The Brat Pack

Late Monday morning, April 2, 1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois.

Since freshman year, Brian has prided himself on being number one in the senior class. That all ended last month when his grade went down in Woodshop, no thanks to that stupid fucking elephant lamp.

Now Brian stares at the back of the head belonging to the new number one, Brian's rival since sophomore year, Al Comack.

Brian humphs and tosses his pencil down on his desk, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. The physics equations on his paper swim in front of his eyes.

"Class," Mr. McKinley says from his desk, clearing his throat.

The quiet students look up from the lab tables. Mr. McKinley stands and straightens his tie, coming to the front of his desk and picking up a stack of papers. He glances at the clock quickly as it ticks away the couple minutes left until sixth period.

"Just really quick. A date has been set for this year's science fair." He begins to go between the tables, handing fliers to each kid. "It will be on Sunday the twenty-seventh. That gives you about four weeks to complete your project. Realize that this is not mandatory, but I expect to see something there from each of you. You're all more than capable."

Mr. McKinley stops in the back of the room, putting his hands in his pockets. He watches the students mull over the fliers, murmuring. The bell sounds and a sigh of relief passes over the room. Mr. McKinley smiles. "Have a good day, class!"

Al waits for Brian by the door, smiling. "Hey ya, Brian!" Al calls, walking next to him into the hall.

"Hey, Al," Brian says with a forced smile, his books clutched to his chest.

Brian speeds up, dodging through the other kids in the hallway. Al stays right behind him, though.

"So, got any good ideas for the science fair?" Al calls over the loud hallway chatter.

"Nope. You?" Brian stops at the corner of the hall, finally looking at Al.

Al shrugs, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a large green notebook. "I'm gonna toss ideas around with Jessie later today."

Brian hates Al not only for threatening his position as valedictorian, but also because Al is one of the few nerds who fit in with the popular crowd. His family comes from wealth and he's dating a wealthy girl, Jessie Vonderdant, a girl Brian has seen chatting with Claire in the hallway on multiple occasions.

A slight grin starts at the corner of Al's mouth and he points. "Hey, is that...Curtis Malfis standing by your locker?"

Brian's head swings to the right, dread settling in his stomach. Oh, no. Oh, no no no.

Brian swallows. "Yeah, I guess it is," he says with a nervous laugh.

Al pats Brian's shoulder. Everyone knows you're a dead man walking if Curtis is looking for you.

"Good luck with all that, buddy. See you around."

Brian imagines popping his foot out and tripping Al as Al rounds the corner, but he finds himself more focused on the delinquent taking post outside his locker. Brian grins, realizing his Business notebook is already in his backpack and he can bypass his locker. He takes a few steps and slouches, remembering he needs his gym clothes. Damn. Brian straightens up and takes a deep breath, hurrying forward.

Curtis grins as Brian nears him.

"Pleasemoveyou'reinfrontofmylocker," Brian says quickly, mashing his words together.

Curtis steps aside, motioning for Brian to step forward. "Go ahead, my man."

Brian feels himself sweating as he twists his lock, numbers jumbling together in his head. This locker is new, seeing as how his old one was torched when the flare gun went off in it. Sometimes he confuses the combinations.

"Need help?" Curtis says right in his ear.

Brian jumps, his books scattering to the floor. "Dammit!" Brian cries, dropping down to grab his things. Curtis frowns, worried.

"Look," Brian snaps, standing up. "I already apologized for the lunch thing, and you got me back. TWICE. Can't you let it go already?"

Brian lets his things fall back to the floor as the late bell rings. He groans, grabbing his lock and fiercely twisting the numbers in. The lock pops off and he pulls his locker open, grabbing up his gym bag and slamming the damn thing shut again.

"I have let it go. And now I've found the perfect opportunity to let you make up for your mistake," Curtis says with a fabulous grin.

"Like I'm the one who needs to apologize," Brian mutters under his breath, snatching his things up again.

Curtis frowns. "Don't push it kid. Where ya going?"

"Business."

"I'll walk with ya."

Curtis slings an arm over Brian's neck, the two walking slowly down the nearly empty hallway. Brian can feel his pulse quicken dangerously.

"What do you want, Curtis?" Brian asks quietly, picking at the spine of his Physics notebook.

"The science fair. I need a partner."

Brian stops dead in his tracks, swallowing down a laugh as he turns to look at Curtis. "You're doing the science fair?"

Curtis shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets. He shifts from foot to foot. "Look, I'm failing Chem, alright? Mr. Jupiter said he'll give me extra credit if I do the damn thing. And it's your lucky day, Brian, because I've picked you to be my partner."

Brian frowns. "And if I say no?" His chest is tight, he dreads the answer.

Curtis laughs, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his jeans pocket. "I think you're smarter than that, Brian. That's why I picked ya." Curtis winks, motioning to the bathroom. "I'm gonna go have a smoke. I'll check in with you later, partner."

Curtis punches Brian's arm and walks off, leaving him dazed in the middle of the hallway.