Knock, knock, knock.

“Mmhp.”

Knock, knock, knock.

“Mmhp... Go away..”

Knock, knock, knock.

“Go... away...”

“Alexander Gaskarth, get your lazy ass out of bed, now! You have school!”

“Ugh.. Okay, mom, I’m up!”

It was 6:30am, and like most teenagers, Alex Gaskarth did not agree with 6:30am. After another 10 minutes of staring at the ceiling, mentally planning an outfit for his first day back, Alex finally got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, peeled off the boxers that he’d been wearing for the past week (it was summer, who cares), and stepped into the shower. For someone who was usually so proud of their appearance, Alex sure had let his personal hygiene become an issue over the summer.

His best friends, Zack and Rian, had been sent to a “Teenage Delinquent Correctional Camp” for the whole summer so he hadn’t had anything to do. Alex knew that so long as they were there together they would be as rowdy as ever. Alex had only been out twice over the summer, and that was only to the comic store in town (he had to keep up to date with Batman). There were only ever maybe 4 people in there at once, including the owner Matt, so no one had complained about his B.O.
Alex got on well with Matt. They weren’t best buddies but they would always chat for a bit about music and comics. They both liked Blink 182 and Green Day, but Matt had introduced Alex to other bands, like A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. They’d talk about how their summers were going. Matt had just left college and was only working at the store to partly save up for a car and to partly help out his older brother, who was between jobs, with his rent. That wouldn’t last much longer though as he’d be starting his new job at the end of the summer.

After successfully de-greasing his hair and de-stinking his body, Alex nakedly dashed back to his room and pulled on his favourite black skinny jeans and a plain white vest top that was perhaps just a little bit too tight, but who gives a damn, Alex isn’t ashamed of his body.

He studied his reflection the in the mirror; he was a little on the lanky side for a nearly eighteen year old, and he had a skinny yet toned frame that the girls liked. Not that he liked girls, but he thought it was fun to tease them a little with what they couldn’t have.

He ruffled his hair a little. His fringe had gotten a little longer and was starting to curl around his right eye, but the thing that bothered him a little was the dark roots growing through on the blonde that he'd been dying his hair for some while now.
Sighing, he fluffed up the top of his hair and made a mental note to buy more dye asap. Alex realised he hadn’t checked the time since he woke up. Glancing at the clock he realised that it was 7:35. Shit, had he really been in the shower that long!?
He grabbed his ratty old messenger bag from the back of his desk chair, shoved his mobile into his back pocket and practically tumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Ah, so nice of you to make an appearance this morning Alexander!” his mom said as Alex dived into the fridge for a can of energy drink, which was promptly snatched out of his hand. “No, Alex, you need something proper for breakfast, not just sugar and caffeine. I’ve already put some toast in, it should be done in-" but she was interrupted by the toaster.

Alex sat down to eat his freshly buttered (well, margarined) toast, but jumped straight up again as his phone went off against his butt. It was a text from Rian.

From; Rian Dawson
- “hey skyscraper, pickin u up in 5 get ur ass in gear”

Being called ‘skyscraper’ kinda pissed Alex off. If it was anyone else other than Rian, Alex would have flipped his shit. Instead he just typed back:

To; Rian Dawson
- “cool beans potato, c u in 5”

“Mom,” Alex said through a mouth full of toast, “Rian's gonna pick me up in 5.”

“I’m surprised his parents let him keep that car after last semester! I mean really, putting laxatives in the water cooler! How did he even get into the teacher’s lounge?”

“Oh well Zack and... Never mind. Anyway, it’s only an old banger, nothing special.”

Alex shut up quickly when his mom snapped her head round and gave him a look that would make Arnold Swarchenegger turn tail and run.

“Anyway,” his mom chimed in after a small uncomfortable silence, “have you got everything you need?”

“Hang on... “ and Alex rushed to the hall and his mother called out a check list.

“Pen, calculator, planner?”

“Yes, yep, and yep.”

“Notebook?”

“Shit, hang on!” Alex raced back upstairs, grabbed his notebook from the desk, turned to leave, then picked up Batman and AP, because he knew how half-assed the lesson plans would be for the first week back.

As he got to the bottom of the stairs, a car horn blared outside. No one in their right mind would hold the horn for that long at 7:45am, but Rian wasn’t in his right mind.

“Mom, Ri's here, I’ll see you later, ‘kay?” Alex nearly face-planted trying to pull on his tattered converse and shove his magazines into his bag at the same time.

He swooped back into the kitchen, picked up the rest of his toast, pecked his mum on the cheek and left.

“What took you so long! You’re stupid long legs get tangled up?” Rian laughed from the open window.

Since Alex last saw him, his hair had grown and Alex wouldn’t be surprised to find a small family of sparrows living in there somewhere now.

“Hey,“ Alex said warningly, pointing at his newly afro'd buddy, “even for you that’s pushing it. Watch your mouth, fucker!” Alex swiped the aviator sunglasses off Rian's face and got into the back.

Zack sat in the passenger seat laughing at Alex's friendly greeting. “I never thought your temper could have gotten shorter! How’s your summer been, Oh So Lanky One?”

That comment from Zack earned him a smack round the head from Alex.

“Rian can get away with it, you can’t, so shut your mouth, dickface.”

“That’s not what your mom said last night!” Zack cackled.

Alex just sighed and shook his head.

“So, how was your summer? Get any wild parties in? Beer, bud and boobs?”

“Ri, you know I like dick. And no, I went out, like, twice, not including groceries.”

“Whoa, wait, what?” Zack said shocked “Alex likes dick, as in... gay?”

“Oh yeah... he came out 2 weeks before summer.” Rian explained calmly. “You must be, like, the last person to know. He wears girls jeans for fucks sake, Zee.”

“Oh alright then... ” Zack mumbled

“You got a problem?” Alex asked, leaning between the front seats to look Zack dead in the eyes with his best death-stare.

“Geez, don’t look at me like that!” Zack batted Alex away with his hoodie sleeve, “No I don’t have a problem, I just though you would have told me first too, I thought we were best friends?”

Alex giggled, “Yeah we are! Sorry, I just... I thought it would have been obvious; I straighten my fucking hair! And anyway, I didn’t know how’d you react, you’re a bit... er, unpredictable. And scary.”

Zack just laughed with his familiar bark, “Bullshit, you don’t think I’m so scary when you fucking ambush me for a piggyback! Don’t worry, Lexy-boy, I’m cool with it.”

“Thanks dude.”

“Well, if you two are finished with your little ‘domestic’,” Rian piped up, “we’re here. Get out, and watch the doors, they’re bashed up enough as it is.”

As they stepped out, Alex got his first proper proper look at his friends for over a month. Zack was wearing the same old stuff; Black hoodie over a black vest with black shorts to match. The only differences were the slightly scuffed, but still new looking, Converse on his feet, and the stubble that formed a Goldilocks beard: wasn’t too much or too little. It was just right.
Rian, however, had changed his look up a bit. His dark blue jeans looked almost fitted, his tight black t-shirt showed off the fact he’d toned up a bit over the past weeks, and the whole look was set off by a heavy looking leather jacket. Alex realised he must have been trying to pull off the biker look, so he handed him back the aviator shades.
Rian muttered a ‘thank you’ and put them back on.
Alex had to admit, Rian would have look seriously hot if he weren’t like a brother to him.

“Looking sharp, Ri!”

“Thanks, tall-dude.” He laughed.

“Okay, enough already. I’m gonna get enough of that for the rest of the year from the Letterman meat-heads.”

Both Rian and Zack hadn't grown much over the summer, which made Alex feel slightly shorter. But hey, walking into school in between them made him feel like he had body guards almost. And, if last year was anything to go by, he might just need some. Almost right on cue, Alex heard the familiar voices of the Football team from across the parking lot.

“Oi, faggot, those your new fuck-buddies? Bit butch for you aren’t they? Might crush your pansy ass with any luck!”

“Just ignore them, Alex. They’re just trying to make themselves feel better about their TINY DICKS!” Zack shouted the last part over his shoulder at the group of jocks.

Luckily, Zack was the same build as most of them, so they weren’t going to pick a fight with him. Instead they just turned away, shoulders hunched.

“Their dicks are only so tiny ‘cause they shoved most if it into their personalities.” Rian muttered.

This sent Alex into a fit of giggles so bad he had to be practically steered to the office to get their new timetables, then to their lockers. Rian, Alex and Zack had always had the same lockers. They were the battered, graffitied ones next to the Dramatic arts room and opposite the boys toilets. No one else used them because they were apparently too easy to break into, but Alex, Zack and Rian knew that these were perfect for stashing stuff (cigarettes, weed, skin mags, and the like) because the backs in some of the lockers came off, leaving a small space next to the wall.

“So, how was your summer? You never really answered.” Rian asked, leaning against the lockers and peering over the top of his aviators.

“Meh. It was alright I guess. I tried to get the chords for ‘Basket Case’ by Green Day, but I just couldn’t get the finger placement right. Oh, and I got chatting to that guy down at The Dungeon in town. You know, the owner, Matt?”

“Yeah I know him. Skinny, black hair, lip ring?”

“Yeah, that’s him. He’s, like, the only person other than my mum and the cashier at Costco that I’ve spoken to all summer. He’s a cool dude though.”

“You gonna bang him?” Zack said plainly.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Zack, I don’t want to bang every guy I talk to!” Alex yelled “Although you might be an exception...” he jokingly added with a wink.

Zack's eye’s went wide and he breathed out “Dude, don’t even joke..”

“What, think you’re too good for me?”

“No, I just... Oh, shut up, pansy.” Alex laughed as Zack turned red and shoved his head into his locker, dumping his rucksack and searching for his hidden cigarettes.

Alex was interrupted from his locker rummaging by a sharp elbow in the side from Rian. “Ow! Dawson, what was that for!”

“Did you see that? Cassadee just totally checked me out!”

Alex looked down the corridor to see a group of Cheerleaders in their short purple uniforms, one of whom was smiling over her shoulder at Rian, her glossy brown ponytail swinging in time with her hips.

“It’s probably only ‘cause you look like a biker. She’ll lose interest when she finds out you drive a beat-up Trans Am.”

“Hey, that car is a classic, and it’s my baby. You be nice or you can walk home.”

Alex was still watching the Cheerleaders walking down the corridor when his attention was snatched to a figure sauntering in their direction. He was pale with shocking black hair with a blonde patch on top that had been half-heartedly pushed back by the sunglasses propped up on his head. His shirt was a dark red with the sleeves folded at the elbows. His trousers looked like black jeans, but Alex couldn’t be sure. His shoes were smart, brand new black Converse. And he looked like he’d just stepped out of one of those 1920’s French romance films.
He was carrying a cardboard box under his arm filled with bright colored files and a satchel covered with a rainbow spectrum of badges and patches. His satchel and young face said student but the box said teacher. Alex didn’t know what to make of him, other than he was physically gorgeous.
Only when he got closer did Alex notice two things: Firstly, that this man had the darkest, most piercing brown eyes he had ever seen. Secondly, Alex had made eye contact and was staring, with his mouth slightly open.

He quickly shut his mouth, blinked a few times and smiled apologetically smiled at the man, who blinked too, like he’d also been staring, flashed a grin and beamed out a “Good morning, boys!” before falling flat on his face, files going everywhere.

The whole corridor erupted in laughter, including Zack and Rian. Alex didn’t find this so funny, as he’d seen the guy smack his head on the hard floor. While the laughter continued and few people slow-clapped, Alex rushed over and started to gather the files together.

“Oh my god, are you alright?” he asked, glancing worriedly at the man slumped on the floor, holding his head.

“Yeah, I’m.. Ah, I’m fine. Don’t worry.” He groaned out with a deep heavy voice.

Kind of what he’d sound like the mornings, Alex thought, before snapping himself out of his wandering thoughts.

The man moved his hand away from his forehead to reveal an already purple bruise right above his left eyebrow.

“Shit! Doesn’t that hurt?”

“Kinda, and, as much as I appreciate your concern, please mind your language.”

Yep. Definitely a teacher, Alex mentally sighed.

He picked up the files, but found that the man had landed on the box which was now completely obliterated. The man saw Alex's arms full of his stuff and scrambled to his feet, picked up his bag and fished out a set of keys. He fumbled with them, dropped them, picked them up and hurriedly unlocked the door to the Dramatic Arts classroom.

“After you.” He said to Alex with a bowed head and a sweeping arm gesture.

Alex walked in and placed the files onto the front desk, where some of them slid off the table and onto the floor.

“Shit. I mean.. Shit, sorry.. Sorry.” Alex muttered as he picked up the escaped files.

He stood back up and saw the man just standing behind the desk, looking at him with an unreadable expression on his face.

“Are you sure your head's alright, sir?” Alex asked, slightly concerned at the teachers blank expression.

The man smirked a little when Alex called him ‘sir’, but he blinked and his face was set to a small friendly smile. “Yes, it’s fine. Thank you for helping me with those files, I can be such a klutz sometimes. I didn’t get your name..?”

“Oh, Alex. Alex Gaskarth, sir.”

He smiled again at the word ‘sir’.

“Well, thank you, Alex. I’m Mr Barakat, I’m covering for Miss Brooker.”

Mr Barakat extended his hand. Alex noticed his hand quivered a fraction, but ignored it and shook it warmly. Mr Barakat's hand was soft, and cool, but a bit sweaty. Must be first day nerves, Alex concluded. For a moment, they just stood there holding hands. An unnaturally long moment. Mr Barakat let go quickly and ran his hand through his hair, forgetting his sunglasses were still on his head, knocking them onto the floor. He spun around quickly to pick them up, whacking Alex in the side with his satchel, producing a small “Oomf” from the teen. He straightened up immediately and apologised.

“Oops, sorry! Are you alright?” the words tumbled out of his mouth as he grabbed Alex by the shoulders, realised that he’d grabbed hold of a student and dropped his hands quickly.

“Yeah, I’m fine, it’s fine, don’t worry.”

“Well, okay then, I guess I’ll see you around then Alex.”

“Yeah, see ya, sir.” Alex turned to leave, and just about caught sight of a black hood and a mop of hair disappear around the door frame.

He walked back out to Zack and Rian who were casually leaning against the lockers, pretending that they hadn’t been watching the conversation.

“Quit it guys. I know you were listening.” Alex sighed.

Rian turned his head and peered over his glasses at Alex. “You so have the hots for that teacher, Alex.”

“No I don’t! What the fuck?”

“And he so has the hots for you! I saw that hand shake. Plus he only tripped because he was staring at you.”

“Ugh, whatever Dawson. Anyway, what do you guys have first lesson?”

“Erm, dramatic arts. What about you Zack?”

“Same.” He grunted, glancing at his timetable.

“Me too.” Said Alex, studying his own sheet.

“Oh guys, look who the teacher is! Lexy-boy, it must be your lucky day!”

Alex had another look.

Monday: Prd 1 – Dram. Arts, Rm 15, Mr. Barakat

Shit.