𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 | 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎

"Quiet, quiet." Serena giggled as we approached the school. We were in broad daylight at the ripe time of 1 pm. Our school got out sooner due to a holiday, but the prep boys still had class (which we didn't realize).

"Alright, so what are we doing?" Carla asked, looking to Serena for answers. She has done this so many times before. I didn't understand why we wouldn't just enter the building and ask to see her boyfriend, then be done. No. Carla and Serena wanted the thrill, and I was dragged along. As the girls talked, I noticed movement on the field outside of Welton. It looked to be a group of boys and a teacher. P.E. maybe?

I continued forward to get a closer look, thinking I saw Meeks. Serena and Carla called after me, jogging over to catch up. "Wait, where are you going?"

By that time, it was too late. I was too close to the group, and my friends blew my cover. I noticed the teacher turn to look at me while the group of boys were talking among themselves. "Hello! Did you need anything?" The teacher asked me. His voice was oddly calm for a Welton prep instructor. I shook my head silently, and I heard laughter coming from those boys.

"Wait a minute! Is that you L/n?" Charlie. Ugh. "Come back for more?" He asked, stepping forward for me to get a better view of him.

I was about to tell him off when Meeks interrupted. "Cut it out, Charlie." He said to him, knowing that Charlie made me want to tear my hair out. "She doesn't like you, man." Now, I never said that.

I watched as Charlie looked to Meeks and then looked to me. He gave me a smile and nodded. "Hmm." He replied, not giving me any sort of comfort that he was completely done with me. Though, he wasn't being verbally annoying anymore.

The boys' teacher just watched what went on, not even saying a word. It struck me as very odd. All I have heard from this school is how strict they are. He then looked at me again, and I could feel myself tense up. "L/n was it?" He asked and I nodded. "Come here. You're not in trouble. Oh, and do bring your friends." So he knew? I glanced back to Serena and Carla, who were gone. "Well, I guess they decided not to join the fun. I'm Mr. Keating. It's nice to meet you."

It sort of broke my heart that they would just abandon me like this. I get that they didn't want to get caught, but sticking by each other is much more important. I wouldn't do this to Carla. I looked down at the floor, trying to hide my disappointment. "Could I just go?" I asked in a quiet voice so that the others wouldn't be able to hear. Only their teacher could.

I felt Mr. Keating pat my back, then put his arm to his side. "It seems you boys know this, Ms.L/n." He said while some of the boys were nodding. It was just the ones in the club who were, so Keating knew exactly how I had known them. "Oh, so you're a poet?" Keating asked, glacing over to me.

I ended up laughing a bit, shaking my head. "No, no. I just went because my friends did." Somehow, this the teacher was easing my anxiety. "I don't know anything about poetry."

"She's lying." Charlie spoke up, and I saw him leaning against the wall. "She knows it very well." He winked to me, and I rolled my eyes. I heard him let out a laugh, thinking I was falling for him. I wasn't! I definitely was not! "Transfixed on her, I bleed... transfixed on her, I bleed out. Her body, her soul, her-"

"Dalton, seriously?" Meeks interrupted again, looking to him annoyed.

"What?" Dalton laughed. "I have to finish it for her! It's important!"

Keating could tell Charlie had been annoying me, so I figured he would shut it down. "Mr. Dalton. Who is the author of that poem? I haven't heard that one before."

Charlie seemed to puff out his chest a bit. "Oh, just some unknown amazing author, Charlie Dalton." What? Did he prep flowery love poems just to get girls to get into bed with him?

"Gross." I muttered under my breath, though Mr. Keating caught that.

"Why do you find that gross? Why isn't it romantic. I mean, Mr. Dalton created those words on his own." I hated that, Mr. Keating said what I said to Dalton like that. He was gross, but I never wanted to say that to his face.

"It's weird, I guess." I shrugged, but Keating wanted me to dig deeper. I glanced to Charlie, who seemed to be loving this. I shook my head, not wanting to go deeper. "Can I go now?" I really didn't want to get in trouble, and I hated all this attention.

"Mr. Anderson. What do you think?" Keating asked, giving me a chance to breathe again. I didn't want this to be a 'let's hate on Charlie party' so I spoke up.

"It's not like the poetry is bad, I just find it weird how he acts towards me. It makes me uncomfortable, that's all."

"But Carpe diem, sir. Seize the day." Charlie replied, confusing me. He seemed proud of himself. Maybe I shouldn't have complimented his poetry.

"Carpe diem doesn't mean you are allowed to go around and act like a creep." Meeks finally said, and I watched how the two boys stared at each other. Charlie was confident, whereas Meeks seemed to be almost scowling at him.

"Whose your favorite poet, Ms. L/N?" Keating asked me as the group of boys all started to give their say on the meaning of 'Carpe Diem'.

"I don't read poetry." I admitted, feeling bashful in the moment. "Well, I guess all I know is Charlie, and he is not my favorite poet."

Keating let out a small chuckle. "Really? You don't read poetry? Not even for school?"

"I guess Robert Frost? Wilde? That's about it. I mean, there's Shakespeare."

"Ah, so you do know some." Keating replied.

"Well, their names." I corrected him.

"And that's a good start. Alright, you can leave now." He said to me as he turned to the boys and told them class was dismissed.

I looked to Meeks, wanting a chance to speak with him, but he was too deep in a conversation with Pitts to notice. And it seemed like I was too deep in watching Meeks, to notice Dalton standing right in front of me. "I apologize." Charlie spoke, causing me to jump a bit. I heard him laugh, clearly amused by me.

I looked to him, blushing out of embarrassment. Then, I noticed his hand out in front of me. "Huh?"

He motioned with his hand that was held out, glancing down at it. "Truce?" He asked. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable." I was afraid he was lying, so I stared at his hand a moment. I was about to shake it when he finally put his hand down in defeat. "Damn it." I heard him mutter. "I guess I'm earning your trust." He replied, giving me a brief smile. And with that, he turned and walked back to Welton.

Maybe he wanted me to chase after him. I was confused about how he wasn't being pushy. To me, he seemed like the type of boy to poke and prod at you until you either blew up in his face or ignore him completely. This action, though... it made me honestly believe he was telling the truth.