Voices

Prologue

Daniel Seavey cried the third time that day, as he laid against his bedside, arms wrapped around his legs and his head tucked tightly, securely down.

The door is closed - he made sure of it - and the tears fall freely, dampening his trousers. Wha's worse than the shame and the humiliation that is presently a constant, whenever leaving the house, the people staring, is the fact that he's scared.

And he can't do anything about it - he won't be that kid who tattles; there's already enough rumours flying around the school that will only add to the viciousness of it.

His parents don't know, his classmates pretend not to see or aid in at picking on him, and the teachers are blind-sighted, convinced that a Catholic school ensures proper behaviour of adolescents than other schools.

Daniel shakily rises up, wincing at the pain that follows. His knees are horribly scraped from falling onto the pavement near the school where the buses arrive.

Of course it was the same group of boys, who pushed Daniel and then walked away laughing. Daniel was usually so aware of when they were coming, but he wasn't thinking, only focused on going home, relieved of being in a safe haven from the taunting.

The boys - who huddle in a trio, like a pack of wolves who are loyal, but also like vultures, who keep a sharp eye on their prey.

Jonah Marais is one of the boys who is popular, usually filing behind, as if not having a thought of his own, despite being bigger and maybe smarter. Then there's Corbyn Besson, who actually isn't so bad, but quiet and once shoved Daniel against the lockers for no reason. Finally there's Zach Herron, the ringleader. Zach appears innocent to the grown-ups, being short, having rosy cheeks and slight southern, Texan accent. He's easily a charmer to girls, and unsuspecting substitute teachers fall prey to his pranks, thinking that such a nice, young Christian boy won't have any malicious intent.

Together the trio is respected, in such a way that people will either follow the herd or say nothing, not risking to be a target. When Lindsay Adams, the teacher's pet, stood up to Zach, it resulted in her once long black hair being chopped off, and now rests below her chin to even it out. It's a warning.

"Daniel! Dinner's ready!" Anna's voice carries up from the staircase banister, probably halfway up, being asked by Mom who strongly believes in family spending as much time together.

Daniel wants to speak, but then his wobbling voice will betray him. He wipes his eyes, hastily glancing in his mirror hanging above the desk and the red rimmed eyes is slightly faded.

Forcing himself to smile, he opens the door and starts walking, just as Anna adds, "Hurry up or I'm eating yours!"

As Daniel quickly descends down the stairs, ignoring the sting of his knees, he sits at one end of the rectangular table. There's still two other chairs empty, a reminder of his brothers who are in university.

Daniel sometimes wonders if they were also bullied - it has to be a common occurrence - but he can't recall Christian crying, or Tyler having any bruises or scratches. Of course, he himself hides the fact. The Seavey family is a close, kind and supportive household, but the fact is Daniel has never seen any of them cry; at least not Anna when she turned ten, and even then she was tough, once losing a tooth when sledding out in the backyard's snow bank and making contact with the large oak tree.

"Daniel, Anna. We have something to tell you." Mrs Seavey is a slender, smiling woman who is abnormally calm even in the most stressful situations. Of course she may be an optimist, or hides the stress very well, not wanting to burden anyone with troubles. "We're moving."

"What!" Anna rises from her seat dramatically, chair scraping that causes even their cat who resides underneath the table to meow in the abrupt noise. "You can't do that!"

"Anna, its a very good opportunity. My work requires me to move, and instead of me doing regular locums, we all can move down as a family."

Daniel can't tell if he's excited. Of course it's such a perfect escape - but then he'll be bullied at the new one, too. He hovers his head down over his plate and shovels a mouthful of fettuccine, which ordinarily makes him happier but now it's just mechanical chewing.

"How about you, Dani? You'd love Portland, it's a great community, especially for busking. Guitars, singing..."

While it's true that Daniel loves singing, and music, he shakes his head. He doesn't like crowds, all of those faces, having their own quick judgments because that's just what people do. At a first glance, without knowing personality, a stranger is just another face that becomes a blur unless you study a bit longer, looking for any flaws, distinctions.

"It's also a bit smaller, but has beautiful scenery! You'll fall in love immediately!" Keri Seavey attempts to interest her children, but not exactly approaching a winning statement. She isn't so sure what Daniel and Anna like, growing up, having various passions. Anna used to draw a lot, while Daniel played instruments.

"Yeah," Daniel says. "Sounds great." His voice is flat, but his mom considers it a small step in favour.

"But—My friends! You can't do this!" Anna repeats. Being three years younger than Daniel, in fifth grade, she feels as if she has found her niche among a group of friends. Having parties, joining vacation plans, and creating friendship bracelets, they've collected a lot of memories that will suddenly all vanish. "What kind of place is called Portland!" she shrieks, and flees to her room.

Mr Seavey doesn't say anything, but looks pleadingly at Daniel, hoping that there can be a sibling talk.

However, Daniel is loyal to Anna, as siblings can annoy each other, but feel a need to protect each other. Especially since they are the youngest, and team against Chris and Ty who brandish their age as a weapon so they can have their own way.

"Moving sucks," Daniel says, dropping his fork with a clang. "Being the new kid and trying to fit in? I'm already hating this school."

"What happened?" Mrs Seavey immediately asks. "What's wrong with the school? Are kids being nice?"

Daniel clamps his mouth shut. There's tears welling in his eyes, and he quickly rises and turns his back before anyone can witness them. "You don't understand! Everything sucks here, and it won't be any different there!"

Once the second child storms off, Mr Seavey resumes eating. "I think," he says after a mouthful, "that went better than I expected."

Although Keri loves her husband dearly, she swats at his arm for obliviousness. Then she goes to comfort Daniel, who openly cries in her arms, eventually telling through her encouragement about the bullying.