Most of the people in their school believed that they were losers. Even Peter had been called a loser a few times, for only his friends and his girlfriend, Charity, knew that Helen was rich, and they all promised not to tell a soul unless instructed by him personally. And the young King definitely had a hard time trying to keep it quiet. In fact, that was the reason he went out with Charity in the first place. She threatened to tell everyone if he didn’t. She had always wanted a rich boyfriend and was delighted when he agreed to her terms.
Peter’s friends didn’t like her even before she blackmailed Peter, for she was one for the more popular crowd. And naturally, she wanted Peter to change the way he dressed and acted and ditch those loser friends of his, so he could join her group of friends. Which the losers fittingly named the Barbie Doll Club, because that’s what they reminded them of, Ken’s and Barbie’s, all brainless dolls walking around without a clue.
As far as changing who and how he was, Peter put his foot down and said, “If you can’t have me for who I am, I’ll tell everyone the truth and you can go jump off a cliff.”
It would be an understatement to say that she was upset. However, she was so afraid of losing her new rich boyfriend that she said she was sorry, and it didn’t matter. He’ll come round to my way of thinking, she unwittingly told herself. He never did.
Truth be told, the reason that Peter agreed to go out with her was not because of his secret, for he would have gladly told everyone the truth rather than be blackmailed by some Barbie doll who wanted to sell herself to the richest boy in school. No, the truth was that he wanted to go out with her. He always had. He just never thought he had a chance. So he was making her think that she had won when in fact he was the one that was winning, as he was getting to go out with the girl he had always wanted and she was getting Peter Stark, sk8erboy or D.L. to his small circle of friends, which is short for Dragon lover. His friends caught onto it from Helen. They thought that it suited him, as when he was six he saw a poster of a Dragon and was completely fascinated by it, and he had to have it for his room.
Through the years, he had collected Dragon posters, clothing, ornaments, and many, many more objects. Helen swore that if he didn’t get rid of some of it, one day she would have to buy a separate house for junk alone, but he never listened. He liked his Dragon collection, and as far as he was concerned, he would keep collecting as long as he could.
“I think we’d better hurry before we’re late for class,” said Wheezy, and she stuck her inhaler in her mouth and took a short blast of the cool vapor as she felt her chest tighten. Then quickly put it back in her pocket.
“Wait, this isn’t right, you guys,” said Cartman. “We should tell him,” he said, nodding toward Peter. “I mean, we’ve been friends since the first day of school. I can’t let it happen like that.”
“Tell me what?” asked Peter obviously intrigued.
“You just couldn’t keep your big mouth shut,” said Wile E. paying no heed to Peter’s question. “It’s nothing to do with us. She’ll tell him at first break. She said she would.”
“Tell me what?” repeated Peter, only louder this time, He hated it when people ignored him.
“Well, it’s about Charity,” said Wheezy.
“You know what? I think I’ll ask her,” interrupted Peter as he saw Charity’s mum’s flashy car pull up to the curb. “Maybe then I’ll get some real answers.” He ran down to meet her as she stepped out of the car.
“Well, that was rude,” said Wheezy, who sniffed loudly and turned on her heel and headed to the entrance of the school to get ahead of the group and hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She liked Peter a little more than he knew, and to be brushed aside like that hurt her.
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“Come on,” said Wile E., “I’m sure he didn’t mean it like it sounded. He probably just wanted to hear it from her.”
“Don’t defend him Wile E. He’s been running to her for a while now,” said DesDan hotly.
“Well, it’s all going to change soon enough,” commented Cartman.
“Who will he run to then?” added DesDan.
“Us, because we’re his friends, and just because he wants to spend some time with his girlfriend, it doesn’t make him a criminal, does it?” said Wheezy defensively.
“No,” said DesDan.
“We should be here for him when Charity dumps him. Think how you would have felt if he wasn’t there for you when you counted on him, which up until now has never happened. He’s always been there for us,” said Wheezy.
“All right, Wheeze, I know you’re right,” DesDan said and threw her arms around her wheezy friend.
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Peter quizzed Charity about what his friends said. She didn’t seem too pleased with them. “They said they’d give me until half past ten,” she said, momentarily forgetting that Peter was there.
“For what?” asked Peter, his patients now wearing a little thin?
“I can’t afford to be late again this week or I’ll get detention. It is important, and I should have told you sooner, but now I’ll have to tell you at first break okay?”
“I don’t really have a choice, do I?” grumbled Peter.
“Nope.”
They walked up the steps together but then split, for Peter needed to get some books from his locker.
As he ran to history class, he ran into Wheezy. He actually ran into her. They picked themselves up and their books just as the bell rang.
“I’m late,” Wheezy gasped. “I’m never late.”
“Calm down,” said Peter. “What happened? Why aren’t you with Cartman?”
“I forgot my books.” She took off like a flash down the hall.
Peter swiftly followed, but she got there first. He wondered how she had run so far and so fast without needing her inhaler.
“Sorry I’m late, Mr. Haster,” she said as she went to her seat.
“What?” said the teacher as he turned away from the blackboard to put a face to the apology? “Oh, yes, late. Well I’m sorry, Miss Ken, but I’ll have to give you a warning for that.”
“I know, sorry,” she said again.
As Wheezy went through the classroom door, Peter was only two seconds behind her. But he was stopped before he could get in.
“You’re late Stark,” said Mr. Weavger with pleasure clearly in his voice. Weavger was thin and lanky, with blonde hair, which was very thin on top, his long face stretching because of wide smile that intruded his usually grim and serious features. “I’ve warned you about this before, but you just don’t listen.”
I don’t need this today, Peter thought. “I forgot the time, and I had to get my books from my locker,” he said to the teacher.
“I’m sick of your excuses, Stark. Just one more thing, just one more and it’s the principal’s office for you. Well what are you waiting for? Get to class!”
“Umm… in case you haven’t noticed I was about to go in to class before you stopped me. See, I’m at my class; I just have to go in.” Peter gestured to the classroom door with his hand.
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you Stark? Well you know something?”
There was a pause, and Peter didn’t know if Weavger was waiting for an answer. However, as Peter was about to ask if it was a valid question, he got his answer.
“I’M SMARTER THAN YOU COULD EVER HOPE TO BE! NOW GET IN THERE BEFORE I THROW YOU IN!” When Mr. Weavger’s voice rose up, it seemed not just to disturb the silence in the hallway. It was more like it shattered it all together. And if that was what he set out to do, then he certainly achieved his goal.
In the classroom, Wheezy had just taken her seat only to start to stand after Weavger’s voice broke the peaceful silence of the classroom. She was not the only one to get up. Other students did the same, including Cartman, who was just a row in front of her.
“Back to your seats,” said Mr. Haster. He was a stumpy, pot-bellied man with bug eyes, plump red cheeks, a constant double chin, and thick black bushy curly hair. The sound of moving chairs filled the room as they all took their seats again.
Mr. Haster took a step forward as the door opened and Peter walked in, closely followed by Mr. Weavger.
“Collin I found this one out of class,” said Weavger conceitedly.
“I was just a little late. I was about come in when he stopped me,” said Peter, mad at Weavger for making it sound as though he was trying to skip class altogether.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any harm in him being a little late, Alistair, as long as he is here. Although I will have to give you a warning,” said Mr. Haster unconcerned.
“I think he should at least apologize for his tardiness. Well, Stark, apologize to Mr. Haster and the class for this distraction in their learning process you’ve caused,” said Mr. Weavger.
“There wouldn’t have been a distraction if you hadn’t stopped me in the hall,” said Peter angrily.
“I said apologize. Or go to the head’s office.”