A/N: To busygirl, I hope you like it. And to everybody else who love Donnie and Chris and Pride. I did take some creative freedom with Delilah's though so please don't rant about that. Over all I know this chapter is pretty short and maybe not the best, but as always, bear with me, it will get better.
For any new readers: Hi and welcome. This story is about Donovan "Donnie" Williams whom Pride considers a son, just like Chris and Donnie's older brother Nathan "Nate". James and Katherine are the boys' parents that are for the sake of this story out of town. Tony is Gibbs's real teenage son. Bullied-the other side of the window is set before this one, but it isn't necessary to read that one first.
I don't own any of the characters you may recognize, nor do I make money writing this.
Warning: this story may contain CP of a teenager in later chapters. The author doesn't stand behind that sort of thing in real life and if that isn't your thing, you can still read the story, just skip that moment/chapter. I'll be sure to warn you later on.
Principals and Mentors chapter 1
"Hi Buddy, I already started to wonder if you forgot about me picking you up." Chris greeted Donnie.
"No Chris. Sorry, one of my teachers wanted a word."
"You aren't starting this long weekend of with trouble I hope?!" Chris asked with a raised eyebrow as he started the car and pulled out of the school parking lot.
"No Chris, Mrs. Kelly just asked me if I was interested in joining the drama club, seems that they are one person short."
"Oh okay, did you say no?"
"Yeah, not really my style."
"It could have been great."
"And you would never have let me hear the end of it. Ever." Donnie pointed out.
"I hope you didn't say no for fear of me teasing you." Chris said suddenly sounding serious.
"No, it's fine Chris, it's not something I'm interested in doing."
"I hope you aren't saying that just to make me happy."
"I'm not."
"Good." Chris parked outside the front door to the office and Donnie could already see King through the open door looking up from what he was doing at the desk. The moment he saw Donnie a smile spread out on his face and Donnie found himself smiling back despite the growing feeling of uneasiness. He had taken care of the problem, there was no way his principal would ever mention it to his parents, or worse; King. They knew each other, Donnie knew that much, but how good was the question he'd found himself mulling over ever since the first lie had left his lips. He had been determined and still was, to make sure that King never was the wiser. It went against everything that had been imprinted into his brain since he was six years old, but this one time he wasn't going to destroy the five days he had with King and Chris.
-Flashback-
"It's a fine mess you've found yourself in, son."
"I know sir."
"I'll have to call in your parents Donovan."
"They aren't home. One of our neighbours had a five-day trip to Paris planned, but the husband broke his leg and will need surgery, so they gave my parents an opportunity to go instead." Donnie could see that the Principal wasn't sure if he believed him. "It's the truth sir. They'll be gone until Tuesday."
"Why didn't your parents notify us?"
"They had to leave just a few hours after getting the proposal, so they probably forgot about it."
"Who are you staying with? Your neighbours?" Donnie hesitated just a second. He really didn't want to mess up this weekend with King if he had a choice.
"Yes sir. Nate is deployed so there wasn't much of a choice."
"Do you know their phone number?"
"I don't have it on me, sir." That was the truth.
"Okay. This once, and hear me well Donovan, this is the only time I'll send a note home with you. I want it signed by your parents the day after they get back from their trip. If I don't have the note back in my hands by Thursday 8 o'clock I'll call your Dad. Understood?"
"Yes sir." Donnie couldn't believe his luck. His parents would be none the wiser and neither would King. He'd just sign the note himself. It was the perfect plan.
-Flashback ending-
Or at least he had thought so until he now realised it was going to be four long days of lying to King, one of the growing list of experts on when he wasn't entirely truthful.
"Are you coming?" Chris asked.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure everything is alright?"
"Yes Chris." Chris still looked at him weirdly but finally nodded.
"Okay then, what do you want to do tonight?"
"Do you really have the night off?"
"Yeah kiddo, so pick something, within limits, to do."
"Why do we need limits?" Donnie asked with a big smile. "I don't need any limits."
"Because it's you"
"Are you going to stand out there all day?" King questioned from inside sounding mildly impatient.
"Chris!"
"Problems?"
Doing a combination of glaring and pouting Donnie answered: "You are mean!"
"Hey, remember that this is my only evening off this week and I choose to spend it with you."
"Thanks Chris." Donnie leaned closer and wrapped his arms around Chris.
"No problem Trouble Junior."
"Will you ever let that go?"
"Not if I know Chris no he won't." King answered for him. "Is there a hug for me too?"
"Maybe."
"How was school, Kiddo?" King asked as he reached out and drew Donnie into a tight hug.
"Hey! You can't just steal him from me!" Chris protested.
"Sorry Chris, but you know who his favourite is."
"Chris." Donnie teased, knowing full well the reaction he was going to get.
"Bad boy!" King grumbled playfully.
"Good Trouble Junior." Chris smiled.
"Yeah, yeah, will I get an answer to my question?"
"What question?"
"How school went?" Donnie froze momentarily and wondered if there was any chance King knew. "Your Dad called and said he forgot to tell the school they were going away and that they could call me if anything happened."
"Like Trouble Junior would get into trouble at school while staying with you." Chris commented. "With you being friends with principal Matthews Donnie has hawk eyes on him at school."
"Yeah, I guess you are right. Haven't heard from him for months though so I don't think he knows about Donnie and us."
"He doesn't?"
"He doesn't?" Donnie echoed.
"You sound relieved Trouble Junior, are you sure there isn't something going on?"
"Wouldn't you be if you were in my shoes?!"
"Yeah he would be" King chuckled. "I need to call him one of these days though. He used to come by the bar often enough, but since all his kids became teenagers I'm sure he has his hands full at the evenings, just like we do with this one" King reached out and ruffled Donnie's hair fondly. "Don't worry though, I'll tell him to go easy on you unless you deserve it."
"Thanks."
"Are you feeling alright Buddy? You seem a bit off"
"I'm fine, just hungry." Donnie lied easily, almost surprising himself at how easy it was.
"Let's go to the kitchen then and I'll make you something to eat, does that sound good to you?"
"I've been here long enough to find supplies for a couple of sandwiches King.
"Still, I want to make you something." Donnie felt even guiltier than before at that. King tried his hardest to make him feel at home while all Donnie did was lie and cause trouble.
"I have a better idea, why don't we head over to Delilah's? We all could do with a break and Donnie hasn't been there for months."
"Sounds good to me, what do you think Kiddo, do you mind?"
"No, that sounds good."
"Well then, let's get going."
-Principals and Mentors-
"This place is even cooler than I remembered" Donnie exclaimed awed as the trio stepped through the doors to King's bar and restaurant; Delilah's.
"Thank you, Buddy." They found a table and King waived over a waitress. Once they all had placed their orders King started out the conversation:
"Speaking of school earlier, how are you doing overall?"
"You mean grades?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, I guess. I haven't kept close tabs on them, but they should be A's and B's at least."
"And history with Mr. Trevor?"
"A C, it will take time to raise it."
"Are you doing your best?"
"Yes sir."
"And behaviour-wise, anything I should be worried about?"
"No sir." He wasn't about to let what happened today become a habit, that was for sure. He was done with bad habits for the rest of his life. The first few weeks after Tony had left for Washington hadn't exactly gone smoothly and to make it worse, King had been the one who had caught him in action.
"Good. Have you talked to Tony lately?"
"Not for a week at least."
"So it was Sean you were arguing with yesterday?" King asked knowingly.
"Yeah, we aren't really agreeing lately." Donnie admitted quietly.
"You know I still haven't met him?!"
"At this rate you won't." When the words registered in Donnie's brain along with the tone he had used, he quickly apologized: "Sorry, we just don't get along right now."
"Anything we can do to help?"
"Thanks, but no. What are you looking at, Chris?" Donnie wondered, seeing Chris stare at something across the room. Ignoring Donnie's question, Chris asked:
"Speaking of the devil, isn't that principal Matthews?!"
A/N: Thankyou for reading, and please let me know what your think about the story so far…
