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Chapter 13 – Support
"...I told you all that boy was a menace..." Griffin grumbled out.
Rei's eyes began to slit.
"You're not exactly perfect yourself..." he spat out.
Griffin turned to him.
"...What was that, boy?"
"You heard me..." Rei growled, "a bit rich going at him for having no respect when you told Mr. Harris to put a muzzle on him..." he spat out as his eyes slit further, "like he's some kind of viscous dog!"
"Now hold on just a-" Griffin started.
"Menace...? Delinquent...?" Rei listed off angrily, "that's how you talk to your students?"
Griffin also growled.
"I've been doing this a lot longer than you boy, trust me...I've seen it all before! Boys like that never change...they're dangerous! In my day they caned it out of you, and if you were stupid enough to get caned, lord help you when your parents found out...nowadays the violent ones get let off scot free and never learn that there are consequences to their actions..."
"Sounds like it's time for you to retire, grandpa..." Rei snapped.
Griffin's face darkened.
The door slid open and they all turned to see Dan with his arm around Kai...who looked terrible.
They stood and watched helplessly and clueless as to what was going on.
They watched Rei frantically hobble over to him, panicked.
"He's having a panic attack, Rei...don't worry, he'll be all right." Dan explained.
The teacher's went wide eyed.
Kai? ...The quiet but sharp-mouthed, moody guy that seemed tough as nails? A panic attack?
They kept their eyes on him. He was trembling like he'd just been through something hugely traumatic, he couldn't breathe, he gripped his chest like he was having chest pains. He was sweating feverishly...
Dan helped him loosen his tie and top buttons.
Their attention turned to him.
"Remember last time...it'll pass...but you can help it along...need to you to try and take deep, complete breaths for me..."
Last time?
Kai was struggling.
"Deep breaths...try again for me...Atta boy! We're getting there! Can you try and talk for me?...OK, I asked you questions last time, remember? Ask me something!"
A few moments passed...they waited...
"Why...are you...such...a weirdo?"
Dan laughed.
"There he is, my little fireball!"
"Answer...the damn...question..." Kai panted out with a weak smirk.
Despite the serious situation, every single teacher was left with a feeling of shock...
'My little fireball'?
The relationship between the two of them...this was unexpected.
They'd only ever seen Kai biting Dan's head off or going in to a rage at him...or Dan frustrated and trying to get him to calm down.
But this was...affectionate.
They continued to watch Dan at work...he was amazing with him.
Kai closed his eyes and was seeming to steady his breathing and make progress, but for some reason out of nowhere he seemed to flair up again, getting even more breathless and shaking harder.
They could see the moment of panic in Dan as he stood up and put his hands on his shoulders, rubbing them supportively before gripping them.
"Whoa now, it's all right...I'm right here."
The softness and supportiveness in his voice wasn't one they'd heard him use with him before.
Kai opened his eyes, looking up at him, before beginning to calm.
He seemed to be recovering.
A little more time passed and it was over...
He seemed to be more aware of where he was...and made eye contact with them for the first time since he'd come back in.
His face looked horrified and he got out his chair and near enough ran out.
Dan went after him.
There was silence in the staffroom.
"...a real menace, huh?" came Rei's sharp voice.
Mr. Griffin frowned.
"That doesn't change the fact that he's a violent little punk..."
Rei's eyes slit furiously.
"You call him something like that again..." his voice rumbled out.
Griffin scoffed.
"Or what kid? You're going to come at me like your friend did? Should have known you were two peas in a pod..."
Sure, Rei was mad. Really mad...
But he suddenly felt more a rush of sadness...
He'd heard the teachers talking about Kai a bunch of times...it started off innocent enough, calling him 'Sunshine', mocking Dan for having to deal with his attitude...that was fair enough...just playful banter, even Rei chuckled.
But the more he listened, the more he realised it wasn't innocent. It wasn't playful.
They were cruel almost...
They basically laughed at him and made fun of him when they found out he was seeing a psychologist...
All they saw was an angry little headcase with an attitude who was nothing but trouble to them. They didn't like him, and they didn't seem to try with him. They'd just made their mind up about him, and they were all so wrong... Instead they seemed to all join forces on that and enjoy gossiping about him...
Rei knew he had two options. Let his anger and frustration out and tear in to them like he really wanted to...but then get lumbered as 'just like Kai' and not get taken seriously...
Or...talk it out and say his piece calmly...like he and Dan wished Kai would once in a while.
"...You know...he was right about you guys...all of you. You're bad teachers..."
They all frowned at him.
"Excuse me?" the teacher beside him said with an annoyed raised brow, wondering why they were all getting dragged in to this.
"You heard me!" he said, feeling his voice starting to rise before catching it and bringing it back down, "I've heard the way you talk about him...and I know for sure now how you really see him..." he said as he narrowed his eyes at Mr. Griffin.
"I've known Kai a lot longer than you have...trust me, I know he's rough around the edges when you first meet him...you should have seen him when we first met..." he said as a little smirk crossed his lips at remembering how cold and standoffish he really used to be.
"But when you get to know him and see past that, you see there's a totally different person in there...you've got him so wrong...he's not a punk, or a menace or a violent psychopath...he's the best person I know!"
The teacher next to him rolled his eyes at his little speech. Rei saw it.
"I'm sure he is difficult in class...I'm not saying you should all worship him or let him get away with talking to you the way he does...but none of you seem to try and understand him. You all just crap on him! You know damn well he has problems and you seem to find it...funny? That's not the sign of a good teacher...that's the sign of a bully..."
The teachers stood and listened. Each one of them feeling defensive.
"We do not find it funny!" one of them interjected, "I don't know where you're coming up with all this..."
The door slid open and Dan walked in.
Rei didn't notice.
"Oh no?" he said as his eyes once again began to slit as he turned to Mr. Radley, the social studies teacher who he remembered making comments, "wasn't it you who laughed and said something along the lines of 'about time he finally got his head checked' and that you hoped he filled him with sedatives or a labotomy?!"
Radley huffed.
"I was just kidding..."
"Well it was in pretty poor taste..." came Dan's stern voice.
Rei temporarily forgot his rant as he turned around and finally noticed he'd come back.
"Mr. Harris!" he called as he hobbled over to him, "is he all right?!"
He stopped and took in Dan's hard expression. It softened only slightly at his question.
"He's all right, Rei...he's in his room resting. Think it took it out of him."
"Can I go see him?" Rei asked.
Dan shook his head.
"I would leave him a little while, I need to have a talk with him myself...but first..."
His face hardened completely...a look incredibly unseen in Dan, as he turned his head to Mr. Griffin and the other teachers.
"...I need a word with the teachers..."
The tension in the room soared as he made his way over to Mr. Radley.
"You laughed at him?"
"It wasn't what he's suggesting..."
"You laughed at a student, my student, for getting help?"
"Thats no-"
"What kind of people are you?! How can you even call yourselves teachers!?" he yelled at the top of his voice.
"And as for you..." he spat, snapping his head to and storming towards Griffin, "Put a muzzle on him!? You're lucky I even held him back! I did have to think twice about it! I was tempted to swing at you myself!"
Griffin opened his mouth to retaliate, but Dan wasn't done.
"You told him he was a thug. That he would end up in prison. That he didn't belong here!? What is the matter with you?! How could you say that to him!?"
"Because it's true! He's dangerous! This school has a reputation to keep, you know!"
Dan slammed his fist on the desk next to him.
"He's been top of the class all year! He works damn hard! Not just with schoolwork, with anything he does! This school proudly broadcasts the fact that he's here as a world class athlete! He's representing this school at the next choir contest! And you're saying he doesn't deserve to be here?!"
"I didn't say he was dumb...I said he was dangerous!"
Dan let out a frustrated and angry growl.
"Kai is not dangerous! If you all just pulled your heads out your own asses and actually bothered to try and reach him, you'd see that!"
"How can you reach out to that!?" another teacher raised his voice.
"By being decent human beings with some empathy! We manage it!" Rei yelled.
There was a brief moment of silence.
"...He's got a point. Dan really has seemed to be a miracle worker with him..." came Mr. Simmons.
Dan met eyes with him.
"...You were fantastic with him just now...while he was going through that...I've only ever seen him at your throat, but it looks like you two have actually connected..." he continued.
Despite being complemented, Dan felt frustrated.
"Wanna know why?! It's not magic, rocket science or because I'm amazing at my job, it's because I actually bothered to take the time with him! It's taken me almost a full year to get to this point!" he continued to yell as he got more and more exasperated,
"It's been a constant fight to try and get him to warm to me, to listen to me, to trust me enough to tell me anything! God it's been frustrating! He's driven me nuts! You think you guys have it hard when he makes a snarky comment at you?! That's nothing compared to what I've have to deal with! I'm the one that gets the full brunt of it all! I'm the one you all pass him over to when he has one of his fits! If anyone should be feeling hostile towards him, its me! But I don't! Again, wanna know why?!"
They stayed quiet again.
Dan felt himself explode.
"Because it is not his fault! He is not a bad kid! He's smart, real smart! And talented! It shouldn't be allowed for one kid to have so many talents! When he lets his wall down a little and shows you his personality, he's wonderful! He's got a sarcastic sense of humour that's actually charming...he has intelligent things to say when you can get him to talk! He's determined and hard working...a perfectionist, even! He doesn't have many people he's close with, but the ones that managed to get in there, he'd do anything for them!" he said as he glanced at Rei, "He has so many great qualities that none of you are willing to see!"
Rei wanted to kiss Dan...not only was he proving what he'd just told them a few minutes ago...that he was a good person, it also showed what an amazing person and teacher Dan was...and how much he really did care about Kai...he saw him for what he really was.
The teachers shifted and exchanged almost guilty looks.
Dan continued his rant.
"I know he's hard work...but he's troubled...it doesn't take much to get under his skin and set him off...and when he blows, Jesus, he blows...but he can't help it...he sees red and he can't reel it back. It might not be anything to get mad about, but for him at that moment, it's a big deal... He doesn't talk to anyone and holds everyone at arms length because he's scared of people...he doesn't want to get hurt. He gets his back up and gives everyone the cold shoulder before anyone can do it to him first...that's what all this is, he's just defending himself...he feels attacked by everyone. He'd rather be lonely struggle on his own than let anyone in and risk being hurt... we all know that's not a good way to go...but he doesn't see that himself. That's why it's our job, as his teachers to support him, push him and encourage him to open up...the fact I even have to stand here and spell that out for you is really sad and disappointing..."
Mr. Griffin sniffed, apparently stubbornly sticking to his guns.
"...you can throw a sob story all you want. Maybe he does have problems, but who doesn't? Doesn't excuse his mouth..."
"Maybe if you showed him an ounce of respect he wouldn't be that way!" Dan yelled, annoyed.
"He doesn't show us an ounce of respect!"
"You are the adults!" he yelled, "and he is a kid! You seem to forget that! He's only just turned sixteen! Most teenagers are a pain in the ass at that age! Kai isn't the only one at this school who's ever given a teacher attitude! Hell, we were once that age ourselves and thought we knew everything!"
The room stayed quiet.
Dan felt tired, he wasn't sure if they'd even listened to a word he'd said.
"...For god's sake..He's just a messed up kid, not a bad one. I've only been given a brief overview from Mr. Dickinson about what he went through and I don't think that even really scratches the surface...we don't know much else because he just won't tell anyone...Isn't that alarming to you?
Whatever happened made him this way...it's made him feel like he's on his own and that the whole world is out to get him... You're just proving that to him by being like this with him...he's not stupid, he picks up on how you really feel about him." he said tiredly as he looked back to Mr. Griffin.
"Today all kicked off because he forgot his book in his room...right? I mean...did it really have to escalate like that? Did you really have to jump on him? He never forgets his things...it was clearly a one off...you let your personal feelings get in the way of your judgement."
He turned to Mr. Simmons.
"And seriously? You were impressed by me helping him while he was having a panic attack? Why is that impressive? It's what anyone should do..."
Still quiet.
"Now, on that note, I need to go try to talk to him. He's not feeling fantastic...He'd kill me if he knew I told you, but I'm willing to take the risk...he ran out of here because he's mortified you saw him vulnerable...he thinks you're going to hold it against him...his words, not mine...I'd sit and think about that if I were you..."
He turned and head to the door.
"And Griffin..." he spat back at the old man as he walked, "...If I ever hear you talk to him like that again, you won't even know what hit you..."
Mr. Griffin huffed, almost a little amused.
"You're threatening me, Harris?"
"You bet your ass I am..." he snarled before taking his leave.
He hadn't made it far down the hall when he heard his name being called out.
"Mr. Harris..."
He smiled a little when he heard the sound of crutches quickly hitting the ground.
"Rei?" he said as he turned back around.
He let Rei catch up to him.
"I just wanted to..."
Dan waited.
"I'm just...so glad he has you..."
Dan's smile grew.
"I can say the same to you."
Rei flushed a little.
"I don't do nearly as much for him as you do..."
Dan snickered slightly.
"I wouldn't say that at all...despite all this, he's actually made a lot of positive steps these past weeks...all since you came here. He really is fond of you...and you two are really good together. You seem to balance each other." he said innocently with a small smirk, unable to help himself.
His smirk grew even bigger as Rei's flush grew a little darker.
"I wouldn't say that..." he laughed out a little bashfully, "and besides..." he started again, "he's not as...comfortable with me as he is with you..."
He tried not to let the hint of jealousy sneak in there...
Kai flat out made him go away when he came over to help him during his panic attack...and it hurt a little...
Dan raised a sly brow. He had a feeling this was all because Kai didn't want him around when he came over during his attack.
"He is comfortable with you, Rei...seriously...there's no one else he feels more at ease with than you. It's just different...you're someone he chose to be close with. You really do mean the world to him, I see that clear as day. He's just a proud idiot and is worried you'll think less of him...me on the other hand...I'm just an old 'weirdo', as he put it, that gets on his case.. He'll get there with you, just take a leaf out of my book and keep at him..."
"And like...maybe finally make a move!? Seriously, I've set up all I can for you two! If I got any more involved I'd be shoving your faces together!" he ranted in his head.
Rei nodded as a small smile crept on his face.
"Well...I really want to have a talk with him...but I'm sure it's you he'd rather see than my ugly mug...give me a little while and then come on up, huh?
Rei nodded again and turned on his crutches as Dan left down the hall.
He made his way back up to the teachers dorms, making a brief stop at his own room before heading to the student dorms.
He tapped gently on the door before letting himself in.
"Hey...how you doin' in here?"
Kai was rolled on his side.
"I'm fine, Mr. Harris...you don't need to check on me..."
"I know but...I wanted to." he said cheerfully as he let himself in to the room and sat himself on the edge of his bed.
Kai tensed, and stayed rolled away from him.
Dan thought for a moment.
"I know you probably don't want to talk about it-"
"I don't."
"All right...just listen then..."
"..."
"Mr. Griffin shouldn't have talked to you the way he did. He was wrong...and he was wrong about you. You know that, right?"
Kai shrugged.
"C'mon...you know it's not true...but I think as well as everything else...we need to work on things between you and the teachers...you snap at them and piss them off...they grill you and piss you off...it's turned in to a viscous circle..."
Kai sat himself up and shifted to the side of the bed beside him. He turned his head away and folded his arms.
"...if they'd just leave me alone it wouldn't be a problem..."
"They're your teachers, Kai...they can't just leave you alone...so work with us here?"
"Me?!" he exclaimed, flairing up.
"Yes, you... Neither of you are totally innocent in this. You know damn well your attitude isn't acceptable sometimes...you've both got to give a little here or nothing is going to change."
Kai huffed and simmered down.
Dan thought a minute before going in to what he really wanted to talk about.
"and...I didn't realise the thing about me maybe leaving had hurt you...I'm sorry..."
Kai stiffened harder.
"Look, it was a heat of the moment thing, it just came out...don't go reading that much in to it...you do what you gotta do..." he said defensively.
"...Was that why you were mad at me the other night?"
"No! I was mad because you put Rei in here without even asking me!"
Dan snorted.
"...I should have asked you, you're right...I'm sorry."
"'s fine..." he mumbled.
A few moments passed.
"But I want you to know...even if I do leave, I'll still be here for you...we'll work something out, you can't get rid of me that easily..." he said as he let out one of his grins.
"You really don't need to do this...I'm fine."
Dan sighed as he reached over and put an arm around him.
"You're not. But it's all right, we'll figure it out...you're not on your own, Kai."
Kai stayed still, feeling conflicted.
On the one hand, he wanted to push Dan's arm off him. Tell him to not bother and leave him alone...
But at the same time, he felt relieved and comforted...
"I took the liberty of calling that doctor before I came up here...I think we need to go sooner rather than later...second panic attack in little over two weeks...we're going Thursday afternoon, all right?"
Kai tensed yet again before nodding.
"...are they going to keep happening?"
Dan felt himself tense, too.
"...Likely...but that's something you should ask the doctor."
Kai sighed and hunched forward, putting his head in his hands.
"Hey...it's OK..." Dan soothed as he tightened his hold on him.
"No, it's not!" he snapped.
"The first time I thought there was a reason it came on...but this time, I didn't have anything to be scared about and bam! There it was out of nowhere! What if it happens during class? Or in public? Do you have any idea how humiliating it was for them all to watch me like...that!? All my teachers...my...teammate!"
"Rei doesn't think any less of you for this, Kai. You know that..."
"It's not just that!" he blurted out.
"Then what is it?" Dan asked gently.
Kai let out a frustrated growl.
"Everything!"
Dan stayed quiet, wanting him to continue.
"Mr. Griffin was right! I don't belong here! If it's not the teachers thinking I'm some sort of violent delinquent, the other students are writing 'psychopath' on my picture...I don't fit in. No one wants me here just as much as I don't want to be here, but I have no choice but to be here. I get really good grades, should help with getting to a good college but again...no choice in my future, so what's the point? I'm a world champion beyblader, but I never had a choice about getting in to that either. Now I can't even keep control over my god damn body?!"
Dan's silence became a stunned one.
He was voluntarily confiding in him...
"You know, as far back as I can remember, everything has just been...fucked. It's just been a big, long continuous stream of one thing after another! I feel like I got sucked in to a black hole and been trying to get out for years and getting nowhere...if it isn't something from before that comes back to haunt me, it's something going on right now...there's always something. Like I said, future doesn't look promising either...so what's the point of even...trying to pull myself out..."
Dan could hear in his voice that he was on the verge of crying.
Only once had he seen him well up before. Not long ago. In the car after his first panic attack with that jerk psychologist.
He'd wanted to hug him then, too...but didn't.
This time he couldn't help it.
His grip around his shoulder got slightly softer as he brought his other arm around and pulled him in.
As expected, Kai went stiff as a board...but didn't push him off...so Dan held on.
Kai tried his best from stopping himself from crying. That was the last thing he wanted to do after today...
"There's every reason to pull yourself out. But it sounds like you're juggling way too much inside on your own and starting to drop some balls. This is what I've been trying to tell you this whole time. You need people...everyone does."
It was Kai's turn to stay quiet.
"It's not true what you said about no one wanting you here...I know things are tense with the teachers, but we're going to fix that. I know them. They're not bad people, just like you're not a bad person...things just got out of hand after building up for so long...we can do something about that. As for the other students...for someone as smart as you, you really are blind...Reuben has been dying to talk to you all year. You keep shutting him down and he still won't give up. You remember when you said 'hi' back to him? It made his day...probably made his month, actually...so why not try talking to him? I know Scotty really likes you, too...in fact, the whole class does...only yesterday they went nuts for you for winning the tournament. If they didn't like you, they wouldn't care. None of them are big beyblade fans...but they sat and watched you. If you open your eyes, you'll see they constantly try and connect with you...do yourself a favor and let them...even if it's uncomfortable at first."
Dan finally let go of him...a hug could go on a bit too long, after all.
"As for everything else going on in that head of yours...we're going to that doctor. I really hope you'll try as hard as you can to get everything out and listen to what he says...I can help make things better for you here at school, and I'm always here if you need to talk...but you need to do the work there...no one can talk for you."
"...Yeh..."
"You mark my words...you make steps to open up, things will get so much better for you...trust me."
There was a knock at the door.
"I bet I know who that is..." Dan grinned before getting up.
He went to the door and opened it. Lo and behold, it was Rei.
"...I'm sorry...is this bad timing?" he asked almost timidly.
"Not at all...I have to go anyway..." he said before turning back to Kai, "take it easy...think about what I said, OK?"
Kai just nodded and watched him leave.
Talking to Dan had made him feel a little better. A little lighter.
...But now Rei was here, all that had gone out the window...he felt nervous.
He hobbled in on his crutches and pushed the door shut before making his way to the bed and sitting himself where Dan had been a few moments ago.
"...I'd ask if you're all right but I have a feeling I know what you're going to say..."
"I'm fine..."
"That's what I thought you'd say..." Rei smiled.
"Really, Rei...I just did the whole...talking thing...with Harris."
"OK..."
Awkward silence...
"...Why didn't you tell me you got panic attacks? How long has this been going on?"
"Not long...got my first one the other week when I went to see that shrink...and I didn't tell you because it's not exactly something I want to broadcast..."
"...Why did you push me away...when I came over to you?"
Kai squirmed a little, awkwardly.
"Jeez, Rei...having your closest friend watch you having an uncontrollable freakout isn't exactly on the top of my list of favorite things..."
"...what brought it on exactly?"
"...I have no idea...it just happened."
"Wha-"
"Rei, please..." he said with gentle firmness, "I don't wanna talk about it..."
Rei huffed.
"You'll talk to Dan and let him help you through it...I've only been your friend for years...what do I have to do to get you to talk to me for once!?"
Kai felt himself flair up.
"Damnit, Rei! I can't tell you about it because I have no idea myself! I don't know why they started, I don't know why it came on today, I don't know if and when they're going to keep happening and I don't know how to control it! I'm embarassed enough that so many people saw it without having to keep telling everyone about it!"
Rei felt bad...he was just frustrated.
He shifted closer and put his arms around him. Just like Dan had.
"I'm sorry...you just really scared me..."
Kai tensed up as he felt Rei's arms wrap around him...two hugs in such a space of time was...not something he was used to.
As strange as it was...he wanted this one.
He thought about what Dan had said...if he couldn't open up to Rei, what hope did he have with anyone else?
"Sorry...I guess if I saw that happening to you, I'd want to know too...I just don't know what to tell you."
Rei looked up, but kept his arms round him.
"...I'm..."
He stopped, debating whether or not he should tell him.
"...I'm seeing a new doctor on Thursday...when I know more...I'll let you know..."
Rei's eyes got slightly wider as he pulled away.
"You are? ...Kai, that's great."
Kai let out a deep sigh.
"We'll see..."
"Hey, it's a step in the right direction...one thing at a time, huh?"
Kai smirked.
"You sound like Harris..."
"Because the man speaks the truth..." he said, remembering everything he'd said to the teachers...he seemed to be able to read Kai like a book. He was great...
"What he say?" he asked curiously.
Kai tensed again...this was...challenging.
"...he uh...said I need to work on relationships with the teachers...try harder with the other students and...talk..."
"Again, the man speaks the truth..."
"...sounds like it should be so easy..."
Rei smiled slightly.
"Maybe at first it'll be weird for you...but don't think too much about it...you don't have to go and have an hour long conversation with anyone right away...start small and maybe try responding to people and just go from there...your teachers...just...watch your attitude, huh? Remember, little things go a long way..." he smirked.
"Hn..."
Rei got the feeling Kai had had enough of talking for one day...considering how he always was...he'd actually done really well on that front today...talking to both Dan and him.
"Well...I'd better get back to the staff room...still on the clock...hope you can relax a little...I'll talk to you later...oh! And you missed my class...I'll go over it with you later."
Kai smirked.
"Thank you, Mr. Kon..."
"No problem...see? Just be like that with your other teachers..."
Kai's smirk grew.
"Yes, sir..."
Rei smiled and showed himself out.
Kai flopped back on the bed.
He was feeling better...sort of.
Maybe they were right...maybe letting things off your chest once in a while was good for you...he hadn't meant to blurt all that stuff out to Dan...it just kind of...came out.
If only it didn't leave that horrible vulnerable feeling he hated.
At the same time...doing things his way clearly wasn't working out for him...Mr. Dickenson, Dan and Rei harped on at him to try it their way...perhaps it was worth a shot...if it didn't work out, he could always just revert back to his old ways...
It couldn't be that hard, right?
Rei made it look so effortless...he could get along with anyone.
And he did...Rei had made more friends here than Kai had in almost a year. He was well liked.
...Because he was the amazing...one of a kind.
Kai huffed.
He had enough going on right now...he didn't need to drag that crap in to the equation, too...
He lay a while longer, his head going round and round...everything. There weren't just a few things bothering him...there was a lot. He was starting to see that.
He finally grew tired of thinking. It was as exhausting as talking...
He checked his watch. Almost the end of last period...
...He didn't want to lay here anymore. He felt restless.
That and he didn't want to miss choir practice. The contest was rapidly coming up after all...and they were making changes.
Not that he cared...he told himself...just didn't want to be an asshole.
He glanced over at his desk.
There was something else he should probably do, too...get the ball rolling.
Dan greeted Rei with a smile as he came back in to the staffroom.
As Rei hopped his way to his desk, Mr. Simmons came over looking a little sheepish.
"...Is he...all right?" he asked them both.
Dan and Rei both looked at each other before him.
"Yeh." said Dan, "he seems fine."
"Good...good..." he nodded as he continued to stand awkwardly.
"...got something on your mind there, Tim?" Dan smirked at him after he continued to stand there for a while.
Tim sighed.
"Look...you were both right...we haven't been great with him...I still stand by my opinion that he needs to check his attitude and his mouth but...we're at fault, too...I've been thinking about it and I think if we're going to work this out, we need to know what's going on with him...know what we're up against. It's hard to be understanding if we don't understand what we're dealing with. Just saying he has 'problems' isn't enough to work with."
Dan let out a huge smile.
About time someone actually asked...
"...I think that would be very productive...but I want to run it by Kai first..."
A knock came at the staffroom door before it opened.
"Class 1-4. Kai Hiwatari. Here for Mr. Griffin."
The whole room froze and looked up.
He never did the proper announcement like the students were supposed to when they came to the staff room...he usually just barged in.
"...Come." Griffin barked.
Kai walked in, keeping his head down and his face straight, feeling their eyes on him.
Mr. Griffin kept his eyes on him too.
Kai stood at his desk and held out a paper.
The old man looked from the paper to him.
"And this is...?"
"My assignment."
Mr. Griffin paused a moment before taking it from his hand and scanning it.
"...I won't knock off points for lateness this time..." he finally said gruffly before he looked back up at him, "We all make mistakes sometimes after all..."
Dan let out a small smile as he typed, but listened in. Those two weren't entirely different...in fact, they probably clashed in the first place because they had similar qualities. Both on the blunt, stubborn, fiery side...that had to be coldest, most direct extension of an olive branch he'd ever witnessed...it was great.
Kai gave a slow, expressionless nod before turning wordlessly and making his way to Dan's desk. He stood and folded his arms, apparently waiting.
Dan finished typing his sentence on the computer before slowly turning his head to him.
"Yeeeees?"
Kai cocked a brow.
"What? No practice today?"
Dan turned and looked at the clock.
"Oh, shoot! Lost track of time..." he cursed before looking back at him.
"...You sure you want to come today?" he asked quietly.
"I'm fine. That new version isn't going to rehurse itself is it?...Let's go." he said bluntly before heading out the door.
Dan and Rei snickered.
...Maybe it would take a while before he got the hang of losing the attitude...but he had to start somewhere...he was trying at least.
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End of chapter 13!
A lot of talking in this, I know.
I hope you liked it though!
Any comments appreciated!
See you next chapter and thank you for reading!