In a whole other world (Mackenzie tag any)

[Mackenzie Edwards]

Perhaps Mackenzie should have asked Jade and Alex exactly what a US school would have been like. He had expected uniforms and stuffy teachers with the one eye glass. Although Mac had been home schooled due to the cancer. But the last year and a half was spent in private school. Only the best as his dad would say. Mac rolled his eyes at the chilling words.

His dad and his grandfather both had issues with his homosexuality and Mac hated that. He felt as if he was the black sheep of the family. First he got cancer and almost died, and now he was gay. His father would say that he was testing his limits. As if he choose to get cancer. His dad could be such an arse at times. Mac was actually rather glad to be in the US with his Aunt and Uncle. Maybe now he would not feel all black sheep like.

It had been hard not to over hear the fight. Mac had been in the kitchen grabbing breakfast when it started. Then he kind of backed out as it ended. Was Jade really moving out? Man how things had changed. Did this mean Mac would be left alone in the house with Grandfather? Well he did have his brother, so that was good. To be honest Mac had no idea what to make out of the fight so he stayed out of it, and just went to school with whomever would take him.

Now here he was looking around and in shock. This was not how he pictured an American school. The girls legs were showing, and the guys had their boxers showing. Mac had a feeling he would like it here. Today he wore a green polo shirt and black slacks. Tomorrow he would dress way more down. Mac had a hard time finding his classes. he knew the lunch room would be easy. All he had to do was follow the hungry students.

Only those student went in multiple directions and the map the school gave him looked like it had been drawn by a preschooler. "Does anyone know where the Lunchroom is?" mac asked no one in particular, but hoping someone would take pity on the new kid who looked so out of place.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade's day had vastly improved the moment he left the house, the old man had agreed to give him something of a break, he got to keep everything he had in the family. He wasn't sure it was going to work but at least he was willing to try and give it a go, he would see how long it took for their parents to disappear to some far of place for a holiday or business and how much work he would have when they were gone. He had gone in search of his cousin, as he hadn't seen much of him since he arrived, he had no idea where his brother was or where Jeremy was for that matter.

He got his cousins issues with the family, coming out wasn't particularly easy in the family. He knew why his cousin was here, it was one of the main reasons for some of the tension that was currently rearing its ugly head at that moment in time.

He finally managed to locate his cousin who looked thoroughly lost as people went to get lunch in many different directions, he heard him ask for help, he approached from the side quickly.

"Hey Mac." Jade said to get his attention. "Looking for the cafeteria? Are you ready to learn your first real leason here." Jade asked with a grin on his face. "I forgot to say to you about getting lunch in for yourself, or having the cook make you a lunch before we left." Jade said to him blushing slightly with embarrassment. "You mind my company during lunch, we have some catching up to do from what I here." Jade said with a smile.

[Mackenzie Edwards]

Mac looked next to him and smiled at his cousin. "I was looking at the map, but I think the retrieved it from a primary school student." He handed the map to Jade. "Is this suppose to help me?" He asked laughing. "How long did it take for you to learn the public school system?" He looked around. All sorts of people in different classes, classes with desks as opposed to a table. Not to mention the number of students in the class doubled those of Mac's private school.

Of course Mac had also gotten use to home schooling for a few years, so this was completely out of his comfort zone. "Some how I thought it would not be different. I was apparently mistaken." His Irish accent was coming out thick. Thank goodness for English classes or else he would be totally lost.

"So what is this lesson dear cousin...and am I going to like it?" Mac asked with a smile. he patted Jay on the back lightly, remembering he had been shot, so he made sure the pat was on the side that had not been injured. "I would love the company. I think I could use a quick tutorial." He told his cousin. Thank god for family. "How have you been Jade? Long time no talk. Sorry about this morning...I did not mean to ease drop." Although anyone near the kitchen you would have heard it.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade gave him a sheppish grin, "I think the map only works if your dyslexic or something." Jade explained to him. "We've spent more time in this school this year, than we have in Silver so I wouldn't worry about it. Things tend to get more confusing the more you think about it, in this school." Jade said with a smile. "Look at what happened to me, I went to have lunch a couple of weeks ago in our own cafeteria and ended up getting shot." Jade added with an amused look. He could at least now joke about it and not feel like he was walking on egg shells around every body else, the school shooting was still very fresh in every bodies minds.

Jade nodded, "Back home we would be in a full school uniform, here you get to get away with a lot more than in Ireland. I prefer it to the stuff ties and blazers." he said though he had been home schooled most of his life, even when they had been back home they had tutors rather than be schooled with the commoners. It had taken some persuading on their part to be allowed to come to an actual school, even more to keep them there after the shooting.

"Your leason for today is this, what ever you do, don't eat the cafeteria food. If you plan on living past the age of twenty one that is, the food is almost lethal in this place. I meant to organize you a lunch or at least warn you. But well I imagine you heard or at least heard about the argument I had in the house this morning." Jade said he knew that they hadn't been very quiet.

They had been like passionate Irish men screaming blue murder at each other or something similar. The fierce tempers of the Edwards family were frayed that morning.

"Well your get to meet him if you haven't met him already, I'm dating a guy named Jeremy. His floating about here somewhere, its probably what has the familys knickers in the twist. I'm pretty sure everyone would like it much better if I found my other half in the fairer sex." Jade said to him. "I honestly don't know what the family thinks half the time anyway, and the other half of the time I wish I didn't know what they thought." Jade said to him as he fished around in his pocket for something.

"The good news for you is that I can't use my car at the moment, I'm not cleared to drive for another week maybe two if I'm unlucky. So how much would you love me if I said that you could borrow my wheels?" Jade asked him with a smile.

[Mackenzie Edwards]

Mac stuffed the map into his backpack. "I heard you were shot, you doing okay?" He asked. "Which arm is it so I don't hit that one by mistake, when i try and kick your butt for the heck of it." Mac said laughing. He would never do that. He just joked about. The most Mac would do was give Jade a pat on the back. "American schools are definitely different." Mac said as he looked around. "

Mac looked down, "i am glad I have the memo. I must be over dressed. All i am missing is the tie and blazer." He gave Jade a tiny smile. He was wearing a polo shit and nice slacks with nice shoes. He definitely did not look like the other guys around. "I am looking forward to dressing differently tomorrow. If my Dad saw it he would have a heart attack."

"Is that even legal." Mac laughed a little. "I will remember to bring a bag lunch tomorrow." He told Jade. Mac nodded when Jade mentioned the argument. "I only heard part of it. Cause I walked in the middle and then left. I did hear something about you moving out...is that true?" Mac wondered. He could have misunderstood. "With grandfather I understand, he tends to fight with a few of us. My dad and him have had some big ones..."

Mac looked at Jade shocked. "Wait...I was told your being gay was just a phase.....Thats what my dad said. He told me your being gay was a phase." Mac explained. he scratched the top of his head. "Jeremy huh? I would like to meet him. I cannot believe you have come out....must not be easy with grandfather...I imagine he would like all of us to have someone of the fairer sex."

Mac shuffled his feet a little. "did you hear why I am here? Looks like you and I have more in common then we thought. Not sure grandfather knows...I mean...I am still confused myself." Jade and Mac were close at one point, so Mac knew he could tell Jade.

"Wait, i can drive...Sweet...I have one questions, what side of the rode do they drive on here?" mac was more then happy to use Jade's car.

[Jade Edwards RCO]

He shook his head, "My left shoulder was the one that was hit, as a way to get out of school, I suggest not getting shot. It hurts like hell for a long time after, I had to have surgery on it thus the sling." he said shaking his head with amusement.

Jade nodded, "Yeah that was neither pretty or quiet, I'm staying for the moment, I get certain concessions for being the good little son and heir." Jade said to him. "I just couldn't live the life that grandfather demanded I live, I won't play by those rules. We may be a traditional god fearing family but that doesn't mean that you get treat every one like crap. Grandfather needs to learn that, someone has to stand up to him before this gets out of control." he said with a sad smile.

Jade undertsood how bad it was for his cousin, he had been there and he had heard about why Mackenzie had been sent to them.

"Yeah I heard why you got sent here, I was also kind of encouraged to show you the error in your ways. Not going to happen any time soon of course, because I get being confused. Just as much as I know what its like to like guys, thus why I date one of the hottest in the school. Look your dad will come round, and screw grandpa seriously its your life. Whats the point of living if you can't be happy with what you are in your life." Jade said to him with a reassuing pat on the shoulder. "Your like Jeremy, your probably like his sister to if she doesn't hate you for bein related to me. Early on I made the decision to kiss my ex, Jeremy let it go his sister hates my guts for it." Jade said.

"Just be yourself Mac, seriously don't worry about every body else. You got sent here to the liberal side of the family, your brother and the rest of us kids have got your back." Jade said to him.

"The right side is the side they drive on, opposite side to us." Jade said to him with a grin on his face.

[Mackenzie Edwards]

"Man no wonder you can't drive. I hope it heals soon for you." Mac hated that his cousin got shot. Mac had been scared when he heard. News of the heir getting shot traveled fast among the Edwards clan. mac was glad to hear Jade was going to be okay, still it never was good to hear a family member got shot. "I got to catch up with Alex yesterday, so he is dating a chick right? I guess twins can't have everything in common." Mac said with a smile.

"I am glad you stood up to him. I do not have the stomach to do that. Grandfather still scares me a little. Okay he scares me a lot, but its good someone is finally putting the old man in his place." mac wanted to be accepted by his father and his grandfather and so far that was proving to be a difficult task in his mind. It was why Mac still dated women at times. it was to get his grandfather and his dad off his back cause Mac could not stand up for himself yet. "I am glad you're not moving out. Would have been lonely."

Mac hoped so. "I hope so. I mean my dad sent me out here. I don't know when he is going to come around." It was a sad thing actually, "As for grandfather, he is just someone I cannot deal with yet. Maybe in time. Perhaps you will give me strength. Its nice to know I am not alone." He was a little shocked to hear his boyfriend's sister did not like Jade. How could someone not like Jade. "I am sorry to hear that. I am sure the sister will come around and see how good of a guy you are."

Mac smiled, "Now thats what I am glad to hear. And I got all your backs if you need." He nodded, "Okay so drive on the opposite side...sounds easy...i hope.." Mac gave Jade a half smile. "You might want to close your eyes." He joked. "So tell me...about you and Jeremy when did all this happen?"

[Jade Edwards RCO]

Jade nodded, "Her name is Sarah, just because we are identical doesn't mean we do everything together. Alex is without doubt straight and he will kill any one including me who suggests otherwise. His cool about me being gay though, when you think about it he is probably the only one in the family who has the right to be pissed about me being gay." Jade said to Mackenzie with a smile. "That house is pretty big, even with me and Alex living in it, it gets kind of lonely without more than two people in it. You should know that usually when the parents go away, the cooks aren't at the house. So we tend to survive on pizza Chinese and Indian." Jade explained grinning.

He listened to Mac talk he couldn't disagree with a word that his cousin was saying, it was true that their family was a little strict well okay they were a lot strict. Jade didn't really care about it though, he was free to do what ever he wanted most of the time. It just annoyed him when his grandfather used in his experiments or tasks that no teenager should have to deal with. He had teh right to be annoyed he thought, clearly some people agreed with that assesment.

"Jeremy is sweet, thoughtful and really doesn't care about the family antics. Seriously he takes everything in his stride, which is probably a good thing. My last boyfriend was a drug addict and an alcoholic to boot. Jeremy is everything I really want or need in a guy." Jade said to him. "Well Brad's here so if you met him, you know more than just me and Alex if not, your get to meet him. Brad tends to swing buy the house a lot, kind of mine and Alex's best friend. Joint best friend, his Australian and hot but don't tell him that I said that. His ego doesn't need to be inflated any more than it already has been." Jade said with a grin.

"Your going to love it here really you are." Jade said to him. "Just don't dent my car, its my baby and its less than six months old. You might have to share it with your brother, but I think that mom and dad are going to sort your car situations out before they make a run for the hills again." Jade explained.

He was not foolish enough to believe that they would be sticking around any longer than they usually did. It would be bad form if they stayed long enough to prove to the world that they were good parents.

[Mackenzie Edwards]

"Its good your brother accepts you....I have no idea where mine stands. We never really talk about it." Mac cared more then he let on. For now he would play it off like it was no big deal, but deep down Mac wanted to know where his brother stood. "I don't think I have ever had Indian food...but I love pizza. I know about chinese. Seem,s like I have a lot to get use to. How often are you and Alex left alone." Mac didn't like being left alone. Who really did?

"That sounds like you are one lucky man. Just from the way you describe him I think I will like Jeremy. Can't wait to meet him. As for Brad the name sounds familar but I did not get much to meet many people you know. But I know I have heard his name thrown around." Mac had been kept indoor for years cause of his cancer. He missed out on family functions, charities and other stuff that the other kids had to go to.

"If I had known there would be a car situation then I should have ciome out sooner. Don't worry. As long as your car is not a stick, we should be fine." Mac was joking. He learned to drive on a manuel shift but he couldn't resist the joke. "I promise your baby is in good hands. Now let's go see if I can handle to bloddy streets and let's grab some food because if what you say is true then I don't want to go near that." He pointed at the lunchroom then turned to follow Jade to the parking lot. His first day was turning out better then he thought.

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