Thank you so much for all the positive feedback! Your reviews keep me going! :-)
Chapter 12
Kenny's POV
I'm going to go to Drew's school to see if I can get him back in there before I go to school. Karen is already at school and I refuse to call Kevin. I have no choice but to ask my mom. I find her in her room combing her hair. "Mom?"
She looks at me in shock. "Oh, you're home."
I nod. "Yes, I came home on Saturday. Can you watch Drew for me?"
"Shouldn't he be in school?"
I sigh. "I'm working on that now. Can you please watch him?" I beg her. I wish she could give me a simple yes or no.
She shakes her head."Sorry, I'm heading out."
"Damnit!" I go in my room and decide to take a chance and call Stan. "Stan?" I say when he answer.
"Hey dude! What's up?"
"Are you still home? Please tell me you're still home!"
Stan chuckles. "Yeah, I'm heading back to school in the afternoon. What's up?"
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Of course dude, what is it?"
"Can you watch Drew for me? I need to see if I can get him back in school."
"Sure, you know I love hanging out with Little Dude. Do you need me to pick you up? I would hate for to have to walk to the school."
"You're going to watch Drew for me. I couldn't ask you to do that."
Stan laughs. "Kenny, get your pride out of it for a minute. Do you want a ride or not? I can drop you off and take Little Dude to get breakfast."
I guess I would be foolish to not accept his offer. "Fine. Thank you for everything Stan. I swear one day, I'll pay you and Kyle back for everything!"
"Don't worry about it dude."
I make it to the school before the kids arrive. I see Ms. Silver in the classroom on her computer. I knock on the door and slowly walk in. "Hi Ms. Silver. Do you have a moment?"
She stands up and walks over to me. "I'm really sorry about Drew."
"Is there any way you can take him back? He's missing out on so much right now."
She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, without payment, I can't."
"Please Ms. Silver, I'm desperate!"
"Mr. McCormick, I've made a lot of exceptions for you. I can't do it anymore, I'm really sorry."
I think for a moment. "Do you need a janitor or something? Maybe I can work here to cover the tuition."
"We have a janitor and even that salary wouldn't be enough. I'm really sorry."
I lower my head in disappointment. "Thanks anyway."
"Best of luck to you and Drew. He's a bright kid, I know he'll do well."
"Thank you." I tell her before leaving.
I had to swallow my pride and enroll Drew in public school. Being back in that school brought back so many terrible memories of my own childhood. I just hope that Drew will adjust well to his new school.
Speaking of school, I made it in time to go to second period. I was late, but better late than never. The class is English and when I walk in, my teacher Ms. Bates looks really confused. "Kenny? I didn't know you were coming back. You haven't been here in a month."
I was going to take a seat at my desk, but I notice someone else is there. I look at Ms. Bates. "I'm back and ready to learn so I can finally graduate!" I state proudly.
"Yeah..." God, this woman hates me. "I think you should go to the principal's office."
"Why?" I ask.
"The principal will explain when you get there." Usually she would write a referral slip, but in this case, she tells me to just go there.
I go to the office and the secretary immediately sends me back to see the principal. Everyone is acting so weird around here. "Hi Mr. Harris." I greet the principal when I walk in his office.
He looks at me and he doesn't look happy. "Kenny, I guess you don't check your mail."
I shake my head. "No sir I haven't."
"You've been expelled from the school."
My eyes widen. "Expelled? But I'm supposed to graduate!"
He seems surprised by my statement. "Really? According to your transcripts, you're failing every class!"
"I thought I was bringing my grades up."
He hands me my transcript. Sure enough, there's an F in every class. "Why did you think that when you have excessive absences?" I have almost 100 absences, I never had that many before.
"I...umm...umm..." I stammer. I'm completely speechless.
"Honestly, you're lucky I don't have you arrested."
"Arrested? For what?"
He hands me photos of bags of heroin and a needle. "This was found in your locker."
"Oh my God…really?"
"Yes, that's the main reason you were expelled. You know there's a zero tolerance drug policy here."
"But I was always so careful…" I whisper, then I look at him. "Why were you looking in my locker anyway?"
"We got an anonymous tip. Apparently you've been seen getting high in the building multiple times."
"Fuck…" I put my hands in the prayer position. "Please Mr. Harris, give me one more chance! I was out for the last month because I was in rehab. I'm clean now, I swear!"
He shakes his head. "Kenny, with your failing grades and absences, you won't be able to graduate and you still wouldn't be able to come back here. This year was your last chance. You were told a few months ago that one more unexcused absence and you were out of here. Then you're out for an entire month."
"This can't be happening…"
"Don't think this is the end of the world. You can always get a GED. Now I would like you off the grounds immediately!" He orders.
"Can I get my things?"
"I'm sorry, but everything was cleaned out of your locker due to the drugs that were found. They'll be sent to you when the school year is over."
"Fine!" I get up and storm out of his office.
"Kenny McCormick!" I hear him call after me. I'm pissed off and sad at the same time. All I want to do is…
I have a huge headache and I hear a pounding on the door. I open it and its Stan holding Drew. Shit, I forgot he was babysitting. "Sorry, I meant to call you. Is he asleep?"
He nods. "Yeah, he fell asleep on the way here." He whispers. "I should've called, but I really need to head back to school."
"At least you can go to school." I mumble. "You can lie him down in our room."
Stan lies Drew down and tucks him in. He pulls me out of the room and closes the door. "Is everything okay? I'm guessing you couldn't get Drew back into his school?"
I shake my head. "No, I enrolled him in public school. He'll be going to South Park Elementary next week."
"That's great! There's really nothing wrong with public school. Is that what has you so down?"
I force myself to smile. "I'm okay, I don't want to hold you up any longer. You need to go to school."
Stan shakes his head. "Talk to me dude. What's up?"
"I got expelled…" I look away from him.
"Damn dude. Did you tell them you were in rehab?"
I nod. "I did, but it doesn't matter. I'm failing everything and they found drugs in my locker."
"Dude! You were getting high at school?"
"Yes dude, but I was careful! At least I thought I was!"
"I never realized how bad it was for you."
I look at him. "I was under a lot stress…I'm still under stress!"
"Can you promise me you won't go down that road again?"
I nod. "Yes! Kyle paid a lot of money for me to go to rehab. I can't lose his trust in me." But sadly, all I can think about is getting high to relieve my stress.
"Good!" He looks at his phone. "Listen, I better go. Wendy and I are supposed to have dinner together. So I need to make it back in time."
"Is it just you and Wendy?"
Stan smiles. "Yes Kenny. We don't always hang out with Bebe and Brad."
"Sorry dude, it's none of my business. Thanks again for watching Drew for me and I'm sorry for holding you up."
"No problem, Little Dude is a good kid so I don't mind. If you need anything, if you just want to talk or even if you want Wendy and me to take Little Dude overnight or the weekend just so you can rest, don't hesitate to call."
I smile and begin to tear up. "Thanks Stan. You know, I have really great friends!"
Stan playfully punches me in the arm. "Don't get all sappy on me! I'll see you later." He leaves.
I look in my wallet and find Megan's number. If there's anyone who would understand what I'm going through, it would be her. "Hello?" She answers.
"Megan? It's Kenny."
"Oh hey Kenny! I'm honestly surprised to hear from you."
"I need help…" I say nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"I need a fix, but I don't want one! My whole life is falling apart! What do I do?"
"Have you started going to the 12 Step Meetings?"
I shake my head. "Not yet."
"You need to start. I won't lie, it didn't help me that much, but who knows it may be different for you."
"I don't know Megan." That doesn't sound promising at all.
"I know you don't want to go back to using, right?"
I nod. "Right."
"Then you have to at least give it a try. Do you want me to go with you?"
My eyes light up. "You would do that?"
"Yes, you're clearly struggling on the outside. I've been there so if you want, I'll come with you to a meeting."
"Thank you Megan. I owe you one!"
"You don't owe me anything. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"See you!" I hang up.
"Awe, my poor little brother!" I turn around and see Kevin standing behind me. "I knew you wouldn't be able to stay sober." He smirks.
"What do you want?"
"I have exactly what you need." He dangles a bag of heroin in my face. I push his hand away.
"No dude, get that away from me! Please, get it away!" I turn my head.
"Didn't you just tell someone on the phone that you needed it?"
"I also said I don't want it!"
Kevin puts his arm around me. "Yes you do! That's why you're panicking. You know you want it! School is no longer in your way, so come back and work for me. You can have all the heroin you want! You may even be able to get the money to get Drew back into his fancy Montessori school!"
I push him away. "NO! I'm not going to do it!"
He grabs my hand and places the bag in my hand. "Here you go! Call me when you're ready for more!" He winks before throwing a needle at my feet and leaving. I know I should throw this away, I know it. But what if it comes in handy one day…?
A/N: What do you think Kenny will do?
