he wasn't too sure.

A click of a tongue was enough to show Mr. McDonale disapproved of Sophia's words. She was one of few who didn't take the McDonale's shit. Mostly because Sophia grew up in the city and not in their small town kingdom. She used to tell stories of people she thought were much worse than them and how she wouldn't back down from them and wouldn't do so to a family of bullies regardless of how much power they had. There was a reason she couldn't find work in town and had to commute to the next one over each day. Still didn't stop Sophia from treating them like everyone else when they interacted.

Dad wasn't going to be happy with any of this.

"Yes, but we all do know the problems your stepson has. You yourself are still young as well. It can be understandable if you are unable to handle everything he throws your way." Mr. McDonale said, sounding almost sympathetic. The villainous salt and pepper goatee paired with a designer suit was a reminder that the McDonales didn't care for anyone but themselves. "As for proof, the proof of the situation is my son's face. Clearly he did not do that to himself. There are also many who have stood up saying it was your stepson who threw the first punch."

Sophia sent a glare to Andy for that.

Rule number one in the Madden household, if you get into a fight you better not be the first one to throw a punch. Doesn't count as self-defense if you're the one to technically start the physical beating. Andy had clearly broken that rule.

"I am very much aware of my son's condition, and we are very much capable of helping him." Sophia stated straightening herself. She didn't normally call the Madden children hers saying it wasn't her place, but in situations like this Sophia made it very clear they were her people. "Now can you say the same for your daughter?" Because Sophia wasn't against a low blow.

Mr. McDonale's face twisted. No one spoke about the McDonale's daughter. That is unless you were Sophia and more then willing to bring up the smudge on the McDonale's almost perfect record.

Cindy McDonale had been a straight A student, cheerleader, and crown Homecoming Queen. She was the perfect daughter, that is until eight years ago. Eight years ago she had ended up dropping out of school and running off to join a biker gang, or so the rumors said. No one spoke of it and the McDonale's overnight made it seem as if they never had a daughter.

Sophia enjoyed reminding them of Cindy and was rather proud of the girl. When Mathew asked if he could do the same however Sophia had told him over her dead body. Definitely circumstantial praise.

"How dear you? You do not know what it is to truly be a parent, Mrs. Madden. Let alone a parent who's lost their child." Mr. McDonale informed her with a snarl.

"Ooh, I know plenty. I may not know what it is to give birth but I do know what it is to raise and hold a child in your heart as if they were your own. I know what it is to lose a child." Sophia stated, anger heating her words. "If I were you I'd stop accusing others children without valid proof and only hearsay. After all, your Shane did quite a number on Andy's face as well."

"Mrs. Madden, Mr. McDonale." Principle Martiz's voice drew everyone's attention. Principle Martiz was a short woman, even in heels, who held herself high. Respect was demanded wherever she was and even more so when she spoke. "Please come into my office. I would like to speak with both of you about the events that took place with your son's now that you both are here."

That put an end to their bigger dick contest for now. With one final look to Andy, Sophia then followed with Mr. McDonale and Principle Martiz into the office.

Shane chuckled as he took a seat on the other bench. "You're so fucked."

That in itself made Andy want to swing another punch at Shane's perfect face, or not so perfect face anymore. At the very least it would get him to shut up.

"I wouldn't do that. It would get you into more trouble and would only make Sophia's words meaningless." Emmilia helpfully stated.

Andy looked at the imaginary girl his brain had created who was now standing in front of him. "You can read my thoughts now?" Actually that would make sense the more he thought about it. Emmilia always knew things she shouldn't have, and more than once things Andy didn't know.

She thought about it before shaking her head. "Nope. You're just easy to read."

"Talking to your friend again, Madden?" Shane questioned mockingly trying to get a reaction.

Andy did his best to ignore it. The gushing flowers made it hard.

"He's so dreamy." One squeaky voice sung. A few giggled in agreement.

"Why did you have to ruin such a pretty face?"

"Ooh, but he kinda looks like a baddie now. A leather jacket would make him look so hot right now."

"Yes! Tell him to get a leather jacket!"

"I hope you get into big trouble for what you did."

"How dare you hurt the handsome boy, even if the bruises look hot."

"Would you all shut up." Andy hissed through clenched teeth finally having enough of that.

Shane, of course only hearing Andy, moved further down his own bench. "Freak."

Making sure his hoodie hid his face Andy looked to the ground sink more into his own bench. He didn't need Shane's approval but he also didn't need his disapproval over something he couldn't control. What he needed was to be able to disappear. To blend into the background so no one would know who he was, or that he had the Sleeping Sickness. That wasn't the kind of Magic he had though. If he did he would have known by now. That was the only way for someone like him to survive the hell known as public school.

That had been the plan for this year. To not draw attention. Actually that had been the plan long before high school, and just like every year before that Andy had failed to do so. Didn't help that he had been going to school with the same kids since elementary.

This time hadn't fully been his fault. He had been going with the plan, that is until he wasn't. Andy had tried to watch his temper and avoid Shane. Hell he'd been eating his lunch in the washroom just to avoid getting into a fight. Still he failed, because Shane and his goons just had to have their fun.

"Don't listen to them Andy. I'm sure everything is going to be fine. Sophia will fix it. I'm sure of it." Emmilia sounded much more sure than Andy felt as she slid back into her seat next to him. She always did. Another thing he didn't know how she could do.

Sophia couldn't fix everything forever though. There had to be a limit to her power of persuasion. She was the only reason Andy had been able to keep going to school here so fair. Could she really be able to win against the McDonales forever?

Eventually Principal Martiz's office door opened again. Mr. McDonale came out looking proud of himself with Principal Martiz behind him. "Mr. Madden, would you please join us."

Hesitant Andy stood up and began to make his way into the office with Emmilia following behind him.