Opposing Forces

Chapter Six

Brief note: Thanks for all the support I've received from your e-mails,
I hope you all had a prosperous New Year, and please, feel free to
contact me, I'm always looking for good chats. Again, I hope you all
got what you wanted this holiday season! Here's Chapter Six to start
off the Year 2002! ~J

Previously~

He tackled me onto the bed...and pursued in tickling me.

"Ah ha!" he said. "Still ticklish."

"Leave me alone!" I managed to choke out those words while
squirming and laughing.

"You give up?" he asked.

"Never," I said. He leaned over and kissed me...passionately on
the lips.

"I think this is the best thing I can ask for Christmas," I said.

"Good, then I don't have to get you a present," he said.

I laughed and gave him another long kiss.

"Ewwwwwwwww...." a voice said. I looked up to see Susie standing
outside my door.

"Susie!" I cried, jumping off my bed. Tyler leapt off of me.

"What were you doing, Dwayne?" she asked innocently.

"I...uh...um..." I stammered for words. I looked pleadingly at
Tyler....I had a lot of explaining to do.

And now, this satirical tale continues....

Part 1, The Birds and the Bees and Your Little Cousin

"You see, Susie..." I began, but ended up in confusion while
scratching my head.

"...Dwayne and I were...wrestling," Tyler spoke up.

"YES!" I screamed in agreement. "We were wrestling like big boys
do...and..."

"...but you were kis---" she argued.

"No, we were not," I said sternly, then I added, "What did Mommy
say about people who lie?"

She pointed at her nose, "Their nose gets bigger and bigger like
Pinnochio!"

"That's right," I said. "And do we want to look like Pinnochio?"

She shook her head furiously.

"Well then," I said. "Then don't be telling people lies then. Now
go on and watch the rest of Barney."

"But Dwaynie, I'm hungry," she whined.

"Go watch Barney," I said. "And I'll come down and fix you some
milk and cookies."

She smiled and ran down the stairs, I watched her turn down the
stairs before going back into my room.

"That was close," Tyler commented, slipping me another kiss.

I returned the kiss, "Yes, I know. But we have to be more
...(another kiss) careful."

"We will," he promised, giving me another kiss.

"I better get Susie her milk," I said. "Before she comes back up
and catches us in the act again."

"I can't believe she bought the Pinnochio deal," he commented.

"My god, Ty, she's three."

"Right," he said, giving me a sheepish grin. "Let's get those
cookies!"

Part 2: Culturally Awakened on Monday Morning

Winter break couldn't possibly last forever, although I think we
would all enjoy that theory more...sadly, we return back to prison---I
mean, school. Come to think of it, I never really explained about my
school. Here goes:

So I'm Dwayne Louis Carmichael....and I go to St. Peter's High
School. A rich, private institute for the rich and tasteless. Why do I
go there? My parents believe in our "well-being" in the education
field, so my parents wouldn't give their kids but the best education
money could invest in.

I hate it there, superficial bimbos and alpha-beta wannabes
wandering the hallways, only consumed in the importance of their lives:
money. My brother lives for the 'action', as he calls it. He mocks them
yet he remains popular...guess people just don't know what's good for
them anymore. My sister....I regretfully inform you, spends all her
free time helping out in the school library...not the brightest area to
spend your recreational hours, but it's her life. Why am I telling you
my about my school in the midst of my scandalous relationship with
Tyler? We'll continue this story on Monday morning, first day back from
the holidays.

"Just made it," I told Ben and Jane as we stepped into the
corridor.

The bell rang and everyone began to bustle around to homeroom. I
adjusted my tie a little bit and entered the classroom, Mr. Duvarte
looked up and asked to speak to me.

"Mr. Carmichael," he said. "I'd like you, seeing you are the
junior class president, to report to the counseling center. There is a
new student for you to show around our campus, I'm going to write you a
pass. Is this alright?"

"Sure," I said, cheesily. "Anything to help out those in need."

"Wonderful," he said, signing the slip. "I knew I could count on
you."

I looked over at Tyler, his attention was with his dumb idiotic
jock friends. I looked back at Duvarte, as he hands me the hall pass.

"Thanks," I said.

"No, thank YOU," he said as he flipped through his attendance
book.

I picked up my backpack and strolled down aimlessly towards the
main office. I entered and our school secretary, Mrs. Rose, was there.

"Oh good, Mr. Duvarte got a hold of you. Your new classmate is in
the principal's office right now."

Mr. Radley...often referred to as Boo Radley (from To Kill A
Mockingbird) because of his intimidating and cold features on his face.
I knocked on Radley's door, "Come in," he ordered.

I opened the door quietly and walked in.

"Ah, one of our finest students, Dwayne Carmichael," he said.
"Dwayne, I want you to meet the Zergas."

This Russian family looked at me and beamed.

"Dwayne here holds one of the highest GPAs for the Junior Class,"
Radley praised. "Also, he's our Junior Class President. I must say,
under his leadership, the Junior class is doing well."

The Russian couple nodded in admiration, meanwhile I grinned like
the idiot that I am...while Radley went off on my academic and
leadership excellence.

"Dwayne, please welcome your fellow classmate, Vladsmir Zerga."

"V...la...des...me..." I said slowly.

Sue me, I can't pronounce these Russian names.

"Vladsmir," this boy responded. "But please call me Laddy, that's
what my friends call me."

"Laddy," I said, shaking his hand (firm grip). "I'm Dwayne, or
Dway as MY friends call me."

"I can assure nothing but the best from St. Peter's," Radley told
the Vergas assuringly. "Your son is in great hands."

Again, I'm grinning like there's no tomorrow....

"If you'd like, I can show you around our wonderful campus, we
can stop by Mrs. Rose's table to pick up a copy of your schedule," I
said, in an almost tour guide tone.

"Great," he said. "Let's go. Thank you, Mr. Radley, goodbye
father, mother."

With that, I said my goodbyes and we left.

"Father and mother?" I asked incredulously.

"It's a term of respect and endearment," he said. "Also, in front
of adults, it's just politeness. I usually call them Mum and Pops."

"Ahh, I was starting to worry you were a good little Catholic
boy," I said, teasingly.

"Catholic boy, I am," he said. "But I don't know about good or
little."

I chuckled. I took a sidelong glance at Laddy here....tall, spiky
blond hair...yup, this one is going live into the pit....(also known as
the female population of St.Peter's).

"Mrs. Rose," I said cheerfully. "How about a schedule for my
friend...V...lad.."

"Vladsmir," he finished.

"Yes, what he said," I said, smiling.

Mrs. Rose smiled and handed over Laddy's schedule.

I took a long glance...pretty high academic classes.

I read off his schedule, "US History Honors, Calculus Honors,
English Honors, AP Chemistry and AP Physics, Gym, Russian Art and
Literature Honors."

Laddy chuckled, "Father...I mean Pops likes me to succeed in
education. Education is very important."

Laddy imitated his father on the last remark, I laughed.

"Except for gym," I said. "I'm going to have to wish you good
luck."

"I have to take gym for a semester, for we only had gymnastics in
Russia."

"You were born there?" I asked.

"Yes, I came to the States a few months ago in New York for the
fall chapter."

"I see," I said. "Well, I guess we could start by grabbing a
snack from our cafeteria."

"Is the food good?" he asked.

"Depends, sloppy joe is a yes....their macaroni and cheese and
breadsticks could use a few adjustments."

"Sloppy joe is good," he said, in his choppy, barbaric English.

"Yes, it is," I agreed. "After the cafeteria, you take a quick
left down this hall to get to the science wing and the gymnasium."

"I see," he looked at his schedule. "I have two sciences."

"Your father must be a fan of the scientific world," I said.

"He's a biochemist," he said. "He likes his work."

"Well, no point in pursuing something you don't enjoy doing," I
said.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"Down here, we have English/language and art...over there is the
history wing."

"Do we have any classes together?" he asked.

"I believe we have English Honors and AP Chemistry together."

"That's good," he said. "I hate being the new kid."

"Do you move often?" I asked.

"No, only this big move and the move from New York, Pops was
transferred to the States."

We continued to fill each other in about our lives, little
personal factoids.

The bell had rung for first period, and I had to depart from my
new (not to mention amazingly breath-taking) friend for Spanish.

Duvarte was already taking roll in his mind as students begin to
pile in from the door. I grabbed a seat next to Ryan and Tyler sat on
the other side.

"Hey, Dwayne," they said at the same time.

"That was eerie," I commented.

"Just timing," Ryan mumbled.

"You guys, we have to get along," I whispered. "Tyler, you're my
boyfriend, and Ryan, you're my best friend...of all people, I want you
two to get along."

Tyler extended his hand out for a handshake, Ryan only sneered
and returned to his attention on today's lesson: Present Progressive
Verbs...-ar, -er, -ir.

Spanish lasted forever, the awkwardness between Ryan and Tyler
was overwhelming. It was that unforgettable car-ride...but ten times
worse. The bell rang and I was off to my next class.

"Wait up," Tyler said.

"I have to get to class, Tyler," I said, a little irritated.

"All right," he said. "See you at lunch?"

"Uh...about that..."

"Yeah?"

"We don't hang out together exactly...." I said.

"So, we could skip our own groups for a day, can't we?"

"And live in seclusion and only surface up when the other isn't
present," I said. "I don't think so. I definitely do not want to be
dependent on you."

"You think too much on this, Dway," he said, sadly. "It's just
lunch. I'll see you later."

Tyler walked off in the other direction, while I trudged to
physics.

"Loverboy looks pissed," Ryan said, coming up next to me.

"And you're just loving it," I commented.

"Whoa," he said. "What's up your ass?"

"What is your problem?" I asked quietly. "You act like such an
ass around Tyler, why can't you be sweet around him like when you're
around me?"

"I can't be nice to someone who's got something that belongs to
me," he said and added. "You."

He walked off into another wing, while I continued to trudge to
physics in anger and frustration.

"You look confused," someone said.

"Jacob," I said. "Hey, how was Clear Lake?"

"Awesome," he said. "Sorry break was so crappy between us, I had
shit load of things to do. Clar's sorry too, she's taking the day off
to go to some spa with her mom."

"Lucky bitch," I said.

"Agree."

"I got this new Russian guy in my last class," Jacob said.
"V...V..V something."

"Just call him Laddy," I said.

"I take it you've met him?"

"I gave the guy our famous St. Peter's tour!" I said, with fake
enthusiasm.

"Poor guy," Jacob said.

"What can we do?" I said, shrugging. "We're the Junior Class Pres
and VP."

"And the world goes round," he added.

We laughed.

"This is my stop," he said, pointing at the physics room.

"Enjoy yourself," I said.

"Only if you do," he called back.

I walked a few more feet down to my classroom and as I was
entering...the bell rings.

"Mr. Carmichael," my chemistry teacher said. "That's another
tardy, minus two."

I let out a sigh and took my seat, at this rate, I'll flunk the
course.

After another long lecture on atomic bonds...the bell rang.

"We get ten minutes off now?" Laddy asked (he was in my last
class).

"Yes, we get recess now," I said. (Still pissed over my loss of
daily points)

"Cheer up," he said. "You're still a fine student."

I laughed at Laddy's pathetic effort to cheer me up, feels good
after dissing Tyler...pissing off Ryan. And yeah...the start of Monday
morning.

"Mind if I took a smoke?" he asked.

"You SMOKE?" I said.

"Only when I'm nervous," he said, grabbing a lighter and pack of
cigarettes from the inside of his school coat pocket.

"Sure," I said. "I guess."

We ended up outside, almost to the side of the building.

Laddy lit his cigarette and took a deep inhale...

"You want a puff?" he asked me.

"No thanks," I replied. "Maybe some other time."

"That's fine," he said nonchalantly. "What's that?"

He pointed over towards a packet of weed.

"It's marijuana," I said, picking up the content and sniffing to
confirm my prediction. "Yeah, it's pot."

"Pot?"

"It's another term for marijuana here in the States," I
explained.

"Freeze!"

I did as I was told...but by fear, not obedience. Radley was
marching towards us, his bony finger waving angrily at Laddy and me.

"Mr.Verga, first day and caught smoking?" Radley sneered. "Are
your parents aware of your smoking habits?"

"Not at this moment, no," Laddy retorted.

"Marijuana, Mr. Carmichael?"

"Mr. Radley," I began. "We jsut found this package laying there
on the sidewalk and I picked it up to see if I was right about it and I
was going to turn it into the office."

"Right...Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Verga, I'm going to ask you two
to step into my office right now."

"Under what circumstances?" I asked.

"For being under the suspicion of drug use and deal," Radley
responded.

Great way to start a Monday, how am I going to explain to the
folks about this one?

To Be Continued....
Please write with your opinions, they do matter (to me!)
You know the e-addy. ~Jeff (until Chapter 7)