Wear - Chapter 31

“What is going on here?” Jackson asks as The Rejects arrived on the rooftop. Everyone came to their club spot in the morning in place of going to their homeroom. There, they found Rose already on the roof and a canopy for the roof.

“It’s called a canopy” Rose says. “It’s like a tent, except there are no doors or… zippers I guess? Anyways- this is in case you guys need to use the roof, even while it’s raining or snowing or whatever-“.

“Thanks, Ms. Weber” Emma says, taking off her beanie.

“I told you she’s actually a nice person” Darren says.

“Shut it” Rose says, “I’m doing this for efficiency. Now I wanted you all sent here so I can appoint a recent matter at hand. We were able to put up posters to for joining your club around school, Refus and I. We even managed to find spots in the second and third year school sections, although I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high if I were you. The second and third year’s only had club poster locations available because most of them have already joined a club. The likelihood of one of them leaving their club for yours is… well, I’m sure you get the idea”.

“Thanks” Wyatt says, “that’s a big help”.

“You guys don’t realize what you’ve gotten yourselves into, do you?” Rose asks.

“What… do you mean?” Wyatt asks.

Rose sighs and says “Don’t worry about it. You’re indirectly helping some of us as well… the staff, I mean. There are… other problems with the school, and well- you guys help”.

Jackson begins to look suspicious of Rose and asks “Is that why the school has been awfully lenient on stuff like the location of our club?”.

“Wow, you’re like a detective or something” Rose responds sarcastically.

“What exactly are we helping with?” Aeris asks.

“Question of the century” Rose says sarcastically. “Like I said, don’t worry about it. If you really need to know, we will tell you. For now, just do whatever it is that you guys… do”.

After Rose leaves, there was a short silence amongst the group. “Why do I get a bad feeling about this?” Emily asks.

“You’re not alone there” Jackson replies.

“This is curious” Aeris says. “I was sure there was a catch to us using the rooftop for our club… but what kind of help is she referring to?”.

“What kind of dirty work is the school putting on our shoulders?” Jackson asks.

“Don’t be like that” Darren says. “Rose isn’t the type of person to put dirty work on people like that… I hope”.

“From what all I could piece together” Jessica says, “she says we’re helping with something and it doesn’t require us to change what we’re already doing. So I don’t really see a problem, rather, a symbiotic relationship”.

“That was probably the smartest thing you’ve ever said out loud” Jackson says. “Although, it doesn’t stop me from wondering what that was all about”.

“Yeah” Wyatt says, “I’m still worried about what the context of that was. Should we try asking Mr. Maloney about it? She did mention that her and Mr. Maloney were working together on this… club thing”.

“Might as well” Aeris says. “Maybe we can get some answers”.

The Rejects try to talk to Refus before homeroom class ends. When they get to their classroom and ask him about it, he simply responds with “Sorry guys, I am not really at liberty to talk about it freely. It’ll only cause you guys to worry unnecessarily. Just know that you guys are helping us as much as we’re helping you, and we appreciate it”.

“But this isn’t making sense to me” Aeris says.

“Don’t worry about it” Refus says. “If we tell you, it’ll only make you worry more. I’ll let you guys know as soon as I can, alright?”.

Aeris sighs and says “Alright”.

The bell for homeroom class to end rings and Refus says “Anyways, that’s it for this period. You guys just take care of your business, and try to stay out of trouble. That means you, Jackson”.

“Yeah yeah” Jackson says.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow” Refus says as he leaves.

“Guess that was a bust” Aeris says.

“Not satisfied?” Jessica asks.

“Of course not” Aeris replies. “I want to know!”.

“Well, doesn’t seem like there’s much we can do about that” Emily says.

“Ms. Weber did mention that if and when we need to know, they will tell us” Jessica says. “So… time to play the waiting game?”.

“We can’t wait around forever” Wyatt says. “We still have work as a club to do”.

As Refus makes his way to the teacher’s lounge, he runs into Quincy down the hall from the lounge. “Going somewhere?” Quincy asks. “Care to explain this?”. As Quincy talks, he holds up one of the posters for The Rejects club.

“It’s a club” Refus says, “are we done?”.

“A club?” Quincy asks. “A club!? A club includes extracurricular activity outside of school! But this… this club poster says ‘Safe location for students and laibah community’! A safe place? School is a safe place, and now you’re declaring that we need a safe place for our safe place?”.

“Doesn’t feel very safe when we have you around” Refus says.

“I know you’re behind this, Refus!” Quincy says.

“Actually, if you read the bottom of the page, it says the sponsorship for the club is Rose Weber… not Refus Maloney” Refus says.

“I know what the freaking page says!” Quincy yells. “You’re encouraging this kind of demeanor on purpose!”.

“What… demeanor are we talking about?” Refus asks.

“You’re trying to expand the laibah community in this school to avoid having your career ended, Refus!” Quincy says. “You know you can’t handle your position as a teacher, so you’re trying to make the school feel sorry for you in order to-“.

“Feel sorry for me?” Refus interrupts. “I’m sorry, it sounded like you were making a point until you started speaking a whole other language. I didn’t know you were fluent in bullshit, Mr. Daffen. I don’t want, nor do I need people feeling sorry for me. I fought hard enough to get my position as a teacher, what I would like is respect. Respect, Mr. Daffen, that seems to be a concept you’ve failed to comprehend. I’m also not the one who pitched literally any of the ideas for this club or it’s goals and posters. If you have qualms about the reading on this poster, take it up with Rose… or better yet, take it up with Ryan. Let’s see how well that goes for you. If you’re curious, I assist Rose in setting things up for the club, but that’s about all I’ve done for them, if anything at all”.

“Give all the excuses you want, Refus” Quincy says, “you and I are both aware of the inevitable”.

“The only thing inevitable” Rose says as she runs into the two of them in the hallway, “is me firing both of your asses for starting more trouble for the school. You’re already aware of the board of education’s decisions, Quincy. And Refus, you know better than him about that same problem! It’s true that I did the posters, if that’s what has gotten your panties in a ruffle. Do you have any questions about it?”.

“Several” Quincy says. “I didn’t take you to be the laibah supporter type, but you know that’ll just speed up the board’s decision, don’t you?”.

“The board’s decision” Rose says, “can kiss my ass. I didn’t take you for a whiny bitch, but here you are!”.

“Yap while you can” Quincy says. “One day, I’ll have you-“.

“Have me what?” Rose asks with a smirk. “Fired? You realize that while you were worrying about your ego, that Ryan had already elected me to take his seat as principal when he’s retired?”.

“Really?” Refus asks. “I didn’t know that… congratulations, I guess”.

“Shut up, Refus” Rose says. Rose then looks at Quincy and says “I’ll have your ass fired faster than you can say ‘well shit’ if you keep up with your little game. Don’t think I haven’t been made aware of your little… deal with Refus. And, Refus, you keep your mouth shut too. I don’t need anything from you two, understand?”.

“Y-Yes ma’am” Refus replies nervously.

“Yeah, whatever” Quincy says. “You insufferable twat”.

“Excuse me?” Rose asks. “That’s Ms. Insufferable Twat to you, Quincy. Remember, I’ll have both of you fired”.

As Rose begins to walk away, Refus follows after her. “Wait, Ms. Weber!” Refus calls out. “I have some questions!”.

“What?” Rose asks as the two continue walking down the hall.

“First, out of curiosity” Refus asks, “when did you become next in line for the seat of principal?”.

“Oh that?” Rose asks. “A while back. At first, I was confused on why Ryan had made such a decision, but then there’s the issue we learned about… the school board’s decision”.

“But that doesn’t make sense though” Refus says. “If Ryan is taking into account of the board’s decision, then he’s either thinking about the school itself shutting down, or he believes the school will remain and he would still be the principal”.

“Ryan is a clever man” Rose says. “I thought the same thing at first, but then I figured something… disheartening”.

“Like what?” Refus asks.

“He likely doesn’t believe that he’ll keep the seat of principal” Rose says. “Whether it be that he steps down to save the school, or whatever else is a question that’s been burning in my mind for the past few days. He asked me to take his position when he leaves the school not long into the last winter break… so it’s likely something that has happened recently that made him come up with this idea”.

“Yeah, Ryan is smart like that” Refus says. “He tries to cover all bases at the same time…”.

“And your other questions?” Rose asks.

“Ah, right…” Refus says. “When would be the right time to tell those students about the issue with the board, and the support they’re giving us?”.

“The Rejects?” Rose asks. “Hopefully never. If they never have to learn about the issue at hand, then it means everything is going smoothly”.

“And if everything isn’t going smoothly?” Refus asks.

“Then we’ll resort to asking those kids to help us directly with the bill” Rose says. “Give us support for Ryan’s bill, and gain members that will give us support”.

“And the reason we can’t tell them now?” Refus asks.

“They don’t need to worry about that for now” Rose says. “For now, they need to worry about their school life, and not ours. This is an issue for us to handle, not them. The more we involve them, the worse the situation could become”.

“Not sure if I quite understand” Refus says, “but I’ll go with it”.

“Good” Rose says, “because you may have been given a pass to ignore Ryan’s orders, but you’re not ignoring mine”.

“Because of your position?” Refus asks.

“No, because of Ryan’s position” Rose says calmly. “He’s the one in the most danger. This is to help him”.

“Excuse me” an unfamiliar voice calls out from ahead of Refus and Rose, “but I think you look familiar”.

“Sarah!?” Rose asks.

“Heya, big sis” Sarah says.

“Sis?” Refus asks. “This is your sister?”.

“Yes, this is my little sister” Rose says as she approaches Sarah. “What the unholy hell are you doing at my place of work?”.

“I-I was talking to gramps!” Sarah says. “C-can I not talk to Ryan?”.

“Wait, Ryan is your grandpa!?” Refus asks.

“Ugh- no” Rose says. “He’s been close to our family for a while now. We just call him gramps. It’s called formality, Refus”.

“So you’re the Refus fellow that gramps was talking about?” Sarah asks as she goes to shake Refus’s hand.

“S-sure, I guess” Refus says. “I don’t really know any other Refus’s around here. It’s not exactly a common name…”.

“What were you here to talk to Ryan about?” Rose asks.

“Look, Rose” Sarah says, “I know about the school’s… situation. I was the first to put my name on that bill, and I’m trying to help out where I can. I’m on your side”.

“That’s funny…” Rose says. “I don’t remember you talking to me for a very long time… but now you’re here to help?”.

“I’m sorry!” Sarah says. “Things happen… bad things. People have to make tough decisions in life… which was all the more reason I had to talk to gramps. I needed to… thank him for helping me through a dark time”.

“And you couldn’t talk to me or mom about any of this?” Rose asks.

“No!” Sarah says. “I absolutely could not! You guys would murder me if you knew-“.

“Knew what!?” Rose demands.

“Wow… some family” Refus says.

“Not right now, Refus” Rose says.

“Like I said” Sarah says, “if you or mom knew, it’d likely spell the end of me. I’m not refusing to tell you out of spite, I’m doing this because I just… don’t know what else to do. You can understand that, can’t you?”.

Rose sighs and says “If you’re done going behind the family’s back, then I’ll overlook this”.

“Thanks big sis-” Sarah says.

“For mom’s sake” Rose interrupts. “Not for you. You really need to get in touch with her sometime”.

“Don’t worry” Sarah says. “I’m already on that. Anyways, I’ll catch you later”.

“Hopefully much later, rather than soon” Rose says.

“So cold…” Sarah says as she walks away.

“What was that all about?” Refus asks.

“My sister?” Rose asks. “I dunno what she wanted with Ryan”.

“No, I mean… what’s with you and your sister?” Refus asks.

“Oh…” Rose replies. “She kinda disappeared for a while. When she was graduating high school, she left town with her boyfriend and didn’t really show up for a couple years. When she came back, she spent over a decade refusing to talk with the rest of the family. I have no idea what was going through her mind, but suddenly she wants to come out and make everything okay again? I just don’t buy it…”.

“Is she really that untrustworthy though?” Refus asks.

“That all depends on what answers I can get from Ryan” Rose says. The two of them approach Ryan’s office, and enter.

Meanwhile, the next class was drawing to a close. Emma checks her bag, then says “I think I left my beanie that Aeris gave me on the roof this morning. I had it on my head, but took it off and set it down. I can’t find it in my bag, so I’m going to go look for it real quick, before the next class starts”.

“I’ll go with” Emily says, “sitting here in this desk for so long is making my legs hurt. I need something to do”.

“Want me to come along?” Wyatt asks.

“No” Emily says.

“Sure” Emma says.

“Crap” Emily replies. “Well, at least I still get to move around, rather than be trapped in my desk all day”.

After the bell rings, the three of them walk out of the classroom. They grab the beanie hat that Emma had left on the roof, sitting on top of one of the tables under the canopy. When they came back down the stairs, they saw a woman with long bright red hair and glasses. Sarah Weber, who was just on her way of leaving the school. Sarah stopped in the hallway when she saw the three of them and stared at Emily. Sarah then shook her head, mumbled something under her breath, and walked away. “What was that all about?” Emily asks.

“She seemed… fixated on you, Emily” Emma says. “Do you know her?”.

“No idea who she is” Emily says.

“Maybe she just thought you looked familiar” Wyatt says. “I mean, she looked kinda like Ms. Weber, and you two do look similar”.

“Well, I’ve never met her in my life” Emily says. “She’s definitely got the wrong person”.