Lasagna with bruschetta bread was made for dinner. Collin had indeed not burned any of the food well helping Sophia, to be fair he never had in the past either. When it came to cooking Wendy was honestly the one more likely to burn water then Collin was. Maybe that was what he had yelled when the two had ran away? Turns out the cooking classes had been going well after all for Sophia.

Everyone sat around the table and after a quick prayer began to dig in. "Andy, hood off well at the table, and Mathew, hat." Dad said as he filled his own plate. These were not new rules but given the circumstances Andy had hoped for leniency tonight. He was a fool for hoping.

Rolling his eyes Mathew tossed off his hat grumbling about it. Andy was more hesitant, and for good reason.

Dad was a good guy. Definitely a workaholic but a good guy. He only ever did what he thought was best for his family, but when it came to fights he had strict rules. Well there was only one rule. Only ever get in a fight out of self defiance, which also meant you could never be the one to throw the first punch. Andy had obviously broken that rule.

Pulling down his hood Andy made sure to keep his eyes down, like that would help hide the black eye and busted lip. Part of him had hoped if he couldn't see Dad then Dad couldn't see him. He was not lucky enough for that to be the case. It was times like this when Andy wished he had Magic.

"Now I could be mistaken, but when you left this morning your face didn't look as if it had been attacked by a cat." Dad said, the tone of his voice changed to unimpressed and disappointed.

"He doesn't look that bad." Sophia defended softly as she offered more lasagna to Collin. When he politely declined Mathew swapped in happily to take more.

"Not that bad? Sophia, have you seen the boy?" Dad questioned with a wave of his hand at Andy's face.

Sophia looked at Dad. "Yes, and I also saw the other boy. Now let's enjoy this meal and we can talk about it later."

"Other boy?" Dad's voice rose slightly. Guess he really had been thinking Andy lost to a cat. Thanks for the confidence boost on that one.

"Oowe, you're in trouble." Mathew so helpfully pointed out.

Andy kicked him hard under the table in response.

"Ow, he just kicked me." Mathew whined.

Rubbing a hand over his face Dad sighed. "Mathew to your room."

"Why?"

"Just go to your room. Take your plate with you." Dad stated.

"Fine. Not like I haven't heard the rumors at school or anything." Mathew grumbled, piling his plate a bit more despite it already being full, honestly where did the kid put it all?

Mathew began to head upstairs mumbling about how it was unfair that he couldn't be part of the conversation but Collin got to stay. Reason being because they never let Mathew stay for these conversations because of his age, and Collin they honestly had accidently come into or was forgotten too many times well having these conversations to no longer have a reason to be excused.

Once they heard the door slam upstairs, the indication that Mathew was the furthest out of ear shot as he could be, the true conversation began. "So would anyone like to explain what exactly happened?" Dad asked, looking at each one of them at the table. "Andy?"

Andy was already trying to hide by sinking into his chair, his plate becoming the most interesting thing he'd seen in years. "Not really." He admitted. Maybe if he didn't say anything there was nothing Dad could be mad at. He knew that wasn't the case or possible, though he was glad that Sophia really hadn't said anything to Dad about what had happened.

"Sophia?" Dad turned his attention to his beloved wife.

She looked more eager to be eating the food she had prepared. With a smile though she looked at her husband lovingly. "Yes my love.”

"Care to explain what exactly happened that got our son's face mangle. I'm assuming the school called you since I didn't get a call about it." Dad pointed out using that darn logic.

Sophia looked at Andy then back to Dad. "I wouldn’t say his face is mangled."

"And that's not the point. The point is how it happened. How did it happen?" Dad unfortunately had a point none of them could play off. It was less of how bad Andy's face looked and more of how it got the way it did. That was something they couldn't avoid speaking on even if they clearly all really wanted to. Even Wendy was looking at the framed picture on the wall as a distraction.

"Well you see, Andy got into a fight today at school."

"A fight?" Dad's dark eyes whipped to Andy from the other side of the table, there was concern in his voice now. "You got into a fight? Who was it with? What happened that made it evaluate to that? Are you okay?"

Andy could feel his throat closing on itself. He knew how quickly that concern was going to change right back to disappointment. Disappointment was always worse than anger with Dad. He wasn't ready for that. No amount of time could ever prepare him for that.

"It was Shane McDonale." Wendy answered for him.

It took Dad a moment to process the information. "The McDonale boy? Jesus, of all the people, the McDonale boy? This is going to be a mess." Already Dad sounded tired as he leaned back in the chair pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Actually, not as much as you think it will be." Sophia said.

"What do you mean? The two are still in the same school. Even in separate classes they will still see each other in the hall. I can only imagine how Mr. McDonale is going to be spreading the story, I can also imagine what you said to them." Dad said knowing his wife too well. "You know how the McDonale's operate. They'll play the victim card and make Andy look as if he is out of control. Paint you as someone more than willing to defend such people."

Such people. Andy knew what Dad meant by such people. Those with the Sleeping Sickness, because who in their right mind would ever defend such people?

Sophia took Dad's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Tom, there won't be any problems at school anymore." She really was able to twist anything into sounding fine. Scratch Magic, Andy wanted lawyer powers.

"And how are you sure of that? Did Martiz come up with a plan to keep another fight from happening?" Dad questioned his body having softened.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Andy didn't want to have to tell Dad the truth. He didn't want to tell Dad that Shane in everyone's eyes was already the victim of one of his episodes, multiple episodes and accusation of using Magic. Heart thumping he could smell the salt. His soaks felt wet as they stuck to his skin.

"Not exactly." Sophia admitted. "Andy is actually no longer welcomed at school."

"Not welcomed?" Dad's voice raised again as his body tensed. "Is that the nice way of them kicking kids out of school now?" No one answered. There was no need to nor did anyone think Dad actually wanted an answer this time. Rubbing his face, Dad groaned. "Who threw the first punch?"

"The fight is just a small part-"

"Sophia." Dad interrupted her. "I asked who threw the first punch, and I'm expecting the answer from the one who was there."

His eyes moved to Andy. Looking down Andy saw as the water had reached his ankles. It was all in his head but it only made the panic grow as it always did. This was the third time today the salt water had shown itself as well. It was going for a record.

"I did." Andy answered in a small voice.

He knew Dad heard it as a curse could be heard. Andy sunk into his chair, shoulders reaching his ears as he fought the urge to pull his hoodie up. He was ready to disappear and he hadn't even looked over to face Dad. He didn't need to, not when he had seen the look too many times before.

Scratch again, screw lawyer powers when all you ever want is to disappear from the world and its problems.

A long sigh could be heard. "So what we need to do is find another school for him to go to." Dad said, speaking as if Andy wasn't there anymore.

"We can check in the next town over, I could drive him when going to work." Sophia offered.

Dad shook his head. "No."

"No?" Sophia questioned, puzzled by the quick answer.

Andy looked up from the water as it was now at his knees and freezing. He didn't understand why Dad was saying no. This was a solution, wasn't it?

"This was the last straw. Do you think any other school would want him with his record?" Dad questioned. Once again no one needed to answer.

Andy knew what his record looked like. Accounts of episodes getting out of hand, and fights other than with Shane. It was a large file with plenty of information that could either be used to help or go against Andy. It also had the sticker right on the folder warning that he had the Sleeping Sickness. A walking red flag no one wanted.

"We don't have another option." Hearing those words from Dad the water rushed into the room. It was reaching up to his neck. Tablecloth and dishes rising off the table floating by. Dad hadn't even heard about the accusation of Magic use and this was happening. Andy resisted the urge to face the ceiling away from the water. "We're going to have to call the Academy."

"No!" Wendy slammed her hands to the table as she stood. "That's the last place where he wants to go. Shouldn't we be keeping him home where he feels safe?"

"Wendaline." Dad said warningly.

Wendy waved her hands unknowingly splashing the water. "Dad." She said just as warningly back. "Andy wants to stay here. Look at him? He's panicking at the idea alone."

Andy was but he hadn't realized just how much it was showing. He had been so focused on not showing that he was seeing the water that was about to drown him he hadn't had time to think of what his face might be showing his other emotions. The panic and fear of having to leave the only home he knew. Looking down at his hands in the water he could see nail marks in his palms.

Quickly he looked back up not wanting to get the water in his lungs. He couldn't look Dad in the eyes. Looking forward he tried to focus on a family photo. One with smiling faces, the opposite of what was happening around them now.

"Changing his atmosphere could make it worse." Wendy warned.

"It already is worse!" Dad stated, almost yelling. He took a breath to calm himself. "Wendy, you haven't been here and seen how much worse it can get. You haven't been here the past year hearing him scream at night. Watching as he spoke to things that can not talk back or are not there. This is not the first fight he has gotten into since you've left either. Things are already worse and the meds clearly aren't working any better then they have before."

Wendy looked at Andy. She hadn't been there in person but they had texted and called almost everyday. That didn't mean Andy told her everything that was happening. He had tried to keep their talks light hearted only talking about troubling things here and there. It was so he wouldn't worry her, even that plan was failing him now. Everything was falling apart.

She looked back to Dad. "Then I'll move back."

"What?" Collin said at the same time Dad said, "No you will not."

"And why not?" Wendy questioned her own voice raising.

"Because you shouldn’t have to put your education on hold.” Collin spoke up. “Wendy, I know you don’t want to hear it, but the Academy might just be the best place for Andy.” He looked over apologetically but Andy didn’t feel it. “They have the tolls to help him. They know what they’re doing a lot more than any of us, and it’s not like your Dad has any other options.”

“Yes, exactly.” Dad agreed. “Your education comes first Wendy. Just like Andy's. So it is settled-”

Dad kept going but Andy couldn’t hear him.

Wendy's shoulders slumped. She was defeated.

Water submerged his head. Andy stood up too quickly. All eyes turned to him in that second. Dad looked as if he were expecting him to fight back. He wanted to. He wanted to give every reason why not to send him to the Academy, but he couldn't think of any. Not any that would win this fight of words.

Not saying a word he left the dinner table making a beeline to the front door. Sophia called his name but that only made him move faster pushing against the water. Opening the door the water spilled onto the front lawn, that didn't stop him from moving. He needed to keep moving.

His legs were moving on their own now. Up and down, up and down. Andy began to run, not bothering to remember to put on shoes. He ran as fast and far as he could. There wasn't a plan, all he knew was that he needed to run. To feel the wind on his face and the way it made his lungs burn when he pushed too far.

It wasn't that he was going to run away. Eventually he knew he'd have to go back. For now though he just needed to run. To run and not look back for once. Even if it was only temporary.

************

Dad was sitting on the steps leading upstairs waiting when Andy had returned from his sudden run.

"You shouldn't exert yourself like that." Dad said more tired than concerned in greeting.

Andy's hands were shoved in his hoodie pockets as he shrugged, his eyes kept lowered. In truth Andy shouldn't have been doing a lot of what he did. He shouldn't have been going to a normal public school for the safety of those around him. He shouldn't be allowed to go on morning runs for fear it would bring him closer to the Sleeping Coma by using too much energy, reasons why he shouldn't have gone on a run now. He shouldn't be allowed to go anywhere without properly working meds.

"Sophia told me more of what happened. The main reason that they are not saying to why you were expelled." Dad avoided the word as he so often did.

"You mean that I totally used Magic against Shane to win the fight." Sarcasm and annoyance bleed from Andy’s words. Apparently Andy hadn’t run them off as well as he had thought he did.

"You didn't use, you didn't, did you?" Dad asked as if it were the most important question to ever exist that he didn't want an answer to, not if it were the wrong answer.

Thankfully Andy had the right answer. "Of course not. I still haven't shown any signs and probably never will." He mumbled some. "Just like the Doctors have said after every test."

Dad nodded as he stood up pushing on his knees to do so. "Good. That is good. Then it's time to get some sleep. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

Watching Dad turn and take the steps one at a time Andy's stomach sunk. "Wait." Dad stopped but didn't turn around. "Are you really making me go there?"

There was a moment of silence. "Andy, I am sorry, but I don't know what else to do."

They both went to bed after that. Andy didn't sleep though not wanting to go to the Dream. Instead he counted the bars holding the mattress above him up and listened to Mathews snores from said mattress.