All in the Faculty

Chapter 12: Assumptions

Tom arrived at school on Monday morning to find things in his classroom relatively the same, with one big difference: at the far end of the classroom next to Bridget and Olivia there now sat an unidentified man dressed in a black suit. He was about as conspicuous as it gets, with a closely-shaved buzz cut and a headset wired into one ear.

"Um." Tom paused at the door. Most of the students seemed to have accepted the new addition to the class, and were quietly chatting as usual. Only a few continued glancing back to stare. Next to him, Bridget sat slumped with her arms crossed over her chest. When she saw Tom, she waved.

"Mr. Harris," she called tonelessly. "This is Calvin, my new bodyguard."

Calvin held his hand up in greeting, and Tom reluctantly returned the wave. After placing his briefcase down next to his desk, he took up the whiteboard marker and set about ascribing the date on the board. Alex slipped in through the door a minute before class was scheduled to start, his eyes instantly landing on the stranger.

Bridget had secured an empty chair between Olivia and herself, which she gestured at upon Alex's entrance. Instead, Alex opted for the closer option of Katie Healy's spot, which was unoccupied next to Liam. Liam cast him am uneasy look.

"Class!" Tom boomed. "We're nearing the end of the semester; that means Parent-Teacher Conferences are fast approaching. I suggest you all be on your best behavior over the course of the next week, or your parents will most certainly hear about it!"

His voice crescendo'd into the final words, silencing any remaining classroom buzz.

"Now, without wasting any more time, let's get on with today's lesson…"

Alex drummed his fingers on the desktop, tipping his head to examine Liam out of the corner of his eye. The boy appeared to have rolled out of bed and straight out the door that morning, if his unwashed hair and wrinkled, baggy sweater were anything to go off of. A dirty backpack was slung over the back of his chair.

Liam caught Alex's gaze and frowned.

"What?" he mouthed.

Alex glanced away without responding. Tom's lesson was unfolding exceedingly slowly, so to entertain himself he borrowed a piece of paper from a nearby student and began doodling caricatures of Tom in teacher-mode. After class ended, Alex spent an hour with Tom marking papers, then followed him into the teacher's lounge for lunch.

This was somewhat of a rare occasion. Tom normally ate lunch in his classroom or outside, preferring to avoid the drab room that smelled like microwaved leftovers. But according to him, today was an exception. Entering the L-shaped room, Alex took in the scenery. Directly to the left of him was a browning ficus, dried-out and mostly dead. The walls, kitchen linoleum and block-like furniture seemed to alternate in varying shades of teal and khaki, while the same fluorescent lighting that was in every classroom extended above in long blocks. It was wholly unappealing.

About ten or twelve teachers were scattered around the room, sitting and eating or quietly talking amongst themselves. Alex's eyes instantly landed on a woman with long blonde hair and generous curves. She was pouring a cup of tea in the kitchen. Not too far away sat another beautiful young woman, who was reading in a reclining chair. Her long, smooth legs were stretched out in front of her, crossed neatly at the ankles.

Alex leaned over and whispered in Tom's ear. "I don't remember the teachers being this fit back in my day…"

Tom rolled his eyes. "That's Ted's doing. The last few hires have been exclusively gorgeous women. It's sick."

Filling up the kettle, Tom nodded in the direction of one on the tables at the back, where one of the older teachers sat eating by herself. She had dark skin and even darker hair; Pakistani descent, if Alex had to guess. Dressed smartly in a gray pantsuit, she could have been anywhere between 40 and 55 years old. Her thick hair was pulled back into a loose bun, from which many unruly curls escaped.

"Kaifiya Mirza," Tom said. "She's been teaching here for years. I like her a lot."

Kaifiya had a book open on the table next to her plate, which she kept cracked with one hand while the other maneuvered a spoon into her mouth.

Tom pulled a red mug out of the cupboard above and placed it down on the counter before moving to retrieve a tea bag. "I'm going to ask her for her advice on how best to handle Parent-Teacher Conferences. You don't have to stay."

Alex sneezed. "Yes, I should probably go..." he muttered, rubbing his nose. "The smell in here is…"

"Just awful, I know. See you later."

Alex escaped back into the hallway, stealing one last look at the two unreasonably attractive female teachers before he went. From there he found his way outside. The weather was generous for November; cold, but pleasantly sunny. Alex held a hand to his forehead, shielding his face from the light.

As he surveyed the school grounds, his mind wandered back in time to his days at Brookland Comprehensive. Life had been much simpler back then. Terribly so, in fact – Alex hadn't realized how bored he'd been until he'd developed something to compare it to (kicking ass and taking names, that was).

Near the edge of the football field there was a break in the chain link fence, an exit which opened into a lightly-wooded park. A few students dotted the grassy stretch, but only one appeared to be moving toward the exit. Identifying the figure, Alex briskly started ahead.

"Liam!"

Liam had just made it past the fence when his name sounded behind him. He stopped in his tracks, then spun around, unconsciously cradling his injured arm. Under the partial shade of the trees, sunlight dappled the ground in shifting fragments. A sliver fell across Liam's face, illuminating it in sharp contrast before the light rearranged itself once more.

"Mr. Beckett…" he said.

"Are you going somewhere?" asked Alex, closing the remaining distance between them. As he drew nearer, Liam took an involuntary step back. Noticing, Alex stopped. The boy chewed his lip.

"Only somewhere quiet," Liam responded. "You know."

Alex narrowed his eyes and brought his fingers up to his chin, stroking it knowingly. Then he raised an eyebrow, going for a look of extreme scrutiny. Liam frowned.

"Why're you looking at me like that?"

"I don't believe you," said Alex.

"So?" Liam challenged.

Alex's hand fell. Straightening, he tried for imposing.

"So tell me where you're really going."

Liam didn't look like he was about to be intimidated, but by the next moment it didn't matter – his cover was blown. Footsteps from the direction Liam had been heading in revealed three approaching boys. All were wearing what appeared to be variations on the exact same outfit: brightly-coloured hoodies, sagging tracksuit bottoms, and Burberry caps with hoods overtop. The image of the three waltzing up to them was strikingly reminiscent of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

"Oi, Townie! Who da fuk iz'im?" the closest boy called out, pointing at Alex. The light glinted off his numerable rings.

"He's my teacher," said Liam. "He followed me here."

"Did he just call you a townie?" said Alex to Liam.

"Ee wot? Followed u?" the second one joined in, kicking up dirt with his white Reebok trainers. He directed his scowl at Alex. "U startin', mate?"

"Uh…"

"Ee's try'na start beef wiv u, Jubba!" said the third, whose hair showed clear evidence of bleaching.

"Jubba" shoved a glittering hand in his pocket. Alex's eyes flickered to follow the motion. A packet of cigarettes was revealed. White Trainers threw Jubba a lighter, which he missed and had to collect from the ground. Then he lit the cigarette between his lips, raising his chin and puffing smoke through his nostrils. After a few seconds he took it away and said,

"If yu've got summin' ta say, u can say it ta mi face."

"What are you doing here?" asked Alex, trying to hide his mirth. He glanced over at Liam, whose firmly-pressed lips and pale face conveyed that he wasn't the least bit amused. Holding both hands up against his chest, he fiddled with his fingers.

"Ee don't got answer ta u ya batty!"

Instead of answering, Jubba threw his cigarette at Liam, which collided with his hands and drew a sharp flinch from the boy.

"It's orrigh', innit?" said Jubba. "Ee can tell ya, can't ee? Go on den."

Now it was Liam's turn to stammer. "Oh, um, no, I don't…"

"Ere on bizniz, innit?" said Bleached Hair with a hacked-out laugh. Liam blanched.

As soon as Alex's mind made the connection, he knew he'd made the right decision to follow Liam past the fence. Liam met Alex's searching gaze unapologetically.

"Yo yo bruv!" said White Trainers. "Let's bang 'em up!"

Jubba pulled out a pair of brass knuckles, sliding them onto his hands. "I'm gunna fuk'n beat tha shit outta' ya!"

Alex placed his hands in the air. "I'm innocent!" he cried.

"U gonna die u posh wanka!"

Alex surged forward to grab Liam's arm, jerking him in the direction of the school. Then they took off running. The unintelligible noise of the three chavs faded out – they didn't follow. Alex and Liam were still running halfway across the football field when Liam tripped and dived face-first into the grass. Alex's feet skidded to a stop. He turned around just in time to see the boy recover, pushing himself up into a sitting position. The contact with the grass had left green stains on the knees of his trousers.

"Are you okay?" called Alex, walking back to rejoin the boy. Liam peered up at him, squinting against the sunlight that had turned Alex's body into a silhouette. "Liam?"

"I'm fine," he said, standing up and brushing himself off with his good hand. Alex reached out to gingerly take the other into his, but Liam hastily pulled it out of reach.

"Careful!"

"Did you land on it?"

Liam was scowling. "No."

Alex returned his hands to his sides and looked around. "Alright. Listen, we'd better find somewhere to talk…"

"Look." Evidently, that place was right there. "I know what you think. You think I was going to buy drugs from those guys."

Clambering down to the grass floor, Alex pulled his legs in so that he was sitting cross-legged. Then he beckoned Liam to do the same. Soon the two were positioned across from each other, with a much less noticeable height difference separating them.

"I never said that," said Alex, once they were settled.

"You were thinking it," Liam muttered.

"Okay," said Alex, "so what would you have me think otherwise?"

Liam dragged his fingers through the grass, pushing them into the dirt. A few seconds went by, with Liam offering no alternative train of thought. Alex sighed.

"I have another theory."

Liam didn't look up. "Oh?" he said dully.

"Yes. I think you were going to pay them to teach you how to fight."

Liam's head snapped up, astonishment written across his face. "W-what? Why would you think that?"

Alex shrugged. "Because it's what I would do if I were you."

"You don't know a thing about me!"

He smiled, hoping to defuse some of the developing tension. "Don't be so quick to assume."

Liam didn't seem to want to know what Alex really meant by this, but he had interpreted the words as threatening. What had started as surprise soon sizzled out into anger. "Can I go now?" he ground out.

"Well," said Alex, "I suppose I can't really keep you here… oh, but, detention! I'm giving you detention."

"Mr. Beckett!" Liam moaned. "I haven't done anything wrong!"

"Yeah, so? Teachers can give out detention anytime. And you've got detention because you–" Alex pointed at Liam, directly at his injured arm, "are keeping a very large secret."

"I… have no idea what you're talking about…" said Liam, trailing off as Alex got to his feet.

"Now, exactly what that secret entails is between you and Mr. Harris… but if there's one thing I know, it's that I don't want you hanging around anyone who calls himself 'Jubba'." Finally, Alex was able to inspire a tiny twitch of the mouth. Even if it wasn't quite a smile, it was better than nothing.

"How about this: I'll teach you self-defense. Will that keep you out of trouble?" Alex paused, then added, "For now?"

Liam picked himself up off the ground, looking at his assistant teacher with an unreadable expression. He didn't appear to be angry anymore.

"You really think I was there for fighting lessons?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Um… well, yeah, I mean, do you know how to fight? You don't really look like the… fighting type."

Alex's eyes widened. Tall, lean – willowy, almost – Alex certainly didn't, at first glance, look particularly powerful.

"Hey! Who are you calling a waif?!"

"I didn't go that far–"

"I am so the fighting type! I know karate, you know!"

"Alright, alright!"

Sensing that the bell was about to ring, Alex started back in the direction of the school. Liam followed, stepping quickly keep up with his wider strides. Glancing down at the dark-haired boy, he asked quietly, "You really don't think I look like the fighting type?"

"Well…"

Alex hung his head. "Bollocks. I guess I'll just have to accept that I'm never going to look the part."

"It doesn't really matter what you look like, though…" said Liam, gazing ahead of him, "as long as you can hold your own, right? I mean, that's the important thing."

Hold my own? Alex thought. I've been able to 'hold my own' for as long as I can remember. The sculpted features of Brookland's Ms. Beatrix jumped across his mind – those lovely dimples, present when she was both smiling and frowning. He tended to see a lot more of the frowns, unfortunately. Sabina also entered his thoughts. If Alex was such a badass, why did he have so much trouble getting women to like him? "Is it because I don't look tough?" he mumbled under his breath.

"Huh?"

"Oh – no, sorry, you're right, it's the skill that's important."

Liam narrowed his eyes. The school bell sounded just as the two of them closed in on the door, indicating the end of the break. "Mr. Beckett," Liam addressed him, "do you have trouble attracting women?"

"What? Who gave you that idea?"

"You did – just now. Why are you so hung up on looking tough? You're a teacher. You're not supposed to be tough."

"I – I don't have any trouble attracting women! It's just–" Reaching the top of the stairs, Alex ran a hand through his hair. "Well, there's maybe just one… or, two, I suppose… Don't tell anyone that."

"Your secret is safe with me," Liam said pointedly. "Want my advice?"

"You're not supposed to be giving me advice – you're miniature!"

"Even so…"

Room 211 was coming up fast on their right. Alex stopped, drawing them off to the side. "Right, out with it, then."

Liam leaned his back against the wall, opening up the space for more students to file through the hallway. He stuffed his hands behind his back.

"I've never thought you were insecure before," he said. "And, honestly, I don't think anyone else thinks for a second that you're anything other than perfectly full of yourself."

"Jeez. You could at least say 'no offense'."

"I'm not trying to offend you… it's the truth. Don't you do it on purpose?"

Alex thought about that for a moment. Did he? Maybe it was a bit of an act he played up intentionally, but it had also sort of become second nature.

"So what are you saying?" said Alex, waving at a student before she disappeared into Tom's classroom.

"I'm saying… stop?"

"I can't stop."

"Yes, you can – you already have. Arrogance isn't attractive, Mr. Beckett."

Just then, Jane Beatrix rounded the corner, preventing Alex from responding. Her thick, dark hair was arranged into a messy French braid. Divine, Alex thought, openly staring. From behind her red glasses, Jane's green eyes flickered to catch his gaze. Alex's reaction was most out of character: he instantly glanced away. Only Liam caught the look of unease on her face.

"Alright, Mr. Beckett?" she said as she passed. Alex met her with a stunned look.

"Oh – hi. Yes."

Jane shook her head, proceeding into room 209 without another word.

Liam whistled.

"Shove it," said Alex.

"You had better get that one sorted… Isn't your lot gearing up to get married pretty soon?"

Liam thought he'd spent enough time with his assistant teacher to expect a backlash for the comment, so he was slightly surprised when Alex merely closed his eyes, remaining silent. He took a long, deep breath, then opened them again.

"Thanks for the advice, kiddo. Unfortunately, I'm still giving you detention."

0o0o0o


Hello hello,

I just want everyone to know that a good portion of the scene with the three chavs came directly off of urban dictionary's entry on "townie", which is bloody hilarious and I strongly encourage you to check out! Thanks urban dictionary!

Okay okay OKAY. SO. FRIEND. Chapter 11 received 7 reviews… want to know how many views it got? 427! That was from 348 visitors - 348 individual users read the chapter, and only SEVEN reviewed. T.T what the HECK. What does a girl HAVE TO DO. I'll reply, I'll answer questions, I'll write the next chapter, I'll beg you at the end of every A/N, you throw the hoop, I will jump through it, I'LL DO ANYTHING, LOOOVEE MEEEE

No but like… seriously. You know how if you don't feed your pet fish, it'll die? This is like that. The engagement has got to go both ways… seven is an all-time low for this story :(

To the seven people that did tell me what they thought, thank you very much! You don't know how much it means to me! This chapter is for you guys!

Next chapter: "Is there anything you'd like me to be aware of before Parent-Teacher Meetings on Friday?"