Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this fic...If I DID own the characters, I'd have Charlie all to myself! And Neil would still be alive...and Charlie would be mine...and Mr. Keating would still have his job...and Charlie would be mine...and Chet Danbury would have his but kicked by Knox...and Charlie would be mine...and it would have been Cameron that would have been expelled...and Charlie would be mine...and Todd would have a back bone...and did I mention Charlie would be mine? I did? Oh...Okay! Well then. It's settled. Charlie would be mine if I owned the characters. LoL Italics are quotes taken right from the movie. Thanks to the brilliant writers for wonderful quotes and scenes to write fabulous stories around!

The poem is, bolded and italicized, 'WHEN IN DISGRACE' By William Shakespeare.

This will be a 7 or 8 chapter story. After Mr. Keating leaves Welton, he sits at a coffee shop and thinks of each boy and what difference he made or could have made in each young man. Next up…Richard Cameron. His will have some made up scenes.

Pausing on Cameron:

When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

Chris bid me a farewell and I watched her leave. It was easy to see why Knox loved her so. Sweet and charming. Just how a woman should be. Really, how anyone should be. As I think of her and Knox and all the plans they're making, I find myself looking at my cup of coffee and realizing why I'm here.

I don't know if I should hate Richard Cameron or feel sorry for him.

Unlike the others, he never seemed to grasp the idea of 'Carpe Diem'. To him, life was all about orders and rules and it would be the way the superiors said it would be. No grey area.

I have Neil Perry read J. Evans Pritchard's INTRODUCTION TO POETRY. I let him finish before I say what I think. "Excrement. That's what I think of Mr. J. Evans Pritchard. We're not laying pipe. We're talking about poetry. I mean, how can you describe poetry like American Bandstand? I like Byron, I give him a 42, but I can't dance to it. Now I want you to rip out that page." The boys look at me like I'm nuts, but I insist. I see Cameron still hesitating. "It's not the Bible, you're not going to go to hell for this. Go on, make a clean tear, I want nothing left of it." As he looks to Neil for help, I tell the boys to rip out the entire introduction.

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

I smile in memory of that class. It was the first time that the boys discovered themselves. But as I continue to sit and remember my few months at Welton as a teacher, I remember Richard Cameron and his refusal to bend.

"Come on, Charlie. The rules simply state…"

"Screw the rules for once, Cameron." I hear Neil Perry speak. "Don't you get it?"

"Get what?" I hear confusion in Mr. Cameron's voice.

"This isn't anyone's life. This is ours. If we don't speak now…doesn't Mr. Keating's words mean anything to you?" Neil continues to push. I can only imagine the determination to live in his eyes.

"Charlie…"

"It's okay, Cameron." Charlie's voice is uncharacteristically soft, which I assume is him trying to convince Cameron whatever they're plotting is okay.

"Todd?" Cameron asks. "What about you?" I know Todd Anderson is a quiet young man who never speaks up.

"I…I'm okay wi…with it." The shy mole stutters out.

I can only imagine the look of victory on Charlie Dalton's face as he quietly chuckles. "There you go, Cameron. Todd's doing it. Why not you?"

As I walked off, I wished I knew what they were talking about. (1)

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least,

The coffee house is now filling up as people get off work and out of class. I look around and I see Mr. McAllister getting a cup of coffee. He sees me and joins me. "John."

"George." The reply is subtle and yet warm. George McAllister was one of the few teachers I trusted.

"You've been here all day?"

"Since about one, yeah." I closed my journal and looked at him. "Just thinking. Coffee helps one think."

"I always thought you were more a tea drinker." He smiled.

He's right. But right at that moment, I'm driven to drink coffee. Not sure as to why. Maybe it's got the same effect as alcohol, but doesn't leave you drunk. "Coffee just seemed a good choice."

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

Like to the lark at break of day arising

I see Mr. Cameron sitting across from Mr. Nolan, looking rather impishly smug. "You wanted to see me, Sir?" I hesitate.

"Shut the door, Mr. Keating." Nolan's voice is demanding, never a good sign. I follow directions, never taking my eyes off of Mr. Cameron. "Mr. Cameron informs us that you encouraged the boys to start a newer version of The Dead Poets Society."

"They asked and…" I began.

"And that despite Mr. Perry's objections, you encouraged Neil Perry to pursue acting."

"He said that his father was okay with it if his grades were up…" Again, I was interrupted.

"And that you bend the rules and break codes that are long instilled in Walton's honor. How do you explain yourself, Mr. Keating?"

I looked at Mr. Nolan. "Apparently, I don't have to. You have already decided what the explanations are." I stood up. "Do you want me to resign or are you firing me?" I looked stoically at Mr. Cameron, who now seemed uncomfortable.

"Firing you, Mr. Keating." Mr. Nolan's voice was stiff and uncaring. "You are to be gone by the end of the week."

"Fine." I looked at Mr. Cameron. "I'll start packing now." I turned and left, not knowing if I should hate Mr. Cameron or not. (2)

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

(1) This is obviously made up. Not even I have a clue of what they're talking about. The story liked the idea of Mr. Keating eavesdropping, but not stopping anything because he remembers being a young man trying to find his voice. Hope you all liked. Feel free to pretend it's whatever you want it to be! LoL

(2) Again, another made up scene. Hope it's okay.