(no subject)

"You're an idiot." Fry comments to the boy on his doorstep.

For once, Simon just responds to this with a sigh and an eyeroll. The fact that he's come around at all shows, in Fry's opinion, some social progress. The fact that he's come around to tell Fry he's been expelled is not.

"You had another chance, you were doing anger management, you were doing pretty well." Fry continues. "What did you do now?"

"Smoked weed and passed it around to the boarders." Simon says. "It was kind of funny until one of them had a fit."

Fry grimaces.

"Who was it?"

"Ollie, I think. Anyway, the headmaster said I'm not allowed back, because I deliberately put others at risk."

"Where are you going to go?" Fry asks. Not that he cares much. It just seems a shame, after they were starting to make progress with the guy.

"Mum's given up and decided she's home schooling me." Simon says. "I just came over to say thanks. For... giving me a chance. Nobody's ever done that before. Let alone given me a Christmas card."

"You're welcome. We're still not friends." Fry says.

"Course not, Fishface. See you around town I expect." Simon says, wandering off.

Fry is quite relieved to see the back of him. He heads upstairs to grab his coat, then goes to the second hand school uniform shop with Mum. He's going through something of a growth spurt, and prefers the feel of uniform that has been worn in anyway.

He expects there to be very few people there, given it's the middle of the academic year. But actually, there are three others in the shop. One is James, who's also growing like a weed at the moment. The others, he doesn't recognise. Two boys, identical twins of about twelve, of probably Chinese origin. At first, they are having a discussion in another language; but soon one of the boys pipes up with a Holby accent, trying to persuade their mother that their blazers aren't identical enough.

"They're in our class." James says quietly. "Simon's gone."

Fry nods, and wanders over. As Form Captain, he probably ought to say hello. He goes over and first stares at the twins to try and find their distinguishing feature.

"You have a freckle." he says to one boy, pointing to a small brown spot next to his nose.

"That was quick." The freckleless twin comments, rolling his eyes. "I'm Marcus, that's Jamie. We're starting in Mrs Carter's class."

"I'm Fry, I'm form captain in your class." Fry says. "How come you're starting now?"

"We've been on the waiting list." Marcus says. "Apparently one of your class got expelled."

Fry looks at Jamie, who so far has made no eye contact and not said anything.

"Well, you guys seem easier to live with than Simon."

Marcus starts conversing with Jamie in their other language, so Fry goes back to Mum to look at blazers. After a few minutes, he jumps, as Jamie taps him on the shoulder.

"Please don't do that, I don't like to be touched." he says. "What is it?"

"Are there bullies?" Jamie asks timidly, looking at the floor.

Fry considers.

"Not really." he says. "Not now Simon's gone. There's the occasional scuffle but the school is really strict on bullying. Did you get bullied at your old school?"

Jamie nods.

"They wanted to split us up." he says. "Marcus had a bad day on the tests."