The Brat Pack

Click. Click. Click. Click.

Brian clicks his pen angrily into his forehead and groans as Pullulent latinis ante – er, Latin words swarm in front of him. He's only been able to translate one poem so far today today, and that was during Homeroom. He sits alone at lunch now, papers and poetry and dictionaries scattered all around him. Larry Lester offered to stay and help but Brian politely declined, afraid of even the slightest mistake in these translations in knowing he'll have to rewrite them if there is.

Brian is lost in thought when someone sitting down abruptly next to him makes him jump and blink back to reality, his vision focusing on the person beside him. He finds it's Andy, pushing books and papers out of his way as he slides his tray further up on the round table with a displeased look on his face. Andy takes the top off his hamburger and rips open some ketchup packets, squirting their contents on top of the melted cheese before slamming the bun back on. He snorts angrily and looks past Brian as if he's not there, his angered expression slowly melting into a saddened one.

Brian hesitates but slowly turns around, his eyes quickly locating the point of Andy's distress; Ally. She sits not far away, alone and with art supplies and magazines strewn around her table. Her look mirrors Andy's when she notices him and she motions for him to come over, Brian glancing back in time to see Andy shake his head. They both seem to sag down in their seats and Brian bites his lip before clearing his throat, Andy looking up as if he never noticed Brian was there.

"Oh." Andy clears his throat, sitting up and rolling his shoulders as if to act casual. "Hey."

"Hey, yourself," Brian says as Andy pops some hot fries into his mouth, chewing quietly. Brian points his thumb over at Ally but Andy just shakes his head, Brian sighing. "Okay, tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing," Andy says, using one of his fries to dab dripping ketchup off his hamburger.

"Yeah? You came over here for nothing?" Brian asks and Andy groans, throwing his fry down.

"No, okay? Not nothing. My dad..." Andy waves his hand around in the air, "banned me from seeing Ally. And grounded me. And took my car keys. And slapped me."

"He hit you?" Brian asks incredulously, his eyes going wide. "Andy, you could tell someone-"

"It's all Stubbie's fault," Andy snaps, his face filling with rage once again. "All because he can't keep his damn mouth shut. And for what? What does he think he's doing? Helping me?" Andy demands, and Brian shrugs sheepishly.

"Well, if I had to guess...yeah," he says, shutting up as soon as Andy looks at him sharply.

Andy motions around to the papers on the table. "What the hell is all this, anyway?"

"Ah. My punishment," Brian says, holding up the lined paper with his handwriting. "And some science fair planning. I keep switching back and forth so I don't try to kill myself." Brian gives a small laugh, but Andy's face clearly says he did not take it as a joke, his head snapping up a minute later.

Brian watches as Andy's eyes zoom across the room, Brian following his gaze and turning to see Stubbie leaving the cafeteria. Andy stands and shrugs his shoulders a bit, Brian's hand darting out to grab his wrist before he can leave.

"Andy, no, don't. You know you'll only make matters worse. He sounds toxic, just let him go," Brian pleads, but Andy shakes him off, giving him a stern look.

"Ever threaten to kill yourself again and I'll kick your ass," Andy warns. "You're not dying on my watch." He points down to his full tray. "And eat something."

Brian licks his lips and motions to the brown paper bag sitting on the bench next to him. "Oh, no, I can't. My mom packed my lunch. She says, she always says processed foods are bad for me. I only buy my lunch when we're out of lunch meat, and, and even then I can only choose healthy products," he explains, stuttering over his words, but Andy shakes his head.

He gives Brian another look before heading from the cafeteria, Brian watching him go with concerned eyes. He sighs and rubs the back of his head, glancing up at the tray of food, and looks around quickly before pulling it towards himself, eating some fries and taking a large bite of the hamburger. Brian's face melts into one of pleasure as he chews and swallows, taking more and more large bites until the hamburger is completely gone.