A/N: To Guest: It's not silly, it's understandable and honestly I feel honoured that my story can help brighten your day in some way. Hope it met your expectations as this was thrown together rather quickly. And thankyou for giving me a timeline so I finally had to sit down and do it. The move here across the world hasn't been easy and being sick just topped it off. I haven't given up on any of my stories, they will all be updated, I just need some time to adjust first. Right now finding a good grocery store and getting used to the different products is my top priority.
And to the other guest reviewer and everybody else, thankyou! And give Principal Loughead a chance, he had his reasons for going to Pride with it. Everything is not as simple as it seems I'll try to answer your reviews personally in the next few days and hopefully update a story as well. Thinking about Nathan James, but if you have any other requests, tell me and I might just update that one as well.
-AlexJoSkyler
Collin's words from their talk rang through Pride's head as he watched Donnie struggle with where to start: "If it just where the cheating I would have let it go, but as it was I wasn't really comfortable with only giving him a note. Especially after seeing him so carefree with you guys. Sure, he was nervous, but neither you nor Chris let on anything about him being in trouble and that's when a warning bell started coming off in my head. Now hearing that you are his mentor sealed the faith. I know the deal you had with Nate and his parents and can only hope they don't think I've overstepped by coming to you."
"After what Donnie did, they'll only be thankful. Besides, if he had been honest the information would have reached me anyway."
"I'm pretty sure Donovan won't like me after this, but I had a gut feeling that this wouldn't have played out good. Maybe I should have given him a chance though to come to you or his parents first."
"Don't start doubting yourself Collin. Donnie had his chance and he messed it up, so it's time for him to face what he has coming. And as you said yourself, this wasn't just cheating. "
Looking at the young man before him struggling to find the courage to even start the story, Pride knew exactly why. If he were in Donnie's shoes he wouldn't be too eager himself to admit to being the brain behind a cheating business in school. No, he hadn't operated alone, but from what Pride had heard, it had all begun with him. How and why, Pride didn't know. His stubborn son had kept quiet even when Collin had pressed him.
Donnie glanced up at his mentor, careful to keep his eyes covered by his bangs as much as possible, but still trying to give King a pleading look. He really didn't want to tell this story. Everything was explained in the note that laid on the table in front of them. It'd be easier for both of them if King would just read it. King's expression didn't waiver though as he calmly met Donnie's eyes and said:
"Continue. And let's get these out of the way at the same time." King easily brushed away his bangs, causing Donnie to turn his gaze back down. "Up here Buddy, you know the drill." The voice sounded more sad than disapproving and Donnie after a moment of deliberation turned his head up to meet his mentors' eyes.
"Yes sir." The response was whispered, and Donnie involuntarily cringed and almost let out a whimper as he met the eyes filled with sadness, a hint of anger, disappointment and affection. The last one surprised Donnie. He had royally messed up, but King still felt affection for him. If he didn't, you wouldn't be sitting on his lap, the voice of reason told him. He wasn't so sure though. Despite the months since this whole journey started, Donnie still wasn't fully sure of his place in the "family". He didn't think he'd ever get used to Chris calling him little brother or King calling him son. Just like he wasn't so sure there would ever be a day when he'd stop worrying about King realizing just what he had signed up for. King had time after time reassured him that there was nothing he could do to make him stop loving him, just like Nate and Chris and his parents, Donnie just had a hard time actually believing those words.
"Where do I start?" King must have seen something in his eyes, because he frowned thoughtfully for a second, before gently squeezing Donnie's shoulder and with an even tone answering:
"Anywhere you want to Bud." The hand moved lower to rub his back comfortably and Donnie finally said:
"There was a science test a little more than a week ago. I had forgotten about it and I panicked so during my study hall, the period before my test, I went into my science classroom, hoping that the environment would help me remember the content. And it did, but then I needed to sharpen my pencil and…" Donnie hesitated. "I went up to Mrs. Finkle's desk to use the pencil sharpener she always keeps there and saw the test just lying there out in the open. I couldn't help it, I peaked at it and when Mrs. Finkle didn't come through the door laying at me, I picked it up and memorized it." This was news to Pride who'd only heard about the actions from the last few days. Collin had mentioned that Donnie had admitted to cheating once himself, but that the boy hadn't said more than that. Feeling Donnie tense up, no doubt worrying about his reaction, Pride drew him into a close hug, feeling the whole body tremble with barely held back sobs.
"It's okay Kiddo, we'll get through it. It's okay." When Donnie finally seemed to calm down a bit, Pride released him and pushed him slightly away from himself while still keeping him on his lap. He didn't want the kid to have to manage without the warmth and comfort, but he also wanted to be able to properly look into his eyes for the next part.
"What do I always tell you?"
"That you'll always be there, no matter what."
"Good, what else?"
"That you love me like a son."
"Yeah, and nothing could ever change that so get rid of those doubts. Your brother wasn't exactly an angel and I'm still keeping him around, so why would it be any different with you?" When Donnie didn't acknowledge the statement verbally, King changed tactics: "Are you scared of me?"
"No!" The reply was instant.
"Are you scared to tell me because you think I won't listen?" A shake of the head.
"Do you think I'll throw you out?" An almost invisible shrug. Pride sighed and helped Donnie to stand in between his legs. "Listen to me Buddy, there is nothing and I mean nothing in this world you could do to get rid of me. You are stuck with me son, like it or not. The good, the bad, the ugly, you count me in. I won't go anywhere kiddo, especially not without you. When I took you in it wasn't a decision I made lightly. I knew exactly what came with calling you a son."
"But I'm nothing but trouble!"
"You are so much more than that Donovan." Donnie stubbornly tried to look down, but King gabbed his chin to keep their gazes locked and kept his other hand on his arm, keeping him from bolting towards the door, something Donni had done on more than one occasion when things became too much. "I knew then, just as I know now that you are teenager. Teenagers push, they test boundaries, they doubt, they get scared and they try to grow up too fast. Most importantly they make mistakes. You are allowed to Buddy. If you need me to say that I'll repeat it everyday until you believe me. And as for being nothing but trouble, if you ever say that again Donovan James Williams Pride, you better be prepared for me to wash your mouth out with soap. That's what my mom used to do when you badmouthed somebody or cursed, and you just badmouthed yourself. Kiddo I don't know how to do this other than tell you and show you. I love you son, more than you'll ever know. And that, will never change. I promise. Now what's eating you Buddy?"
"You always keep your promises."
"Yes, I do. What are you getting at?" Seeing the look on Donnie's face Pride cursed himself for not thinking about it sooner. "I promised you back then that I'd be there for you, so I have to be. Is that what you think? That I regret taking you in but can't do anything about it?!" Donnie bit his lip, not daring to answer the question. "I don't." It was said with so much emotion and certainty that Donnie this time, believed it.
"You don't know the whole story though"
"I do know most of it Bud, everything you told Principal Loughead I know about. And I still want you around." Pride saw the fear partially fade away and decided to take it as a success for now. The kid would just need time to see that he'd never give up on him.
"It was a cheating business." The words spilled out of Donnie's mouth so fats that Pride barely caught what he was saying.
"I know kiddo." The continued calmness gave Donnie courage to continue:
"I realized that the teachers tried barely tried to hide them, so when Colby told me how stressed he was about the upcoming math test and what his Parents reaction would be if he didn't pass… I snuck into Ms. Porters classroom and searched around. Turns out she keeps all upcoming tests in the bottom drawer on the left side. I took photos of the two first pages and sent them to Colby, just enough for him to pass." At King's face Donnie quickly assured him: "He never asked for it, he didn't even know that I could or would do it. I just did it for him. His life is far from easy King, and it was supposed to end there but then suddenly Rob showed up with evidence of what I had done and asked me to partner with him. Even if I would have told him no I still would have had to do it, so it felt like a better option to do it without being forced to. You know Rob, he isn't a bad kid, he was just desperate. And even the best people can do stupid stuff when they are desperate. But it wasn't a one-time thing. He owed some older friends money, so selling them test answers seemed like the perfect solution for him."
"Until they wanted more."
"Yeah. And Rob thought that he might be able to get the money faster if we expanded the business."
"If this all was Rob's idea, how did you end up being the head of everything?" Pride asked, careful to keep any accusation out of his voice.
"I didn't want us to get caught. The risk seemed lower if I planned everything myself."
"How did Principal Loughead get alerted?"
"Rumors started circling around school, but nobody seemed to know who it was. I had never met any of the buyers so only Colby and Rob knew it was me."
"Until?"
"Until Rob got approached by one of the more studious seniors and she turned out to be a mole. She somehow convinced Rob, that it was important for her to meet me as well so when we handed over the answers, Principal Loughead caught us red handed."
"How could it have become dangerous?" Pride questioned, wanting to make sure, the kid knew the biggest reason he was upset.
"Rob carried around a list with customer names and dates that he updated every day. The last one he gave me…I swear I never thought he'd take it that far." Donnie still remembered the moment he laid eyes on the what would be the last list.
-Flashback-
"You can't be serious. No Rob, I won't do it. Not when those guys are involved."
"What's the matter with you Donnie?! It's not that big of a deal."
"Yes, it is. You know Principal Loughead keeps tabs on anybody they hang around. I don't want to get put on that list, it's the last thing I need."
"It's seriously not as bad as you make it sound. Besides, it's good business."
"Not if it gets you expelled."
"It won't happen. You are overreacting. And Principal Loughead will never know."
"Still. I want your word Rob that if this goes badly you won't bring me down with you."
"You worry way too much."
"Promise." Donnie demanded.
"Okay, okay. I promise." He should have known to back away right then. He had a gut feeling but chose not to listen to it so 24 hours later when they stepped into the meeting ground for the buyer, Donnie had nobody else to blame but himself. It was a trap. A rotten trap with no way to escape it. They had been doomed the second they made contact with the senior, they just didn't know it yet.
A/N: This is it for today as my brain needs sleep. Hope you liked it and thankyou for all the suggestions, they helped me a lot! It feels kind of mean to end there, but I will hopefully update soon. Hope you understand Principal Loughead a little bit more now. The people Donnie and Rob got involved with aren't really the best people to hang around, and there is more to the dangerous side of the story.