Never Gonna Be Alone

Chapter 32----Whispers Can Slip

Laten woke up late for school the next morning. He cursed and quickly found something to wear and went downstairs, disappointed that his father wasn't downstairs. Laten knew that coming back to school would be really hard. He knew that he would have a lot of catching up to do. He really didn't want to deal with his math teacher.

Laten sighed, and grabbed his skateboard and walked out the door, not bothering with breakfast, not that he would eat that much anyway. 

He skateboarded to the school. He looked at his watch, and found out that he was 20 minutes late. He sighed and went to his first class. He had no P.E today, so it was straight up to Math class. He opened the door, and quietly went to his seat.

"Mr. Mahien, detention. After school. You're late. Again. " Mr. Jenkines said. 

Laten just nodded quietly.  One of the kids that sat next to Laten, leaned in and asked, "So, what? You get special attention?"

Laten didn't bother looking at her. "I don't. He just told me last time I was late that I was going to get a detention."

She snorted. "That why all the teachers in the school are talking about you? Saying you need to get help? Got a mental disorder?"

Laten glanced up at Jenkines, wondering if he'd see him talking to Sarah, the classmate. Maybe he should just do as Tankie asks of him and just ignore her....he just prayed that she'd shut up. 

Eventually she did. Laten took notes throughout the whole class. It was quiet sometime in Laten's prospective before the bell rang. Only to realize that he had to stay. 

His eyes had found Ken, one of the boys that got expelled for a few days, walk out. He put his head on his desk.

Arthur sighed. Was Laten being late on purpose? Just because Arthur was on the brink of figuring out Laten, or that Laten is indeed getting special -for lack of better word-attention, doesn't mean he can do whatever he pleases. 

This was the first day that he got his boys back. So, he expected some rebellion from Laten. He sighed, got up from his desk and went to the student.

"Laten."

Laten lifted his head. "Why are all of a sudden you're so caring? I don't want your pity, help, or your discussions of me behind my back"

"I am still your teacher, and you still need to treat me with respect." Arthur told him calmly, even though he wanted to slap the student.

"How can you expect people to respect you, when you don't do the same to them."

Mr. Jenkines smirked. "Oh, I am giving you respect. You're just being a little to ungrateful."

That hit Laten. He was being ungrateful now? "Okay. So, if you insist that you respect me too, then tell me a way that you have."

Mr. Jenkines smirked. "I could've told you every single person in this school that you're cutting."

"First of all, you don't know that for sure, and second off, I'm sure you told all the 'trusted adults'.

Mr. Jenkines chuckled. "But you see, I know that you do, and I could always turn you into Mr. Tate."

Laten's eyes widened. "Blackmail? That's against the law!"

'Got ya.'  Arthur thought. "In return, You tell me the truth. Since, I have the teachers noted, there's nothing really you should be afraid of."

Laten rolled his eyes. "Why do you wanna know so badly? Is it because you enjoy this?"

Fine. He wants to know the truth, Arthur will tell him the truth. "Because someone else that I hold very dearly, told me to help you."