Kevin looked at his father, trying really hard not to seem frightened. But he was frightened. Kevin was scared to death for his fathers reaction. Jerald was a man of few words, and many actions.

Jerald took a deep breath and stared at the plate in front of him. 'Sorry mum, sorry that I'm late.' Jerry said, who barged into the dining room.

'That's okay honey.' Ann said. Jerry immediately felt the tensions in the room. He realized that Kevin showed dad his tattoo. And now they where waiting for him to react. Jerry smiled and sat down next to Tim.

Kevin glanced at his brother, he too realized that Jerry was going to be very pleased to see his ass getting kicked.

'Kevin.' Jerald said. Kevin looked up to face his father.

'Yeah dad.' He replied. Jerald smiled.

'Nice picture.' Jerald said and his smile widened. 'A bit big, but very nice.'

'What?!' Jerry exclaimed. Tim smirked. Nobody expected Jerald's reaction.

He likes it! Kevin screamed to himself. He really likes it!

'Thanks dad.' Kevin said. 'You know, I was thinking about getting another one...'

'Don't push it Kevin.' Jerald said as his smile turned into a grin. 'One is enough. I hate tattoo's. But the fact that it's a cross. Makes up a lot. It's a nice picture.'

'Tim, could you please pass me the potatoes?' Ann asked, in an attempt to change the subject.

'No mum, wait a second.' Jerry said and raised his voice. 'Dad, you're supposed to be angry at him! It's a bad thing! His tattoo is a bad thing! I hate it!'

'Don't you tell me what to do young man!' Jerald said and stood up in anger.

'But dad!' Jerry exclaimed.

'Don't you raise your voice at me young man!' Jerald continued. 'I'm the man of this house. If you disagree with me, then go live in one of the cabins! I will not tolerate disobedience under my roof.'

'Jerald. Calm down.' Ann pleaded.

'No Ann. He's been like this for weeks now.' Jerald said. 'I will no longer tolerate his behavior. You obey me or get the hell out of my house!'

'I'm sorry father.' Jerry said and closed his eyes. 'I'm very sorry. It will not happen again.'

'It better not.' Jerald replied and sat down. 'Let's eat. Dinner's getting cold and your mother worked really hard on it.'

The room was quiet for the next few minutes. It was Tim who broke the silence by telling a joke.

'That's really stupid Tim.' Kevin said as he filled his fork with pea's.

'I disagree.' Jerald said. 'It's a lame joke, but the best I've heard in weeks.'

'See Kev, dad liked it.' Tim said and smiled. 'I'd like to see you do better.'

A twinkle in his eye indicated that Kevin was preparing an attack.

'Give me a minute and I'll whip you're ass.' Kevin smirked.

'Kevin, mind your language. We're eating.' Ann said.

'Sorry mum.' Kevin said and stared at his brother. 'I'll get you. Just you wait.'

'I'm waiting.' Tim replied. Tim was well aware of his brother's skills, but cracking jokes wasn't one of 'em! There where plenty of other skills to compensate that loss though.

'Well Kev.' Tim said, 10 minutes had passed.

'I surrender.' Kevin sighed and looked up, straight into his brother's grin.

'Told ya so!' Tim smirked.

'I can kick your butt at martial arts any time thou!' Kevin said.

'Wanna go at it?' Another thing Tim realized. By teaching his brother the skill of martial arts, he basically turned him into a lethal, unstoppable killing machine. And because of his current health condition, he wouldn't be able to control or stop his youngest brother. Something he knew, Jerry would gladly take advantage of. Jerry would always challenge Kevin to a fight at times when Tim's health was at a low point. And to make sure Tim wouldn't interfere, Jerry locked him up inside the barn when he was planning an attack on Kevin. Which, on occasions, worked like a charm. Kev would get his butt kicked, and Tim was the one to take the blame from his parents. Being the eldest, he was asked to take care of his younger brother. Tim looked up and glanced at him, who was talking to his mum.

One day Kevin, you'll kick Jerry's butt so hard that he'll leave you alone. Tim knew and smiled when Kevin returned the gaze.

'What are ya smiling about Timmy?' Kevin asked.

'Oh, nothing.' Tim replied and turned to his dinner.

It was 3 AM when Kevin suddenly woke up. He sat up straight and looked around. By the time his eyes got used to the bright light he saw Jerry, sitting across the room in a chair. His eyes where closed. 'Jer...' Kevin whispered.

Jerry shot up, dove on top of Kevin, wrapping his tight hands around his brother's neck. Squeezing all the life out of him. 'You think you can play me for a fool?!' Jerry hissed. 'You can't handle me Kevin, never think you can! I'll always be here to kick your butt when no one else does.'

'Jerry... please... I... I... can't... breath... please...' Kevin whispered. His face was pale and his hands where wrapped around Jerry's. But Jerry refused to let go.

'Jer...' When Jerry saw his brother's eyes roll back into his head, and when he left his body go numb under himhe let go. Kevin shot up and gasped for air.

'Next time... I won't let go.' And with that Jerry left the room.

Kevin flipped off the lights and stared into the darkness, still breathing heavily. He tried to reconstruct what had just happened. Jerry was never very friendly with him, but he never tried to kill him before. He's just trying to scare me, Kevin thought. Oh well.. It worked! With that, Kevin drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Kevin woke up early that morning. He wanted to be dressed and gone before Jerry got up. He fixed his breakfast and decided to eat it in the car. But when he walked into the garage he suddenly realized that his car was out of gas. 'DAMN!' he cried and kicked against the tires. He ran back inside to write a note to his brother.

"Dear Tim, my car was out of gas and I had no time to fill it, so I took yours. I'm sorry. Love, Kevin." With that, he jumped into Tim's car and drove off.

Tim got out of bed and stretched. He had a bad night. Around 3 AM he heard noised coming from the room next to his, Kevin's room. Tim listened carefully and figured that Kevin probably went to the bathroom. He fell a sleep again, oblivious to the fact that his younger brother was fighting for his life. Tim took a quick shower and went down for breakfast. His mother was standing at the sync in the kitchen. 'Hey mum.' He said. Ann turned around.

'Tim.' She said surprised. 'I thought you where gone off the class.'

'No, class starts at 12.30 PM.' Tim explained.

'Then you're up early.' Ann figured, noticing that it was 10.00 AM. Tim nodded.

'There's some stuff I need to do.' he said.

It was 11.00 AM when Tim found Kevin's note. He took my car, he figured as he read it over and over. 'Kevin took my car.' He told his mother and showed her the note.

'That's why I thought you where gone.' Ann explained. 'When I brought your father to his car this morning, I saw your car missing. And Kevin's was still here. So I thought, he must be still in bed.'

'That's pretty obvious.' Tim thought. 'I'll be in the garage, fueling the car.'

'Check mine too, while you're at it.' Ann asked.

'Sure mum. Love ya, later.' Tim said and walked away.

'Love you too honey.'

He refueled the remaining 3 cars and whipped the sweat of his forehead when he finished.

Tim checked his watched, noticing it was 12.15 PM. He jumped into the car and drove off.

Ann looked out the window and saw her son drive away, not knowing that it perhaps could be the last time she saw him

'I'd like to hear your personal opinion on this one Mister Richardson.' Miss Goodman said. Kevin started into her big lavender eyes and smiled shyly.

'I think...' Kevin was always the one with the long answers, supported by facts based on reality: real as well as his own reality -better known as fiction-.

Brandy Goodman was a 21 year old Biology teacher at West Los Angeles High School. She had been teaching Kevin's class for 3 weeks. She was a substitute teacher for Mister Berckley, who was currently at home because of a terrible car accident. Brandy liked teaching, but she had trouble teaching her peers. She used to be a Biology teacher at West Los Angeles Elementary School, but she was promoted and replaced. It was a week ago when Brandy suddenly realized that she was developing a crush on a particular student, named Kevin Richardson. She liked him -just as all the others- for his body features but most of all, she loved his eyes. The way they stared her down when she was trying to explain something to the class. And she loved the way they where looking at her when she asked him something.

'Kev! Shut up!' Keith growled. 'You've made your point. Now quit it!'

'Hey Phony, I'd watch it if I where you.' Kevin replied.

'Hey you two!' Bandy said. 'I'd keep my big mouth shut if I was you! Or would you like to visit Miss de Modes' office?'

'No ma'am.' Keith said. 'I'll shut up.'

'Me too ma'am. I'm sorry.' Kevin added.

'That's better.' Brandy said, the look on Kevin's face was sending shivers down her spine.

I really like that kid, she said to herself.

'Let's continue on... chapter 4, reproduction.' Brandy mentioned as she opened her book. The guys began to make howling sounds and the girls where laughing hysterically.

'Reproduction...' whispered Terry. 'I LOVE that subject.'

'Me too.' Jody said and gazed at her boyfriend.

'I eh... Miss.' Laurence said and raised his hand.

'Yes Laurence.' Brandy said.

'Me and Jody would love to demonstrate... If you want...' he suggested smirking.

Keith howled like a wolf at the thought of a naked Jody Fisher.

'I agree!' he said and stood up. With him, 8 others did the same. Brandy looked at them, not knowing what to say. Kevin noticed this, and came to the rescue. He stood up and turned around, his back towards Brandy.

'Why don't you all be quiet and let Miss Goodman do her job.' He suggested as he motioned the guys to sit down. 'Let her do what she came her for.'

'And that would be?' Keith asked and stared at Kevin.

'Teach us you dumb shit.' Kevin replied. 'What else?!'

'I could probably think a few things that Miss Goodman can teach us.' Keith smirked, glanced at Brandy and continued. 'For starters: she could stop teachin' us this boring theory. She could perhaps... take some of that theory into practice. I'd volunteer to help.' Everyone immediately realized what was meant. Hysteria broke loose! Kevin noticed that he was starting to loose his temper. Something that usually leaded into an outburst.

Gavin: This is your chance Kev! Your only chance to teach both Goodman and Coney a lesson! You kick his butt and make him jealous. Put some of that theory in practice kid! This is a chance of a life time!

Kevin: I can't! You want me to rape her! I can't!

Gavin: You're not a wuss are ya?! You scared of a little fun...

Kevin: Not scared of fun, I just don't wanna hurt her... I'm not gonna have "fun" at her expense!

Gavin: Okay, okay. Then lose the teach. Kick Keith's butt! Right here, right now!

Kevin: But I'll get detention!

Gavin: So? You'd at least had some fun first...

Kevin: Alright, let's kick his sorry ass!

Kevin listened to Gavin, got into a fist fight with Keith and got detention afterwards.

'This is the 4th time in 2 weeks, that I have the two of you in here!' Antoinette de Modes cried. 'Why can't you stay away from each other?!'

'He provoked me!' Kevin said.

'I did not!' Keith exclaimed.

'Be quiet, both of you.' Antoinette said. 'I'll put you both in detention. Stay until... 5 PM. If I'm satisfied, you can go. If not, you'll stay. Get my point?'

'Of course we do Miss de Modes.' Kevin said politely. 'It won't happen again.'

'You said the same thing last time!'

'Yes, I know. But this time Mister Coney left me no other choice then to beat him. He was disturbing Miss Goodman's class.' Kevin explained.

'Is that so Mister Coney?'

'Yes Ma'am.' Keith said. 'That's true.'

'Mister Richardson, thank you.' Antoinette said. 'You may go.'

'What the?!' Keith exclaimed.

'Mister Coney, if you'd be so kind to follow me.'

'Bye Keith.' Kevin said, waved and walked out.

He stepped into his car and drove home.

Gavin: That wasn't so hard, now was it?

Kevin: It was easy!

Gavin: What would you do without me?!

Kevin: I don't know Gavin, I really don't know.

Gavin: That's ma boy!

>>>>> 

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