Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2023 09:15:00 +0700 From: Andrew Passey Subject: Shipperton Rules Part Twenty Two (Young Friends) Nick couldn't believe what was happening. How could they have ignored everything he'd said? How could they have believed Paul and Christian's lies? He thought his life couldn't get any worse but he realised that's exactly what was about to happen. Ken wasn't taking the decision well. He ran over and started accusing Christian and Paul of lying. Jeremy stood up to try and settle things down but then heard urgent knocking at the door and went over to open it. No blows were traded between the boys but Nick could see how smug Christian in particular was looking and felt his blood boil. What could he do though? The decision had been made whether he liked it or not and it wasn't like he could appeal. He looked over to see Jeremy had left the room and the remaining members of the disciplinary committee were packing up their things. Meanwhile Ken continued to shout at Christian in particular. Christian ignored Ken's accusations leaving Paul to manhandle him out the way. He looked over to Nick and smirked. All good things come to those who wait he thought. This had been a long time in the planning. If he was honest with himself he sometimes wondered if getting what he wanted and seeing the hurt and pain on Nick's face would bring him the satisfaction he hoped it would. That thought was definitely no longer there. Now he felt like he was on top of the world. He was able to push aside the tiny small voice in his head that was telling him he'd gone much too far. That he'd behaved terribly. Instead he listened to the louder one, telling him he could anything he wanted. He was already thinking of how he could fuck Nick in the most humiliating way possible . He'd make him beg, he'd make him suffer. Now Nick was seen to be a liar and a maker of false accusations no one would believe him again. This was going to be so fucking amazing. Ken's protestations were starting to subside as he realised they'd been outflanked. Somehow they'd been defeated even though they had truth on their side. Christian had let slip in their shouting match that Toby had given evidence as well. What had Toby said that had worked? Why was he even helping Christian? That was something he'd have to unpick with Nick after the event. Toby had a weekly fuck with Nick, had Christian offered him something else to lie? What would that be? Something bigger was going on and Ken wished he could work it all out. How would his Dad react? Did he also think they were lying? Was more trouble awaiting him when he got home? At that moment Jeremy Shipperton walked back into the room. He strolled over to the other members of the disciplinary committee and whispered something to them. Mr Hodgkins sighed but nodded and then turned to the boys. "I'm afraid we've been notified of some potential new evidence. I doubt it will change our decision at all but to be fair we request a few more moments of your time. I'm sorry Christian and Paul that you have to face further delay but be assured we'll call you back in as soon as we've dismissed, I mean examined this new evidence. Please wait outside and NO FIGHTING." The four boys filed out and stood looking at each other before Nick took a seat. "How did you do it?" he asked in the direction of Christian. "Do what??" Christian replied innocently. "Persuade Toby to lie." Christian smirked, "I can be very persuasive. Toby is no doubt celebrating like the rest of us, or will be when he hears of the decision." Christian was right. Toby was celebrating but not for the reasons Christian thought. After he gave his evidence Toby had walked home feeling guilty over what he'd done to Nick but relieved he was now free of Christian. He thought over what Nick had said about the incident. How he was recording his speech after a shower in just his towel. That Christian had come and forcibly had sex with them. That this was all part of Christian's plans. Was there a chance Nick had forgotten something? He sighed to himself. This was clearly over. It was three boys word against two. It was clear which way the chips would fall. However Toby was a kind boy in general. Maybe there was a chance he could still fix this? He turned around and started running towards Nick's house. It was a long shot but it might just work. Half an hour later Toby was knocking urgently on the door of the village hall. To his relief Jeremy Shipperton answered. "Toby, what are you doing here? The decision has already been made, mainly due to the lie...evidence you gave." "I know but now I can prove that Christian and Paul are lying!" "Does that mean you were too?" Jeremy asked even though he knew the answer. His son and Nick would never have concocted this plan and perhaps now there was a glimmer of light that justice would be done. "Yes but I was coerced into it by Christian! But I have proof, hard solid proof that can't be ignored! It's in my bag." Jeremy gave a big sigh of relief, "Hand it over then and I'll let the disciplinary committee know." Toby smiled, "Not so fast Mr Shipperton. I want something in return." "You're in no position to bargain! Now hand whatever you have over!" "I am EXACTLY in a position to bargain. But honestly it isn't much. This is what I want.. 1. My name is kept out of this. I can't let Christian or Paul know my involvement in bringing them down. You'll have to say it was an anonymous person and they won't suspect me. 2. Christian replaces Nick and takes over his cohort. 3. I want to be Christian's Primus." "Those are big demands," Jeremy said wondering what on earth Toby was thinking. "Once you hear the evidence you'll realise you were right to agree to them." Jeremy sighed, why couldn't anything be simple in Shipperton? Why couldn't Toby just do the right thing without all of this bargaining? "It's not just my decision, I have to get agreement of the committee. I can agree to number 1. Now assuming the evidence is as incontrovertible as you suggest I"m sure agreeing to number 2 won't be a problem. Number 3 though....there's only been one Primus in living memory of most of us and given you want to keep your name out of it how on earth could I argue that you should be a Primus? How would it not be obvious to Christian that you'd done a deal? Unless you want to try and argue being his Primus is some sort of punishment!?!" "Exactly!" Toby replied with a smile. "Well give me your logical explanation for this, I'm all ears." "So," Toby said as he launched into the explanation he'd been working on during his run back to the village hall. "The argument is that Christian, Paul and me concocted this plan between us. The three of us are friends and what would be a greater punishment than making friends fuck each other? Ken and Nick struggled with that. Of course in reality Christian has been coercing and forcing me to do stuff for a while in exchange for not bullying me anymore but you don't know that. There's no way Christian would let me use him just as part of his cohort. He'd beat the shit out of me and no offence you can see how rubbish you guys have been at enforcing the rules and protecting Nick. It's only because of the evidence I found that Nick and Ken are going to be off the hook. He'd easily manipulate and trick you guys again. However if I was his Primus then he'd have no choice." Jeremy sighed again, "I don't think I can agree to that but I might be able to get closer to it so you get some sort of payback on him if this is what it's all about?" Toby nodded at this and Jeremy continued,"Well hand over the evidence and I'll do what I can." Toby smiled, opened his bag, handed over the evidence and turned to leave, "I'll be waiting for news Mr Shipperton, don't let me down." That thought was in Jeremy's head as first he asked then watched the four boys file out of the room as he prepared to submit the new evidence Toby had provided. He was sceptical. The decision had been made and anything other than actual cold hard proof would no doubt be ignored by the others. What could possibly be on this cassette tape he'd been given? Was he about to look a complete idiot? He didn't mind if it helped overturn the verdict but it seemed far fetched. He got the cassette player from the bookcase in the corner of the room, brought it over to the table where his fellow disciplinary committee members were talking and pressed play.