The four friends sat down to lunch on Valentines Day afternoon at their spot by the tree. The atmosphere was tense. Mark felt guilty for Mike's situation, still nursing wounds from his attack. Tom was worried about Mark, as that was all that had been on his mind recently, trying to console him and Mike. Charlie sat, deep in thought, wondering what to do about his situation, feeling somewhat alone and sad that he couldn't express his feelings to Mike, though trying to console himself by knowing that Mike loved him. Mike kept touching Charlie's knee and hand, smiling at him to reassure him, though he didn't know how comforting it was, considering that he was feeling an unbelivable amount of anger.
"I'm really sorry I got you into all this." Mark sighed, taking a bite of his sandwich. He couldn't help feeling guilty about what had happened.
"It's not your fault. It's hers." Mike answered, visably angry although trying to suppress it. "She threatened you and Charlie. I hate her and she will pay."
"It's okay Mike. Maybe she'll leave you alone after tonight." Charlie touched his boyfriends arm.
"Yes Charlie and maybe hell will freeze over and pigs will fly." Mike rolled his eyes, not meaning to be spiteful to Charlie, but his tone showed frustration.
Tom leaned back against the tree. "I can't believe she's doing this to you. It's not fair." He noticed Mark flinch and grab his ribs, so he tended to him. "Mark, are you okay? Is it your ribs again? Want me to take you back to the dorms?"
"My ribs are killing me." Mark whispered. "Though I can't take any more time off than I have. It means that they win and I can't handle that."
Charlie just stared accross the school grounds as the conversation, or the best attempt at one, went on around him. He looked at all the other teenagers around him, eating lunch and smiling with their respective cliques. Then he wondered if there were any more like the four of them. The ones who put up a front, hold secrets. Charlie couldn't help but wonder if half the students around him were truely happy.
"Are you okay?" Mike nudged Charlie's knee. "What you thinking about?"
"Many things really. I have a study period after lunch, so I think I'm just going to go to our room okay?" Charlie told Mike.
"Want me to come with you?" Mike asked, his eyes full of concern. He constantly wondered if Charlie still cut himself, though he trusted his boyfriend Mike couldn't help but worry at times.
"No, don't worry about me. I'll be okay." Charlie stood up and walked away from the group. Usually he loved Valentines Day. Chocolate sale went through the roof, love was all around. People would always send out their friendly cards. Though this year was different. Though he had someone to love, there was no expressing it. No candy or cards handed out in good fun. Just a silly dance they held for all the betrothed couples to get to know each other and everyone else to find someone.
Mike watched Charlie walk off. "He says he's not mad, but I can tell he is."
Tom sighed. "Well who wouldn't be? I've never felt like this before, now some dumb bitch is taking that all away? Mark, what they did to you...I'll never forgive them."
Mark was also deep in thought, looking towards the pathway to the front gates. "I don't think they care who hates them. They only care about themselves. Always have, always will. That's the way it goes." He turned back to Tom, just staring at him. "You'd think when someone like yourself, who was raised to be a certified play boy, can learn to care there would be hope for the rest of them."
"Don't compare me to my father okay?" Tom smiled at Mark. "He has a lot to learn about caring. That I got from you."
Mike saw that he was going to be left out of the conversation and decided to get up and leave the two alone. It was Valentines Day after all and Mike figured that Tom and Mark should enjoy the time alone that they had. He walked around the grounds, not wanting to go anywhere in particular. Though the one person he hoped to avoid found him.
"Hey Mike, hows about the dance tonight? You excited?" Louise asked.
Mike continued walking, but she followed him. He could hear her footsteps behind him. Quickly he spun around and snapped at her. "You're pathetic. You had to threaten my friends to get me to go out with you and you act like this is genuine. You're disgusting."
Louise smiled at him. "I was just using my resources to get what I want. What I want is you and I snagged you. So, not so pathetic when looked at from that perspective is it? Besides, why would you want to hang around with Mark anyway?"
"Unlike you, Mark cares about someone else other than himself. He shuts his mouth and listens to what people are saying. Despite what you think, he's not scared of you either." Mike told her, unable to look at her anymore.
"I beg to differ. He's using you so I won't tell his secret to his parents. See, his parents don't like, well you know...those types." Louise laughed.
"What type are you talking about? Relative? Son? Caring and considerate? Unlike you, Mark doesn't use people, so don't try and convince me. Infact don't talk to me." Mike asked, almost daring Louise to say the word. Though before he could hear another word from her, he mumbled. "I'll see you tonight. Meet you outside." Walking off towards his next class, he bawled his hands into fists, wishing that he was heartless enough to hit a girl.
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Charlie was dancing with a few people, though the whole time, his eyes fell to Mike and Louise. Once again, she was doing her routine on the floor while Mike was staring back at Charlie. Eventually the sight was too much and Charlie went to get some refreshments. He stood by the table for awhile, looking around for Mark and Tom, who could not come together either.
Finally he sat down, thinking about many things. He sipped his punch slowly to avoid dancing as he was sick of being in arms that weren't Mike's. Suddenly, he felt someone grab his arm. Turning he saw that it was Tom, motioning him into the corner to where him and Mark had congregated.
"I can't take this anymore." Mark said. "I don't care what happens, I just want to get out of here."
"Tell the teachers you're still not feeling well then." Charlie suggested.
"No Charlie. He means we're getting out of here. I mean really getting out of here." Tom explained. "This school and it's prejudice is ridiculous and I cannot see anyone get hurt by it anymore. Especially not someone I love."
"You're leaving? How? Where will you go?" Charlie asked, still shocked at what he has just heard.
"Listen, we have to leave now. I can't spend another second here. Watching her, watching them. I can't let them rule me anymore. If they don't care, they won't follow me." Mark replied. "We just need you to create a distraction."
Tom cut in, pointing at the teachers venturing outside. "They go outside every ten minutes to see if students are making out. We'll need a bit more time then that. So you have to keep their attention inside. Can you do that?"
Charlie looked over at Mike, he didn't know if it was Louise draping all over him, the need for a distraction or his own bottled up depression, but he knew what he had to do. "I still don't get this but don't worry, leave it to me. When will you need me to work the magic?"
"We've packed and we just need to get out and accross the grounds. So about two minutes after we leave, do it okay? Sorry we have to leave like this, we'll call you later to let you know we're okay. Tell Mike we'll see him soon. Bye Charlie." With that, Mark and Tom quickly snuck out after that. Making sure no-one suspected what they were going to do.
Mike came over a moment later. "What was that all about? Where are they going?"
"They're doing what we should have done a long time ago." Charlie stated. He walked over to the refreshment table and pushed some cups out of the way. He stood up and pretty soon, the shouts nearby attracted everyones attention. He felt his heart racing, he had never been much for public speaking. It was as if he suddenly had a rush of energy, that he knew what he had always known. Anything was possible. Valentines Day was the day to express love and Charlie knew that he had to express it to them all.
"Charlie what the hell are you doing?" Mike asked.
"Declaring that I love you Mike Teavee. That's right! I love you!" Charlie looked at Louise and smiled. "That is why he never was interested in you. Well that and the fact you're a total bitch who's as plastic as her daddy's credit cards. So I guess you and your gang will have to beat us up now, huh Louise?"
Charlie stepped down from the table, lead Mike into the centre of the floor. People moved out of the way, acting like they were contagious. "Mike and I are in love. We always have been since we became room mates at this stupid school. No longer will we shut up about it, because that's what you want and we're not like you!" Without hesitation, Charlie kissed Mike while everyone around watched and stared.
Mike didn't know how to react, he knew if he returned Charlie's kiss he would be expelled for sure, though his lips felt so good. There was nothing that could stop them. In front of all the prudes, all those in denial, the two lovers shared an amazingly passionate kiss. Mike had never felt so much emotion. He wanted to laugh and cry, all while keeping Charlie's lips on his. He could tell that Charlie felt the same way. Everything they could never express publicly before was being shown with their kiss and to them there was no greater feeling in the world.
"What is the meaning of this? Stop this at once!" Three teachers who were supervising came to split them up. Though all they could do was watch as Charlie's fingers twined in Mike's hair and Mike pulled Charlie close to him. Niether of the couple cared what anyone around them was saying and that included the teachers.
Finally the teachers were fed up and pulled them apart, dragging them from the dance with shocked and angry looks. Mike and Charlie just smiled at each other, though Mike still felt the need to raise his middle finger towards Louise in the ultimate gesture that she would finally understand.
Mike looked at Charlie as they were being lead accross the grass. He motioned for him to look to his right. Mark and Tom could be seen with their suitcases, though the teachers didn't seem to care or notice. All they had time for was the two they were dragging with them.
"I love you." Mike mouthed to Charlie. "Thank you."
They didn't want to think about what would happen afterwards. They just wanted to know that they were together and together, they were getting out of there.
A/N: It's not over yet, there's still some more of the story to go. Though I hope you liked this chapter, because I enjoyed writing it. So after all this time, Louise gets the hint and the guys are getting out. Though what is the aftermath of this night? Find out soon!