Another Day, Another Door

Chapter 9

*A/N: Thank you guys for reading this far! Your votes & comments are most welcome! Stay sassy*

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Dan and Patrick sat across from the principal in scared silence. "Both of you boys have A LOT of explaining to do," he said angrily. Dan quickly spoke up. "Those guys were bullying Patrick. I was just protecting him. For God's sake, Lyle had a knife!"

"This true?" the principal looked at Patrick. Patrick quickly nodded without saying a word. The principal glared at both of them. 

"I've called both of your parents and they're on their way right now. Stump, we'll need to discuss this further but Reynolds," the principal glared at Dan, "you're expelled."

Both boys immediately sat up. "You can't do that!" Patrick defended. The principal looked surprised. Patrick never talked back. 

"Patrick, your friend here just put two boys in the hospital, one of whom now has a concussion. He could have brain damage. This school is now in danger of being sued and it's all his fault."

"That's bullshit, he was protecting me!" Patrick yelled. "Patrick Martin Stump!" a man's voice came from the doorway. Patrick looked over to see his dad rush in. 

"Oh my God, what happened?" his father looked at Dan covered in blood. Both boys started talking quickly at the same time.

Suddenly Dan's parents quickly walked in. "Daniel! Are you hurt?" Dan's mother ran to him and quickly inspected him. "Mom, I'm fine," Dan rolled his eyes. 

"What the hell happened? You said he was in a fight. This looks like more than a fight! " Dan's father was on the brink of yelling at the principal. 

Along with multiple inputs from the boys, the principal explained the situation to their parents. 

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Patrick was suspended from school for the week for cussing at the principal and Dan got expelled. Surprisingly, his parents weren't as angry with him as he thought they would be. They knew Dan meant well but he had put his education at risk and now no public school in the area wanted him.

He was grounded for the next month which meant he couldn't see anyone or do anything besides look for schools and go to his appointments. At least he'd still see Patrick at the clinic.

The Monday Patrick came back to school he was immediately greeted by Louisa. "Hey," he said quietly as she went up to his locker before first period. She just threw her arms around him in a warm embrace.

Patrick was caught completely off guard and dropped all of his books on the floor. 

"I heard what you did. What you said to Lyle...when he asked about me," she said, breaking the hug. "Oh. It was nothing. I mean...not nothing, you know. It was...your welcome," Patrick said nervously.

Louisa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked down a little. "Listen, I know Dan was your partner for a chemistry project but since he's not, well, here anymore...What I'm saying is that you can always work with me if you need someone. I'm not with anyone right now," she hinted.

Patrick wasn't sure if she meant what he thought she meant. All he could hear was Dan's voice in his head saying 'Dude, she's giving you a sign. Say something. Say something.'

"Okay," was all Patrick could say. 

Louisa giggled then took a loose sheet of paper out of Patrick's open locker. She took out a pen and scribbled her number on it. 

She handed the paper to him and smiled, "I'll see you later." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek then quickly walked away.

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Patrick smiled to himself as he took a seat in his father's clinic. He was still thinking about that minuscule kiss. 

He lay back in his chair and looked at the clock. That was weird. Dan should've been here by now. His appointment was going to start in a few minutes and he was never late.

"Daniel?" he heard his father step out and call Dan's name. He looked around the waiting room trying to find that familiar face. 

"Patrick, do you know where Dan is?" his father asked as he walked up to him. Patrick shook his head.

"Well, I'll wait a few more minutes. Maybe try calling him?" his father asked as he went back to his office. 

Patrick quickly took out his phone and speed dialed his friend. No answer. Patrick drummed his fingers nervously. He had a bad feeling that Dan wasn't alright.

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On the drive home he tried calling Dan two more time to no avail. He wanted to leave a voicemail but it was too awkward with his father in the car. 

As soon as they reached home Patrick ran to his room and called again. "Dude, seriously, call me. Whatever's wrong we can work it out. I'll come over if you want or we can just talk but call me okay?"

The rest of the night Patrick kept a watchful eye on his phone. But it remained silent. 

Patrick's anxiety was going through the roof as he paced his bedroom. Something was wrong. More wrong than usual.