Reno and Weisz

chapter 39: weisz misses his old school

chapter 39: weisz misses his old school

~weisz~

       As I'm putting my stuff in my locker during lunch, Celine walks over to me. "Weisz, I did some investigating and you would not believe what I found out."

       "If this has to do about one of your many celebrity crushes..." I say.

       "No, not that," Celine says. "About the school board. There's a pretty big reason why they decided to agree with Mrs. Sturgis. As it turns out, the school board president or whatever is the father of someone on the dance committee. I think she's one of the girls you used to hang out with."

       "Well, it's certainly not Padma so I guess it's Jessica," I say. "Are you sure?"

       Celine nods. "One hundred percent positive. I found his social media and one of his posts was about going golfing with his family and then eating at a fancy buffet, and she was in it."

       Reno scoffs from where he leans against the locker beside me. "So basically, rich people doing what they want and screwing us over because they think they can get away with it. Makes sense."

       "Yeah, well, that Jessica girl probably convinced her dad to agree with Mrs. Sturgis," Celine says. "You know, there is one way you could get into the school dance."

       I sigh. "For fuck's sake, Celine, I'm not going to play the cancer card. You know I hate people pitying me and giving me stuff I don't need just because I have cancer."

       "It was just a suggestion," Celine says. "You know, since we can't go down the suing route."

       Reno furrows his eyebrows. "You're planning on suing the school?"

       "That's the first I'm hearing of it," I say.

       "That's because Mom and Dad didn't want to get your hopes up," Celine says. "It's a human rights issue so Mom and Dad were hoping to sue, but after your cancer treatment, we can't exactly afford a lawyer. They were looking into it, but it's not going to happen."

       "Huh," Reno says. "I wonder if my dad has looked into it. He was pissed with the outcome. Honestly, I'm surprised he's not driving around the school with his motorcycle friends waving pride flags."

       "I'm just hoping the school dance goes to shit," Celine says. "Or that barely anybody shows up."

       "Yeah, I doubt it," I say. "Some people like saying they're an ally, but the moment they have the opportunity to stand up and go against something being homophobic, they think it's a hassle. Literally no one is talking about me and Reno being banned from the school dance." I looked at Reno. "Right? I mean, you're the one who hears all the gossip."

       "Right," Reno says. "No one is talking about it."

       "I can make people talk about it," Celine says.

       I sigh. "No, don't. There's nothing else we can do about it. We tried, but nothing worked." I close my locker. "Now if you'll excuse me and Reno, we will be leaving the school for lunch so we don't have to be in this shithole any longer."

       I gesture for Reno to follow me, so the two of us leave the school and head to his car. We always take his car out during lunch because it's, honestly, better than my car. I just have to make sure I don't mention it to Reno because still likes to tease me about it.

       We go to the diner for lunch since it's our favourite place to go. Once we have all of our food and are sitting at one of the tables, Reno says, "It's weird that you said there's nothing else we can do about that dance."

       "I mean, it's true," I say. "I want to keep fighting it, but there really is nothing we can do. The school board turned us down. I don't think there's anyone above the school board. Well, except the government but like Celine says, my family can't afford a lawyer right now." I sigh. "Part of me wishes I never moved to this town."

       "Ouch," Reno says.

       "Wait, no, not like that. Obviously, I'm happy I met you but--"

       Reno smiles softly at me. "I'm kidding, Weisz. I know what you meant. I loved this town but I'm starting to get sick of it. The school especially. It's not so bad around town but the school has gotten so bad and judgmental. Hey, if we can't go to the school dance and make the dance committee uncomfortable, we should just make out in the hallway."

       "Yeah, as much as I love making out with you, I feel like that would just make things worse," I say. 

       "I don't see how it could get worse," Reno says. "But yeah, probably not the best idea to make out in the middle of the hallway. Otherwise, it would ruin the point your sister made about certain straight couples making other people feel uncomfortable but no one is banning them from dances. Oh well. We can just make out in my car. I know you like that."

       "I don't know what's worse," I say. "You teasing me for the stuff we've done in the car or you insisting that I have a leather jacket fantasy. Which, by the way, I don't really appreciate you telling my friends about that because now they won't leave me alone."

       Reno smiles innocently. "Why, I have never done such a thing."

       Once we're done with our lunch, we leave the diner to head back to school, though part of me wants to skip. Every single day. I'm really starting to hate going here, and I never hated going to school. Sure, I didn't particularly like it, but I tolerated it. I don't think I can tolerate this school.

       During last period, our teacher gives us an assignment to work on during class. We can work with each other if we can, so Reno and I work on it. Though, it's kind of hard to concentrate when I can see Neil constantly glaring at me and Reno.

       Reno soon notices and flips Neil off before going back to work. "I don't know why he's glaring at us. He's one of the people that got us banned from the dance."

       "Who knows what goes on in his head?" I ask.

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watch as celine sneaks in the dance and leaves a fart bomb or something. seems like something she would do tbh. no one messes with her little brother.