Lay Me Down (MxM)

2. The Message

My feet pounded down the hallway as I ran to class—pausing only to toss my ticket in the trash along the way. Dad could never know I got pulled over.
I skipped my locker completely, converse squeaking a bit as I halted in front of The Witches door.

I had attempted to slip in as unobtrusively as possible, but it was all in vain, as my lateness had not gone unnoticed.

"You're late, Lucas." She greeted icily as the door shut behind me.

It was way too quiet, uncomfortably so, and I felt like everyone was staring at me; well, rather staring at us. Massey always loved to make an example out of me.

She narrowed her eyes, glancing pointedly at an empty seat. "Are you going to hover or sit Mr. Price? Make a decision."

I sighed heavily and chose the nearest seat, dropping my backpack noisily on the floor. Meanwhile, Ian chose to let out the fakest, most obnoxiously loud cough possible to break the silence.

I couldn't help but chuckle, because being annoying was Ian's specialty; he got off on it. We shot each other knowing looks, but then she interrupted.

"You finished?" Massey questioned dryly, tapping a pen against the palm of her hand.

Ian giggled some, leaning forward in his seat with interest, looking on between us both. Massey shot him an irritable glare.

I slumped down in my seat and shrugged, "I'm sitting, aren't I?"

She scoffed, leaning against her desk impatiently. "I'd just love to hear the excuse this time. Go on, let's hear it."

I pulled out my chemistry notebook and mechanical pencil, glancing reluctantly around the classroom while I tried to figure a response.
The Witch couldn't know I got pulled over either, she'd make a point of mentioning it to dad.

"Accident." I yawned, running a hand through my dark hair.

Massey raised her penciled-in eyebrows, not buying a single word. "Is that so?"

I nodded, attempting to scratch some notes off the board down.

"Where at, Lucas?" She pressed, a pompous smirk tugging at the corner of her red lips.

"Slater Road. Everyone was bumper to bumper, so I had time to make conversation with one of the cops directing traffic around it. They had to clear the road; you know, it was pretty bad." I did my best to maintain eye contact with her, using my game face.

"There was no accident on Slater this morning Mr. Price." she snipped, blue eyes studying me smugly.

Fuck, Massey knew I was lying, but I decided to persist anyway. I had so much to lose.

"Hey, I'm serious! Two cars, one got totaled and they had to tow it. The officer I talked to was really nice though, and apparently he went to Sherman too." I decided to use Officer Hoffman as an unwitting accomplice and was hardly sorry about it.

"Likely story." she said flatly, rounding her desk to sit. "I'll be calling your father when class is finished."

Fuckity fuck!

"No, really! He told me to tell you hi." I insisted, hoping to pique her interest.

Massey's head snapped up; attention now painfully centered on me. I almost regretted trying to continue my ruse and she made me feel so anxious.

"Tell me hello?" She clarified with amusement.

"Yep, you." That's it, take the bait, you Witch.

She exhaled a dry laugh. "Oh? Now, why would this made-up officer want to say hello to a random kid's chemistry teacher?"

"He said he knew you." I shrugged.

She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I see, and what's the message officer-no-name had for me, then?"

Massey looked confident that she was about to expose me and my bullshit, but I wasn't about to go down without a fight. I was committed to this.