Sex Lessons (Peterick) **REWRITTEN**

09

CH. 9 — PATRICK

"Good morning, class. Today I'll be handing out your now graded short story papers." Mr. Holt says, and I'll be glad when Dallon and I get our papers back so I can go home and play guitar and maybe jerk off before Spencer, Pete, and Dallon come over.

However, Dallon and I and Pete and Spencer do not get our papers back. We only receive disapproving looks from Holt instead.

"I need to see Smith, Stump, Weekes, and Wentz in the principal's office immediately." Holt says, standing up. My three friends exchange worried glances, but I couldn't care less.

Principal Watkins won't touch Pete or I because Pete's mother is the mayor, and my parents donate too much money to the school. This is one of the only times I'm glad to be known as a rich boy.

The five of us walk down the hall in pairs of two (Pete and Spencer and Dallon and I) behind Holt. The hallway is dead silent when we reach Watkins' office.

Holt knocks twice and enters when Watkins calls for him, the rest of us following. Watkins gestures for Pete and Spencer to sit in the chairs and for Dallon and I to stand behind them.

Holt joins Watkins behind the desk, setting two sets of papers down in front of the principal. The English teacher (of close to thirty years now) crosses his arms as he glares at us.

"So, gentlemen, I'm assuming you're confused on why you've all been pulled out of class." Principal Watkins begins, smiling at the four of us.

We all look around at each other before nodding in almost unison. I don't know what kind of bait he's throwing here, but I'm not biting.

"Well, Mr. Holt is concerned with the writing styles of both of these papers. He's stated that they are far too similar to not be written by the same person. He's also said that whoever wrote these is extremely talented and should get the credit he deserves." Watkins tells us, and I know my eyes widen in surprise. I can feel my face heating up as I look down at my feet.

We sit in silence for a few seconds until Holt adds, "I'm not mad, just disappointed that three of you let one young man do all of the work for you, and then you took credit for his hard work. His writing style is unique, creative, and very interesting. In fact, I'd like to offer him a spot in the school's Literary Magazine as the new short story writer."

This time, I feel the guys looking at me, but they're not making it too obvious with the way Holt and Watkins still look stern and confused. I clench my jaw as one of the guys begins to speak.

"I admit that I took credit for someone else's work. It's not mine, and I feel awful." Dallon blurts, and the rest of us just sigh, shaking our heads at the nerdy boy with the guilty conscience.

"With that being said, you're free to go, Dallon. I will give you another chance to rewrite the paper on your own with an 85 being the highest grade you can achieve." Holt says. Dallon thanks him silently and leaves us with an apologetic look as he hurries out of the office and presumably goes back to class.

I know I'm the person they would least expect to step up and claim the papers, so I keep my mouth shut. Just when I think the two men are going to give up, Spencer says, "It wasn't me, either. I'm sorry, guys."

"You can go as well, Mr. Smith. You will have the same options as Mr. Weekes."

Spencer squeezes both mine and Pete's shoulders as he leaves the office and follows Dallon back to class. "Then there were two." Watkins says, smiling at the both of us. "You're not going to be in trouble, if one of you will fess up."

When I look up, though, they're both looking at Pete, waiting for him to own up to it. They don't think it could ever be me, in any possible scenario. Pete looks at me and grabs my hand. He smiles at me before saying, "I wish I could claim these beautiful works of art. However, they are all Patrick's." He kisses my hand and nods his head at the two men before they can say anything about giving him the same deal as Dallon and Spencer.

Watkins and Holt look at me with wide eyes, and my cheeks are burning more than ever at the moment. "Patrick.. Stump?" Watkins asks, scratching the back of his neck as he flips the pages of the papers.

Holt and Watkins share a look of pure confusion. "You wrote these?" Holt exclaims, his eyes narrowing at me.

I nod slowly, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. I can see the doubt in both of their eyes, so I recite, from memory, "'This was a journey meant for two people. Two people that were meant for each other. Two people that would find each other no matter what circumstances they were put in. We're those two people.' Henry says, pushing a piece of hair out of Sam's face. 'No matter our gender or our race, we would always be together. No matter our family situations or our friends. We found each other. And we're going to continue to gravitate back to one another until we choose each other. I've already chosen you. It was always you for me.' Shall I continue?"

Holt and Watkins simply blink in response. "I'm pleasantly surprised, Mr. Stump. I would like to offer you the lead spot for the short story section of the Literary Magazine." Holt says instantly, a small smile on his face. He looks impressed.

"By offer you, he means you can do it or take a suspension." Watkins says, and I narrow my eyes.

"That doesn't seem very fair. How is it that I'm forced to join the school's lamest magazine but the others get off scott free?" I ask, crossing my arms. Watkins leans back in his chair, a smile on his face as he looks to Holt for an answer.

"You'll be receiving both grades for this nine weeks, bumping your average from a failing grade to a passing one." Holt says, smiling at me. Passing the twelfth grade would be good. My parents would be proud of me.

"Fine. I'll do it. But I'll do it from my own space. And I don't want anyone knowing it's me. I refuse to be associated with the nerds on the literary magazine." I say, a stern look on my face.

"Deal." Holt and Watkins say as they both shake my hand.

In the back of my mind, I'm kind of excited about this. It's something I can care about that isn't music or sex. Maybe this will be the turning point in my life.

sorry for the filler. it's character development for patrick lol.

also i published a new story called "live up to it" & appreciate if y'all checked it out

yes i forgot abt this shit ass story too. sorry.

thoughts?