Author's Note: I'm still not crazy about how this chapter came out. I had lots of snippets of dialog swimming around in my head but the end result came out sort of disjointed. But after multiple re-reads I've decided there's not much more I could do and I might as well just post it. Ah well.


February - Part 2


Johnson had had a very tiring day.

It was now a week and a half since his and Pierce's little episode and he was thankful to say that Pierce seemed to have given in to the inevitable and finally left him alone. But Johnson couldn't help but admit that his latest Anatomy and Physiology class had seemed oddly…empty without Pierce sitting in the front row with a grin spreading across his lips. More than once Johnson had had to catch himself from whirling around, his brain tricking himself into believing he'd heard Pierce muttering something behind his back.

Besides that, there had been a very trying staff meeting early in the morning. Johnson had also forgotten that he had a pile of worksheets he had yet to grade and were due back from him the next morning. He also had a great deal of bills he had to get to when he got home, not to mention the new window he had to put in, as he'd smashed his old one trying to get back into his house.

Johnson put down his pen and leaned his forehead against his palms, checking his clock to see there were still thirty minutes left in the day and wondering how much trouble he might get into for bailing out of the building early.

He heard shuffling footsteps outside his closed office door, not for the first time. Someone sounded as though they had been pacing the hallway for the better part of an hour now.

Johnson sighed irritable and shoved himself to his feet, going to the door to tell whoever it was doing it to stop, please, before Johnson went insane.

Johnson shoved the door open with a creak and Benjamin Pierce paused in his pacing to look up, shocked at Johnson's sudden appearance.

"Mr. Pierce," said Johnson, leaning against the frame of his open door, "and why is it you're not in class?"

Maybe I was kicked out of another one. But, mercifully, the boy restrained himself. "Free period, sir."

"You are an original, Mr. Pierce; I'll give you that," Johnson found himself having to force a frown on his face. "Not many students would think to play hooky while staying in the school building."

Pierce looked unsure whether or not he was supposed to smile.

"Well," said Johnson, remembering he was supposed to be angry at Pierce and should act accordingly, "what is it you want?"

Pierce looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable, "Sir, about what happened last week –"

"I believe I've made myself perfectly clear that that subject is closed," said Johnson flatly.

"But, sir –"

"Closed as in shall not be again opened, Mr. Pierce."

"Can't we just talk about it?"

Johnson sighed.

He had had a very tiring day.

He had been looking forward to finishing up with his work here and getting home to finish up with his work there and then crash on his sofa with a good, long, and boring book.

"Very well, Mr. Pierce, I give you two minutes to present your case." He stepped aside to allow Pierce into his office. There was a moment of very pressing silence in which Pierce evidently was trying to collect himself. He seemed surprised that Johnson had, in fact, allowed him in.

To break the silence, Johnson mused, "I have to say I'm surprised I haven't received a letter from your father, insisting I reinstate you in my class."

Pierce's face turned dark red, something Johnson had never seen before.

"Dad wouldn't do something like that. He…suggested I come to you and try to work things out on my own."

Johnson paused, honestly surprised. Perhaps he had underestimated the elder Mr. Pierce.

"Well?" Johnson prompted.

Pierce kicked himself into motion, floundering for his case, "Exhibit A, sir: I honestly didn't believe you would get that angry after sitting on a jelly donut."

"Yes, because sitting on jelly donuts is a perfectly amusing aspect of everyday life, moreover, one I am well acquainted with. I suppose you thought I might simply laugh it off."

"It was supposed to be a joke."

"So you're telling me I overreacted?"

From the look on the boy's face, Johnson could tell Pierce was thinking a very solid yes. The boy hesitated, "Compared to my other stunts I hardly think a jelly donut would warrant a third strike."

"It was not compared, Mr. Pierce, but rather a collectivization of all your other stunts."

"Which were all jokes in the first place. They were supposed to make people laugh."

"Am I laughing?"

Pierce squinted, "Maybe in your subconscious mind you are. After all, everyone has a humerus bone."

"If this is your attempt at 'working things out' than let me assure you that you are off to a very poor start."

Pierce frowned. "Look, if I said I was sorry about the gigantic stain on your pants, would that help?"

Johnson frowned, "No. No, I don't think it would, Mr. Pierce."

"Saying sorry means one accepts responsibility for one's actions. Subsequently, I plead guilty and throw myself on the mercy of the court," said Pierce, and gave a winning smile.

Johnson was unmoved.

"You never learn do you, Mr. Pierce?" The boy's smile slid off his face. "Perhaps it might help if I told you just exactly what your charges are."

"I'm sure you could use all the help you can get," Pierce quipped.

"I believe I've told you all this before, but perhaps now it might finally penetrate your thick skull, given what a dire situation you've gotten yourself into." Johnson knitted his fingers tightly together.

"First, you are disruptive to both mine and the concentration of the students around you. You may think what I teach borderlines common knowledge, but, I assure you, your fellow classmates do not. Therefore, your actions demonstrate an attitude of indifference toward their education." Johnson could feel his words slipping effortlessly off his tongue. Pierce's face grew steadily stonier.

"Secondly, I am your teacher and deserve respect. It does not matter how good of a teacher I am. It does not matter if I treat my students fairly – or what your preconceived notions of fairly are. All that matters is that I have been placed in a position of authority above you and subsequently deserve the respect that that position warrants. I am not asking you to like me. In fact, that notion would be rather abhorrent. I am simply asking that you stifle your impulsive dislike until you are out of my classroom.

"And lastly –" Johnson raised his voice slightly because Pierce was making signs to interrupt. "You have shown an utter and unforgivable lack of respect toward the subject I represent, which I find to be baffling considering your father's status in the town. Now that you know your charges, may I ask what you have to say for yourself, Mr. Pierce? Keeping in mind that however strong your argument is, I am under no obligation to take you and your attitude back into my class."

Johnson took a deep breath to refill his lungs. Pierce's jaw was set. His eyes gleamed with simmering anger.

"I've already said everything I've come to say," he said stiffly. "I'll say I'm sorry that you don't think I'm funny and I'm sorry about the donut –"

"Darn it! Weren't you listening? This isn't about the jelly donut!" Johnson roared.

Pierce jumped in surprise but recovered himself quickly. He said angrily, and rather wildly "And weren't you listening? I said I was sorry! Of course this isn't about the stupid donut! I'm sorry I messed up enough to get myself kicked out of your class! I'm sorry if you think I've been disruptive and distracted the other students! I'm sorry you don't like me and I'm sorry that I don't like you! I'm darned sorry about everything, okay? But I'll be darned before I say I'm sorry for insulting your overblown pride because, frankly, I don't think you deserve that respect you're always complaining about."

"That was about the worst rehearsed apology I have ever heard in my long, sad history of hearing apologies," said Johnson, frowning. "And I believe your two minutes are up, Mr. Pierce."

Pierce blanched. He apparently seemed to realize just how off-course his visit had went.

"Wait, sir. I – please, forget what I just said. Really, I just need to make it through five more months. Then you can be shot of me forever –"

"You have yet to address why I should let you back into my class. What possible interest could be in it for me? And please, refrain from yelling. I'm afraid we might attract the attention of the people on the other side of town."

I promise I'll be nice if you promise to be smarter. Johnson could practically see the retort swim to the forefront of Pierce's mind. The boy snapped his mouth shut as though he was afraid he had spoken it out loud.

Pierce laughed, rather desperately. "I can't think of any reason, sir."

Johnson had not been expecting that bit of wavering honesty. One more minute, then.

"Just – just," Pierce fumbled for something else to say. "I don't know if this was my fault or your fault –" subtract twenty seconds – "but if I promise from now on that I'll be nice –" subtract ten seconds "– I mean – can't you see that I'm borderline admitting I've been a complete jerk?" add ten seconds "Please, Mr. Scrooge, can't I have one more chance? I'm trying to avoid getting down on my knees and begging here."

Johnson's eyebrows had been steadily rising on his forehead. Pierce apparently noticed and seemed to think his cause was lost. He stopped talking.

"Thank you, Mr. Pierce," said Johnson. "Although that was, unfortunately, not much better."

Pierce frowned again, evidently unaccustomed to have his charm and clever word syntax disregarded.

Johnson collected the worksheets scattered across his desk. "Your father told me you want to be a doctor, Mr. Pierce."

"Yes, sir," Pierce answered stiffly, sounding befuddled and as though he hadn't a clue where Johnson was going with this but already resented him for it.

"And you do realize becoming a doctor takes hard work and dedication, Mr. Pierce, not to mention strict adherence to the rules?"

"Yes, sir." Duh, sir.

"Further, you do realize a passing grade in your high school Anatomy and Physiology class would be – not essential – but greatly significant in your acceptance into medical school?"

"Yes, sir."

Johnson tried to remember that he, too, had once been a teenager. Perhaps not quite as ignorant as Pierce was but certainly…inexperienced. He had once, too, been idealistic and temperamental, believed himself to be righteously misunderstood. Certainly not to the same degree as Pierce but with definite similarities. Johnson tried to remember this.

But that had been years ago, back when Johnson had been an optimistic medical student who was going to change the world. Subsequently he both flunked out of medical school and never got around to changing the world, not even having much of an impact on his small corner of it.

He had sulked for a semester before pushing himself back to his feet and back to school to earn a degree in Biology. He'd landed in teaching because he needed to earn money, not because he particularly relished the thought of holding captivated all those young minds. In fact, he rather potently disliked children.

Johnson had since developed a well-rounded respect for doctors, and the work it had taken them to achieve their profession. Johnson had also realized it took a special calling to become a doctor, and one he apparently didn't have. One he doubted Pierce had as well. For starters, the boy was all-too incapable of shutting away his emotions.

Johnson stood, indicating Pierce should do the same.

"Very well, Mr. Pierce." But, then again, Pierce certainly had a knack for surprising people. "I believe this ballgame just went into extra innings. You are dismissed."

Pierce blinked. His jaw fell open as if he was going to say something but apparently thought better of it. He stood there for a moment in blank disbelief and Johnson felt rather proud of himself, managing to pull something over on the notorious Benjamin Pierce. Finally, the boy seemed to realize he'd been dismissed and moved to leave.

He paused jerkily at the door. Hesitantly, as though the words had put up a fight coming up his esophagus, he said, "Thank you, sir."

Pierce disappeared in the hallway, leaving an abrupt silence in his wake.

Johnson sighed. "You're welcome, Mr. Pierce."