“Casey Phillips, report to the principal’s office immediately after second period is over,” announced the voice of Mr. Gatson, the school principal of the high school I’ve been going to for a little over a month. I’ve always lived in this town and everyone worshiped the ground I walked on. I was going to be the star quarterback one of these days it was only a matter of time before I ruled this school. Everything in my life was perfect my family provided me with all the shit I needed and life was definitely going good.

“Casey what’d you do this time man?” Austin my best friend since kindergarten asked sitting next to me in English.

“I don’t know what they’ve caught me doing this time.” I answered smiling. “They can’t do anything to me.”

“Sure they can Mr. Phillips now pay attention,” countered Mrs. Reynolds. She had the best hearing in the world to be such an old lady. She had been my grandmother’s friend in high school and that made her old. When the bell rang dismissing second period Austin walked with me to Mr. Gatson’s office.

“Give them hell.” He joked nudging me.

“I wonder which one they caught me doing.” I responded smiling, “I’m not worried though.”

“Well I’m sure we’d know before lunch.” Austin snickered then I walked into the office shaking my head. I looked around and sat myself down in a chair waiting for Mr. Gatson to get in here. I didn’t have to wait long as I watched him walk to his desk. He was a short, thin, old man that had bushy gray eyebrows that contrasted his baldhead. He was the punch line of many jokes around school and I had told my fair share already.

“I wouldn’t be smiling this time Casey,” Mr. Gatson warned only making my smile wider.

“What ever I did this time Gatson I’m ready to face the consequences.” I responded relaxing in my chair.

“This was found in your locker.” Mr. Gatson held up a folder containing all the answers to three of my tests.

“Unlawful searching with out probable cause.” I stated slyly.

“It was a random search when three test grids went missing.” Mr. Gatson countered. “Random is ok.”

“Well get to the punishment part I have to see Heather before next period.” I rolled my eyes not caring if I had to spend a few days after school sweeping a few floors.

“We’ve exhausted our disciplinary measures with you and it’s your first semester.” Mr. Gatson stated, “I think your meeting with your girlfriend of the week can wait.”

“Excuse me, sir, Heather isn’t my girlfriend of the week.” I snapped glaring. “Have you considered eyebrow waxing?”

“That’s it!” Mr. Gatson growled. “I should expel you from school so you can repeat the semester.”

“An early vacation is what I need.” I rolled my eyes even though I was scared shitless that the old man may actually do it.

“We’ve contacted your parents and they believe you’d change if you hung out with a better friend.” Mr. Gatson huffed after a glaring contest ended with him blinking.

“I’m the corrupter not the corrupted Gatson.” I countered smiling.

“There’s a new student who entered the system last week.” Mr. Gatson ignored me and went on, “You had an altercation with him if I can remember you and your friend Austin put him into a trash can naked and rolled him out in gym class.”

“That was a good one.” I started laughing remembering the look on his face. There was nothing wrong with the guy other than he was new and getting a lot of attention that threatened Austin’s social status. My status is untouchable and after that Austin will go down in school history with me.

“Well I pulled his records and found that he’s just the right guy for you to hang around.” Mr. Gatson stated smiling.

“And what if I don’t?” I asked rolling my eyes.

“Then you can kiss basketball and freedom within the school goodbye. You’ll be sent to Alternative Education if you slip up again.” Mr. Gatson answered smugly.

“You’d send me to learn with the trash of the town?” I asked surprised.

“Yes that’s what we do when kids can’t follow rules.” Mr. Gatson answered.

“You’re getting better with your threats Gatson.” I responded crossing my arms.

“This time it’s a promise.” He countered sitting back in his chair.

“It was just three test grids you’d think I attempted to burn the school down or something.” I snapped.

“You’re lucky those tests weren’t given yet or you’d be failing three classes.” Mr. Gatson explained, “You’d be forced off the team by the 3.0 rule for athletes. You don’t think about the consequences.”

“Yeah yeah, save the preaching for the kids that care.” I countered standing. “If you’ll excuse me I’ll be going to Gym now.”

“You’re excused, behave.” Mr. Gatson responded smiling. “Be sure to meet up with your new friend.” When I exited the office I looked over and saw Austin waiting for me.

“What’d you get this time?” Austin asked not seeing any slips of paper meaning I’d have to go to detention or I was suspended.

“He really thought this one through Austin.” I answered stopping to talk to him. “I have to hang out with that new kid.”

“The hot blonde girl?” Austin asked surprised.

“No, the new guy.” I answered shaking my head.

“What new guy?” Austin asked stupidly.

“The one we pushed out of the locker room in a trash can naked.” I answered and Austin’s mouth flew open and he started laughing.

“Dude, talk about something coming back and biting you in the ass.” Austin stated through his laughter.

“What it’s not like I have to surgically attach the fucker to my hip I just have to hang out with him a little.” I countered shrugging.

“What happens if that doesn’t work out?” Austin asked becoming serious as we started walking to gym class again.

“Then I’m off to AE and I’m off the basketball team.” I answered frowning. “Told you he thought it out he even called my parents.

“Damn, what if the guy doesn’t want to hang out with you?” Austin asked curiously.

“I don’t know.” I answered.

“If he doesn’t hang out with you or you two fight a lot Gatson will blame your ass for it.” Austin stated, “Meaning you need to kiss some ass to stay on the basketball team.”

“Fuck!” I screeched kicking the nearest locker. “That old bald fucker is out to get me.”

“Yeah well you were in his office a record breaking twelve times already.” Austin stated, “You’re like the best form of entertainment.”

“Yeah.” I sighed as we entered the gym. We were late and everyone was already doing the morning twenty-minute work out sessions when we walked into the changing rooms.

“How are you going to approach the guy?” Austin asked as we started changing.

“I thought me telling him that I had to hang out with him would make him feel sorry for me.” I shrugged. “I’ll also promise him popularity.”

“I don’t think that will work. I think if he knows that you need him then he’ll find ways to blackmail you or something.” Austin countered, “Maybe threaten to kick his ass if he does?”

“If I have to kick his ass I’m pretty much gone anyway.” I rolled my eyes. Austin wasn’t the smartest person I knew.

“Do you even know his name?” Austin asked.

“Shit, no I don’t.” I answered rubbing my temples grimacing. “This can go so wrong.”

“No shit.” Austin agreed.

“We’re waiting on you two pussies now get out here.” Lee the gym teacher and basketball coach ordered causing us to jump.

“Ok, Lee.” Austin responded as I followed him out. Lee let us skip our exercise session knowing that we both had practice after school anyway. I kept glancing at the guy I’d have to spend my high school years with. He wasn’t a small nerdy guy. He wasn’t even all that different from myself on the outside. He was becoming popular with the same group of people that I hung out with so I had to change that. It was a struggle to get the toned, tall, dark haired guy into the trashcan. I know he could do with out my friendship and he could survive his embarrassment and he’ll someday escape his naked trashcan man nickname as well. He was to be my competition at the top of my social hierarchy and now I was forced to be his friend. It wasn’t going to work and I was going to fail. I was nervous when we were released to go change into your school clothes at the end of gym. I could only expect him to not want to have anything to do with me and I wasn’t good with calm careful conversations. I never had to kiss ass before.

“Go talk to him.” Austin whispered wrapped in a towel preparing to shower. I nodded swallowing hard wrapped in my towel as well. I glanced around the locker room before I walked as confidently as I could over to the new kid in school.

“Hey.” I greeted carefully.

“Fuck off.” He snapped in a low voice.

“Hold up and listen dude.” I countered glaring. “I want to talk to you.”

“I don’t give a shit.” He countered grabbing his body wash out of his locker and slammed the locker shut leaving me standing.

“That didn’t go well.” Austin smirked walking up to stand beside me.

“Yeah, the fuck-nut doesn’t know who he just pissed off either.” I growled and started to walk over and kick the new guys ass.

“Hold on rocky.” Austin ordered stepping in front of me. “I don’t think kicking his ass is going to make him want to be your friend.”

“Well what am I supposed to do about this?” I asked confused.

“Try again.” Tim answered nudging me forward. “Then I’ll kick his ass for you.”

“I like the way you think.” I responded smiling. Then I entered the shower area and took the showerhead next to his.

“What ever you have planned to do to me just go ahead and do it.” He snapped after noticing that I was the person that was standing next to him.

“I am not here to do anything.” I countered lathering up my body. “I got into some trouble and the principal will kick me out of school if you don’t start hanging out with me.”

“Well I guess I won’t have to worry about your ass anymore.” He countered laughing. “Serves you right.”

“Look I’m sorry uh…” I trailed off after not knowing his name.

“Colin Myers.” He offered glancing over at me.

“Right, I’m sorry for what I did to you and I know you’re a better person than me.” I responded, “So I know you’ll feel bad if I get kicked out.”

“You don’t know shit.” He countered turning his back to me. “I won’t feel one bit sorry for your ass.”

“It isn’t like I royally fucked you over here.” I snapped, “It was just a little fun and everyone’s already over it.”

“A little fun that involved me being humiliated.” Colin countered turning off his shower.

“Please just let me make it up to you.” I groaned shutting off my shower as well.

“No.” Colin stated flatly then walked out of the shower area. He was gone when I joined Austin at our lockers to start dressing back into what I wore to school that day. A blue American Eagle polo and jeans.

“No luck?” Austin asked curiously.

“I’m officially kicked off the ball team.” I answered, “He wouldn’t agree.”

“Well I’m sure they can’t kick you off I mean if the fucker doesn’t want to be your friend there’s nothing you can do.” Austin shrugged.

“Yeah, fuck them.” I huffed, “Let’s go find Heather and Ashlee.” We walked to our lockers that were right next to one another.

“Heather is probably pissed at me again.” I rolled my eyes as I waited impatiently for them to come to our lockers.

“And that would mean Ashlee is following her around.” Austin added, “Girls are so complex.”

“Ass is ass.” I joked causing Austin to smile.

“If ass is all I am to you we need to talk mister,” came Heather from behind me.

“I knew you were there.” I responded turning to look at her. Ashlee walked past us to go hug Austin.

“I don’t believe you.” She stated grinning, “What’d you get as punishment this time?”

“Why do you assume that I got into trouble?” I asked coyly.

“Well I did know about those test grids you stole that you tried to hide.” Heather answered frowning, “Which I told you to get rid of before they notice they’re missing.”

“Well I bet the first random locker they searched was mine anyway.” I countered rolling my eyes. Then I bent down and pecked her quickly on the forehead before the four of us walked to lunch before Government. Half way there I heard a loud thump against the bathroom wall and what sounded like a muffled groan.

“Someone’s getting their ass kicked in there.” Austin announced hearing as well.

“Oh no, go in there and break it up Casey.” Heather ordered pushing me towards the door.

“I have my own problems.” I huffed, but when another large banging noise came from the bathroom I rushed in there with Austin following right behind me.

“Jordan get the fuck off him!” I ordered noticing Colin lying down on the bathroom floor.

“I saw him looking at my cock.” Jordan explained then went to punch Colin again but Austin and I pulled Jordan away.

“I was no where near you, dumb ass.” Colin groaned stumbling to his feet.

“You lying assed faggot.” Jordan snapped trying to force himself from our grasp.

“Jordan get the hell out of here before me and Austin kick your ass.” I ordered pushing him towards the door.

“Casey, fuck you man.” Jordan snapped then left the bathroom. Jordan was one of the more popular people in my class. Word will get around that I helped a faggot loser, but this was my chance to win over Colin’s friendship.

“Well what are you two still doing here?” Colin asked brushing himself off.

“I think you owe us a thank you.” Austin countered crossing his arms. “I mean you were getting your ass kicked.”

“No I wasn’t.” Colin snapped pulling up his shirt to look at the red marks on his stomach that would surely turn into bruises later.

“Ok, what ever you say.” Austin responded leaving the restroom.

“So you’re that mad at us to not even thank us for not letting Jordan do more damage to you than what he already did?” I asked reaching out to touch the bruises the places that were made on Colin’s stomach. He slapped my hand away and tugged his shirt back over covering himself.

“You were going to touch me in a bathroom.” Colin announced.

“Well I wanted to see if he done damage.” I countered rolling my eyes. “Jordan is a big fucker that needs to slow down on his Little Debbie infatuation.”

“Yeah.” Colin responded smiling briefly. That’s when I noticed that I had been in here with him for a lot longer than I should and lunch was well underway.

“I’m going to lunch.” I announced walking to the bathroom door. “You can sit at our table just in case Jordan comes looking for you.”

“Alright.” Colin stated then I walked through the bathroom door smiling.

“It’s all taken care of Austin.” I announced.

“He agreed to be your friend?” Austin asked curiously as we started through the lunch line.

“Yeah.” I answered then looked at Heather and Ashlee who looked confused.

“Who agreed to be your friend?” Heather asked her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

“It’s part of my punishment he wants me to befriend the new guy Colin.” I answered.

“Colin Myers?” Ashlee asked as we sat down with our food.

“Yeah.” I answered shrugging. “Do you know him?”

“That’s that new guy that you pulled that prank on.” Ashlee answered, “Mr. Gatson is an evil little man.”

“Well I still out did him. He thought I wouldn’t be able to make friends with Colin.” I smirked, “And I think now that I saved him from getting his ass beat I have a good chance.”

“Well at least it wasn’t some loser.” Heather stated, “I mean they’re scared of you.”

“Oh well. No matter what happens the next four years is going to suck.” I stated then we all noticed as Colin sat at our lunch table.

“I heard what you were talking about.” He announced nonchalantly then started eating his food.

“Sorry, it’s just that well Gatson is an evil man that’s out to get me. He has four years to get me too.” I explained rolling my eyes.

“Mr. Gatson is the principal right?” Colin asked curiously.

“Yeah.” Austin answered.

“Well why did he choose me over all these other people?” Colin asked, “I mean other than the fact that you threw me into a trashcan naked.” After hearing him say that our table started laughing all but Colin who started gathering up his things to leave.

“No no, we’re sorry.” Heather apologized, “It’s just that it was funny.”

“You four are probably the most shallow of people I’ve ever just met.” Colin snapped, but he made no effort to leave the table.

“Have a sense of humor people are always doing stuff to other people.” Ashlee countered, “I got a balloon filled with whipped cream busted over my head on the first day here.”

“By who?” Colin asked amused.

“By the person you’re sitting next to.” She answered and he looked over at me.

“You busted a balloon filled with whipped cream over one of your own friend’s head?” Colin asked smiling.

“She pissed me off.” I shrugged, “She said my shoes were dorky.”

“They were dorky.” Ashlee countered causing everyone to laugh.

“You want to get creamed again?” I asked after we all calmed down.

“No thanks.” She answered rolling her eyes.

“Then lay off the shoes.” I snapped. After lunch I felt good that Colin had stayed and talked to my friends and me. He finally realized that I was a prankster, but it wasn’t the case when I pulled that stunt on him. I wasn’t about to tell him that I done it to protect reputations. It was going to be hard staying friends with Colin, but I was going to manipulate him into believing that I really was a sincere person when I’m not. Mr. Gatson will see that he can’t and never will get the best of me.