Toy Soldiers

Chapter Four

"Who was that?" asked Jennifer as she walked in, not even a minute after Billy left.

"Uh, no one," I said.

Jennifer leaned on my desk and raised her eyebrow, obviously not giving up that easy.

"Trust me, it's no one," I tried to assure her.

"I think he's a someone," she persisted.

I sighed, "He's no one."

"Okay," said Jennifer, "But if this no one becomes a someone, let me know."

I smiled, "You'll be the first to know."

Jennifer flashed me a happy smile, then hopped on her bed. I grabbed my bag, then pushed my way through the door and down the halls, a smile on my face the whole way. I couldn't stop thinking about him, about Billy. Whatever has happened between him and I in my dorm meant something, it had to. The way we looked at each other, the way Billy was acting, the way I felt.

My last two classes went by slower than ever. Snuffy and I talked through most of English, and math was just worksheets. At dinner, I went to the cafeteria and say with the boys, all except one. I squeezed my way in between Joey and Hank, asking where Billy had gone.

"Dean's office," said Joey, "He got busted for the mouthwash."

"Will he get in a lot of trouble?" I asked.

Joey shook his head, "The worst they'll do to you here is out you on dish duty. He'll be fine."

Another couple minutes passed before we saw Billy enter the cafeteria, looking pissed off. He slowly slumped his way down the aisles, passing out table.

"I'm on pots and pans," he said.

"How long?" asked Joey.

Billy rolled his eyes, "One month."

"That's not too bad," said Joey, "Better than last time."

"Yeah, yeah," Billy huffed, the continued on to the kitchen. We didn't see him again until after lunch.

-

"Hey!" shouted Billy, running up to me as I was on my way to class, "Quad. Tomorrow morning. Alright?"

"What?"

"Just be there. Trust me," he smirked, then took off down the hallway. I continued to class, confused, yet intrigued.  

-

The next morning I woke up to Jennifer shaking me by my shoulders,

"Hey get up. Let's go."

"What?" I asked, yawning and rubbing my eyes, "Where are we going?"

"The quad. I heard some guys trashed the headmaster's office. Everyone's already there. Come on."

I pushed off my covers and slid out of bed. I already knew who did it, and why Billy told me to meet him. I quickly threw on a shirt and shorts, following Jennifer outside.

There was a large group of students gathered in a circle around the quad, all laughing and talking. I looked around and couldn't see any of the boys, the pushed myself passed a couple people to see the centre of the circle. I stopped and my mouth fell open once I saw it. All the furniture that was in the headmaster's office was laid out perfectly, exactly the way it was before, in the quad. Both the headmaster and the Dean were standing at the desk in the middle of it all, talking quietly. I spotted Billy and the others on the opposite side of the circle.

"Woah," said Jennifer, creeping up behind me, "Who do you think did all this?"

"Oh," I said, "I have a pretty good idea."

The Dean stuck out his arm, pointing at Billy, "You," he said, then Billy began to walk forward, "And you. And you too."

The Dean called on all five boys, and they all came and stood in a line before him and the headmaster. I couldn't hear everything they were saying, but I caught bits and pieces of it. Once the Dean was done talking to them he sent everyone back to class, I was one of the last to leave, and Billy caught sight of me right before I turned away. He raised his eyebrows and smirked, I smiled and laughed, rolling my eyes. Then I left before the Dean thought I was in on it too.

-

"Very nice boys," I smiled, sitting down at the lunch table.

"Why thank you," Joey bowed.

"Couldn't have the Dean making me look like a douche in front of the whole school after he caught me on he mouthwash," Billy said.

"Well let me tell you, you've got the whole school on your side now. That's all anyone was talking about in class," I told them, "You're famous."

They all laughed and patted each other on the back, celebrating. After lunch, Billy came up to me,

"So you busy tonight?"

"No," I said, in a sort of flirty voice, "Why?"

Billy smiled happily, "Because, in taking you out."

"And where exactly would you be taking me?" I asked.

"Well you see it's a surprise," he said, slowing and lowering his speech, while coming closer to me, "Kinda like a secret. You can't tell anyone."

I looked at him, squinting my eyes, "Just don't kill me or anything alright?"

"I'll try not to," he laughed, wrinkling his nose.

-

About an hour after classes ended there was a knock at my door. I stood up from my desk, brushed off my pants, flicked my hair back, then answered it.