"Mr Crownfield?"
"Yes?" The teacher looked up from his books, irritation shining in his eyes. He didn't like being disturbed, especially not by brats like Atwood and Ward. In his book they were nothing but trouble. Especially the Atwood kid that came from Chino.
"Excuse me sir..But..but..May I be excused to go to the bathroom?" Ryan tried to make his voice sound as urgent as possible so the teacher wouldn't say no.
It didn't work.
"No!" The answer was short. Ryan's predicament didn't get any pity from him. Kids like him always tried to find excuses.
Ryan opened his mouth to ask again when Luke cut in. "Mr Crownfield I really think you should let Ryan go. He's been complaining about a stomach ache all day and judging from how green he looks I wouldn't hold him up for very long. "He nodded knowingly towards Ryan who made a face just to state his point." Maybe I'm mistaking but it looks like he's about to barf!"
Ryan frowned. Did he really look that bad? Ok he was nervous about meeting his mom but he didn't think it was as bad as Luke played out on him. For once his acting skills back in Chino came to his advantage and he pressed his hand firmly to his stomach, "Yes Mr Crownfield," he moaned, "My stomach hurts real bad and I think I've got a fever." He held up a hand towards his forehead just like a drama queen. In the corner of his eye he spotted Luke frowning. Maybe he was over exaggerating a bit too much. Toning it down he added, "The flu is going around at our house and Seth caught it. I'm afraid I might have caught it too."
"Is that so?" The teacher looked doubtful at his young student. Not believing him, still not wanting to take any chances.
"Yes sir," he groaned as to state his point, "Please sir..let me go. I promise I´ll be fast."
The teacher looked like he was going to say no when Luke added, "Yeah dude..you don´t look so good. You better run or you wont make it."
Those last words had the teacher change his mind and he said with a nasal voice, "Alright...But make it quick."
"Yes sir." Ryan stood up to leave when Luke grabbed him in his arm whispering, "I hope it's worth it because we going to get hell for this if we are going to get caught." There was a smile toying at his lips as he said the words. His friend nodded gratefully at him before adding, "It is...Thanks man." With that he strode to the front of the class room.
The teacher held his arm. "This better be for real Atwood or you will be having so much detention that you won't see the sunlight for weeks." He then added with a threatening tone, "You better not do anything stupid. I'm warning you."
Ignoring the last comment Ryan pretended to be in an awful hurry and placing a hand to his mouth he rushed out of the door. As soon as the door slammed behind him he ran through the corridor. There was not much time to spare and he was already late as it was. Out on the school yard he picked up his bike and then rode as fast as he could to the mall that was luckily situated not far from their school. He was fifteen minutes late already to their meeting and he had about half an hour to make it back to the school without the teacher suspecting anything terribly wrong.
'Please,' he begged, 'Please let her be there.' He peddled as fast as he could. Reaching the mall he didn't have time to park his bike and instead threw it down on the concrete before rushing through the glass doors. The guards were looking at him curiously and he could sense them following his way towards the escalators as their eyes burned a whole in his back. This was a feeling he knew way to well from when he lived in Chino. It was he feeling of being followed and even if he was a Newport citizen now he still suspected that it would follow him as long as he lived.
Marked for life.
His mom had told him to meet her outside the famous Sawbuck's cafe. Taking several steps at the time he ran up the elevator nearly knocking down people in the process. "Excuse me," he panted to the muttering people as he ran past them hoping that he would make it. Once he reached the top level he had to stop himself to gain his breath. His heart was pounding hard and for a moment it felt like blood vessels would burst from the exhaustion. Not wanting to stop he ran through the mall to the opposite side where his mother should be waiting for him.
Expecting to see her standing there, her blond hair in a ponytail, he was met with nothing but emptiness.
There was nobody ouside the cafe. Taking a second look to make sure he hadn't misread a sign, even though he had been there several times before, maybe that's the reason she wouldn't show up?
'She probably got tired of waiting and went inside to get a coffee,' he mentally reasoned as he opened the door to the cafe. It was just as empty inside as it was outside and only a few tables were occupied. None with his mother. He glanced nervously towards the restroom. 'Maybe she is in there. 'He thought even if he deep inside knew that it wouldn't be the case. Feeling the despair wash over him he suddenly felt all energy drain away. With his head hanging low he walked up to the girl by the coffee machine.
"Excuse me," he did his best to make his voice as steady as possible.
"Yes?" The brunette looked up from where she was stacking paper cups. She smiled kindly at him. "What would you like to order?"
"Eh huh..nothing." he mumbled as he fidgeted nervously in front of the counter.
"Ok." She frowned. Probably wondering what he was doing in there if he was not going to order.
"Eh...Did you see a woman walk in here...about...About this tall," he stuttered, gesturing with his hand his mother's height. "Blond hair. Blue eyes."
"There are lots of people fitting that description," the Brunette said. "Today has been pretty slow however so there hasn't been much guests and No...No one of the guests had that description. I think."
"Ok." Ryan felt his shoulders shag. Hanging his head low he wanted to leave the place so bad. She had lied to him but then what had he expected? There had been so many times when she told him that she would show up only to be late or not come at all. This was no different from the before and it always ended the same way. Her apologising and him feeling miserable.
He wanted to kick himself for believing her, but then it was his fault, wasn't it? He was the one that had stood her up this time by not paying attention in class and then getting that stupid detention. He was the one that had let her down this time.
Now when would he get to see her again? He'd fucked up big time and he was now paying the price.
Preparing to leave he heard the brunette call back to him, "You ok sweetie?"
Nodding he didn't turn around, just walked out of the door towards the escalators. He wanted to leave, wanted to get out of the place or he feared he would get sick.
"Hold on honey," The Brunette called out. He stopped. Turning around he saw her run towards him, "Wait..I had to go on errand and then Angela, the other girl I work with was in charge. I can ask her if she have seen a woman of your description coming in to the cafeteria today.
"Ok." For a moment Ryan felt a shred of hope light in his eyes and he walked sullenly back with the girl. Having no hopes he leaned against the counter, waiting for her to come back. The headache he had all day was getting worse and there was a cold feeling in his stomach. Maybe it wasn't just the nerves that were playing a game with him. Maybe he was getting Seth's flu.
Catching a glance at his watch he saw that he had to leave or the game he and Luke was playing would get revealed. Probably with a worse punishment to expect. With that in mind he turned on his heel and started to walk down the stairs. "Wait!" This time it was another girl. Turning around he saw a black girl with long Rasta braids standing there, waving with a white envelope in her hand. " Are you Ryan?"
"Yes?" He stopped his action, puzzled.
"Great. I'm Angela." The black girl smiled at him, showing off some white teeth. "Sheila told me that you were looking for a blond woman and yes she has been here. She left about ten minutes ago."
Ryan breathed out of relief. "She was? She did?"
"Yes." Angela nodded, "She seemed in a bit of a hurry though and she told me to give this to the boy that would come in looking for her." She smiled towards him again as she handed him the white envelope. "It's your mom, isn't it?"
"Uh..yes.." Surprised over the sudden question but also grateful being handed the envelope he asked, "Why do you think so?"
"Because you two have the same eyes." Another toothy white smile. "Just as beautiful."
Ryan blushed. "Did she say anything else?"
"No, just that.." Angela shook her head, "Oh wait," she called out like she had suddenly remembered something, "She said that you would understand once you read the letter."
"Ok. Thanks" Ryan was not a man with many words. "Was she alone?" The mere thought that she was back with AJ scared him just as much.
"Mmm..Yeah I think she was."
Tucking the letter inside his pants and then pulling his shirt over he thanked her again before leaving the cafeteria. He wanted so desperately to read the letter, yet he had to be back at school or Luke would get hell for backing him up. With that in mind he ran down the escalators again and then through the glass doors. The guards were eyeing him again, this time calling out for him to stop but he didn't pretend to hear them. They did nothing to follow him either so maybe they didn't think he stole anything.
Jumping on the bike he once again rode as fast as he could back to school. He was panting hard and for a moment feared that he would pass out from exhaustion, still he didn't let up. Luke was saving his ass and he couldn't let his friend down. Not two persons he cared for the same day. Running down the corridor sweat poured off him like he had raced a marathon or suffered from high temperature. Black spots danced in front of his eyes and the ringing in his ears told him that he was close to passing out.
Normally Ryan had a good condition but today he was on the verge of exhaustion, both mentally and physically.
The door opened and Mr Crownfield walked out of the room. "Atwood?" he said with surprise. "Where have you been?"
Finding himself quickly he murmured, "In the bath..bathroom sir." His tone was a mixture of nervousness and exhaustion. Closing his eyes he steadied himself against the door post, waiting for the scolding to begin.
A hand was placed on his shoulder. "You don't look so good." The teacher's unfriendly tone was changed to a softer one and looking up he saw a hint of concern in the teacher's otherwise cold eyes. "I was wondering where you went since you did not return in the period of time that I think is appropriate for a bathroom visit." A frown was etched on his forehead.
"I´m..I´m sorry," the teen stutter back, sounding more pitiful then he intended to. "I think I might have caught the flu. It hit me so sudden and it's kind of bad." He coughed to state his mark.
"I can see that," the teacher said guiding Ryan back to his desk. Upon entering the room Luke looked up from his book, a smile toying at his lips when he saw his friend. Mr Crownfield spotted it instantly. Not amused at all. "Wipe that smug grin out of your face Mr Ward," he ordered.
The grin faded. Turning to Ryan he said, "How you doing man? You look like cr..I mean you don't look good." Luke corrected his language seeing the teacher raise an eyebrow in disgust.
"I'm Ok," Ryan said with a shrug.
When the answer wasn't as convincing he turned towards the old school teacher, "See I told you that he wasn't feeling so hot." Mr Crownfield frowned. Luke was talking way too much. "He was throwing up when I went to see him in the bathroom."
"I was?" Ryan said, "I mean I was." He corrected instantly before the teacher would have any other ideas. Holding his palm towards his forehead he mumbled, "I feel really sick. Maybe I should go home."
"Yeah dude.." Luke nodded. "You look bad dude. Let's hope you don't have what Seth has." He scrunched his nose. "The flu is pretty bad this year. Aar had it and he was sick as he..I mean very sick."
Mr Crownfield looked at him with disbelief. It was clear that Luke Ward wasn't one of his brightest students and he had always disliked that kid. It was no wonder that his dad had turned up to be a homo. With a sigh he turned to Ryan, "If you're that sick maybe you should call the Cohen's and let them come and pick you up."
Upon hearing this Ryan felt fright ran down his spine. If there were one thing he couldn't do it was to bother Kirsten or Sandy. Especially not when he was not ill at all. "No that's ok. I can ride on my bike."
"Nonsense," the teacher said as he took notice of his student's sudden change in health. "You can't go on a bike in this condition. I can give them a call."
"No..It´s really..It´s ok." Ryan sat up straighter on the chair. Suddenly feeling like this was not such a good idea after all. Now he would have to pretend to be sick in the Cohen's household all afternoon and that meant that he would have to skip meeting Marissa but also that he couldn't continue with his investigation about his moms whereabouts.
"I can drive him." Luke butted in.
Ryan smiled inwardly. Who would have thought that Luke was the one to save his ass when he'd first arrived at Newport? At that time they were enemies, fighting over the same girl. Now they were buddies. Ever since they found out that Luke's dad was gay.
"That is nice of you Mr Ward but I think that Ryan's parents are the one that should pick him up."
For a moment Ryan sensed something more beside concern in the teacher's voice and something told him that the older man was onto his escape. Judging from that he thought it was better to give up. To play along.
"Ok." He said with a moan. "That's really nice of you." Deep inside him hoped that neither Sandy nor Kirsten would be reachable.
"Good then it's settled. I'll go make the call." With that the teacher left the room. As soon as they were alone Luke turned to him. "What did she say?"
Looking down on the desk the teen mumbled silently, "Nothing."
"Nothing?" Luke looked puzzled. "How come."
Deep sigh. "She left already. " His tone was sad.
"She had? Aww man that was bad. Man"
"Yeah. I know. "But she left me this," He patted at his stomach. "A letter."
"Oh." Luke looked curiously at his friend. "You read it yet?"
"No didn't have time. " He shook his head. "Besides I want to do it tonight when everything is peace and quiet. Feeling the need to change the subject he added, "Dude I want to thank you for saving my ass."
"No problems man." Luke grinned. "What don't you do for friends? Really it was nothing. I still can't believe that Mr Crownfield bought it."
"Bought what?" Ryan's head was aching so much that it was hard to think and for a moment it felt like he was coming on with something. For real!
"That you were sick. You know after you had been out for a while he wanted to go and see how you were doing when I volunteered. At first he wouldn't let me but then I talked him into it and I came back telling him that you felt really bad. At first he didn't believe me and then he said that he would give you a few minutes and then he would check for himself. I about died man when you came into the room. If you had been just a few minutes late he would have found out about our scam."
"I think he already did." Ryan said silently.
"What? No way. That was water proof."
"No it wasn't." Ryan shook his head. "I can see it in his eyes. He knows that I'm not sick. Why else would he want to call my parents? It's not like I'm a kid you know."
Luke thought for a moment. "Yeah..Yeah maybe you're right. But if he knows why didn't he do something about it then? Give you more detention? Give ME more detention?"
"I don't know." Ryan sighed. "Maybe he's waiting until he's got something more on me. I really don't know." He was suddenly feeling very tired.
"Ok..But anyways dude..We managed to pull it off.
"Yeah we did." Ryan smiled back and the two guys high fived each other at the same time as the teacher walked into the room.
"What's so funny?" Mr Crownfield asked, his small pig like eyes staring them into the back.
Ryan didn't know what to say but Luke was fast with words. Being the male pig that he was he added, "Ryan here let out a burp so big that it had to be saluted."
Mr Crownfield shook his head in disgust. "That is gross Ward" Ryan bit back his laughter. Turning to the "sick teen" he continued, "Ryan I called your parents and Kirsten will pick you up in a few minutes. She sounded really worried that you caught the same bug as young Mr Cohen.
Upon hearing the words Ryan felt his heart kick up a knot. She was at home. Now what would he do? "She did?" He did his best not to sound surprised, "Yeah maybe I have. I feel bad enough anyway."
"You boys I have something to say to you." Mr Crownfield looked both Ryan and Luke in their eyes.
Expecting the worst. That Mr Crownfield had caught them with their pants down. Revealed their hoax Ryan swallowed hard. Closing his eyes he waited for the scowling to begin.
But no such thing came.
"I'm sorry if I doubted you boys but there are so many excuses to get out of detention that I thought that this was just one of them." He looked at Ryan who could feel his face blushing, "Especially when you said that you had to go so abruptly." He laughed, "There for once I thought that you guys were pulling my leg and you," he pointed at Ryan, "had left the school or something."
This was starting to feel more and more awkward and Ryan was doing his best to keep his face. He kept his mouth shut so not anything would slip that could reveal the hoax they had been playing.
"But when I talked to your mom Kirsten and I found out that it was true what you had been telling me. That the flu virus was really going in your family and I realised that you guys were telling the truth and now I want to apologise."
The words left Ryan feeling bad, almost nauseous. Here he'd been doing just what the teacher had feared he would do and now the teacher apologised for not believing at him. It was surreal, that was what it was. He thought about telling the truth when he spotted Luke shaking his head widely, like he was reading his mind, and then decided against it. The teacher would feel worse if he knew what his students had done and some things were better left unsaid. "That's ok," he said silently as he picked up his backpack, intended to go outside and wait for Kirsten to come and get him.
Kirsten. That was another problem he hadn't thought of. His foster mother wouldn't be too happy if she found out that he had been lying, skipping detention and also blew one of his teachers by his nose. On top of everything she wasn't as easily fooled as Mr Crownfield. And what would happen when she found out that he wasn't sick for real and was faking it all? Would he be in for another punishment?
Suddenly he didn't feel so relaxed anymore.....