Kyle, Hudson & Kayden: 13
Derrick: 11
Nathan, Gabriel, Shane and Rex: 14
"Nathan says you are still..." Dario trailed off probably thinking of the exact words Nathan used when a cold small voice said "bitchy."
"Exactly. He said you are still bitchy."
Kyle looked at the two people in the room. Dario eyes were boring into his, probably trying to read into his thoughts. He gave him his signature sweet smile before allowing his gaze to fall on the other person in the room. The first thing he noticed was the hazel eyes. His eyes lit up with recognition. Even though hazel was a common eye colour, it was rare in his small circle. It was mostly associated with the Williams and there was also that added fact that The Williams had only one heir to their wealth. Kyle, therefore, felt it was safe to assume that the little boy before him was Derrick William. He regarded him one more time, appreciating his looks before allowing his gaze to fall back to the older man in the room.
"I'm not being bitchy or anything. They are just boring."
Dario chuckled. He was already used to Kyle's antics and most of the times, he found them amusing. "I might just let it slip to Rex that you said he's boring."
"Hey I didn't mention any name, " Kyle defended aware that it was a not a good idea falling into Rex's bad side, "...but if I were to mention someone, then your golden boy would be the boring one."
"I'll tell Nathan you called him golden boy, again." Dario was seemingly enjoying this. He enjoyed bickering with Kyle. He reminded him so much of Asher, his best friend. Bickering with Kyle was as satisfying as bickering with Asher.
"No you won't. That is a privileged information and I might just sue you if you let it slip. "
"So you pay attention to the lawyers bullshit? " Kyle could tell he was being teased. Most times than he wished, he had let his hatred for the legal principles slip calling them lawyers bullshit. " and just so you know, you are not my client therefore that lawyers bullshit is not available to you. "
"Can you please stop calling it that. " His voice was one octave high, parading his frustration for all to see and Derrick, who had been silent all along, snickered. The sound surprised the other two, who had long forgotten about their company. Kyle shrunk in embarrassment and Dario just laughed at him.
"Okay okay, I'm stopping. Now back to serious business." Dario eyes shifted to the youngest one in the room, "I guess you already figured out who he is. Derrick will be joining The Seven Rings as at Today."
Kyle seemed confused. Confused, not because Derrick was joining them, but as to the reason he was specifically asked to Dario's office just to be told this. Dario seemed to have caught on this and he was explaining even before Kyle asked, "Just figured out that since you are the youngest, you two could be good friends."
"And I told you that I don't need your help in making friends. I don't even want friends in the first place." Derrick expressed his displeasure. He was not a people's person. That was Leigh, his younger sister's, role. Back at his old school, he kept his circle small and by small, it meant only one person. Mohan Smith. It could have been none had it been that Mohan was impatient and not immune to his passonality. When he decided to join The Seven Rings, friendship was the last thing on his mind. However, Dario and his mother thought otherwise.
"I know you don't want friends but..."
"...you need them. Yeah I know." This was a proof that they had already gone through this argument several times. Dario was just as stubborn as him, "I think you worry alot. I'll be okay. Didn't you say that here at Seven Rings, everyone was just like a family?" Dario nodded. "And friends, in this profession,are there to have your back no matter what, correct?" When Dario nodded again, Derrick continued, "For me, family would have your back no matter what. Why do I need a friend if I could have seven brothers, a family?"
There was a look of resignation on Dario's face. He couldn't argue with that reasoning regardless of the fallacy in it. Family should always have each other's back. However, this was not the case for him and by the look on Kyle's face, he could tell that he too didn't believe in the family as an institution and all the beliefs surrounding it but, Derrick was only 10. Dario didn't want to be the one to introduce him to the Evils associated with family. Sighing, he let it slide.
"Kyle will show you to your room. Tried making available all necessities I thought you might need but just in case of anything, have Nathan to take you shopping. I could but I've got an important meeting with the shareholders. "
"It's okay I understand. Thank you."
Dario smiled at him. God knows it had taken alot of effort to have Derrick warm up to him. Being a step-dad sometimes was hard but Laura was worth it. Looking back, he could tell that it was the best decision he ever made in his life.
~
Derrick and Kyle walked in silence. Kyle was not a social person. Remember Nathan called him 'bitchy'? He was, however ,not trying to come off as bitchy, he was just not used to socialising with strangers. Derrick on the other hand, was just cold. Nothing more or less. That was just him and making small talks was a task he avoided unless it was necessary. Hence the silence.
The seven rings was a cylindrical structured Seven -storey building. Typical right. The rooms were on the fourth floor and the lazy him didn't want to climb those steep stairs. So Kyle guided him to one of the elevators. As they waited, he checked his phone for any message allowing a bright smile when he saw Hudson's text.
™
Where the hell are you?
™
His best friend was very needy but he didn't blame him. Hanging out with others was draining, Hudson always made it bearing. He got into the elevator, readying himself to press the fourth floor but deciding otherwise.
™
K: Where's everyone?
H: Hall, why?
K: Want you to meet someone.
™
The hall was on the 3rd floor and that is the exact number he pressed. He wanted Derrick to meet the others before showing his companion to his room.
Just as Hudson said, everyone was in the hall passing time. Sunday was a free day for them meaning no studying. Most of the time, Sundays were spent in the rooms. He was even relieved they had decided to spend that Sunday in the hall.
He paused at the door, turning around to talk to Derrick who had also stopped,
"Want you to meet the others first, is that okay?"
He shrugged and Kyle went on to open the door. They were met by six pairs of curious eyes, all staring at the door. Hudson had seemingly told them he was bringing someone along.
"Are they always this creepy."
Kyle chuckled at this before responding to the bewildered boy, "No they were expecting you."
"Guys this is Derrick. Derrick William." Kyle introduced him to the others immediately they stopped. They were silent... attentive. That was the most attentive they ever were
That group was always chaotic even during the tutoring sessions and Kyle appreciated the fact that they could actually be quiet. Everyone seemed to have caught on the similarities between the new boy and their lady boss, Laura, and the surname was an added clue. Everyone except Hudson. His best friend was always clueless. Kyle snickered, introducing his best friend. "And Derrick, the blonde one at the corner is Hudson. " He finished stepping aside to go to his best friend.
Seemingly everyone was expecting that except Rex.
"Hey, what about us?"
The others laughed at Rex's offended expression before Nathan decided to do the rest of the introduction. He was their leader after all.
"Hi Derrick, welcome. I'm Nathan. " He shook Derrick's hands before introducing the rest of them. "The offended one is Rex, the one trying to comfort him is Shane. The brunette pretending to be on the phone is Kayden and the remaining one is Gabriel. You already know Kyle and Hudson. In case of anything, I'll be at your service."
"You can take him up on that offer. Nate's the nice one." Rex said, probably over his pouty phase. Derrick remembered Kyle calling him the golden boy and allowed an amused glance at Kyle. The latter was explaining something to his best friend while the two were laughing. They were in their own world. He concluded that the were friends. The type of friendship Dario wanted him to have. He turned his attention back to Nathan before he got caught staring. Staring was rude. His mother usually said that to Leigh anytime she was caught staring and that was everytime.
"Have you seen your room yet?"
Derrick shook his head.
"Do you know the room number?" Nathan asked. There were many empty rooms on the fourth floor but there had to be an already prepared room. Getting a room number would save them both some time. When Derrick shook his head again, he turned to Kyle.
"Kyle, the card. "
Kyle passed forward the keycard to Gabriel before going back to his conversation with Hudson already forgetting he had a task to show Derrick to his room.
"It's room number 408. Lemme show you to your room."