A/n: This book will have some sexual content including mention of sexual favors and smut later on (which I suck at writing). Leave feedback! -AV

At the beginning of September a new student transferred into Martin. Alex, whom Scott known from his dark days, was bad news. Scott tried his best to avoid his old acquaintance but it was nearly impossible.

"Yo, Scotty Boy," Alex called as Scott made his way through the crowd to Mitch's locker. Scott ignored Alex and kept moving.
"Yo, I'm talking to you Hoying!"
"What the hell do you want Alex?" Scott yelled.
Alex walked up and pinned Scott against the locker, leaning to whisper in his ear, "you know what I want baby."

Scott shoved him away, "get the fuck off me Alex! I have a boyfriend, I'm not interested." Scott was shaking with anger as he got to Mitch's locker. Mitch took one look at his boyfriend and knew something wasn't right.

"Babe, what's up?!?"
"Nothing, Mitchie, I don't wanna talk about it. But can we not eat in the cafeteria today?" Scott pleaded.
"Of course honey, lets go to the choir room and see if Mr. Ward will let us chill in there."

As they entered the choir room, the pair glanced around hesitantly looking for their teacher. They spotted him on the floor with Ms. Marez and Ms. Cook, eating lunch and laughing.
"Excuse us," Mitch interrupted.
"Oh hey boys," Ms. Marez responded. "What can we do for y'all today?"
"Umm...well...umm... we wanted to ask if we could stay in here during lunch."
Scott continued, "yea, the cafeteria is super crowded.

The trio of teachers glanced at each other, exchanging some unidentifiable message. Mr. Ward turned toward the boys and gestured to the floor where the teachers were gathered. As Scott and Mitch sat, Scott's hand naturally migrated to his partner's thigh.

"Boys, PDA" chuckled Mr. Ward.
"Leave them alone Kyle, it wasn't so long ago that you were getting detention slips for kissing Daniel," Ms. Marez eyes her friend."

"Wait, Daniel? Does that mean you're gay Mr. Ward?" Scott asked. Mr. Ward glared at Ms. Marez who just said "y'all act surprised."

Mr. Ward retorted, "I'm not that much of an open book Am, and I like to keep and air of mystery about my personal life." He continued speaking directly to Scott and Mitch. "Yes, I'm gay but in exchange for your silence on the matter, I will give you the remaining chicken nuggets from my lunch."
"Works for me," Scott said as he popped a nugget into his mouth.

"So boys, why don't you tell us why you're really hiding out in here and not with your friends in the cafeteria?" Ms. Cook finally joined the conversation. Scott began crawling in his shell. He removed his hand from Mitch's leg and placed it on his own lap. He continued to stare as his hands, silent.

After what seemed like an eternity, it was Ms. Marez who spoke. "Boys, you don't have to tell us if you don't want to, but know all three of us care about you and are happy to listen." The other teachers both nodded in agreement.

Mitch waited half a beat before thanking them. However, he continued to stare at his boyfriend who was now looking more and more dejected. "Scott, please baby..." Mitch pleaded.

Scott looked up nervously to meet his lover's eyes. Mitch could see tears threatening to spill over. "Oh Scotty," Mitch whispered and threw his arms around the older boy. Scott couldn't hold back any longer and began to sob.

After a few moments,Scott's cries turned to hiccups and he swiveled to face the teachers. "My past has come back to haunt me," Scott began as he told the teachers and his boyfriend of those dark days prior to his life at Martin and with Mitch. He explained how during his drug dealing time Alex would get him high and then force him to give sexual favors to not only Alex but his druggie friends too.

Ms. Marez asked the obvious question when he finished, "didn't you call the police?" "First, I was dealing, it would have been like signing my own arrest warrant. Second, I was a street kid, no one believes the street kid."

Mitch had heard most of the stories but still the fact that Alex was here, in his and Scott's protected little piece of the world, made him lose it. Tears spilled from his eyes as he clung to Scott, trying to remind his boyfriend that the dark days were behind him.

"You guys better go clean yourselves up before class," Ms. Cook said look at her watch then at the distraught kids in front of her.

"Boys, you are both welcome to join us for lunch if you need to."
"Thanks, Mr. Ward! We appreciate that," Scott spoke sincerely but quietly.

"Be in class by five after the bell, I'll sign your note to class," Ms. Marez smiled sweetly. They returned the gesture and made their way to the boys' restroom, hand-in-hand.