K I N G

t w e n t y

avoir peur
to be afraid

Neil's POV
Neil couldn't believe how much of an idiot Charlie was. It was no doubt impressive the amount of gall Charlie had and how he always toed the line, however that did not mean there was a time and place with it. And using the Dead Poet's Society for his little schemes made his blood boil. What right did Charlie have to use their name? He was jeopardizing everything. Neil's eyebrow twitch as he saw Charlie's smug smirk.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" He hissed, peering over Todd to glare holes into the back of Charlie's head.

"I've slipped an article to get girls into Welton," Charlie said with a quick shrug of shoulders.

"You didn't," Pitts breathed out in disbelief from behind Neil.

Neil saw Charlie lean forward towards Meeks. He didn't have to see to know that there was that obnoxious smirk on his face as he stage whispered into Meeks's ear,

"So we all can stop beating off."

Neil saw the top of Todd's ears and couldn't help but smile. As angry as Charlie had made him, he still could find some amusement from his blonde's embarrassment. Nothing more was said between them as they all filed into the assembly hall. The room was buzzing as the boys of Welton talked among themselves. The question on everyone's tongue put Neil further on edge. Who was the Dead Poet's Society? This was a problem. Nolan would no doubt be asking the same question and if he found out about them...Neil didn't know what he'd do. His anxiety rose as he bounced his leg faster and faster. Would they get a month's worth of detention? Would they be expelled? Or worse, would their parents be contacted? The mere thought of his father finding out caused Neil's heart to stop. The room suddenly felt too hot. He tugged hard on his collar as his breathing began to pick up. Would his father take this away from him as well? What if Nolan told him about the play?

Neil was starting to feel lightheaded.

Then he pulled from it. A lifeline pulled him from the harsh, pounding waves of the ocean. Todd had wrapped his pinkie around Neil's. It was all they could risk in such a public setting, but it helped more than Neil was willing to admit. The smiled thankfully at Todd who returned the notion.

"Well, you don't think they're gonna figure out who wrote it? They're gonna come to you and ask to known what the Dead Poet's Society is. Charlie, you had no right to do that!" Cameron moaned as his head fell into his open hands. Cameron had stolen the words right from his mouth.

"Hey Ch-Nuwanda, how did you do it?" Todd asked quietly.

"What a fine question kiddo. I'm one of the proofer's for the newspaper. I just slipped it right in."

"You still shouldn't have done it!" Neil all but growled at the jokester. "This could mean trouble. You don't speak for the club."

"Relax Perry, don't worry your precious little neck over it. If they catch me, I'll tell them I made it up."

Neil opened his mouth to say more when Todd placed his free hand gently on Neil's thigh to stop him. Neil gazed curiously at his blonde, but Todd only nodded towards the aisle. Teachers came bustling nervously down the aisles towards the front of the room lead by a very agitated Mr. Nolan. Once the teachers took their seats, Nolan stood behind a raised platform behind a podium.

"In this week of Welton's Honor there appeared a profane and unauthorized article. Rather than spend my valuable time ferreting out the guilty persons --and let me assure you I will find them -- I'm asking any and all students who knows anything about this article to make themselves known here and now. Whoever the guilty persons are, this is your only chance to avoid expulsion from this school."

Neil tried to focus on Nolan's speech but found himself distracted from the pulsing vein on his forehead. It looked ready to burst!

Suddenly, the sound of ringing filled the room. Both the students and teachers searched for the source of the sound. Neil could hear it was very close. Unnervingly close.

"Welton Academy. Hello. Yes, he is. Just a moment," Charlie said before he stood with a phone in one hand and a bell in the other.

Todd began to shake his head and reached for Charlie's jacket to most likely force him back down, but Charlie batted the hand away. He gazed playfully down at Todd, however there was something heavy in his eyes Neil noticed. A sense of seriousness.

"Mr. Nolan, it's for you. It's God. He says we should have girls at Welton."

The room erupted with laughter. Neil heard Todd groan as he touched his forehead quickly against Neil's shoulder before straightening back out. Neil saw the vein pop in Nolan's head and was filled with dread. Charlie would not be able to smooth talk his way out of this one.