The last time Alex went up these stairs, he'd been hopeful that he and Tyler would become boyfriends. Now, months later, he climbed up for less selfish reasons. The door opened and on the other side was a disheveled, unshaven imposter of his former English teacher.

"Come in," he said, quickly closing his robe to conceal his boxer shorts. The hunky jock guy drawing on the couch took off his headphones and stood up.

"Whoa, Charlie, you sure it's such a great idea to have this kid here?" he asked.

"Hunter, will you give us a minute?"

Alex maintained his decorum and tried to remain civil (despite being called a kid) as the A&F wannabe sauntered off to his room. Mr. Parker slurped his glass of white wine. "Can I offer you a glass?" he asked snidely.

"Do you have any red?"

"I was joking Alex. So what's this about Robbie's dad beating him?"

"It's just awful, Mr. Parker. Robbie looks like a punching bag. You've got to do something."

"There's nothing I can do, Alex. I met with my union delegate yesterday and I'm suspended until my disciplinary hearing with the principal. If I try to interfere, it might complicate matters."

"But what about poor Robbie?"

"Nothing I say will help him, they'll think I'm making it up to save my own ass. Especially since he reported that I initiated the kiss. So unless he retracts that statement... "

"But he can't! His father will beat him more!"

Charlie sighed. "If you want to help him, Alex, maybe you should call Child Protective Services or... "

"But then he'll be lost in the system. And who knows long that will... "

"Well what the FUCK do you want me to do?!" Charlie spat out, throwing his arms up in frustration and spilling his wine in the process. "Wave my fucking magic wand and make it all go away? But I can't, can I, because SOMEBODY took a fucking picture and spread it around the fucking school."

"Mr. Parker, I don't know what you're implying, but... "

"Oh, I'm not implying anything, you little shit. I'm saying it out right. Fuck you. Fuck you for taking that picture. Fuck you for ruining my life. You try to get back at me for whatever reason and now congratulations. Both Robbie and I are fucked."

"This has nothing to do with... "

"You know, I may fuck up my life quite a lot, but at school, I used to like to think I was doing something right. I tried to do the right thing for my friend and you take your revenge. I took over as faculty advisor for the GSA and somehow become the queer teacher who molests his kids. Every time I try to do the right thing, somehow it comes back to bite me in the ass. Well, I'm done."

Alex stood there in shock, fighting back tears of frustration. "Mr. Parker, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I wouldn't never do anything so heinous, so malicious, to you or Robbie. It's true, I saw it, and it's true maybe I was going to use that information to prod at you. But I would never, ever have... "

"Save the speeches, Alex. It's done. My career's ruined, my life is ruined, and I am fucking done."

Tyler opened the front door and stopped at the sight of Alex.

"Tyler," Alex said, nobly acknowledging his presence.

"Zan," Tyler said, staring at Charlie in disbelief. Charlie poured himself another glass of wine as Tyler scurried off to his room.

"I'm trying to do the right thing too," Alex said after a moment. "I'm trying to help. Believe what you want about me, but Robbie is suffering at the hands of his father for something that he can't help. And it's only going to get worse before it gets better. I'm afraid that if his father doesn't stop hurting him, Robbie will do something... drastic."

Charlie chugged his wine, bitterly. "Anything I could've done for Robbie... I'm powerless now. I've been robbed of the opportunity to help. And it makes me sadder than you'll ever know. " Charlie poured himself another glass and walked to his room. "Lock the door on your way out."

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Just joining us? Catch up here:

Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 4 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 5 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five


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