Adam cried out and slid down to his knees, his hand on his cheek.. The new slap only added to the pain from last night, but nothing equaled the pain in his heart.
Randy slapped the top of Adam's head. Adam sank down ever lower and let the tears fall, to heartbroken to care enough to fight back. "This is how it's going to be. You hear me, bitch?" Randy yanked on Adam's hair and pulled his head up so he could look Randy in the eye.
"I'm the boss, you will mind me. I'm not turning into an apologetic pussy for you. You will do what I say, when I say it and you will do it with no arguments." Randy pulled harder on Adam's hair, a few strands of blond silk came loose in Randy's grasp.
"If you go running to tattletale, Jason will be in serious trouble. My dad has friends, Italian friends, who will make sure Jason feels the pain of your disobedience..." Randy was like a mad man when he spoke. He had fully turned into the Viper he was named after.
Adam couldn't believe this was happening It was like he'd fallen through a mirror, where the dark and evil shadows lived. This had to be a horrible dream. He was going to wake up any time now, and get yelled at by Mister Amoré for falling asleep in class. Adam desperately tried to wake himself up.
When Randy whacked the top of his head again, Adam knew he lived in the nightmare and would never really wake up again.
"We will go to college, get married and be the couple every one is jealous of. You will have our babies and be my trophy. That is how it's going to be. You will obey me from now on. Now, get up, clean up and be in the courtyard in fifteen minutes or you will get even worse." Randy pushed Adam's head against the tiled wall with a dull thud. Then, as fast as he had appeared, Randy vanished.
Adam's body trembled so badly it took him a few moments to actually be able to stand. He was able to drag himself to the long line of sinks. He managed to turn on the water and splashed it on his face. He sniffed deeply and had to make himself stop crying. He took Randy at his word, he would do anything, just anything to keep Jason safe.
With a shaky hand, Adam applied a fresh layer of the concealing makeup to his re-injured cheek. At this rate, he would soon have to make a trip to the theatre supply shop.
Adam felt all the heart drain out of his soul along with the water in the sink. He felt like an empty shell. No, he felt like a bird who had to fly with a broken wing; an impossible feat. Adam knew he had no choice but to become Randy Orton's bitch. As he left the bathroom, his spirit followed his heart down the drain.
The broken blond skipped the cafeteria, food was the last thing on his mind. Adam went out to the courtyard. Randy sat at a table with Ziggler, Ryback, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas and Zack Ryder. He could tell they were talking about wrestling by the gestures they made.
Adam looked over at another table. Seth was wrapped in Roman's arms. The couple spoke softly to each other. Dean was also at the table, he looked to be learning the lines for his monologue. Seth looked at Adam and waved the blond over.
Adam shook his head and nodded to the table of wrestlers. Adam barely managed to look normal when he felt like a robot. When he went to sit next to Randy, his boyfriend ignored him. At least Ryback greeted him as did Bo Dallas.
Adam sat quietly, his hands in his lap, head down. He didn't even take the time to read the history chapter they had been assigned; Adam simply sat.
Seth looked over at Adam. He knew something was wrong. The blond just sat and looked too afraid to even blink. Seth nudged Roman who had begun to read his history assignment.
"Ro, something is wrong. Look at Adam." Seth nodded towards the table of wrestlers with a frown.
Both Roman and Dean looked over to where Adam sat. Roman shrugged. "He probably has one of his headaches. You know how he gets." Roman wasn't concerned.
"Headaches?" Dean's brow arched at Roman. He looked at Seth, he wanted to know the story.
Seth gave Dean a look of question. "I would have thought you would have know, knowing how close his dad is to yours. Anyway, Adam suffers from migraines. See, when he was little, Adam was playing Spider-Man and jumped off a kitchen counter. He nearly broke his neck, literally. It still causes him to get migraines to this day. Adam doesn't get them very often, but when they hit, they hit hard. The nurse keeps special medicine just in case he gets one while he's here in school. He also carries a couple of doses in his backpack, at all times. He had one so bad last year it crippled him for two days. His parents finally had to take him to the emergency room to get a really strong medication." Seth finished with a frown. He didn't think Adam had a migraine. The look on Adam's face was more like he was... broken.
Dean frowned. " I never knew. I guess I have missed a lot. I didn't really hang around when our parents visited each other. Why doesn't Randy take him to the nurse?" Dean was angry. If Adam had been his, he would take better care of the blond beauty.
Seth started to get up. I'm going to check on him. If I know Adam, and it is a migraine, he won't say anything. He hates to be fussed over."
Roman went to hold Seth back. "Let Adam fend for himself. I don't want you anywhere near Orton. I don't care what he or Coach Hart said, I know Bo's injury was not an accident." He knew in his heart of hearts that Orton had hurt Bo Dallas on purpose. He didn't want his beloved Sethie anywhere near the viperous Orton.
Seth looked annoyed. "Big Dog, I love you, you know that, but you also know not to tell me what to do. Adam is my friend, who has bad taste in boyfriends, but still, he is my friend. With Jason gone, someone has to look after him. Please Ro, I am not going over there to talk to Randy, I just want to know Adam is alright." He gave Roman a firm look. Seth might have been smaller and leaner, but he could damn well fight his own battles, he was no weakling.
Roman moved the hand that had blocked Seth from leaving. "Okay, you're right. I shouldn't try to tell you what to do. I'm sorry, babe. Go, look after Adam. Just... stay outta Orton's way. That speech he made in the parking lot this morning was utter bullshit." He too was firm, but he smiled at his love.
Seth gave Roman a kiss. The younger man went over to where Adam sat. Randy and the others were so involved in their conversation, Orton never noticed when Seth sat down next to Adam.
Adam nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He relaxed when he saw Seth next to him. Adam gave his friend a very small, dull, smile.
"Adam, are you alright? Do you have one of your migraines? Want me to go with you to the nurse? I know you hate the medicine, but it will make you feel better." Seth gave his friend a very worry filled, crinkle faced look.
Adam shook his head. "No, Seth. I'm fine, really. I don't have a migraine. Damn Jason for telling everyone. Can't I just have a bad day? Seth can you... just... leave me alone... please?" He gave Seth a looked that pleaded with desperation.
Seth frowned. "Okay, but... I'm around if you need me. Jason wanted us to know so we could look after you. Call him... you'll feel better, and Jason won't mind." Seth stood and started to leave.
Adam sighed. "I can't... no, I won't. I don't want to interrupt him at Harvard. I know he's busy. Just go now, okay?" Adam kept his head down the entire time he spoke.
Seth reluctantly went back to Roman and Dean. He was more worried than ever about Adam. He sat down next to Roman and began to chew on his fingernails. Something Seth only did when he was majorly upset.
Roman gently pulled Seth's hand away from Seth's mouth. "Baby boy, what is it?" Roman stroked Seth's cheek.
"Something is bad wrong with Adam. He told me to leave, said it wasn't a migraine. Ro... I'm not sure... but... I think he had makeup on... cover up makeup... and it's not for a zit. I'm really worried." Seth spoke softly, his dark eyes were filled with the anxiousness he felt for his friend.
Dean bristled and paid attention to Seth's words. Maybe it was time for a warning talk with Orton. Makeup could only mean one thing, Adam hid something, like a nasty bruise. Yeah, Adam could be a bit of a klutz, but Dean had never seen him with a bruise.
"If that fuckin' bastard Orton has hurt Adam, I'll kill him. I will fuckin' kill him." Dean at least managed to keep his voice to a low growl.
Roman and Seth looked at Dean with wide eyes. They both knew, at that moment, Dean was as serious as a heart attack. Roman reached over and laid a hand on Dean's shoulder.
"Dean, take a deep breath. If you kill Randy, you'd never have a chance with Adam. You'd be in jail for a long, long time. You would never break your parents hearts like that. Maybe Seth is wrong. He only said he thinks Adam is wearing make up. Dean please, let Seth work on Adam. Maybe he can find out the truth." Roman spoke with soft sincerity. He looked Dean directly in the eye.
Dean gave Roman a very annoyed look. "Thanks a lot, Big Dog, now Architect knows." He looked like he was ready to punch Roman in the nose.
"I already knew, Dean. Roman told me nothing. I told him. I just figured it out, by the way you always stare at Adam when you think no one is watching. It really wasn't that hard. Ro is right, you can't get into it with Orton, for Adam's sake. If and I mean if it's true, Randy could take it out on Adam. If you do anything here, at school Triple H will bring the wrath down on you. You're not his favorite student. That will make trouble for your folks." Seth ended his lecture with a pointed look to Dean.
Dean took in everything both his friends had said. Especially about Principal Helmsley or Triple H as the students called him. Dean would do nothing to hurt his Dads, nothing. Nor did he want Randy to retaliate on Adam. He felt helpless and that was not a feeling Dean Ambrose-Hart was used to.
Dean looked at his two friends, he was glad they could make him stop and think before he acted. "Okay, I've heard you. I won't start anything with Orton. I'll see Adam in Life Skills, maybe I can find out whats wrong. Yes, I'll be tactful, I'm not always a brash bastard." Dean gave a slight chuckle, but his look said 'thank you.'
Roman and Seth both sighed with relief. "You have English with Orton right?" Seth asked Roman, brow arched.
Roman nodded. "We both do. Nothing will happen. It's Miss Phoenix. She'd have us in a choke hold in two seconds if we caused a ruckus. Have you see the muscles on that woman? I bet if she was a wrestler on TV, she could throw a giant over the top rope." He laughed, but he was right. Beth Phoenix would take no crap in her classes.
"Yeah, pop says she comes to school two hours early every day and works out in the weight room She can power lift three hundred on a good day, he's seen her do it." Dean confirmed Roman's words. Miss Phoenix scared him a bit quite frankly. Well, maybe not scared, but Dean respected the English teacher very much.
Nothing more could be said, the bell rang. Classes would resume for the day in fifteen minutes. Roman and Seth went to their locker. Dean lagged behind to see what Orton would do. To his surprise, Adam held hands with Randy and looked happy as Larry... or was he? Dean swore when Adam made eye contact with him, Adam's look said 'help me.' Dean once again felt helpless as he went into the building.
When they got to their locker, Randy acted like nothing had happened in stall number ten. He was the gentle, caring boyfriend that Adam loved.
Adam didn't really fall for Randy's "sweetness". He knew what was behind those storm colored eyes. What Adam now wondered, had it be there all the time, just waiting to come out? Or was it something new? Adam was only sure about one thing, he would let himself be drug through hell if it kept Jason safe.
When the couple got to English class, Adam took his seat. For once he was glad Miss Phoenix had separated him and Randy. Adam only wished he wasn't next to Dean. He didn't like that Dean seemed to be able to look into his soul. It unnerved him.
Randy gave Adam a small kiss and went to his seat in the back. Dean came in with Roman. Dean took his seat across the aisle from Adam, but ignored the blond. Dean would have his chance in their next class, Life Skills.
When the bell ran Miss Phoenix began the class. Much to Adam's chagrin he was called to go up to the blackboard to diagram a very long sentence. Miss Phoenix liked the old teaching methods of grammar, and always drilled her Tuesday classes in them.
Adam could only think of stall ten, but somehow his brain's analytical side took over and he diagrammed the sentence perfectly. Miss Phoenix praised him. One by one the class went to the board. Dean and Roman were perfect, while Randy made a couple of mistakes. Before the class ended, they had a handout with twenty sentences to diagram for homework.
Adam was never so glad to be away from Randy as he entered the huge Life Sciences classroom and sat in the chair he had yesterday. Seth entered with Dean and they also took their same seats.
Shawn was already in his comfortable chair. Bret had given his blessing for Shawn to cater for Hunter's party. He knew Shawn wanted to start a small, weekend only catering business, maybe this would help launch it.
Shawn looked at Adam. He could tell something was not right. Adam never frowned and now he sat in the chair and looked like a kicked pup. Well, there wasn't time to talk to Adam now, the bell had rung.
Shawn started his class. "Please pass in your summaries." He smiled as six papers were handed to him. One from Seth, and one from each the five "married" couples. He was proud to see that Dean had written the summary instead of Adam.
"Now, today you are going to furnish your homes. Make a list of what you buy and how much. Then you will write a check for the amount and register your new balance." Shawn nodded. The couples could break off into the work area.
Dean and Adam once again went to the bean bags in the far corner. Adam sat with yet another sigh. He was sick of sighing, but he could do nothing else.
Dean sat. "Tell me the truth. Do you have a migraine?" He gave Adam a very "husband" like look of deep concern.
Adam rolled his eyes. "No, damn it. Can't a guy have a bad day without everyone going into a... panic mode? Can we just get our furniture. I'll pull up IKEA." Adam secretly appreciated his friends worry, especially Seth, but he just couldn't tell the truth.
Dean bit his lip. "Um, it would be much cheaper than IKEA if we went with unpainted furniture. Then we could paint or stain it how we want." He jumped right into their assignment.
Adam thought about it. It wasn't what he was used to, but, on a budget? "Well, okay. Can you do things like that? Get furniture ready to paint and then paint it?" Adam pulled up an unpainted furniture store right in Long Beach on his cell phone.
Dean nodded. "Yup, it's easy. The unassembled stuff is even cheaper. Oh and yeah, I can assemble it. Let me see what you found." He leaned closer to Adam, to look at the cell phone. Dean's right cheek nearly pressed against Adam's left as they looked at furniture.
Dean inhaled Adam's scent. He thought Adam smelled both sweet and spicy. Adam also inhaled Dean's scent. The auburn haired man smelled like an ocean breeze, a scent that always made Adam feel calm. He loved going out on Vince's yacht, just the sea beneath him. It made Adam feel free and relaxed.
Adam shook himself. "Okay, yeah. Cheap is good on our budget. What do we need..." Adam's voice trailed off as he got lost in looking at all the furniture.
Half an hour later, Dean looked at the list of their chosen furniture. "So, dresser, coffee table, another dresser and four small tables. Guess we can eat on the couch... speaking of, we need a couch and and um... a bed. Those we can get used from Goodwill or something." Dean used his own cell phone to look for the said items.
"I will not sleep on a used mattress. That is where I draw the line." Adam was a firm as a rock as he looked hard at Dean.
Dean laughed. "Easy, dear. Goodwill puts new, clean mattress on the beds. I wouldn't sleep on a used one either. Here, look a nice double bed." He showed Adam the picture on his phone.
Before Adam could answer, Shawn plopped down in another bean bag with a grunt. "Sorry to interrupt. Adam, I need to ask you a question." Shawn looked at the blond with a smile.
"Sure" Adam stated simply. He hoped Shawn wasn't going to ask him if he had a migraine.
"Principal Helmsley asked me to cater a small dinner party for him in a couple of weeks. I was wondering, could I use your grandma Judy's chicken pot pie recipe?" I think they would make a fine single serving main dish." Shawn loved Judy and Eric's chicken pot pie and made it often for his own family. However, he would never steal the recipe to use for business without asking.
Adam smiled. "I'm sure she would be proud. I know dad won't mind. Dad has done that before, in small single soufflé ramekins. Worked like a charm." Adam explained to his teacher and friend.
"I hoped you wouldn't mind. That's what I planned on doing. I hope, if this goes off, it will start my weekend business. Well, I'll leave you boys to it." He gave his son's hair a ruffle as well as Adam. Dean smiled at Shawn with utter adoration.
"Congrats, dad... er... Mister Hart. I'm sure you will make a fantastic meal. I'll serve or help anyway I can." Dean spoke softly to his adoptive parent.
Shaw smiled proudly at Dean. He then got up out of the bean bag chair, or at least that was his intent.
The bean bag chair had decided it liked Shawn, and didn't want to let him up. Shawn struggled to stand, but his knees just wouldn't get under him enough. With a laugh, Dean and Adam easily stood and pulled Shawn up out of his bean bag chair.
"Remind me, I am too old to sit in one of these things. Thanks boys. Dean, if you tell your father..." Shawn laughed again and gave Dean a wink.
Dean held his hands up. "Never. And, you are not old." He returned Shawn's wink. Never in his life did he think he would have been adopted, let alone by two such wonderful people.
The two teens settled back down to finish their assignment. They wrote two checks from their accounts. Dean paid for the unpainted furniture and Adam paid for the bed and couch they had picked out.
When the bell rang, Adam and Dean left together. Neither had to stop at their lockers, they had their math books with them. There was a back staircase at the end of the Life Skills/Cafeteria hall. It led right to the second floor where the math class was.
As they walked into the classroom Adam was laughing. Dean had just done a perfect imitation of his dad trying to get out of the bean bag chair, and was it was too funny.
Randy was in his seat at the back of the class. His eyes narrowed and his lips went to a grim line. He'd have to give Adam another lesson in proper behavior, and walking to class with Dean; was not on.
Roman looked over at Orton, he didn't like what he saw. He started to wonder if Seth had been right, that Randy was beating on Adam. Roman hated to think it was true, but he'd heard something in the gym. He'd heard that Randy was using steroids and he got them from the new kid, Ziggler. He'd also heard it wasn't just steroids.
Roman didn't usually listen to locker room gossip, but this had his attention. Randy could easily do drugs and still pass the required urine tests. Piss tests were only taken during the State Championships. Randy would have time to clean his system by then. Roman didn't exactly know what to do, he would not act on rumor alone. He'd have to warn Dean to stay away from Adam.
Adam's smile left his face as he sat down across the aisle from Randy. Randy was angry at him. Adam tried to soften his boyfriend with one of his best smiles.
"Shawn got stuck in the bean bag chair. We had to pull him out, it was funny. Dean just imitated him, that's all, it was funny." Adam explained in a whisper and hoped the anger would leave his boyfriends face.
It worked, Randy let out a small chuckle. "Bet it was funny. But, next time, get your ass to the locker first, without Damnbrose. Understand?" He gave Adam a viperous glare.
Adam's entire being slumped. He nodded. "Yes, Randy." Adam had a feeling those to words would be said a million billion times... until the day he died... it was a grim prospect.
No more could be said, the bell rang and Lawler, The King, began to teach. Lawler stood at the board and began to lecture on the subject of graphing and calculations. The students took frantic notes. Lawler was not a slow talker and his back was to the class as he wrote on the white board.
When Mister Lawler turned back to the class, Adam thought the older man looked very pale and a bead of sweat had broken out on his brow. His breathing seemed to be a bit off. The teacher looked rather ill, and Adam wasn't the only one to notice.
Mister Lawler suddenly grabbed the back of his chair with one hand and clutched his chest with the other. His face contorted in pain; horrible pain.
Adam suddenly jumped up. "Ran, get the nurse, now! He's having a heart attack!" He ran up the aisle. By now, Mister Lawler looked like death.
Randy froze. Roman shot him a disgusted look as he got up. He ran out of the class room at top speed. Adam struggled to keep Mister Lawler from crashing to the floor.
"Randal, help me!" Adam called over his shoulder. While Adam was strong, as Mister Lawler struggled to breathe, he was dead weight for Adam to hold up.
Randy was frozen in fear. It was just like his dad all over again. Five years ago, Bob Orton had a massive heart attack. Randy had been with him at home when it happened. He was helpless to do anything. Randy had blown off the CPR course he was supposed to have taken for Junior High health class. Luckily, the maid knew what to do. She called for 911 and began CPR. She saved her employer's life.
Bob rewarded her with a huge raise, new car and a house on the back of the property where she and her husband, the butler, would want for nothing. Bob never knew that Randy had failed him; maybe he should have.
Dean looked back, Randy was fucking useless. He got up and ran to help Adam. "Let's get him down on the floor." Dean knew exactly what to do. He, Shawn and Bret had just completed the CPR course. Shawn and Bret had to renew their cards, and Dean earned his first.
They eased Jerry to the floor. His head rested on Adam's knees as the blond knelt. Dean loosened Jerry's tie and shirt collar. As the teacher still took breaths, CPR wasn't needed; yet.
Suddenly, Lawler's body gave a violent tremble, his eyes rolled back and fluttered shut. The last breath left his body, Dean went into action.
"Adam, move to the side. Do you know what to do?" Dean asked quickly as he moved into a position to better perform chest compressions. He unbuttoned Jerry's shirt.
"Yeah." Adam tilted Lawler's head back. He pulled down on Jerry's jaw to open the man's mouth, when he did, Adam stuck a finger in the teacher's mouth and swept it to check for a blockage. "Airway is clear." Adam stated flatly. Everything went out of his mind, everything that is except for what he'd learned when he had earned his CPR card. When his grandma was struck down and killed, Adam wanted to learn how to do CPR, so on one else would have to die.
"Good. Thirty then two." Dean reminded Adam of what to do. He checked for a pulse, when he found none, he began to do the chest compressions.
Dean counted each compression, when he reached thirty, he stopped. Adam bent down, and covered the teacher's mouth with his. He breathed his life into Jerry's body. When he saw Lawler's chest rise, Adam gave him a second breath. Dean then began compressions again.
The class held their collective breaths as they watched Dean and Adam work to save the life of their teacher. Mister Lawler was a tough old bear, but they respected him.
It seemed like forever, but the school nurse finally arrived. She didn't interfere with Dean and Adam, they were doing a perfect job. Her interruption of their work could mean life or death for the mathematics teacher.
"Roman, go tell Mister Helmsley, the wait for rescue and show them where we are. Run along, hurry." The nurse encouraged Roman with a point to the door.
The school nurse was an older lady named Mary Seltzer and she had been the nurse at WWE High for twenty years. She'd seen it all. This was the fourth time a teacher had gone down with a heart attack.
Five minutes passed, Dean had worked up a sweat as he kept up the compressions. While Adam gave Jerry two breaths, Dean slipped off his black tee shirt. Underneath he wore a sleeveless V-necked undershirt.
Adam could see that Dean was much more muscular than he'd thought. The muscles rippled and flexed under Dean's tanned skin as he worked. Adam also couldn't help but notice how lean and hard Dean's body was. He wondered why Dean wasn't on one of the sports teams, he sure had the physique for it. Adam snapped out of his thoughts, it was time to breathe again.
Dean watched with ragged breaths as Adam blew twice into Jerry's mouth. He watched as the man's chest rose and fell, with Adam's efforts. A bead of sweat rolled down Adam's nose, but it didn't stop the blond.
The faint sound of a siren could be heard through the closed windows of the school room. It wouldn't be long now. It renewed Dean and once again he began the thirty compressions to Lawler's chest. Adam counted compression out loud.
"In here!" Roman's voice called out in the hallway. There was a flurry of footsteps in the hallway with Roman. A gurney was left in the hall as four paramedics, each carrying two boxes filled with medical equipment came into the classroom.
Two of the paramedics knelt down. When Dean finished his last compression, one of the paramedics gave the two breaths, the other took over for Dean. The third paramedic began to hook Mister Lawler up to the portable machines. The last paramedic asked questions, Adam answered as best he could.
The nurse took Dean aside and made him sit down in Jerry's chair and made him take slow sips of water. Dean's job had been extremely physical and had nearly drained him. The nurse wanted to make sure there wouldn't be a need for a second ambulance; for Dean.
More footsteps were heard as Hunter came into the room, only slightly breathless from his run from the sports complex and then up the stairs to the second floor. He stood next to Roman and watched Jerry Lawler fight for his life.
"Wait... wait... yes, he's breathing on his own. Let's get the oxygen on him and get him down to Long Beach Med Center. You two should be very proud. You saved his life." The paramedic who'd taken over Adam's job spoke with a smile.
"We just did what needed to be done. Dean did the hard part." Adam and sure Hunter heard his words. He knew the Principal had something against Dean, so he promoted Dean. Maybe it would help.
There were even more footsteps as Dean's parents came into the room. Bret went to Dean and the nurse while Shawn went to Adam.
The paramedics wheeled the gurney into the room. They carefully lifted Lawler onto the stretcher. Just as they got him strapped in, a breathless man came into the room.
Shawn went to the stranger. "Michael, he's breathing and stable. Dean and Adam did CPR on Jerry. Go with him, he will be glad to know you are there." The man was Jerry's husband, Michael Cole-Lawler. He was an attorney and his office was just down the street. Shawn had called him when he'd heard about Jerry.
"Thank you, oh thank you." Michael looked from Adam to Dean. The teens smiled, too tired to do anything else.
Soon, Jerry, the paramedics and Michael had vanished, on their way down to the waiting ambulance.
Bret fussed over Dean. "I am so proud of you, son. You and Adam did a perfect job." He spoke softly. He didn't want Dean teased by his peers.
Nurse Seltzer spoke up. "I want both these boys to rest. I'll take them down to my office. Their teachers need to know. What's your last class?" The nurse spoke in a serious tone.
Adam spoke. "We both have Earth Science with Mister McMahon." He sounded as tired as he looked, Dean even more so.
"I'll tell Shane. Give me your homework to give him and then I'll get your assignment." Shawn still had time before his last class began.
Adam didn't dare look at Randy as he went to his seat to gather his backpack and math books. Dean also gathered his. Both boys frowned.
"Gotta go to my locker to get my science. Adam?" Dean looked at Adam. Adam nodded. "Me too."
Hunter gave his approval to the nurse. As much as he hated to reward Dean in any way, even he had to admit, the kid had done a good thing, and did it well.
The Principal addressed the class. "For the last twenty minutes of class, sit quietly and study. Coach can you stay?" He looked over at Bret.
"No problem. I can fill in for Jerry. My teaching minor was math." Bret looked at Hunter. He actually hoped Hunter would agree. The change would be nice and Kurt could easily handle the P.E. classes.
Hunter nodded. "Good, saves trying to get a substitute. Get Coach Angle to take your Phys Ed classes."
With that, Bret took over the calculus class. He would take Jerry's lesson plan book home to study and follow it. Shawn and the nurse took Dean and Adam out of the class. Randy glared after Adam, but there was nothing he could do; now.
It wasn't long before the nurse had Dean and Adam settled in her office, just down the hall from Stephanie's office. The nurse had told the boys to rest and went to get them some orange juice and a snack. They needed some sugar energy in their systems to prevent shock after the fact.
Dean splashed water on his face at the sink in the nurse's office. When he dried off, he put his black tee shirt back on. "Adam, is it wrong to feel proud of what we did? I don't mean as a brag, just proud that we did it." He looked at Adam who had laid back on the lounger in the office.
Adam put his hands over his eyes, now he felt a headache as it tried to invade his body. "No, we did do a good thing and we did it well. But yeah, I don't want to go on about it. I want to go to the hospital and check on Mister Lawler." He closed his eyes.
Dean frowned, Adam looked a bit pale. "Good idea. I'll follow you there on my bike... well, if you don't mind." He leaned forward in his seat, his back and arms ached a bit from all the repeated motion of the chest compressions.
Adam nodded. "I don't mind. We will go right after school..." He stopped talking when the nurse came in.
She gave Dean a carton of juice and a peanut butter sandwich. She also gave him two ibuprofen after checking for Dean's parental permission slip.
She then looked at Adam. "Is it bad enough for one of your shots?" She knew immediately that Adam had a headache. She knew Adam's history like the back of her hand.
"No... but... it wants to..." Adam spoke hesitantly, not because of the headache, but his fear that his bruise might be exposed. He had not had a chance to check in his locker mirror. He tried to think of what to say in an excuse, just in case.
Nurse Mary went to her locked medicine cabinet and took out a bottle of pills with Adam's name on it. She took two out and handed them to Adam with his juice and sandwich.
Adam knew the pills were meant to stop a migraine before it could start. They worked ninety-five percent of the time. He also managed to eat his sandwich, because it helped coat his stomach for the medication.
Shawn came in to check on his son and Adam. His Life Skills class was busy reading their chapter on child care. "I want to give you boys your science homework. Shane said chapter unit two and to answer the questions on unit two in your workbooks. Hunter also said you two can go home for the day." Shawn was so proud of Dean and Adam he couldn't stop smiling.
Dean nodded. "Dad, Adam and I are going to the hospital to see how Mister Lawler is doing. I'll be home after, if you don't mind." Sometimes Dean forgot to ask and told instead.
Shawn ruffled Dean's mop of auburn hair. "Of course you can go, it's very kind of you. You can go any time. Mary?" Shawn looked at the nurse.
"Dean can go. Adam, what about you?" The Nurse looked at Adam, brow arched. She would know if Adam lied about how he felt.
"It's better. The fresh air will help and I will lay down when I get home." Adam looked the Nurse directly in the eye, he spoke the truth.
Nurse Mary smiled. "Alright, you can go too. I'm very proud of both of you. I'm glad someone paid attention in the CPR class. Now, get out of my office." She gave a laugh. The boys couldn't move fast enough.
Adam was thrilled to be out and not have to worry about seeing Randy any more... till tomorrow. He needed a chance to think. In some ways it was all a fuzzy dream, in others a sickening reality.
Adam spoke to Dean. "Let's get out of here. See you at the hospital." Adam unlocked his car. When he got settled in behind the steering wheel, he took a look in the mirror. Thankfully the makeup had stayed put. He needed to stop and get more on the way home. He buckled up and drove to the hospital.
Dean followed Adam. As he rode along, he wondered what was up with Adam. Was it Orton? Was it just a bad day? Was it that Adam felt lost without Jason? He wished Seth could find out the truth.
It was only a fifteen minute drive to Long Beach Medical Center. Adam and Dean walked into the building together. When they stopped at the front desk, Adam explained, without the heroic part, about why they were there. The clerk directed them to the fourth floor, but doubted they would be able to see their teacher so soon.
Dean led Adam to the elevators and soon they were on the proper floor. When they arrived, they went to the Nurses Station. This time, Dean did the talking, and again like Adam had, explained why they were there. Adam stood behind Dean as he spoke.
"You can't see Mister Lawler, he is in the Coronary Care Unit. You can go to the waiting room, his husband is there and I am sure he would appreciate the company. Wait... wait... you are the two young men that saved Mister Lawler's life aren't you? From what I've heard the two of you are heroes. Go on down to the waiting room." The nurse at the desk pointed down the hallway.
Dean thanked the woman. He grabbed Adam's hand and led him down the hall. At first, Adam wanted to pull his hand away, but something about Dean's hand holding his felt right... it gave him a comfort he hadn't known he'd needed.
Michael Cole-Lawler looked up when he heard the boys come into the waiting area. He jumped up and hugged them both at the same time. Dean felt his face flush and Adam hugged Michael in return. The three sat down.
"I can't... thank you just isn't enough. He is going to be alright. It was a heart attack, but he will make a full recovery. Oh, you two are my heroes. Jerry will be just as proud and thankful when I tell him." Michael spoke with emotion in his voice and in his eyes.
Adam put his hand on Michael's shoulder. "It was the only thing we could do. He was lecturing, he had his back to us, writing on the board. When he turned around I could see something was wrong, When he grabbed his chest, I figured it was a heart attack. I went up to help him and so did Dean. When Mister Lawler stopped breathing, we started doing CPR. Dean did all the hard work. He is the hero, not me." Adam really did feel that Dean had done all the work of saving their teacher.
Dean piped up. "So did you, Adam. The breaths are hard to do. Like the school nurse said, I am just glad I paid attention in the CPR class and that Mister Lawler will be alright."
"You are heroes to us. Jerry will want to see you. Come back in a couple of days. He will be in CCU for a while. I can only go in every three hours. Can I do anything for you? Give you anything?" Michale looked at Dean and Adam with pure adoration.
Adam spoke up quickly. "No, no nothing. Can we do anything for you?" Adam asked with a smile.
"Yeah, coffee, food? Anything at all?" Dean added to Adam's comment.
Michale smiled. "No, I'm fine, thank you. You boys are just too sweet. The world needs to know that there are good teenagers out there. Your parents will be so proud."
After a few more minutes of talking, Dean and Adam left. It was time for Michael to go see Jerry in the CCU. He promised to give Jerry their best wishes. Out in the parking lot, Dean and Adam said goodbye and parted ways.
Adam was in no rush to get home to the empty mansion. Normally the maid, Ellen would be in her room, but she was gone for a two week vacation. Adam missed Miss Ellen, she was like a second grandmother.
Adam did stop at the tiny theater shop. It was cluttered and stuffed to the rafters with all things theatrical. He bought two more containers of the concealing makeup.
As he drove home, he could only think one thought, keep Jason safe. He believed what Randy said. Adam was sure Randy's dad did know those kind of people, and if Randy asked, Bob would have it done. Adam was home before he realized it.
With his car parked, Adam closed the garage door, grabbed his backpack and went into the kitchen. He found a note from his dad and read it. "We'll be home around one or two. Have a pizza and do your homework. I love you, son. See you in the morning. Love Dad."
It was a bit early, but Adam called for a pepperoni pizza, bread sticks and a huge diet Pepsi. They told him it would be an hour, it was the worst time of day for traffic.
Adam decided to take a shower and get comfy. After the pizza arrived, he would lock himself in his room and relax. Peanut would keep him safe.
Adam went up to his room. He took his shower then groomed. He covered the bruise again, mostly so the pizza delivery guy wouldn't see it. Adam winced as his fingers applied the cover up to the large bruise. His skin was a rainbow from black to yellow with a bit of green and a lot of purple. Randy had gotten him good.
His heart got heavier with each layer of cover up. This was not the life with Randy he had envisioned. Randy had anger issues, but he had never, ever hit before. Adam began to wonder why Randy had changed so quickly. Was Seth right, had Randy started doing drugs? There had to be a reason, right?
Adam heard the door bell. The pizza guy must have caught the traffic well, it had only been forty-five minutes. He hurried downstairs, grabbed the money Eric had left for him and opened the front door. Adam gasped.
"Randy? What are you doing here?" Adam couldn't believe Randy had just shown up. His heart began to pound.
Randy stepped into the house. His palm struck Adam, this time on the left side. The blow made Adam stumble. Randy struck Adam a second time. His eyes were filled with anger, his face like stone.
Adam tried to protect himself as he put his arms over his head. "Randy, stop! What did I do?" Adam cried out as he fended off a third blow.
Both teens stopped when the doorbell rang. Adam got up and went to the door. This time it was the pizza guy. Adam took the food and paid. He gave the guy a tip from the change and closed the door behind him.
When Adam turned to face Randy, his boyfriend's entire demeanor had changed. Randy's anger was gone, his eyes no longer burned with fire and he wore a soft smile.
"Gonna share that, baby?" Randy looked at the pizza box in Adam's hands. His voice was also soft, and normal in tone, like he hadn't just attacked Adam with a near fury.
Adam blinked. "Um... Yeah. Let's go up to my room." Adam knew as soon as he'd uttered the words it was stupid. He should have kept Randy downstairs. It was too late now. Why did he have to be such an idiot?
"Sure, baby." Randy sweetly took the boxes from Adam. Adam went up the staircase and Randy followed.
Had Adam been looking at Randy, he would have run. With each step up, Randy's being once again changed. By the time they got to Adam's room, Randy looked like a crazed killer, seeking out his next victim.
A/N: There is a chance, there might be a second chapter published this week on Wednesday or Thursday. No promise, but it is highly likely.