Give Me A Label (I'll Make Confetti)

Chapter 19: Prisioner of Society

'Where the fuck have you been?' Joe demanded as soon as Greg appeared after his detention. Joe and Dylan had had footy practice and were covered in grass stains while leaning against Joe's car.

'Detention,' Greg said. 'Why? You two been making out on the oval and want some pointers?'

Dylan made retching sounds as Joe punched Greg in the arm. 'Don't be a dick.'

'Where've you been all day?' Dylan asked. 'Haven't seen you since Science.'

'Um... I've been around, you know,' Greg said, shrugging slightly.

'That's informative,' Dylan snickered.

'Whaddya want me to say?' Greg asked as he lit a cigarette, setting his helmet on his bike.

Dylan rolled his eyes and Joe said, 'Um... how 'bout the truth?'

'Humping your brother, it was glorious,' Greg said.

'Oh that is so wrong,' Joe groaned.

''Specially since Damian's thirteen,' Dylan grinned.

Greg just poked his tongue out sucked back on his cigarette.

'LESTRADE!'

Greg and his mates turned to see Mrs Mallen walking across the grass.

'Shit,' Greg groaned and dropped his cigarette, crushing it with the heel of his shoe. 'Mrs Mallen-'

'I don't want to hear it, young man,' the teacher scowled. 'Front office, now!'

Greg sulked as Joe and Dylan snickered, watching as he trooped towards Mrs Mallen.

'Let's see what your mother has to say about your habit,' Mrs Mallen said as Greg followed her to the office.

{oOo}

Greg sat in the Headmaster's office, with Mrs Mallen and the deputy head teacher, Mr Douglas, on either side of him, as the Headmaster called his mum. He could hear her shouting through the phone and winced when the Headmaster glared at him.

When his mum hung up, Mr Rourke said, 'She wants you to go straight home and wait for her.'

'Yes, sir.'

'I can't express how disappointed we are in you, Gregory,' Mr Douglas said.

Greg stared at his lap.

'Detention for two weeks, I want you here at six-thirty every morning,' Mr Rourke continued. 'You can help Mr Strong clean the school.'

Greg knew better than to backchat and just nodded as he was allowed to leave. The school was deserted and Greg cursed, kicking at bins and whatever else he could reach as he walked to his bike.

When he got home, Greg made some noodles and hid in his room, closing the door and hiding under his blankets as he ate. He knew it wouldn't stop his mum kicking the door down and ripping him a new one, but he had to try.

Maggie got home at five and, sure enough, his bedroom door slammed into the wall as she stalked in.

'Gregory Johnathan Lestrade, what the hell is wrong with you?' Maggie demanded. 'Smoking on school grounds?'

'Um-'

'I don't want to hear your excuses!' Maggie shouted as she walked over to his dresser and ripped the drawers open.

Greg could only watch as his mum went through all his stuff, eventually dumping all the crap she'd found on his desk. There were a dozen porn mags, some DVDs Dimmock had given him, a carton of smokes he'd hidden in his bottom drawer, as well as a bottle of bourbon he'd been keeping, an opened box of condoms, and a tube of lubricant.