The New Boy One Door Down

23

Peter's POV

Mr. Stark was fuming when he got to the office.

Flash and I sat in the back of the room while Mr. Stark and Flash's parents sat in front of the principal's desk. Mrs. Bradley stood behind the principal; she glared at me from the back of the room while sending pity to Flash. It made me want to scoff at her.

Flash and everyone stared at Mr. Stark like he was a god.

"I'm glad everyone could make it today. I'm sure this whole thing was one big misunderstanding." Principal Sanders said, trying to calm Mr. stark down. He looked like he was ready to kill Flash and then me.

"So boys, why don't you tell us what happened?" Flash glared at me before starting his story.

"Every day since school started Peter has been beating me up after school. He drags me into an empty classroom or behind the school and he punches and kicks me as hard as he could then he leaves me there.

"That's why I'm late coming home every day." He said, the last sentence directed to his parents.

"That's bullshit." I mumbled.

"What was that Mr. Parker?" Sanders asked.

"I said that was bullshit!"

"Language Mr. Parker." Mrs. Bradley huffed as she leaned against the wall.

"No! This is complete and utter bullshit! I was defending myself! Flash started all of this! He always starts it!" I yelled as I stood up quickly and pointed at Flash accusingly.

"Why would I lie about you beating me up?"

"Because you a fucking dick who is just trying to save your own ass!"

"Let's all just take a deep breath." Sanders said. "Mr. Parker, you need to calm down."

"Don't tell him to calm down." Mr. Stark said as he glared at Flash. "There is no way Peter did this for no reason."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Have you seen me? I'm practically a walking stick!"

"I saw you attacking him!" Mrs. Bradley yelled.

"After he attacked me first!"

"There's no way Flash would do this to anyone." His father said dismissively. "He has too many scholarships for football lined up to do something like this and he knows it."

"Well I know Peter wouldn't do this to anyone either."

"Then why was he punching Flash in the face when I walked in on them?"

"This isn't getting us any where." Sanders said as he rubbed his face with his hands. "How about we say it was no one's fault and you both get a two week suspension?"

"No way! I get one suspension and I loose half of my scholarships!"

"And I won't let Peter go down for something he didn't do." Mr. Stark defended. He still looked pretty mad but I couldn't tell who he was mad at.

"The security cameras." I mumbled after a few minutes of silence. "Check the security cameras. Go back to last Friday." Flash visibly stiffens.

Principal Sanders sighs but opens his computer anyway to check.

I watch as his face shifts from bored to intrigue to rage.

The sound on the computer was off but I knew what he saw without having to look.

"Well, what is it?" Flash's mom asked. Wordlessly, Mr. Sanders turned the computer around and re-winded the clip.

Flash had pushed me into the room by my back before walking in behind me. I stumbled but he caught me on my way down. Just as he caught he landed a hard punch on my cheek.

After the first few hits Mr. Stark paused the video and turned back to Flash's parents.

"I think that tells up everything we need to know." He said as he stood up and fixed his suit.

"Wait, wait. That just proved that it happened before," his dad said. "Go back to today's clip."

"Dad, stop."

"No, I won't let this get out. You worked too hard to get these scholarships. Show me today's video." Flash sighed from beside me.

Sanders clicked on the right clip and turned the computer around and walked in front of the desk so he could watch it with us before pressing play.

Mr. Stark fumed as the video began to play.

Flash looked down at his hands. His dad glared at him. His mother stared in shock. Mrs. Bradley looked like she was watching us have sex again, a hand over her heart and the other over her mouth. Mr. Sanders was shaking his head in disappointment.

"Why are they talking?" His mom asked.

"Mom, you're really not helping." Flash mumbled under his breath as he shook his head.

Principal Sanders put on the volume. Flash flinched when he called me a faggot and winced every time he said it again.

Everyone in the room was stunned and silent.

"Well," Mr. Stark announced as he stood up from the chair. "I think we're done here. I want this young man out of this school right now and I never want to see him back here again. He's lucky I'm not calling the police." He said before he turned to Flash. "In case you didn't know, bullying is against the law. Good luck getting into college with that on your record."

"Of course, Mr. Stark. I'll personally make sure he's out of this school by the end of week. Of course he will be suspended until he gets into a new school." Mr. Stark nodded before turning to me.

"Come on kid. We gotta get you're face checked out." I stood up from the chair and followed Mr. Stark outside of the hallway, but not before shooting Flash the middle finger on my way out.

We got all the way to the car and I thought I was safe from the lecture I had anticipated but as soon as I closed the car door Mr. Stark glared at me.

That's when I knew I was dead.