Percie brushed her long dark hair and tied it into a ponytail. She had to look the part, today she'd finally beat Jamie. James Novak was pretty much her rival. Every day for pretty much the last four years, Percie had challenged him to a trivia contest about any topic he wanted, everytime he won, usually by one point. She put on her plum lipstick and grinned at herself, today was the day.

"Percie! If you want that lift, you have one minute!" Raymond yelled, his voice gravelly and she picked up her bag, stuffing her feet into her worn boots. She clunked downstairs and Raymond smiled at her, his stringy dark brown hair in his eyes. "I gave you an extra minute." She smirked back.

"It was more like forty seconds," She dodged his attempted hair ruffle. "Don't touch the hair. I'm finally going to beat him and I want to look amazing while I do it," Raphaël made a noise behind her, making her turn sharply. "What?" He smiled, pushing his floppy brown hair back.

"James and Percie sitting in a tree," He sang, his French accent making it laughable, until she hit him with his own bag. "This is elder abuse." Raymond snorted, putting him into a headlock.

"You're two months older, it's not elder abuse," He walked to the door, holding it open before rubbing his head. "Now, get in the car and save any other comments for school where James can join in on this lovely conversation." Percie gently bumped shoulders with Raphaël, heading for the door.

"Asshole," She whispered affectionately and hurried to the front seat. "Slowpoke!" He slid into the seat right behind her and kneed it.

"I'm exactly where I want to be," He sniggered and she took out her phone, scrolling through her contacts. "What are you doing?" She smiled at him through the rearview.

"Calling Olive and letting her know about your-" He tried to snatch the phone from her hand and she held it out of reach. "I thought you two were destined to be together. I thought you were going to tell her everything at the dance in a month." A hand plucked the phone from her hand and Raymond put it into his pocket, looking pained.

"You'll get this back later. Now, Bleachers or Imagine Dragons?" She looked at Raphaël who grinned before answering with her.

"Bleachers!" Raymond put on Bleachers using Pandora and I Wanna Get Better started to play. The three of them sang together, not seeing a boy with hair that in certain light resembled sunlight, walking beside the car, not realising they were even there.

...

James walked to school, the wind blowing his hair down into his eyes and couldn't wait to get there. He knew that Priscilla James-Fray would challenge him again...This time, he was just going to let her win. In a couple of months, he was leaving for university in Scotland, she would be in whatever university she wanted to be in, it was time for it to end. Someone tapped his shoulder and he turned to see the last person he wanted to see.

"Hey Novak," Mattie Jenkins drawled, his dark hair in a geled clump. "Did you hear what the queer said about you?" James clenched his fists.

"His name's Danny Gilbert and if he thinks I'm cute or something, he can think it if he wants. Leave me alone before I punch you in the mouth." He said, his voice shaking with anger and Mattie did a sort of huff that made James know he was going to keep talking.

"Why are standing up for that Fa-" James whirled and punched him right in the mouth. The pain his hand had barely registered when Mattie started to pummel his face, chest and stomach. He fell down and took it until he heard the screech of tires.

"GET OFF HIM NOW!" A voice yelled, Raymond Fray and Mattie ran off. James was content to lie on the ground and die but someone helped him up.

"Are you okay, Jamie?" Priscilla's dark brown eyes seemed to bore into him and he nodded, not really feeling anything but the warmth of her hand on his arm. Raphaël appeared beside her, looking annoyed.

"Why was he hitting you?"

"B-Because unlike most of the guys at school, present company excluded, I don't care that Danny's gay."

"I'm going to kill him," Priscilla growled and stood up, clearly ready to chase him down. "I'm going to bash in that smug little face of his and strangle that stupid long neck of his." She turned to storm off but Raymond stopped her.

"No."

"Yes! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!" Raymond opened his mouth to probably say one of many good reasons to not kill him...But didn't. He swayed and fell, his eyes closing. Priscilla, James and Raphaël managed to catch him. "Raymond, what's worng? Raymond!" Raphaël hurried away, fishing his phone out of his pocket and James lightly touched Priscilla's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Raphaël's getting help, Raymond," He glanced at Priscilla's face blanch as he checked his pulse. "Priscilla, he's going to get the best help possible." What he didn't say was that Raymond was going to get better, he wasn't sure if he would get better.

***
Four Years Ago

Percie sat nervously in the armchair, wondering why Raymond and Sam had called her down.

" Percie, you've lived here for six months now," She knew what was coming, she was leaving. "And we've decided to-" Percie nodded sadly, letting them know she understood.

"You're sending me away."

"No, we aren't. I'm adopting you." Raymond sounded incredulous at what she thought was going to happen.

"Really? All I've done is make you both mad and get Raphaël hurt," Percie wasn't sure why she was arguing about this, she wanted to stay. "Why would you want to keep me?" Raymond gave her a smile that tugged on a long forgotten memory, of two people who she didn't remember...Who didn't want her.

"Because you're family," Percie hugged him and after a startled moment, he hugged back, lowering his voice, so only she could hear him. "And we aren't going to lose each other." She really hoped he was right.