A Few Days Before Christmas

"Hey! Zach!" Brooklyn called down the deserted corridor as he spotted his friend. Zachary turned around and grinned, "Hey Klyn, are you and Jerry going?" Brooklyn nodded, "Yes, he's coming to mine for the holiday." Zachary pulled a face and then walked to Brooklyn, hugging him, then leaning up and gently kissing him on the lips. Brooklyn pulled away after a few moments, "I've got to go Zach, I'll call you, okay?" Zachary nodded sadly, reluctantly letting go of him. Brooklyn smiled, kissing his cheek and then leaving, aware of Zachary watching after him sadly.

Now Zachary was sitting bored in the common room. Two days till Christmas. Two. And he was bored. Most of the other students had left, and the whole school looked deserted. Zachary hadn't seen any of his crushes in ages, or anyone to talk to.

Fergal came into the common room look a bit dishevelled and very tired.

Zachary looked up, his whole face lighting up, "Hey Fergal!"

Fergal blinked in shock and looked over. "Oh. Hey."

Zachary smiled, at least he wasn't alone now.

"You been rejected at home this christmas too?" Fergal muttered bitterly, sitting down next to him.

"My parents never want me," Zachary answered, smile gone.

Fergal nodded. "Me neither..."

Zachary nodded, "I can only just remember what they look like..."

"I think I've spent more time with my cousins, the royal family, than I have with my parents..."

"Royal family? I can't remember what their voices sound like, only that they don't want me..."

"I'm related to the royal family..." Fergal blushed.

Zachary smiled, "Wow...what's that like?"

"Uh...normal?"

"Depends what you call normal..."Zachary said, looking down, his voice going quieter, "Normal for me is my parents ignoring me and pretending I never existed, while normal for my brother is to be treated like a prince, having loving parents and getting whatever he wants..." he shook his head and then smiled at Fergal, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise, every family has their faults...would I know your brother?"

"I wouldn't have thought so...he didn't come here, he went to another boarding school that my parents believe is better than here, and that costs fortunes. You may have heard of him though...he was on the t.v and in the news...for his engagment to the famous singer Lindie Salvek...his name's Johnny Devereaux..."

Fergal twitched his nose. "Nah. Never heard of him, sorry."

Zachary smiled, "I'm pleased to meet someone who hasn't."

Fergal laughed. "To me, you are more famous!"

Zachary tilted his head slightly, looking confused.

Fergal shook his head. "Never you mind..."

"No...what do you mean?"

"I just meant that I know who you are but not...who your brother is."

Zachary nodded, giving a smile.