Growing Up

All Grown Up!

Tommy is busy trying to make a real and raw film of High School life, while the others are just falling into their own cliques. What will happen to the Rats? Can they face the harsh realities of High School? T/L,P/K,A/C lol typical I know.

Angelica/Susie-Juniors

Chuckie-Sophomore

Tommy/Lil/Phil/Kimi/Dil-Freshmen

Warnings: Language

Chapter 10: Punishment Served

All ten students were in a small class room as the principal's office was just too small. After an hour and half of waiting, Principal Harding, Vice Principal Stuart, Betty DeVille, Chas Finster, Bob Louwinski, Marla James, Eydie Bell, Ms. Voltaire all walked into the classroom. All of them grew silent as they saw Principal and their parents walked in.

"As principal of this school we decided that punishment must be dealt with. As we know the current events surrounding Miss DeVille and Miss Bell has circulated through school and the actions of the Byron James and Kevin Louwinski have been accounted for," Vice Principal Stuart announced.

"Then why are we here?" Chuckie blurted out.

"Shhhh," Chas scolded his son.

"Yeah!" another student yelled.

"Mr. Rodriquez, Libbey, Hill, and Brown, your parents were not contacted however you will have a weeks worth of detention, you may go," Principal Harding stated placing his hand behind his back. The four guys got up and quietly left the classroom. "Now Mr. James and Louwinski, your punishment for fighting, bullying, has been recorded. Because of this you are no longer allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, for the rest of the year-"

"What!?" Bryon yelled out in shock.

"And you will be suspended for the rest of the week," he finished. The principal looked up at Mrs. James and Mr. Louwinski. "Sorry that will be all, Vice Principal Stuart will escort you," The parents nodded as their sons stood up bitterly.

"Hurry up," Mrs. James snapped at her son. They all soon exited the room.

"Now Ms. DeVille since your twins have caused so much trouble for the school lately. I'm not sure you're going to like the punishment," he paused.

"I know let them have it," Betty said shaking her head.

"Philip DeVille, since you too have participated at the violence you too will be suspended for the rest of the week since your after school activities have already been revoked, because you continue to skateboard on the school premises," the principal paused. "Mr. Finster your children will have only three days of detention," you may go. Kimi and Chuckie got up along with their father Chas.

"We're going to have a long talk when we get home because of you we had to close the Java Lava early," he scolded. Kimi and Chuckie looked back at Phil, Lil, and Jackie sadly.

"Ms. Bell, Ms. DeVille we decided your punishment too is to expel your children from extracurricular activities and three days detention," he added.

"What?! Why?" Jackie yelled angrily. The principal had started walking out the door ignoring them.

"Wait! I need extracurricular activities!" Lil pleaded.

"I'm sorry but my beeper just rang I'm needed elsewhere," he said exiting the room.

"Hey the kids aren't done talking to you," Betty piped up.

"It's because of our sexual orientation is it?" Jackie yelled out. Lil blushed glaring at Jackie, who glanced and blushed frowning at Lil. "Sorry I mean mine? My sexual orientation! You're discriminating!" Jackie stood up yelling at the door.

"I assure you Ms. Bell that your sexual orientation is not the reason why you are receiving this punishment," Ms. Voltaire stepped in. Jackie frowned. "As you know there are school rules regarding intimacy on school grounds. Usually if students are caught by another student or a member of the faculty the punishment is less severe, merely a warning. However, since your daughters actions were caught on tape and placed all over the internet it also places the schools reputation at risk," Ms. Voltaire stated.

"That's not the girls fault!" Betty butted in. Ms. Voltaire pushed up her glasses and nodded.

"Of course it isn't. However, since we have no clue who the real offender is we must deal punishment to your daughters. I'm sorry but these are the rules. Three days detention is nothing severe. I do understand that the banishment of extracurricular activities is quite harsh but there is nothing we can do until the real offender is caught," Ms. Voltaire stated simply as she continued out the door.

"It's Tom-" Jackie started. Lil elbowed Jackie in her arm, glaring. Ms. Voltaire stopped and turned.

"What was that?" she asked rigidly.

"Uh nothing," Jackie said sadly. Ms. Voltaire perked a brow.

"That reminds me as head of punishment and grievances department, I must inform your punishment will start tomorrow. In that case be in library after school," she said curtly and left.

Three days passed and Lil's life did not get any better, jeers and snickering were still going strong. All Lil could think about was how she was going to get Francine to confess to the crime. She decided that she needed another level headed person, someone who's smart and kind. Lil stood by Room 210 waiting for Susie Carmichael to walk out of the class.

"Susie," Lil said simply as she followed Susie down the hall. Susie turned her head to look but kept walking.

"Lil?" she asked. Lil nodded and ran toward Susie.

"Yeah it's me," Lil replied. Susie smiled.

"How ya doing, girl? Still hangin' in there I hope," she replied as she continued to walk toward her locker.

"Barely but yeah," Lil said simply.

"Hey that's a nice top, never seen you wear that," Susie noticed as she looked at Lil beside her. Lil gave a weak smile.

"No reason to wear my uniform now that I'm banned from sports," Lil said sadly. Susie frowned.

"Really? That sucks," she said opening her locker quickly and started exchanging books quickly.

"It does... look I need to ask for your help," Lil started. Susie frowned looking at Lil but saw how desperate she looked and gave a small smile.

"What is it?" Susie asked.

"I need your help to get Francine to confess that she's the one who posted the video," Lil whispered loudly. Susie closed her locker shut and leaned against it interested.

"You serious? You know who did it?" Susie asked in shock. Lil nodded.

"Yeah I squeezed it out of Tommy before well everything went completely shit," Lil stated lowly. Susie looked around.

"Well have you asked Tommy for help?" she asked. Lil's eyes widen.

"No!" she said angrily. Susie shook her head.

"Look I got AP classes and tons of homework. I'll help you but you need to be realistic. We all know Tommy fucked up filming you two but we all know Tommy ain't a backstabber like that," Susie preached. Lil bit her lower lip listening to Susie.

"I guess you're right," Lil said bitterly.

"I know I'm right. Look Tommy knows the most about films and what not, I can try to squeeze some info from Francine's buds... if she has any but there is no guarantee. I mean what she did was some seriously sneaky shit. I don't even know if that crap is traceable," Susie noted. Lil frowned disappointed.

"Really? I didn't think of that," Lil confessed. Susie started walking toward her next class.

"Look I'm running late, you need to swallow your pride and ask for Tommy's help," she replied before hastening, heading toward her next class. Lil stood by Susie's locker wondering if Phil or Jackie could swallow theirs too.

Lil knocked at the Pickles front door nervously. The door opened and Stu stood there with a blank face.

"Oh boy..." he said simply. Lil smiled nervously.

"I'm sorry to bother you like this Mr. Pickles but I need to talk to Tommy," Lil said simply. Stu frowned.

"You sure you wanna do that?" he asked Lil again nervously. Lil nodded.

"Yes and I promise not to... yell or fight, I hope," she trailed off, looking toward her side. Stu shook his head.

"Come in, he's upstairs. Make it fast Didi's cooking in the kitchen," he opened the door letting Lil in. Lil stepped inside. Dil was watching TV in the couch he turned to stare at Lil and his dad. Stu raised his finger toward his mouth signaling Dil to be quiet. Dil nodded and raised his thumb up. Lil quickly and quietly made her way upstairs. She headed toward Tommy's room opened his room's door quickly and quietly before stepping in locking it. Tommy turned away from his computer chair surprised.

"Haven't you heard of knocking?" Tommy asked bitterly as he saw who it was. Lil frowned as she nervously walked toward the middle of the room.

"I know... we need to talk," she said simply. Tommy rolled his eyes as he frowned. "Look I know we had a bad argument last time... I was really pissed off," Lil confessed. "I'm sorry but you pissed me off so bad," she whispered loudly.

"Get out," Tommy said angrily.

"No wait look I need your help," Lil continued. Tommy stayed quiet. "You said you know Francine did it right?" she asked. Tommy looked away nervously.

"I didn't say know more like most likely," he said. Lil rolled her eyes.

"Honestly who else could it be," Lil said crossing her arms. "Look because of that bitch Jackie and I's extracurricular activities have been revoked," Lil said sadly. Tommy shrugged.

"So?" he said angrily crossing his arms as well. Lil looked up at the ceiling and growled frustrated as she landed on his bed.

"I need sports... I need extracurricular activities... it's what I do, it what makes school bearable," Lil confessed. Tommy walked up to his bed and sat down. "It's what makes me who I am!" Lil said loudly.

"You can't all be sports? I mean that would make you a jock?" he said. Lil was quiet thinking over his words.

"You're right I'm a jockette," Lil agreed as she turned away from him. Tommy rolled his eyes and frowned. "I mean I was thinking about joining the student council or yearbook club this year," Lil confessed. Tommy frowned.

"You're such a liar but whatever, I'll help you," he decided. Lil sat up happily.

"You will?!" she asked in shock. Tommy nodded with a lopsided grin. Lil happily leaned over and hugged him. "Oh thank you Tommy. It means a lot to me," Lil said ecstatic. Tommy hugged Lil back feeling her warmth and yet he felt lonely. A feeling he hadn't felt for a long time. Lil let go smiling at him happily.

"Thank so much Tommy," she said until noticing his face reaction. "Are you okay?" she asked. Tommy smiled and nodded.

"Yeah... I just want to make it up to you that's all," he confessed. Lil smiled backing away slowly. Tommy looked away embarrassed.

"I'm worried," Lil started again slowly. Tommy gazed at Lil who looked at his floor. "I mean I talked to Susie and she said she'll help too. Though she said I needed to get you to help and I agreed. But she said something about we still may not be able to nail Francine!" Lil said bitterly. "I hate that bitch so much she needs to pay!" Lil said becoming teary eyed. Tommy frowned as he scooted closer to Lil. "Everyday I have to hear the same old shit. Hey Lizbo this! Hey Lizbo that! Hearing them talk shit, feeling and seeing them glare," Lil said as tears squeezed out her eyes. "I won't have it!" she shrilled. Tommy felt horrible for the first time in a long time, seeing Lil cry with so much pain and emotion. He leaned over and hugged her. Lil hugged him back, her tears pouring. "I hate it why is everyone so mean!" Lil cried.

"The world is full of assholes... I'm an asshole," he admitted. Lil cried into his shoulder not knowing what to say. Tommy tried his best to comfort Lil as he caressed her hair and rubbed her back. With each movement he felt more and more lonely and he could feel her agony and hate building up inside him as well.

"I don't know if Phil or Jackie will even talk to you still, either," she said suddenly sitting up looking at him. Tommy frowned with a nod.

"I don't blame them," Tommy said sadly. "I wouldn't talk to me either," he admitted. Lil felt bad there was nothing she could do to remedy that. The best she could do is swallow her own pride. Lil started calming herself as she wiped her tears. "Feeling better?" he asked as he noticed Lil's tears came down less and less. Lil nodded her eyes felt puffy as she became embarrassed.

"Ughh I must look like crap now," Lil said sadly standing up. Tommy shrugged standing up as well.

"Nah you look like a girl who's been crying, that's all," he said reassuring. Lil turned and smiled.

"I'm glad we talked," Lil confessed. Tommy nodded.

"Yeah me too," he agreed looking down placing his hands in his pockets. Lil smiled and started heading toward the door.

"Sorry about your shirt," she noticed the wet spot near his shoulder. Tommy looked and shrugged again.

"It can be washed. You should get home before your parents or PHIL starts to wonder where you're at," Tommy stated. Lil smiled and nodded.

"Yeah," she said unlocking the door and opening it. "Bye," she whispered and closed it gently.

"Bye Lil," he whispered back but it was too late she had already closed the door.

AN: Ah yes the BIG One Zero. Yet there still so much unresolved drama and drama yet to happen. Stay tuned. Thanks for those who had the guts to review. Feel free to ask questions.