Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 12:22:13 -0400 From: Stan Unknown Subject: Chapter 13 of Beating The Odds Chapter Thirteen (I stole lots of what is about to happen from a movie made in 1990. 4 guys and 2 girls though. The first reader who writes to me with the name of the movie, I will print his name in the next chapter. The story finally begins!!! No more background. Stan) "Follow me, guys," Mr. Corwin said, as he led the way back into the school. All the boys knew they were headed towards the principal's office. "Hey, Elaine. Is Mr. Walker in?" "No Mr. Corwin. He had to leave early for a dentist appointment. Do you want to leave a message for him?" "No, it can wait until in the morning. Boys, lets go to one of my classrooms. I think my office is going to be too small to hold everyone." Everyone looked at each other as they followed Mr. Corwin down the hall. They were all grateful that Mr. Walker hadn't been in his office. He opened the door to one of the classrooms and let all ten boys go in, then shut the door and walked over to his desk. He didn't bother to sit behind it. He sat down on top of it and said, "Ok, will someone please tell me what happened out there? I know some of you and you aren't the type of boys to get into a fight. Especially you, Jimmy." "None of us started anything, Mr. Corwin. Matt was making up everything he said," Jimmy said. "Look what they did to my face! All I was trying to do was talk some sense into those idiot football players. And now look what's happened." "Your face doesn't look any different than everyone else's. Look around you and quit bitching!" Josh said loudly. "I don't know you. What's your name?" Mr. Corwin asked. "Why? I didn't do anything. All I was doing was keeping a bunch of guys from beating up on these two," he said, as he motioned at Ryan and Rob. "It was four big guys against two little guys. All they did was say they were gay. You don't approve of gay beatings, do you?" "Of course not. I was part of a group as a senior in college called `Gay Free Zone'. Kind of a stupid name, I guess. But it was started by a gay rock band of kids two years ago that kind of caught on nationwide, even in college. But `Gay Free Zone' was about supporting anyone, no matter what their sexual orientation was. It just meant a place gays could be free of prejudice," Mr. Corwin answered. "Well, this school sure doesn't believe in it. And `Gay Free Zone' is a stupid name," Josh replied. Mr. Corwin just stared at him. "You know all of you could be suspended, don't you? Now what is your name?" "Josh." "Josh what?" "Just Josh. I didn't do anything wrong. I just helped those two kids. Nothing else. If you really believe what you're saying, you would let all of us go now. You know damn well Coach Williams isn't going to do anything to his football players. Anyone who would want to play on that stupid team would have to be an idiot." "I WANTED to play on that stupid team, ass hole. But I just got kicked off of it, didn't I?" Kevin growled. "Oh, so I'm supposed to be scared? So you got kicked off your stupid little football team! They are going to play tonight without you, aren't they? Big deal!!! I don't think you getting kicked off is going to make the sports pages in the morning." "You're such an ass hole. What if I kick your ass right now?" Kevin screamed, as he stood up. "You and who's army?" Josh asked, as he also stood up. "Are you guys crazy? Do you realize I'm trying to make up my mind whether to kick all of you out of school for a week or just give you detention?" Mr. Corwin shouted, as he got between Kevin and Josh. "Please Mr. Corwin. Neither of them mean what they're saying. All of us just got assaulted by the whole football team. No one's going to believe us. Coach Williams is going to back up anything they say, just so he can keep them eligible to play on the football team. But it wasn't our fault. Do you think any of us would be stupid enough to take on the football team in a fight? Or make a move on a football player when we knew they hated gays?" Tim yelled, bringing the confrontation to a halt. "Tim, I enjoyed having you in my class last year. You surprise me being in the fight as much as Jimmy does." "I wasn't in the fight. How could I fight? That just shows you how wrong about you are about all of this. Kevin got knocked down and fell over on top of me. We keep kind of meeting in ackward situations," Jimmy said, as he looked towards Kevin quickly and blushed. "So none of you had anything to do with this? But I have ten boys who were involved in a brawl outside the school in the first week of school. Am I just expected to let you all off like Coach Williams did the football players?" Mr. Corwin asked. "Sure, he did. Why can't you? You don't want to start a double standard, do you?" Josh sneered. "I can't do anything about Coach Williams. He has been here for a long time and this is my second year of teaching. But I can't just let you go. And Mr. Walker has already gone for the day," Mr. Corwin answered. "So they aren't going to be punished for starting all of this and we are?" Josh yelled. "Josh, calm down or I might have to suspend you. Whether you believe it or not, I'm trying to help all of you," Mr. Corwin answered back loudly. "Yeah, right. Like a teacher has ever tried to help me," Josh answered. "Just shut up, OK? I can't afford to be suspended. I might lose the lead in the play we are going to do," Jimmy said angrily. "Oh, that would really bite, wouldn't it? Not getting to be in a FUCKING PLAY?" Josh yelled. "JOSH, THAT'S ENOUGH! One more outburst like that and I'm going to suspend all of you!" Mr. Corwin yelled. "I couldn't care less," Josh said, but he did turn around and face the other way, sitting on top of his desk. "Please don't do this," Rob said to him, as he could still see Josh's face. "Thanks for helping Ryan and I. We do appreciate it." Josh looked over at him and said, "You don't get it, do you? I didn't help you and your pathetic little boyfriend. I just don't like to see big guys picking on little guys. You two had nothing to do with what I did." "Ok, we aren't getting anywhere right now. I'll make you a deal. Nobody gets suspended for fighting, even though that is a school rule. But I know all the football players aren't getting suspended for a week and miss tonight's game. So that wouldn't be fair to just suspend you guys. But you aren't going to just walk away from this without some kind of punishment. So all of you meet me in front of the school at 9:00 am in the morning. We're going to stay here until 5:00, all in the same room, until we talk all of this out. You have a choice. All day tomorrow or a week's suspension." "That isn't fair," Josh yelled, as he turned around. "I have plans for tomorrow and they don't include being in school all day." "Each of you can decide. Your choice. But no negotiation on this. A weeks suspension or you give me tomorrow. I'll walk outside and give you some time to decide on your own," Mr. Corwin answered, as he walked out and shut the door. "FUCK YOU!" Josh yelled, as he got up and walked around the room. "Why don't you calm down? All Mr. Corwin is trying to do is help us," Jimmy said to him. "Why don't you mind your own damn business, gay boy?" Josh said. Jimmy was temporarily shaken. "I'm not gay. Why would you even say such a thing?" Josh turned around a glared at him. "You have GAY written all across your face. It's like a brand. Who're you kidding?" "You don't know anything about me. I don't think I've ever seen you before," Jimmy said, as everyone could see the hurt in his eyes. "That's true. We don't exactly hang around the same type friends, do we?" "Certainly not," Jimmy answered, and turned back around in his seat. "And that wouldn't have anything to do with you being a rich little spoiled brat, would it?" Josh said. "Hey, don't talk to him that. I'm really getting tired of your attitude," Kevin yelled. "Who cares about you getting tired of my attitude? I could kick your ass in a couple of seconds," Josh answered. "I saw you fighting. You're really good. I can't compete with that. But once I get you down, you aren't getting back up. You want to see?" Kevin asked, as he got out of his desk. "Guys, please don't do this," Ryan said, also getting up and getting between Kevin and Josh. "I really appreciate you both helping Rob and I today." "Ry Ryan, you and Rob? You were were the the one's who who ad admitted you we were gay?" Bruce stammered, as he also got out of his desk and walked over to Ryan. Ryan turned completely beet red. "Yeah. I really didn't know it until a couple of days ago. You don't hate me, do you, Bruce?" "No, o of course not, Ry Ryan. You no know I would love you th the same no matter what, don't you?" Bruce asked. Ryan stepped closer to Bruce and looked him deeply into his eyes. "You really mean that? Even if I'm gay?" "Ye Yeah. No doubt!" Bruce said, as he came closer and pulled Brian towards him. They came together and hugged tightly. "Isn't that a touching scene? Better have lots of lube around in their house tonight. Otherwise, one or both of them is going to be walking really funny tomorrow," Josh laughed. "You are a total ASS HOLE!" Neal screamed. "Yeah! Why'd you help us today at all if you hate gay people?" Rob yelled. Mr. Corwin heard all the yelling out in the hall. He had been pacing back and forth trying to decide what to do about all of this. And he had another matter gnawing on his conscience. He had finally decided what the right thing for him to do was when he heard all the shouting. "What's going on now? You guys just took on the football team. And now, you look like you're ready to kill each other. I thought I had you all figured out, but I must be wrong. Do all of you want a week of suspension?" "Uh, Mr. Corwin, I don't. I didn't have anything to do with any of this," Jimmy answered. "Yeah, Mr. Perfect couldn't have done anything wrong. His only fault is that he's gay. Other than that, he's totally perfect," Josh said. "I'm going to kill you. You can't talk to people like that," Kevin yelled, as he tried to get to Josh. Josh just backed up and waited for him to rush him. Bruce, Ryan, and Neal blocked his path. Tim even got up out of his desk and hobbled over to help. "That's enough!!!! I'm tired of all of this SHIT!!! I'd made up my mind to try and help all of you. ALL OF YOU!!! And not just today. But later. But all of you guys have just fucked that up!" Mr. Corwin screamed. "All of you sit down. NOW!!!!" Everyone sat down where they were standing, but then Josh said, "Excuse me, sir. Isn't saying `shit' and `fuck' against some kind of code for teachers? I can't imagine the school board would approve of your language. Especially around young minds like ours. Would Principal Walker approve of your verbiage?" "SHUT UP!" everyone yelled. "I'm totally fed up with this. Either all of you agree to come for detention tomorrow or I'm going to put in for a week's suspension for all of you. You have to decide now! Anyone who agrees, raise your hand!" Mr. Corwin said. Immediately, everyone raised his hand except Josh. "That's not everyone," Mr. Corwin said. Everyone looked quickly around the room as saw that Josh was the lone hold out. "Come on, it's just one day," Jimmy pleaded. "I have plans," Josh answered. "So you would make us all get suspended because you have PLANS tomorrow?" Kevin yelled. "You don't have any idea how important my plans are," Josh answered back. "I don't care about what anyone has planned for tomorrow. It's all or nothing," Mr. Corwin said. Everyone in the room looked at Josh as he stared back at each of them, one at a time. He finally said "Fuck it!" and raised his right arm. "Ok. Everyone can go after they sign this sheet. NO EXCEPTIONS!" Mr. Corwin said, as everyone got up. "You've all agreed. But if anyone doesn't show up tomorrow, don't bother showing up for a week. Do we understand each other?" Mr. Corwin asked. Everyone either acknowledged verbally or shook their heads yes. Except Josh. "I'll sign anything to get out of here," he said, as he got up and signed the sheet and stormed out of the classroom. His exit was so abrupt that everyone was caught off guard. No one moved for several seconds. "Look guys, next week is going to be hard. You two," he said, as he motioned towards Ryan and Rob. "You both came out today, right?" "Yes sir," Rob answered. "You both are sure you're gay?" They looked at each other quickly and then both said in unison, "Yes sir." "Look, we don't have a gay support group in this high school. I'll devote my time and help you start one if you want." "Uh, sir, that would be a really nice thing for you to do, but why would you do it? Are you also gay?" Jimmy asked. That innocent question shook Mr. Corwin for a few seconds, then he said, "This is between us, right?" Everyone agreed quickly. "I really don't know. I don't think so. But I had a really good friend once who was. And I lost him. I really don't want to talk about him right now but maybe we can talk about him tomorrow." He looked at Bruce and said, "His name was Bruce too." "Did you lo love him," Bruce asked, as he stared into Mr. Corwin's eyes. Mr. Corwin didn't say anything for several seconds. He just stared back at Bruce. "Yeah. With all my heart. Can you understand that?" "Ye yeah. I love Neal the same way." "WHAT?" Ryan yelled. Bruce broke his eye contact with Mr. Corwin and looked over at his younger brother. "I ge guess we have lot lots to talk about, do don't we Ryan?" as he smiled at him. Ryan smiled back. "Yeah, we both have some secrets to share, don't we?" "Look, I think this is great. Maybe I have some secrets to share, too. We'll have all day tomorrow to talk. Everyone bring a lunch, Ok? We can get something to drink out of the vending machines. And then maybe we can get our heads together and figure out what to do about Josh," Mr. Corwin said. "What do you mean? He's a total jerk," Jimmy answered. "I know," Mr. Corwin answered. "But he's just very troubled. I just have a really hard time believing that he risked getting beaten up helping Ryan and Rob unless he wasn't at least supportive of you guys. We have to be a team if we are going to change his attitude. Can I ask you all one question? And we all have to swear this will never get out of this room, OK? Can we trust each other?" Everyone looked at each other and then everyone nodded his head. No one really had any idea what Mr. Corwin was going to say, but they had come this far together and they all had decided to link their futures together. "First, do we agree that anything we say in this group, stays in this group? Mr. Corwin asked. Everyone quickly agreed. "Ok. One question. Who thinks they're gay, or might be gay? Remember, no one else will know." Ryan, Rob, Bruce, Neal, Brian, and Jim immediately raised their hands. Quickly afterward, so did Kevin. Tim stared at Kevin for a few seconds and blushed, but also raised his hand. "You too?" Kevin asked. Tim looked him in the eyes and finally just nodded his head, and then his eyes went down, a he was afraid of what Kevin might think. "I guess we are down to one of us," Mr. Corwin said. Everyone looked at Jimmy, and he stared from one to the other until he had looked each one in the eye. "What are you guys looking at me for? I'm not gay! You guys must be crazy! Just leave me out of these kind of discussions, OK?" To Be Continued E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: stan992001@hotmail.com. All e-mails will be answered. You can also visit the young gay guys support group I created after my "Matt and Mike" story at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/gbct or our web site at www.gayteensunite.org. There is a forum section there where you can enter comments about this story for everyone to see. All comments will also be forwarded to the eleven guys from the group that are in the story.