Part7

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The foxes react: chapter 2 part 2

That sure was a mood changer, no one had really seen or absorbed any sign that Neil was uncomfortable with the idea of staying with Waymack but it explained a lot to Waymack about why he had flinched back then "that idiot" said Waymack "if he had a problem he should have just said so" he continued "it's alright coach we know that you would do your best to help Neil was new and he didn't know" said Renee with a sympathetic smile they turned their attention back to the screen.
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Neil was halfway across the room to look out the window when Nicky spoke up behind him.
"What was that all about?"
Neil's blood turned to slush. It wasn't the words that got him but the language Nicky used. German was Neil's second language thanks to three years spent living in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

They knew that Neil could speak German but not exactly how much time he was there or if he had even lived there so that was an interesting fact to know, "it's funny how scared he got from just hearing one language" said Aaron with a smirk.
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He remembered more of Europe than he wanted to; most of their time there had been a cold mess. He knew the tang of blood in his mouth was just his imagination, but it was sharp enough to choke him. He could feel his heartbeat on every inch of his skin, going so fast it set him trembling head to toe.
How did they know he spoke German?
Neil had half a mind to run for it, but then Aaron answered, and Neil realized with a sick rush Nicky wasn't talking to him. No, they were talking about him, not intending for him to understand. Neil forced himself to move, finishing his trip to the window. He pushed the curtains back and put his hands to the glass, needing something to steady him while his heart tried to ease back to a normal rhythm.

"Not very comforting hearing him say that he is ready to just bold out every chance he gets or if something happens" said Matt looking worried "well nothing like that has happened yet so I think it's fine" said Dan with a shrug not sure her self if what she said was true.
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"Kevin doesn't do excited," Aaron agreed, "but since Exy is the only thing he cares about, no one wants you on our court more than he does."
Neil's answer got stuck somewhere in his throat as he processed that. It was the same thing Aaron said in the car, almost, except Aaron sounded apathetic now where he'd been scornful earlier. Between that sudden change in attitude, the disappearing pack of cigarettes, and the matching outfits, Neil was starting to second-guess what was going on here. These were just small things, but Neil had learned to survive on the fine details.

"He is good at this, he is going to what was going on in no time" said Alison the upperclassmen n and the two adults where agreeing and Andrew's lot excluding Andrew who looked like he didn't give a single fuck but was just the slightest interested the other looked kind of embarrassed
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"Worth the fights, too?" Neil asked. "Like that one two weeks ago that Aaron said got completely out of hand. How many people got injured in that, again?"
There was a slight pause as Aaron thought, and for a moment Neil decided he'd imagined things. Then Aaron answered, "Eleven."
It was the right answer; Neil had read about the brawl in an article. But he and Aaron hadn't had that conversation in the car and Aaron should have known that. Too late, Neil remembered Nicky's exasperated accusation in the living room: "What the hell did you say to him, Andrew?" Neil had assumed Nicky was referring to their first meeting in Millport, but Nicky had been talking about the car ride from the airport. It wasn't Aaron who picked Neil up from the airport after all. Neil was annoyed by the trick and relieved he'd seen through it, but caution overrode both.

"Haha you fell right in his trap" said Alison with a mocking smile towards Aaron who looked embarrassed about being caught and found out so easily but was still sending a glare right back at her making her smirk even wider than what it was before, Andrew and Renee where amused both with his skills and how quick he found out.
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"Success."
"Ready, Neil?" Nicky asked. "We should probably beat it before Coach shows up.""Why?" Neil pointed at the liquor. "Is this a robbery in progress?"
"Maybe it is. Will you tell Coach on us?" Andrew asked, sounding entertained by the notion. "So much for being a team player. I guess you really are a Fox."
"No," Neil said, "but I would ask him why you're not medicated."
There was a heartbeat of startled silence. The only one who didn't react was Andrew; even Kevin looked surprised.
Nicky was the first to find his tongue, but he reverted to German to ask Aaron, "Am I crazy? Did I just see that happen?"
"Don't look at me," Aaron said.
"I'd prefer an answer in English," Neil said.

By now the upperclassmen where full on laughing excluding Renee who was mostly just smiling at their reaction, Waymack was laughing too, Abby was hiding her laugh behind her hand, Andrew ignored all of that and the others were still embarrassed "omg if only I could save this moment somewhere, did you see your faces" said Alison between laughter witch Kevin Nicky and Aaron all answered with a long groan.
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After a moment's debate, he shrugged his bag off his shoulder. The thought of leaving it behind made his skin crawl, considering what was hidden inside it, but he didn't trust Andrew's intentions. Neil didn't know why Andrew was sober or why he'd picked Neil up from the airport when it now seemed Wymack had tasked Nicky with that responsibility, but he didn't think Andrew was done playing yet. Neil trusted Wymack more than he did Andrew right now and hoped he wasn't making a mistake.

"That kind of makes me want to know what is in there" said Nicky getting a few glances from the others but not anything more since most likely some of the others might be thinking the same thing.
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Wymack looked at Neil again. "How safe is safe?"
Neil had never been an easy read before, but then, he'd never let the situation get so completely out of hand, either. On the run his mother had always stayed in control, weaving the perfect stories and choosing ideal marks to help them. Neil had fumbled his way through his transition to Millport, but he could have cut and run at any time if he didn't like the way things were going. This, he desperately wanted to make work, for however long he could hold onto it.
"It's all I have," Neil said at length.

"His mother sounds like she has experience with all that" said Dan but was followed by Alison "you know we should really go shopping with him for more clothes he has not enough" and Nicky agreed with a nod before going back to watching.
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Neil looked down at the key in his palm, at the security Wymack so easily and unquestioningly gave him. Maybe Neil wouldn't get any sleep tonight, and maybe he'd spend the next couple weeks waking up every time Wymack snored a little too loud, but maybe Neil really was okay here for now.

"Coach really is the best" said Dan and others agreed making Waymack embarrassed "Neil he must have stayed up all night hearing coach snore" said Andrew with a sarcastic tone but a straight face as always "I swear to god Minyard say one more thing and you be running marathons the rest of this year" said Waymack and Andrew shrugged before going back.
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Neil couldn't anticipate Kevin; he couldn't ask how much Kevin remembered about his past and he wouldn't know until too late what finally triggered Kevin into remembering him. But Andrew was just a psychotic midget, and Neil had grown up around violence.

This time the silence was for the first time not out of shock or horror this time the silence kept only for seconds before the room was engulfed on laughter because leave it to Neil to say whatever he wants in the most inappropriate moment, even Renee had a hand in front of her mouth to cover most of her laughter, Aaron had at first enjoyed it but it was short lived since insulting Andrew's hight was the same as insulting his even if Neil had put psychotic in front so yea he was was now sour again and as for Andrew he had not changed he was still looking as apathetic as ever.

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