Author's Note: This story takes place one month after Neil's suicide and Mr. Keating's departure. Everything that happened in the movie has happened for the purposes of this story. Please review if you have a moment.

The Resurrection of Todd Anderson

Todd paced around his tiny dorm room, looking everywhere for his tie. "Shit." He muttered. His curse echoed down the hall. Todd was the only one in the dorms this late in the morning. Everyone else had gone to class.

Dr. Hager heard Todd and heaved himself to Todd's room. "What are you doing, Anderson? Why aren't you in class?"

Todd stood up straighter from habit. "I can't find my tie, sir," he answered listlessly.

"Borrow one of Neil's." Hager returned, exasperated. Todd glanced at Neil's side of the room. Most of his things were still there. Neil had never gotten a chance to come back. His father had returned, though, and taken anything of value, including Neil's typewriter and his pictures if friends and family. What were left were his uniforms, his school supplies, and, jammed between his desk and the wall, Neil's diary. Todd blanched at the idea of taking Neil's things; he hadn't touched or moved anything since Neil's death.

"Forget it." Todd muttered, grabbing his book bag and running down the hall.

"Mr. Anderson, how nice that you could join us." Scoffed the sciences teacher, when Todd showed up, tardy and tie-less.

"Sorry, sir." Todd had given up making up excuses. Punishment came no matter what he said. He might as well not say anything at all.

"Take your seat and see me after class." Todd slid into a desk at the back. Knox was on his right and Pitts was on his left. They both looked tired and bored. Todd wished Charlie was here. Charlie would have passed notes and made fun of the teacher and snuck magazines over his textbook. Nothing got Nuwanda down.

Todd reported to his teacher at the end of class. "Demerits, Mr. Anderson." Todd thought it was weird that the administration believed he still cared about things like demerit points. They meant nothing to him now. He nodded and began to walk out. "Wait," called his teacher. He gave Todd a slip of paper. It read PLEASE REPORT TO: Mr. Optern…TIME: whenever convenient…

Todd sighed and crumpled up the piece of paper. He didn't even know who this Optern guy was. Another person to bother him and yell at him.

Todd eventually found Mr. Optern in an office down the hall from Mr. Nolan's. He knocked on the door and was told to enter. Inside the oak-paneled room a man in his mid-thirties sat at a desk, doing something with a bunch of papers. For all he was young, he dressed like all the other teachers in a suit with a tie and he had a short, professional haircut. The man looked up.

"You wanted to see me?" asked Todd, waving his slip of paper. The man read it.

"Todd Anderson. Yes I did, have a seat." Todd sat down in an uncomfortable chair, noting the comfortable leather of the man's chair. "I'm Mr. Optern, the school guidance counselor."

"Oh." Said Todd. It's about my grades, he thought. Oh, no.

"I've been looking through your file." He shuffled the papers on his desk. Todd saw a photocopy of the paper he had signed condemning Mr. Keating. He looked down, embarrassed. "Your grades seem to be slipping lately." Now Mr. Optern had his most recent report card.

"Yeah. I don't know."

"You went through a hard time recently." That's what you call it? A hard time??? Thought Todd, but he just nodded. "I understand you and…" Optern looked at a piece of paper, "Neil Perry were close."
"He's my roommate. Was. He was my roommate." Todd took a deep breath to steady his voice. He hated the past tense.

"And a Mr. Keating. You liked him?"

"He's gone," answered Todd, annoyed. Couldn't they just leave the Captain alone?

"I know. Look. Todd. I'm not trying to condemn you for anything. I just don't want you to be expelled." Who cares? Todd thought. On the outside, though, he wasn't so confident.

"Uh, yes, sir. Um, I have a class now, a chemistry lab." He stuttered.

Mr. Optern sighed and looked defeated. "Okay. I'll write you a note." He said, trying to sound cheerful. "But why don't you come back in a few days anyway? You can come on Thursday during your extra-curricular period."

"Yes, sir." Todd answered quietly. Mr. Optern handed him a note and Todd left. At least I don't have to play soccer on Thursday, he thought.

On his way out, Todd past Dr. Nolan's office. Dr. Nolan was just coming out of it. He glanced at Todd for one brief moment. "Mr. Anderson."

"Dr. Nolan." Todd returned, cold. He stood to the side so Dr. Nolan could pass, and then went to his next class.

Todd sat in his room that night during study hours. He couldn't leave as punishment for being late to so many classes, skipping breakfast, and turning in papers late. Although being stuck in there just made it worse for Todd. He sat at his desk, holding an expensive pen. He remembered Neil throwing his desk-set with an exact copy of this pen off the bridge outside.

Someone knocked on his door, startling him. "Todd?" It was Knox.

"Hi, Knox. How's it going? How's Chris?"

"Ohhhh, Chris. She's great. I can never find any time to see her, though. I'm afraid to sneak off the grounds now."

"I can't even leave my room." Todd countered, and Knox smiled. He sat down cautiously on Todd's bed and avoided looking at the empty bed next to it.

"I have a present for you." Knoz held out a traditional school tie. Todd laughed and picked it up. Uneven gold letters read Knoxious Overstreet on the back. Every single teacher had demanded why he didn't have his tie, some in front of the entire class.

"What about you?' Todd asked.

"I've got another one. I lost mine last year for two months and the school gave me about a million detentions and then made me buy another one. I finally found my first tie hanging from the rafters of the Dining Hall." Todd stared at him. "Charlie was feeling restless," he explained. Again Todd wished Charlie was still there. "Oh, and Todd? Have you done your trig homework yet?"

"I haven't done my trig homework in a month." Todd answered. Both he and Knox looked down because they knew what had caused the change.

"Well," Knox said, brightening. "You can't leave but Hager never said we can't come here!...Hey, Meeks!" he called down the hall.

"What?" came the faint reply.

"Help us with trig?" called out Knox.

Meeks showed up at the door with his books. "You owe me." He stated.

"Forever and always," agreed Knox. "Start with problem five?" Meeks put down his books and started explaining complicated trigonometric theorems.

Todd watched his two friends. They had changed since the beginning of the year. They had all changed. Knox was more outgoing but sadder. Meeks was testier and defensive. Pitts was quieter; he never seemed to talk anymore. Only Cameron was the same, arrogant and stubborn.

"Todd? Are you going to join in?" asked Knox, looking up. I do need the help, Todd thought. He nodded and grabbed his textbook. All three boys lay on the floor, their heads bent over their papers. Meeks explained everything Todd had missed with the patience Todd had thought Meeks had lost. They studied late into the night, with flashlights after lights out. It didn't fix everything, but for the first time in a month Todd was not alone and depressed until three in the morning. He had a friend on each side of him. For now, this was enough.