Nick breathed out a sigh of relief as the two Prefects exited the room. He crawled out from his hiding spot, coughing and spluttering, covered in dust. He looked in the mirror, his entire jacket was now grey and dirty. After spending at least ten minutes cleaning it, he turned and began his search again. He looked through drawers and shelves and boxes and beds but he couldn't find them. Disappointed he walked out of the room and decided that it was probably a good time to go to class. What lessons had he missed? He racked his brain trying to remember.

Jeff sat in French, where Nick was supposed to be, up the back once again, but this time alone. Thank god, he thought to himself.

The teacher was having an especially frustrating lesson. Not one of the students was able to answer any of the questions he had assigned. Unbeknownst to all, Jeff actually had the answers written down in neat columns in his notebook, but he was too frightened to put his hand up and speak. Every time the teacher called out the correct answer he would cross one of the words off.

All of a sudden, the bell rang and twenty something boys bolted out of the classroom, relieved and jovial at the prospect of lunch. Jeff's insides twisted, as he packed up his things.

He was so focused in packing away his pens that he didn't notice his French teacher hovering over him.

"I don't know why you don't just call out the answers" , he said looking at Jeff's book.

Because they'll hate me. Because they'll think I'm trying to be smarter than them. Because they'll rip up my notes and laugh at me.

Jeff shrugged silently and hurried out of the classroom. The teacher watched him go with a concerned expression on his face.

Jeff headed toward the cafeteria, but didn't actually enter. He watched from a corner as boy after boy filed in to get their lunch. He saw them, all sitting down together, laughing, joking, yelling at one another.

He froze. He had no idea where to sit. He scanned the crammed tables in hope of finding an empty one, but no such luck. His stomach grumbled, he hadn't eaten all day. And barely anything the day before when driving over.

He smelt the food wafting over from the kitchens. But he couldn't do it. He suddenly felt very sick and ran toward the bathroom.

The bathroom was empty and he burst into one the stalls, crouching down next to the toilet. He began to gag. He felt like throwing up, but there was nothing to throw up, so he knelt on the tiled floor, dry wrenching saliva.

After about fifteen minutes he managed to compose himself. He stood up, wobbling slightly. The doctor had said to call him if this started happening again. He wouldn't call. He hadn't even told his mother when he had thrown up at least once a week at McKinley after having panic attacks in the corridor.

He forced himself away from those memories and stepped out of the stall. He saw his reflection in the mirror and cringed.

You look sick, he told himself. You just look sick and horrible.


Nick was on his fourth can of coke, when Thad grabbed it out of his hand.

"I think that's enough" he joked.

"Fuck you Thad! If you were locked in Waltenshmire and Pez's room for an hour you'd understand!"

The group of four boys burst out laughing as Nick chugged the remainder of his drink.

"So, are we up for anything tonight?" Ben asked, facing the three others.

"I don't know...it's Monday so..."

Shut up Josh! You never want to come out with us anyway!" Ben interjected.

"Okay...well maybe I'm just concerned that it's the first day of the week and you're insisting on wreaking havoc!"

"Fun sponge" Nick called.

"Fun sponge" Ben also called.

"Fun sponge" Thad whispered in his ear.

"Oh to hell with you all" Josh tried to say very seriously, but his words were wracked with laughter.

"What about that new kid?" Thad asked.

"What about him?" Nick replied.

"I dunno, we should do something fun for his first proper night at Dalton!"

"I'm not sure he would like that. Sort of a quiet one" Nick replied.

"Come on Nick...it'll be fun!"

Nick sighed, dropping the can on the table.

"Paint war?", he suggested.

The four boys grinned at each other.

"Get the word out to everyone" , Nick yelled , "we begin at 10pm tonight!"