The Gentleman of Yorke Pt. 2

Mayberry

I didn't recognize Spinner at first. He stood in front of the classroom door, checking his watch, and talking to another guy whose face I couldn't make out. It looked like he had actually combed his hair, which was growing out, and polished his shoes, dressy and black. Was this the same guy that chased Toby around Degrassi, mooned the auditorium, spread bugs around the caf? Maybe he had changed. Maybe he wanted Paige back. Maybe he...

"Yo, J.T." yelled Spinner. "You were able to tear yourself away from your pump"

I smirked. "Least I'm able to control myself in front of drama class. What was that about Paige and a delivery guy...", I said.

The guy besides Spinner chuckled. The baseball cap he'd been wearing had been hiding his face, but as soon as he laughed, I knew who he was. Jay. He was even taller outside of school, domineering. The only thing scarier than Jay is Alex, but she's kind of hot. Not Liberty hot, but hot.

"What are you doing here" I asked Jay, hoping that they didn't see that I was sweating.

"University girls" said Jay. "Why else"

Spinner nodded happily. "If anyone asks, we're eighteen" he said. "Uh, you can be sixteen. Some girls are into that. Yeah, you look about that age."

"I am sixteen" I said. "But anyway, what will Alex think if she knows you're here"

"Well, she wants me to be well-mannered" said Jay smugly. "I'm the first boyfriend cause she's like VP."

"Isn't Dylan first boyfriend" I asked. "I mean, since Marco's president so..."

"Don't confuse me, Yorke Dork" said Jay, pushing me inside the classroom.

The classroom was large, larger than any Degrassi rooms. There were six long tables, nicely decorated like tables at weddings. I've only been to one wedding- Mr. Simpson and Ms. Nelson's. But theirs was simple. There were about thirty people altogether, mostly guys who I guess had to take this as a requirement for a major in business. None of them looked excited to be there. The older woman at the front, who I assumed was our teacher, looked pretty old. She was no Ms. H. She had white hair tied back in a bun, and a sleeveless, white dress that clung to her skinny body. But her voice was loud and carried across the room.

"Good evening,students" she said. "Take a seat where there is a card with your name."

I found my name at the longest table, the same table as Spinner and Jay. James Tiberius Yorke. I hate my middle name. My dad gave it to me, and he hadn't even stuck around for me to complain about it.

Spinner switched his name card so that he could sit next to a pretty red-haired girl, and Jay ripped up his and threw it at Spinner. The teacher saw this and came over to our table.

"Gavin, Jason, that is not proper decorum" she said. "And you're new. What's your name"

"J.T. Yorke" I said, extending my hand for her to shake.

"What kind of parents name their son J.T." she said, grabbing my name card. "Ah! James Tiberius. Much better. I'm Mrs. Trellis."

I just looked at her. She had a lot more wrinkles up close.

"I'm Mrs. Trellis" she said again.

Jay cleared his throat. "Say hello, James Tiberius" he said.

I shot him a dirty look. "Hello, Mrs. Trellis" I said, gritting my teeth.

"Good then" said Mrs. Trellis, then shouting to a man at the other end of the room"Start up the music and we'll assign partners."

Liberty had to appreciate this. I missed her, glancing around the room. She was as smart as these university girls, probably smarter. Guys were pulling out chairs for girls, pairing up quickly. There was only one girl I wanted to dance with. I had to lie to her, saying that I was over Tobes' playing RPGs. But she couldn't know. I wanted this to seem natural, for her and her dad to think I was always like this, deep down. A gentleman.

"We're imbalanced so we'll pair up Gavin and James Tiberius..." said Mrs. Trellis.

"What" shouted Spinner. "Dude...I mean, Mrs. Trellis, I always dance with Bianca."

"No buts, Gavin" said Mrs. Trellis. "You'll lead since this is James Tiberius' first day."

Spinner sighed, got up and pulled out my chair. I thought I was going to throw up. I could go along with a lot of things, but this was weird. Jay hooted and laughed, until Mrs. Trellis tapped him on the shoulder. I was shocked to see Toby coming up behind her.

"Toby" I said.

Toby mouthed "Hazel", winking at me. I frowned at him. Jimmy's nice and all, but I'm sure he wouldn't have dug Toby going for his girl.

"Toby, I need to talk with you" I said.

"Conversation after dancing" said Mrs. Trellis. "Jason, you're with Tobias."

Jay's mouth dropped. Mrs. Trellis pulled him up by his shirt collar and positioned his arm to wrap around Toby's waist. Toby looked as sick as I felt. Spinner had his arm around my waist and grimaced.

"Bianca smells better" he said, twisting his nose.

"Nah" I said, shaking my head. "It's you. Spray cheese and sweat."

Jay laughed, pointing at us. "Dude...you're dancing with a dude" he exclaimed.

"Dude, so are you" said Spinner.

Jay looked at Toby as if he'd suddenly appeared, then turned his head away.

"Twirls, twirls" said Mrs. Trellis. "Give James Tiberius a twirl."

Spinner twirled me awkwardly. My nose bumped into his chest. I tried to picture Liberty, but all I could see was Spinner's nose, Rolling Stones T-shirt, pierced ear.

"You're so graceful" I heard Mrs. Trellis say to Toby. Toby actually smiled.

"So...why are you here, anyway" said Spinner, trying to put as much space between us as possible.

"Liberty" I said softly. "I wanna impress her dad."

"Dude, I got Ms. Michalchuk a cheese log" said Spinner. "She was happy. Had sandwiches for weeks. That's all you need."

I rolled my eyes. "I have to show them that I'm more than Mr. Loving the Ladies" I said.

"Uh, you're dancing with me just to make your girl happy" said Spinner. "That's gotta count for something."

I shrugged. Mrs. Trellis was showing Jay and Toby how to do the tango. Apparently, they had mastered the waltz. Jay stepped on Toby's foot and laughed. Liberty would've laughed, too. Would she care if I knew how to waltz or which fork I needed to use? It was better to cover all bases.

At the end of class, Mrs. Trellis said that we'd have the same partners. Spinner and Jay plotted to pretend to be sick, but Bianca asked if they'd be there tomorrow, and Spin convinced Jay that they could tough it out. Jay said sure, but he wasn't touching Toby's waist again. Toby sighed with relief.