"Hey look, there he is," Drew pointed across the cafeteria.
Alone at a table on the far side sat none other than Christian Thomas.
"Not exactly friendly, is he?" Shane murmured.
Daniel hit him.
"Can't blame him," Drew shrugged.
"So what are you gonna do, go and say 'hi'?" Shane attempted to mock him.
"I just might."
"Be my guest. Hey, why don't you ask him to join the band while you're at it? I'm sure he'd be glad to."
Daniel hit him again.
"Hey guys," William greeted as he sat down with his tray.
"Hey Spud. Drew reckons he's going to say hi to old Christian Thomas," Daniel greeted.
Spud hesitated, then cringed slightly.
"Why?"
"Well look at him," Drew pointed him out, "he's alone. No one's talking to him. It's pathetic."
"No one wants to talk to him," Shane corrected, "no one wants to get killed."
"As if he'd kill you just for talking to him," Drew scorned, pushing his thick black rimmed glasses back up onto his nose.
"As I said, be my guest."
Drew looked between the others, then took one last sip of his orange juice and stood.
"Fine. If I'm the only one who'll be hospitality-like."
"The only one dumb enough to."
Daniel hit Shane again, but by then Drew was already carrying his tray over to Christian's table. He hesitated awkwardly, standing beside it.
"Ah... hi," he began, garnering no response as Christian looked over some papers in front of him.
"Is... this seat taken?"
"Does it look like it's taken?" Christian replied, sarcastic though the response was, his voice was soft in delivery.
"Ah... cool."
Drew put his tray down, glancing back over at his comrades before having another drink.
"So... what's with the papers?"
"It's none of your business."
Again, his voice was soft.
"Ok. That's fair. Umm... so we saw they brought you in like a week ago..."
"Were you sent over for a dare or something?" Christian finally looked up, their eyes locking.
Drew found it hard to look away. Granted, he found it hard to breathe. Christian Thomas was looking him in the eye, and he couldn't even tell what his expression was.
"N-no," was his eventual reply, finally looking down at his tray of food, "I just wanted... to say hi."
Christian nodded, watching him. Then he turned back to his notes.
"Hello then."
"Yeah, hi," Drew glanced back over at the boys who were all watching him with anticipation.
"I notice you haven't eaten anything."
"You can take it if you want," Christian offered, not looking up.
"No, no," Drew couldn't help but frown, "why, are you feeling sick or something?"
"I just don't need that much food."
"Ok," Drew nodded, clasping his hands together under the table nervously.
Christian sighed suddenly, almost making him jump. He looked up at the younger boy and leant on the table a little.
"So you want to be friends, huh?"
"I- no?" Drew looked worried suddenly, "not if you don't want to. I just thought... you know. You looked like you could use the company. But if you don't want me here I can go away. No hard feelings, hey?"
Christian watched the boy shiver, looking him up and down.
"How old are you?" he asked suddenly.
"Fifteen, why?" Drew replied nervously.
"You look older. And yes, that's a compliment."
Drew hesitated, not quite sure what to make of it.
"Well... thanks," he replied, twiddling his thumbs and still feeling nervous under Christian's eyes.
"You're welcome."
Silence fell between them for a moment as Christian continued reading. Drew noticed he hadn't changed pages at all, but held back asking again.
"So... are you interested in music at all?"
The question took Christian by surprise for more than one reason.
"Why?" he looked up.
"Well..." Drew began as he looked away again, "me and some of the guys sort of started a band when we first got here. I just figured that maybe one day you might wanna come see us or something if you were interested, but it doesn't matter if you're not."
He mentally berated himself for babbling.
"When and where do you play?" Christian frowned.
Drew glanced over at his friends again.
"Just in the common room," he shrugged, "the main area where most people hang out. We've kind of noticed you don't go there. But we normally do something every Saturday and sometimes Sundays. I mean, there's really nothing better to do."
Christian couldn't help but smile.
"You're not wrong."
Drew smiled as well, happy to see a smile on Christian's face.
"So will you?"
"I might," Christian agreed, getting his papers together as he glanced at the clock.
Drew noticed how he was preparing to leave, and made to stand himself.
"So ah... not meaning to, invade your privacy or anything, but how long do they think you're going to be in here?"
Christian sighed, standing from the table and grabbing the shoulder bag he'd shoved the papers into.
"Longer than anyone else here I believe," he insisted.
"Sorry man," Drew insisted, before holding out his hand, "I'm Drew."
Christian hesitated for a moment, staring at the boy's hand.
"You've got a lot of guts, Drew," he said almost complimentary, shaking his hand, "but thankyou."
"You're... you're welcome Mr. Thomas," Drew almost blushed as he ducked his head again - even though Christian towered over him.
"Call me Chris. See you 'round."
Before Drew could even comprehend what had happened, the older Dathrian had gone and his attention was caught by his friends again. He looked around wondering which direction Christian had gone, before grabbing his tray and heading back to the other table.
"Dude, that was awesome!" Spud exclaimed, slapping the smaller boy on the shoulder as he sat down next to him.
"Yeah, I guess it was."
"You're fully shaking man," Shane chuckled, and Drew noticed he was telling the truth.
"Dude, you realise who you were just talking to," Spud shook his head, amazement still in his eyes.
"Spoke to and... invited to come watch us play next Saturday?"
The table fell silent, before Daniel almost choked on his food. Shane began to hit him on the back.
"Breathe man, breathe."
"I am, I am. Ouch! Stop f***ing hitting me!"
"You invited Christian Spider Thomas to watch us play on Saturday? Are you nuts?" Spud cursed.
"He looked like he could use some cheering up," Drew shrugged.
"Christian. Spider. Thomas. Dude, you're seriously messed in the head. No wonder you're in rehab."
"Screw you. He even offered me his lunch. Suck that."
"Probably poisoned it," Shane rolled his eyes.
"As if he could get away with that in here," Daniel pointed out.