Pretty poetry

Todd (chapter 10)

(This is picking up where we left off in Todd's other chapter ) I also apologize for the pointless bagpipe convo, I just wanted to add some random silly convo, also no hate towards Stick lol, one more thing, Todd and Neil, if not the whole group, talk with their hands when they get passionate about smth, idk if I explained that well, I'm sry.

I'm next in line, and my paper says a whole paragraph worth of poetic words I don't know the meaning of.
I've quietly read over the paper multiple times but I still can't read it without messing up.

I can't do this, I gotta get out of here.

Thankfully, the Mr. Keating blows his whistle right as the boy in front of me kicks the ball. I sigh in relief and stuff the paper in my pocket.
"That's all for today boys. Good work."

I walk past Mr. Keating and he says:
"You were lucky this time, Mr. Anderson, but we're going to continue doing this in a couple days, so be prepared."
Mr. Keating smiles as if this isn't going to be my downfall.
I nod awkwardly and continue my walk.

Look, I get that he's trying to get me out of my comfort zone and discover some new-found confidence, but that's not happening. I'm perfectly fine in my little zone. I've already befriended a group of guys, that should be enough 'pushing-my-boundaries-ness' for at least two years. What more does he want from me?!

I slowly make my way back inside when I notice someone is walking beside me. I turn to see that it's Knox.

"H-hey?" I look around confusedly.

Knox glances at me and puts an arm around my shoulders while he raises his other hand to motion around in the air.

"Hi Todd. Listen, do you want to study Latin tonight? Everyone else is busy and it'll only be for, like, 20 minutes." He sounds like he's trying to negotiate with me. He really is a future businessman.

"Umm.. sure, I'm not very good at Latin though, so you won't be able to rely on me for right translations."

"That's fine, are you free in about thirty minutes?"

I nod and he smiles. He pats me on the back and walks away.
I feel like I just signed a contract or something.

~~~

I took a shower and now I'm sitting on my bed reading. Knox barges in, looking at me expectantly.
"Hey! You ready?" He sounds really chipper for someone that's about to study Latin.

"Yeah, sure." I shrug.
"Where are we studying?" I ask.

"How about my room. My roommate is at the library."

"Who...who even is your roommate?"

"Stick."

"Who?"

"He's in our class, and he's one of the kids that plays the bagpipes in the morning sometimes."

"He's the reason I wake up at 5?!"
I raise my voice in surprise.

"Yeah, that why I always look tired.
He gets up at 4:30 to assemble the damn thing before he even brushes his teeth."
He says with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

We walk into his room and I sit on his desk chair while he flops onto his bed.

"Wait, you said 'one of the kids'. Are their more?!?!"

"Yeah. The Welton bagpipers. C'mon man, you've been here for half a year, you should know this by now."

I stare at him for a few second before shaking my head and chuckling.

"Soo..where do you wanna start?" I ask, changing the topic to Latin.

"What?" He looks confused.

"...the..the Latin?"