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I flattened down my dress and checked my hair in the mirror once again. It was almost time for us to leave for the play and I couldn't help the worry that was bubbling in my stomach.

Something was off and I couldn't figure out what it was. I put it down to being all over the place the last week and told myself that everything was going to be fine.

I took one last look at myself in the mirror and grabbed my jacket off the end of my bed and left my room. I made my way down the stairs towards the boys bathroom where I knew they were getting ready.

The halls were quiet. So quiet that I could hear every step I made as the small heel on my shoe came in contact with the floor. We had gotten permission to leave the school since Mr. Keating was coming with us.

I made my around the corner to where the boys bathroom were when I ran into Mr. Keating.

"Mr. Keating, hi" he looked up from his coat and smiled at me

"Sophia, you look wonderful" I smiled and looked down at my dress

"This old thing?" I asked laughing which earned a laugh from him too

"Could you please let the boys know I'll be waiting in the car?" He asked as he moved around me.

"Mr. Keating?" I asked turning back around to look at him. He stopped and turned back with a smile "thank you?"

"What for dear?"

"I know it was you that Neil went to speak to last night" he nodded in understanding and turned to fully face me "It's nice that he has someone to talk to. I know he has me and the boys but I mean someone who understands" he smiled fondly at me

"It's my job"

"But it isn't, none of the other teachers are like that. What I'm trying to say is, were really lucky to have you" Mr. Keating's eyes glinted as he took a step back

"I think it's the other way around" I took in his words as he turned and walked towards the front doors, nodding his head to some boys who passed.

I turned on my heel and made for the boys bathroom and just as I arrived outside it, I could hear Cameron, protest that todd was messing with his hair. I knocked on the door before pushing it open.

"Boys, Mr. Keating's waiting in the car" I told them flattening out my dress before I looked up at them.

"Oh my"

"Holy"

"Sophie you look-"

"Wow" the boys stood staring at me with their mouths open. A blush crept up on my cheeks as I looked between all of them

"You all look very handsome" I could see a few of their cheeks tint pink as Meeks and Pitts turned away, Cameron muttered a thanks while Todd and Knox stayed staring at me.

"Wait till Charlie sees you" Knox said with a smile.

"Where is Charlie" I asked. Pitts who was fixing his hair again in the mirror shrugged

"He said something about getting red before we left" my face contorted in confusion before one of the stall doors slammed open. The boys turned but from where I was I couldn't see my boy.

"So Charlie, what's this getting red bit?" Meeks asked and Charlie must have done something because Cameron made a face and I could tell it wasnt anything good

"What is that?" Todd asked half laughing as Knox looked at me from where he was sitting on the window

"How bad is it?" I mouthed to him but he just shook his head

"It's an Indian warrior symbol for virility" the moment I head virility I shook my head and leaned against the door "makes me feel potent. It will drive Sophie crazy" he said to the boys, all of them turning to look at me. I smirked and shook my head as todd laughed

"Well come on Charlie, Sophie's waiting" they all stepped around me leaving the bathroom as I waited till Charlie rounded the corner. He stopped walking and ran his eyes front my shoes up to my face, his mouth dropped into a gape

"You look" he looked lost for word which made me laugh "beautiful"

"You dont look too bad yourself" I joked as he made his way to me pulling me into a kiss. "Whats this I hear about driving me crazy?" I asked as a smirk crossed his face

"You'll just have to wait till later" I rolled my eyes playfully as he pulled me into another long kiss.

"Hey Romeo and Juliet, let's go" Meeks called from the hall. I laughed as Charlie took my hand, I gave Meeks a look when I met them in the hall

"Mind calling us a less tragic love story?" Charlie asked buttoning up his top.

"Felt fitting" Meeks shrugged. I pushed him as we began to make our way towards the exit. I was fixing the jacket in my hand when cameron stopped walking making me run straight into him

"Jesus" I muttered before turning to look to the right where a girl was standing looking lost. Charlie ran into my back and wrapped an arm around my waist to steady me

"You okay Soph?" I didnt answer, but he must have followed my eyeline because the corridor went quiet as we looked at the girl. Pitts let out a low whistle as Knox pushed passed us

"Chris" my smile got bigger at his words. This was chris? Wow. I could see why he was so head over heels with her, she was gorgeous. I looked at the boys who's mouths were half open

"Close your mouths boys, you'll catch flies" I told them and in unison their mouths snapped closed

"What are you doing here?" Knox asked making his way over to her.

"Gentlemen, Sophia. Lets go" Keating called out to us. Charlie and I seem to have been only ones who heard him because Knox looked back at the boys and smiled

"Go ahead guys, I'll catch up later" I smiled to him and turned to walk ahead. The boys were still stood like statues so I rolled my eyes pushing them

"Go on guys, no need to make her more uncomfortable" I told them as they finally moved. Charlies arm was still on my waist and Ahead of me I only counted five boys.

Both Charlie and I turned around to see Meeks still stood looking at Chris. Charlie made his way back to him and grabbed his arm pulling him towards us.

When we got outside to Keating car we were all chatting among ourselves. Mr. Keating looked between us all "where's Mr. Overstreet" I pointed to the back door of the school where he and Chris were stood talking "okay load up boys"

Charlie and I exchanged a look, knowing not all of us were gonna fit in there. "Wanna walk?" He asked me.

I smiled at him and nodded. The play wasn't for another twenty five minutes which meant we had loads of time before it started.

"Will you be joining us Mr. Overstreet?" Mr. Keating called out through his window. Knox called back but we couldn't hear what it was. Mr. Keating turned to us with smile and laughed "young love"

"Captain, we're gonna walk" Charlie said looking at the four boys squeezed into the back.

"Are you kids sure" the boys let out oohs in the background  and made kissing sounds earning a shut up from Charlie and an eye roll from me.

"Yeah we're re sure" I told him as he started the engine "save us some seats guys" I called after them as they left the driveway.

"Shall we?" Charlie asked putting out his arm allowing me to link mine with it.

The first ten minutes of the walk had been filled with talk about the upcoming exams and past memories that brought smiles to our faces.

We were coming up to my house and I could only imagine what was happening inside. Father was probably pacing in his study and mother was probably sitting on the chair waiting to be spoken to.

"What you thinking about?" Charlie asked as he looked down at me

"My mother" I answer him honestly. His face pulled into confusion as I elaborated "I dont wanna be like her when I get older" I tell him

"What do you mean?"

"I love my mother, more than anything but I mean she sits at home all day waiting for my father to get home and then runs after him like a waitress. He never holds her close or tells her shes beautiful. I know they love each other, i see it in the way they look at each other. But I dont think I could ever live in a house where I'm afraid to voice my opinions"

"You wont have to" Charlie said squeezing my hand "I get what you mean in a sense. I dont think I could ever be like my father. He loves my mother and that's obvious. But I see how stern he is with me, even Claire. I mean shes just a child. I know he expects big things from us but doesn't he get that were children? I dont think I could ever put those kind of pressures on my kid"

     I nodded thoughtfully as we passed my house. Like I thought, the study room light was on and a figure was passing back and forth infront of It.

      "We're not gonna be our parents" Charlie said turning me to look at him "were our own people Soph. I will never treat you like you are less. Ever. I love you too much to do that. it kinda scares me to be honest" a smile broke out across my face as he pulled me close to him.

     "Shut up" I said as we continues walking towards Henley hall again

     "Is now a bad time to tell you I want six children" my eyes widened and I looked up at him with my mouth opened

"Six!?"

"And two dogs"

"Charlie!"

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     Henley hall was packed with loads of eager people of all ages waiting to see the show. A few rows from the front was where our group was sitting. Charlie and I had gotten in a few moments ago and found out way to the isle.

      I was sat in between Todd and Charlie, and Mr. Keating was to Todd's right. The lights got low and my brother crept out from behind a small bush. He was wearing a crown and a green jumper and trousers.

Upon seeing him Charlie looked at me with a smile "there he is" my eyes widened as my hand gripped the back of his jacket pulling him bag into the seat as he began to stand.

"Sit down" he looked at me with an innocent look before both of us turned back to the stage.

As Neil hid behind a tree a girl came out from the left, both meeting in the middle to exchange their lines.

My heart swelled as I watch my brother on that stage.

"He's good. He's really good" Charlie whispered across me to Mr. Keating.

    He didn't miss a line, not one. Every so often from my right I could hear little whispers of the lines as Todd recited them.

   The play continued and the theatrics didn't cease not once. Each person played there role wonderfully and had I not mistaken, Ginny Danbury was Hermia.

   As the play neared the end, Neil came back out, centre stage. It was his monologue that he had practised millions of times in my room as I did my homework. The one he wrote and rewrote to memorise it. He must have read this monologue a thousand times in different ways until he found one that was perfect for him.

And yet, when he came out on stage, something had changed. All the times he had practised and this was by far the best. But he didn't look into the crowd like he did with every other scene.

No. He was focused on something at the back. Whatever it was I wasn't about to pull my eyes from my brother for one second. "And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream. Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend"

I could feel my eyes begin to tear up as I looked at my brother, like at the start, pride overcame me. Pride that he was my brother, that he was standing on the stage following his dream.

He was happy and that's all that mattered.

So yes, I allowed the tears to fall on my cheeks "and as I am an honest puck, If we have unearned luck, now to 'scape the serpents tongue, we will make amends ere long; Else the puck a liar call"

Charlie's head turned to me and I could see his confusion "are you crying?"

"No, shut up"

"So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends. And robin shall restore amends" he took a step back and the applause rang in my ears as my smile grew.

We all stood from our seats and cheered as the cast came back out, bowing before they pushed Neil out infront to bow again. The boys leaned together counting down from the count of three before all of them let out a YAWP.

Neil's eyes came over to us with a big smile plastered under his eyes as the curtains closed again. The hall began to empty out and we were near the last few people out as others waited in the reception area.

"Just ask her. The worst she could do is say no" Charlie told Pitts as two people came to our side stopping us from walking

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Chris" much like earlier the boys stopped and their mouths hung open "Chris this is, Gerard Pitts, Steven Meeks, Richard Cameron, Todd Anderson, Charlie Dalton" he went down the row as the boys muttered hellos before stopping at me

      "And this is Sophia Perry. Her brother was just in the play, Neil" I smiled and extended my hand to the girl

      "It's lovely to meet you" She smiled back grabbing my hand and shaking it

      "Likewise" Mr. Keating came back to our side after speaking with someone and smiled between Chris and Knox

     "I see you got here safe Mr. Overstreet and ms" he stopped not knowing her name before chris put out her hand

"Noel, chris Noel"

    "Ms Noel" Mr. Keating repeated shaking her hand

     "Chris this is our English professor Mr. Keating" Chris smiled at the man as Charlie clasped Knox on the back

      "Hey we were thinking about going to the cave after to celebrate Neil's debut, you guys wanna come?" Charlie asked the two as he slung his arm around my shoulder pulling me into him

     "We're trying to get Pitts to invite Ginny too, he's been pining over her the whole play" I told them as pitts shoved my arm telling me to shut up.

      We began walking again as the boys argued back and forth but everything sounded fuzzy when I looked up and halted meeting the eyes of my father. His hands were clasped behind his back and he was wearing his long black jacket.

      "Father, you came" I smiled, his eyes scanned over the boys before he cleared his throat

      "Sophia" he gave me a small smile and for a split second I thought that things would be okay. "gentlemen" The boys all exchanged hellos and good evenings with my father before the room fell quiet. Something in his eyes told me that there wasn't any pride behind them, just anger.

      I cleared my throat and turned back to the guys who didn't know what to do "go ahead guys, I'll catch up" the boys looked between my father and I before nodding and walking through the door telling him goodbye.

      Charlie hung on for a moment looking between my father and I with weary glances. "You okay?" I nodded with a small smile as he reluctantly left my side.

      "Do you and your brother enjoy disobeying me?" I was taken back by the question

"What? But I thought-"

     "You thought what? That I would come and play into all this nonsense and daydreaming?"

"No but-"

      "We will talk about this later Sophia" his eyes moved towards the stage and that's when I saw Neil. He stood on the stage and when his eyes met mine he smiled earning one in return before it quickly dropped as they went to my fathers.

     That's when it clicked and I cursed myself for not noticing sooner. Neil hadn't Gone to see father today, or else he did and got a different answer than what he told me.

     He made his way to us and Father looked between the two of us, the disappointment spread across his face as he turned and walked out into the reception area

      "I'm sorry I lied Phi" I shook my head and took my brothers hand

      "You were amazing" I whispered to him as a smile crossed his face and the door to the lobby was opened, the small silence being broken.

      Neil's hand stayed wrapped in mine as our father pushed through the crowd ahead of us allowing us to follow his trail. To our left the boys called out his name to get his attention but Neil just shuffled and looked at them with a sorry look

      "I can't guys" I could see the confusion on their faces. None of them knew Why Neil want as happy as they were right now. None of them knew why our father was really here.

      We got outside and Neil came to a stop as he let go off my hand. Mr. Keating passed me and called out to Neil as I turned back to find the boys just behind me

      "Neil, you have the gift. What a performance you left even me speechless" I smiled at the interaction "You have to-" our father came up and moved Neil towards the car

      "Get in the car" his head turned back to Mr. Keating with fury in his eyes "Keating, you stay away from my son" he turned towards me and took my hand "sophia come on" he pulled me towards the car away from the others and I felt fingertips graze my arm.

     "Sophie" I turned back to look at Charlie and gave him a hopeless look

     "Sophia, into the car now" I turned back to look at my father and Neil as Charlie looked passed me

"Neil, Soph. Mr. Perry, come on"

      I tried to give him a reassuring smile but it didn't reach my eyes as I turned to open the door before looking back at the boys "I'll see you guys tomorrow, it was lovely meeting you Chris" I smiled at the letter before looking back at Charlie and getting into the car.

      My father's eyes caught mine in the mirror as he pulled off. The last thing I saw was Mr. Keating's face etched with worry and sorrow as he said something to Charlie .

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     The short journey home was quiet. No one said a word and for a while I though nobody even dared to breath. The only thing comforting me was Neils hand that was reached towards the back seat and clasped with mine.

      I honestly couldn't say whether it was for me or him.

      The breaks squeaked as we came to a stop outside of out house and while hellton wasn't my favourite place I would much rather be there than here.

     Father got out first, leaving Neil and I in the car for a moment "It will be fine, we'll get a talking to and then we'll be shipped back off to Weldon tomorrow morning" I tell Neil with my hand on his shoulder as I sit forward in the car.

     "I dont think its gonna be that easy this time Phi" he pushed open the car door and claimed out, opening mine too. I got out and walked alongside him with our father a few steps ahead.

      Walking in through the front door felt strange, it didnt feel like home anymore. Sure the warmth reminded me of Christmas here when we would all sit around and play board games but something felt off. There wasn't that feeling of safety anymore.

       The lights in the study were on as we followed father inside. Within, our mother stood over by the arm chair and the trace of smoke that flowed behind her matched the smell of tobacco in the room.

      As I entered I went over and wrapped her in a hug as she pulled back and held onto my face. Her eyes held the expression that everything was going to be okay but I could see deep down it wouldnt be. Neil took a seat opposite father and I found myself standing in the gap between my mother and Neil.

      It took father a moment to collect his thoughts before he put his hat down and turned to Neil, clearing his throat "We're trying very hard to understand why it is that you insist on defying us"