Beneath the Boardwalk (Alex Turner)

18 {vulnerability}

I shift in my seat, Turner to my right. The office is average sized, with torn chairs that don't lean at the right angle. The superintendent is tapping is pencil on the desk. Something about the odd look in his eyes and his lack of hair doesn't have me sitting right. And it's more of that uncomfort that tells you to leave, rather than the nervousness that Turner has that draws you in. 

"Multiple students have informed me," the man says distastefully, "that they have seen the two of you... outside school grounds. I wished to investigate this matter," he sets down the pen, "until I saw the both of you in the auditorium."

"It won't happen again," Turner interjects. 

"Better not," the superintendent snaps. I see something more in his eyes. It scares me for a moment. I look closer, on the side of his neck. There's a peek of a tattoo. I can't see the whole thing, but I wonder why he would have one. 

My hands are cold. I need to speak up now, or he might get fired and I might have to leave the school. "I don't mean to say anything out of place, but may I just say that it wasn't what it looked like."

Turner's gaze flicks on mine for a second, like that 'what the hell, Greene,' way I knew he was thinking, but I ignore it. 

"What was it, then?" The superintendent condescends. 

"I needed extra tutoring sessions outside of class. I could not afford to pay somebody, and he was really nice when I asked him to help me. And back there, that wasn't anything. There was.... a spider on the wall. And I hate spiders, so he tried to get around me to swat it."

I knew it wasn't convicing, but the superintendent stays silent. He tilts his head, almost menacing, and I want to look away, but I have a feeling it would seem as if I was backing down if I did. He nods slowly and then begins to laugh. It's a deep, throaty sound and doesn't sound nice. "You're dismissed... Dr. Turner, may I speak with you for a moment? And then you can get back to your tutoring."

I stand up slowly and then look at Alex for a second, but he doesn't look my way. I head out the door and shut it softly on my way out. I try to listen in, but the door is soundproof. For some reason my paranoia gets to me and I start wondering. Was that tattoo a symbol? I know the staff are supposed to know each other, but what were they saying that I couldn't have heard?

The door opens beside me and Turner looks like he's in an even shittier mood. In fact, pissed. He doesn't even acknowledge me waiting beside the door for him to come back out, and storms off. I try to walk beside him. "What did he say?" 

He ignores me, and I follow him around the halls. I feel like I'm pestering him, but I need to know. I'm not just going off to the side and pretend there wasn't something else happening there. "Alex, I need an explanation."

He opens the doors outside into the cool air and stops in his tracks. The air is smoky, there are kids hanging out on the grass, walking about. "You really want one?" Turner snaps. I nod. "Just know that this is deep shit, Greene." His cheeks are flushed, and I can see the dark circles underneath his eyes clearer.  "Walk with me."

* * * * * 

He walked a few blocks before we took a bus to his apartment. He fumbles with his keys, angry, then shuts the door. I run a hand through my hair, having a seat. Turner grabs the whole bottle of rum and drinks from the lid. I understand now why there were rumours about him being an alcoholic before, if he ever showed up for work doing that. 

"I fookin' needed the money because, well, I sell drugs and I'm not earning enough. I'm not happy about the job but it sure as hell is better than what I get paid." He takes another swig. "Sure, if I was a real PhD I'd get paid more. But well, I'm fookin' sorry because I'm just a regular teacher and I only got the position because the superintendent gave me it." He shook his head. "He's not actually trained for the spot, he just needed me in this class. Because his whole gang needs me to."

I pause, letting it all sink in, which I barely can. "Wait--the superintendent is apart of the.. gang then?" You're apparently apart of?

"Leader. We're not in, what you would call, great terms," he drawls sarcastically. 

"So why would he need you in this class...?"

"Because it's suspected there's a shit-ton of cocaine somewhere in this city, and he believes it to be somewhere in the school. I've been looking for a while now, but it must be hidden extremely well and they really need me to help find it soon. And no, before you ask, I'm not apart of the gang." Turner sighs, and I keep listening intently, unsure of everything. "I was just a small time dealer, earning a few extra bucks with a small teaching job. I used to teach for the love of writing. I'm now a pathetic punching bag for them to toy me around. I didn't choose for them to give me that job," Turner chuckles bitterly. 

"God," I mumble. "I didn't realize how deep you were in. I suspected things, but..." I pause. "If you didn't choose it, how did you get in to it?"

Turner rubs his face in his hands. He groans. "I'm a mess. I was selfish for telling you all that. Please," he muffles. "Don't tell a soul about this." He stands up, trying to compose himself, but his face is already blotching and I've never seen this side of him. Alex's hair is even more messed up, and then I see him differently. Sudden vulnerabillity, as if he had more emotion to him that his usual cold stone, mysterious demeanor. 

He grabs a picture from a frame, and hands it to me, sitting right beside me on the couch. It's of him and another guy. Brother? No, they don't look that similar. They're both smiling. Looks like a shitty picture somebody else took of them but I notice Alex is smiling so carefree, and that gives me a moment of happiness. "Who is the other guy?"

"Miles," Alex mumbles defeated, "Kane. He was my best friend. We were mates all through school, and he warned me about getting into the business. Even small time. It wasn't until I refused trying to find the shit ton of coke a few times that... they took him. Made him dissappear off the map. He's their hostage so that I'll comply with them. I'm only still trying to desperately find the hidden drugs in the hope that they'll let him go. He didn't deserve to get caught up in this," Alex chokes out. "He didn't deserve it, Quinn. He didn't deserve this. God, I hate every second knowing that he's alone somewhere, depending on me for something I can't do."