Last Chance High - 1. Chapter 1

Antonio Mancini stepped off the bus and adjusted his bag. He took a deep breath and looked up at the large brick building in front of him. It was the fifth school in three years, and yet he felt like he'd been here a hundred times. It was always the same story, ending with his expulsion and the disappointment on his Mother's face.

He remembered her pleading look when he left this morning,

"Just try to fit in this time Toni. Promise me, you're going to try. No fights."

"It's not my fault..."

"I know, it’s never your fault. Just try, Antonio, we're running out of options."

"Okay Mama, I'll try."

"That's all I ask, Bambino."

He had spent all summer taking classes to catch up, the many expulsions had caused him to fall behind. His first day at McGreggor High coincided with the beginning of his Junior year. At first, he had been a little excited about this new chance. A chance to make friends and reinvent his reputation. But looking around at the flashy cars and preppy clothes, he began to rethink that idea. It seemed like it was going to be another year of just getting by.

If he managed to last that long.

+x+

Principal Keenan was nice enough when he told Toni he would be keeping an eye on him. But with his record, he didn't blame the old man for warning him. Half an hour later, he was crouching in front of his locker trying to spin the combination. He was startled when two bright white sneakers stepped into his view.

"Hi." Toni glanced up; his prepared scowl dropped when his eyes met the most beautiful steel blue eyes he had ever seen. The locker swung open, and Toni dumped some books inside to buy himself enough time to calm his racing heart. The boy brushed his messy black hair out of his face and flashed an easy smile down at Toni. Open and honest; there was no mystery in his face. No question in his eyes. He looked like the kind of boy that had nothing to hide and would never tell a lie.

"I'm Marc Townsend. You’re the new kid right?" Antonio stood up with a nod and tried to casually wipe his sweaty hands on his black skinny jeans. Marc had his hand out waiting and a wild smile on his face. Hoping his palms were dry and the shaking wasn't too obvious, Toni reached out to grasp it.

"I'm Antonio, or Toni."

"Are you a senior, Antonio?"

"Junior."

"Shame, we won't have any classes together. Unless you have phys ed third period?"

"Umm.." Toni glanced down at the schedule in his hand and blinked, he had suddenly forgotten how to read. Marc smiled as he took the paper from his hands, causing Toni's stomach to flip as their fingers brushed together. He mentally slapped himself, and stepped back kicking the locker closed.

"Cool, we'll have gym together." Marc's smile looked genuine when he handed Toni back his schedule. "They had to combine both third period classes together when the second teacher quit." Toni nodded in understanding. It didn't matter that Marc was the most breathtaking boy he had ever seen. Or that his eyes were drawn to the gentle ripple of lean muscles under his fitted T-shirt. Toni knew better than to trust the easy smile Marc was tossing around. Once the older boy found out the truth about him it would all be over, just like before. He knew better than to get attached.

"Yo, you coming, Marc?" Toni followed Marc's glance back towards his waiting friends.

"I better go, but you should come find me at lunch." Marc tapped him on the arm with an open hand, and maybe a slight squeeze on his bicep. "See you later, Antonio," he said with a smirk as he brushed his fingertips along Toni's arm sending a tingle down his spine.

Toni swallowed as he watched Marc walk away. A tall blonde boy slung his arm across Marc's shoulders with a laugh. His navy blue and yellow Letterman jacket stretching across broad shoulders. Of course Marc was a jock. Toni picked up his bag as the bell rang. He took one last look at the blue-eyed god he had chatted with. To his surprise Marc looked back too, sending Toni a wink over his shoulder.

Yea, it was going to be a long year.

+X+

For once Toni was glad this school’s rumor mill ran rampant. Toni tried not to listen in to the whispered conversations around him, to ignore to gossiping teenagers, but every time he heard Marc’s name he couldn’t help but listen. Before lunch, he had learned that Marc was captain of the swim team and the top competitor in the sword club. He was pretty sure the blond he had seen with him was Alex Stains, fellow member of the sword club and captain of the football team. The girls in this school were swooning over them both, but neither had been seriously linked to anyone. Although, rumors of hook ups were numerous. Toni mentally kicked himself; he had to stop thinking about the beauty he met this morning.

In his second period history class, Toni met the only other guy in the school who recognized his Misfits T-shirt. Warren Hanson had short sandy hair and grey eyes. His black cargo pants hung loose on his hips. Toni tried to focus on every little detail, if only to distract himself from the thick white scar that ran from just below his eye to his jaw. Their short conversation before class revealed they shared many interests. When the bell rang and Warren invited Toni to sit with him and his friends Toni nodded and followed the boy to the cafeteria.

Marc had his eyes glued to the doors as he sat with his friends, his lunch untouched in front of him. Toni never actually said he would meet him there, but Marc dared to hope. When he saw a head with dark curly hair, he stood and waved at him. Marc couldn’t help but smile when the Italian met his eyes and gave him a slight nod. The smile slipped from his face when Toni turned away and followed Warren to a table on the other side of the room.

“Your new friend not joining us after all?” Marc’s friend Jack Marks said with a smirk, scooping the chocolate chip cookie off his tray.

“He never actually said he was going to.” Marc sat down and stared at his tray, he didn’t really feel like eating anymore. He shook his head and pasted a smile on his face as he looked around at his friends. “Whatever. So how’s the planning for homecoming?” Who cared if the new kid didn’t want to sit with him, not everybody needed to like him. It wasn’t the end of the world. Besides, Marc had lots of friends. Alex Stains sat next to him talking football with Zack, who sat on his other side. Across the table Jack sat with Chris and Steve Terko horsing around. Breanna and Brittany were engaged in a friendly argument over some reality TV show. Toni seemed to be having a good time with Warren and his friends anyways. Marc watched as Toni laughed softly and Alex’s sister, Jenny , threw her arm around his shoulder. Her black leather jacket blended in with his black t-shirt as she leaned towards him, you couldn’t see where she ended and he began. He would fit in better with them anyways.

+X+

It took all Toni’s will power to turn away from Marc and allow Warren to lead him over to his friends on the other side of the cafeteria. Toni risked a glance back, the older boy looked almost disappointed, then with a blink the look was gone, and Marc was smiling and laughing with his friends again.

Warren introduced Toni to the group. On his right side was Jenny Stains, her leather jacket was two sizes too big, and her tight black pants were covered in chains. Next to her was Isabella, who had caramel skin and long chocolate hair that fell around her face in ringlets. Isabella had kind eyes and a soft voice. Her boyfriend, Simon Chung, had one muscular arm around her shoulders. Daphne Travis, with feathers braided into her hair, and Madison La Croix, in her army fatigues, sat across from him. Warren sat on his left with a proud smile. They were an eclectic bunch and were ready to accept him with open arms. Maybe for once Toni would be able to fit in, make some friends. As long as he could keep his secret.

+X+

“He sat with Warren.” Breanna draped her arm across Marc’s broad shoulders.

“I noticed.”

“He gave you a nod and walked right on by, to sit with Warren.”

“I was there.”

“You don’t care?” Brittany slipped her arm around his waist, glancing up at him with a smirk.

“Why would I? I don’t even know the guy; we only talked for a minute.”

“But Warren. He didn’t just brush you off; he brushed you off for Warren.”

Marc flinched and shook the girls off with a sigh.

“That was a long time ago. Water under the bridge.” He tried to keep the pain out of his voice.

Alex Stains came up behind them and put his hands on his best friend’s shoulders, “Yea, not even a blip on Marc’s radar. Give him a break ladies; he’s got more important things to think about then Warren Hanson.”

Marc forced a smile and nodded. Breanna and Brittany shrugged, letting the matter drop. Marc watched them walk away down the hall.

“Thanks, Alex.”

“You’re not over it.”

“God, not you, too.”

“Hey, it’s understandable, the guy led you on for months and dropped the ‘I’m not gay’ card. That’s harsh, and he’s a dick.”

Marc’s mind drifted back two years.

The freshman Warren Hanson had been flirting shamelessly with him since homecoming. Tonight, he showed up at Brittany’s Halloween party dressed as a Roman gladiator. Marc watched as the younger boy moved through the crowd. His muscles were surprisingly defined for a fourteen-year-old. Fifteen-year-old Marc finished his drink and followed him into the crowd.

It was an interesting night, to say the least, and Marc was determined to find Warren on Monday. They had to talk about what happened. He didn’t want to younger boy to think it hadn’t meant anything. When he finally found him Warren was talking with Alex’s sister, Jenny.

“Can I steal you for a moment?”

Warren shot him a curious glance. “I guess.” He followed Marc down the hall and into a secluded corner.

“Look Warren, I wanted to talk to you about the other night...”

“Yea, that was fun and all, but I guess I should tell you, I’m not really into guys.”

Marc’s jaw dropped, “What? But we...”

“No, hey now, there’s no ‘we’. We didn’t do anything. It was all you, Marc. And it was very nice and all. With my eyes closed I could easily forget you were a dude. Besides, it’s only gay if you actually touch dick. I didn’t. You did. But don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you’re kind of a slut. Consider it repayment for a great blowjob.”

Warren gave Marc a winning smile like he had handed him the best present ever and sauntered off. Marc stared after him wide eyed, he didn’t understand what just happened but he was sure of one thing--Warren Hanson was a total ass.

“Earth to Marc.” Jack Marks slapped Marc on the back, jarring him from his memories. “We better get to class--Coach Seely gets vicious when we’re late.”

“Yea, right, gym.” Marc nodded, trying to shake the embarrassing memory out of his head.

“Hang in there, Townsend; we may not have lost him to the dark side yet.” Alex squeezed his shoulders and spun away giving Marc a wink as he headed down the hall away from them.

“I’m pretty sure that boy was born on the dark side.” Marc said with a sigh.

Jack laughed and slung his arm around Marc’s shoulders, “Come on, lover boy.”

+X+

“Here’s your uniform. I expect you dressed and on the floor every afternoon when the bell rings. Not in the change room, not in the hallway outside the change room chatting with your friends. On the floor, in your uniform.”

“Okay.”

“I think you meant, ‘Yes, Coach Seely’.”

“Yes, Coach Seely.”

“Good man. Now, get changed and meet us out on the floor.”

Toni nodded and stared at the clothes the Coach had given him; navy blue basketball shorts and a white t-shirt with the school’s emblem. It could be worse; he went to one school whose colors were brown and orange. With a sigh he headed into the change room to find a locker.

After trading his skinny jeans for basketball shorts and shoving them into a locker he shrugged out of his shirt. He always found athletic wear uncomfortable.

“Hey, Toni!”

Toni looked up and into a familiar pair of blue eyes. Marc and a small Latino boy had come up beside him and made use of two nearby lockers. Toni tried not to stare.

“You’re kind of jacked you know. Who would have thought you had muscles hiding under that big ol’ t-shirt.” Marc spoke casually. Toni put his gym shirt on and slammed his locked shut as he felt his cheeks flame. He only hoped they weren’t as red as they felt. “This is Jack, he’s a junior too.”

Marc gestured to the boy next to him as he pulled his own shirt over his head. The small Latino boy reached his hand behind Marc’s back, one hand pulling on his shorts. Toni shook it.

“We better get in there; Seely has a thing about being late.” Jack spoke slamming his own locker shut and turning towards the gym, Marc close behind. Toni nodded and followed the boys into the gym. He tried not to watch how the shorts hung low on Marc’s hips and his t-shirt bunched up to show a thin slip of smooth tanned skin.

+X+

Marc was too friendly. Toni had tried to ignore him in gym but the stupid boy was so infuriatingly nice. He had invited Toni to join his group when they were running drills. He complimented Toni on his skills and took a strong interest in Toni’s habits and hobbies. He even invited him to join the swordplay club. No one seemed to think it was strange Marc was paying so much attention to the new boy, apparently that’s just the kind of guy Marc was. Friendly, welcoming, an overall good guy. Damn him. After class Toni got changed as fast as he could and slipped out before Marc could catch him.

Toni’s last class of the day was computer science. After his quick escape from gym, he was the first one there. A few minutes later, Jack sauntered in with two brown haired boys Toni guessed were twins. Toni slid low in his chair and focused on the screen in front of him, but they saw him anyways.

“Toni! Hey buddy!” Jack slapped his back and slid into the seat next to him. “This is Steve and Chris. Don’t worry about which is which, no one can tell them apart.” Jack smirked at the twins who had taken up the seats at their backs. Toni sent them a nod.

“So we saw you sitting with Warren Hanson at lunch today.” The way the twin said it made it sound more like a question then a statement.

“Yea, so?”

“So, are you friends with him?” The other twin piped in.

“I don’t know. I just met the guy. It’s only my first day.” The twins exchanged a glance.

“Hey, ignore them Toni. Those two are nothing but gossip queens.” Jack gave him a weak smile.

“How is who I sit with at lunch considered gossip?” The three boys exchanged looks, obviously trying to come up with an answer. They were saved by a bang and a sigh.

“Just my luck, the only seat left in the class is next to you two!” She had long brown hair and wore a scowl.

“Katie!” The first twin beamed.

“We missed you, darling!” Exclaimed the other.

Katie’s scowl deepened, “Don’t talk to me, and don’t even look at me.”

Toni raised an questioning eyebrow at Jack, “The Terkos have been feuding with Katie since they were freshman. They are sort of pranksters. It all started when they left her a gift of chocolate on her sister’s car.”

“They didn’t just leave a chocolate gift on my sister’s car! They covered it in chocolate bunnies. By the time I got out of school they had melted and the whole car was covered in it! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get melted chocolate off a car? We had to take it through the car wash four times, my parents freaked.” Katie’s face had turned a little red as she glared daggers at the twins. They at least had the good sense to look down in shame.

“We didn’t mean for it to melt.” The first twin mumbled.

“We apologized.” The second twin interjected.

Katie flipped her hair over her shoulder and sat down with a huff.

Toni couldn’t help but chuckle when the Terkos glanced back with a smirk and a wink. The bell rang, and the teacher started the class cutting off all further conversations.

+X+

Marc sat at the back of the room with Alex next to him and Breanna in front. They had both turned in their seats to talk to him.

“So, how was gym?” Breanna wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“It was fine.” Marc tapped his pen on the edge of his desk.

“Just fine? Didn’t you say your new friend was in your gym class?”

Marc rolled his eyes.

“Come on Breanna, leave him alone.” Alex gave Marc a pitying glance.

“If we want to save the poor boy from Warren, we have to act quickly! Gym is Marc’s only class with him.”

Simon Chung slid into the seat next to Breanna. “You don’t have to worry about Toni with Warren.” He said without looking at them.

“Oh right, because Warren's such a swell guy.” Breanna snorted.

“Oh no, I’m not an idiot, Warren's a total ass. I just meant all Warren's attention is on Jenny these days. Besides I don’t think he’s Toni’s type.”

“Warren's making moves on my sister?” Alex sat up in his seat.

“Focus, Al!,” Breanna snapped, “What do you mean not his type?”

“I’m pretty sure the kid flies straight. Sorry, Marc.”

“Thanks, Simon.”

Marc mumbled, sliding a little lower into his seat. Not only was Marc so obvious Simon Chung noticed his crush on the kid, but the chances of Toni returning his feelings seemed to be zero. Their teacher came in and called the class to attention. Simon and Alex turned forward and opened their books. Breanna gave Marc one more smile, before turning to the front.

“Don’t worry, Marc, Simon might be wrong.”

“Thanks, Breanna. I’m fine, really.”