A Troubled Family || Newsies Soulmates AU

Chapter 34 - Tommy boy

- Chapter 24 - Don't Judge Me Because I'm Dyslexic -
Warnings: Bullying, nerves
Third Person POV

A/N, before anyone attacks me for making Tommy boy Dyslexic and writing about it, let me remind you that I am Dyslexic (diagnosed by a professional).

Tommy boy walks past the living room when he stops.

He poked his head back in the living room.

Jack was in there, his paints surrounding him, a half-painted box in front of him, a brush in his hand, an apron on, and a palate in his other hand.

He was also covered in paint.

"Jacky..." Tommy boy starts, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he stands in the doorway.

Jack looks up at him, a small smile appearing on his face. "Hey, T." He greets. "How are you doing?" He asks.

Tommy boy bites his lip, his eyes flickering around the room as if to avoid Jack's eyes.

Jack's eyes soften. "Want to have a brother talk while I paint?" He asks. "Even if you don't want to talk about what's bothering you, I could really use some company." He tells his younger brother.

Tommy boy nods softly, going and sitting down across from Jack.

Jack looks at him.

Tommy boy stays silent for a moment, biting his lip as he debated telling Jack.

"There's this kid in the Science Club," Tommy boy starts, sighing softly.

Jack knew this probably wasn't good.

"He makes fun of me for being Dyslexic and says I shouldn't be in the Science club or Science Honors." Tommy boy explains softly. "I told myself this would happen, but my teacher really wanted me to join, so I gave in." He says quietly.

Jack sighs softly, putting his brush down.

He starts talking, but Tommy boy stops him.

"He makes fun of me for not being in all Honors and only being in History and Science Honors." Tommy boy adds, looking ashamed with himself.

"T," Jack starts softly. "You know I'm Dyslexic?" He asks to make sure.

Tommy boy nods.

Jack notices him picking at his hands. "Fidget cube before I continue?" He asks, pulling a fidget cube out of his pocket.

Tommy boy looks up at him. "You know me way too well." He mutters, taking the fidget cube.

Jack chuckles softly.

He thinks for a moment.

"Honors kids have made fun of me for not being in all Honors and only being in Art Honors, which I hadn't even known existed before coming here." Jack reminds him, chuckling softly. "The fact that you are in two- no- three Honors is seriously impressive."

Tommy boy looks up at him.

It was true, Tommy boy was in three Honors classes; History/Social Studies, Science, and his language choice, Polish.