St.Luke's

Alex stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. ‘I really need to stop thinking about her.’ his brain scolded. He got ready to get out of the school for the day and head down to the school stables. He put on jeans, a t-shirt, and his favorite leather jacket.

Just as he reached the door he heard his cell phone go off. ‘Damn.’ he thought. He grabbed his phone and saw the ever familiar number that belonged to the headmaster. He hesitated only a moment before answering.

“Hello?” he asked dully

“Alex get down to my office right now we have important business to discuss.”

Heaving a sigh he said “Headmaster I was just about to go out for some fresh air.”

“I don’t give a damn if you were saving a life, get down here now.”

A dial tone greeted him as he was about to protest. With another sigh Alex headed down to the headmaster’s office. As he reached the main stair case he heard a voice call out to him.

“Serrano!”

Alex wheeled around to face Aaron Wilson running toward him. Alex’s indifferent face turned into a rather nasty scowl. “What?”

“Do you have to be so nasty about it? I was just asking if you were needed in the headmaster’s office asap?”

“So what if I am?” Alex turned to leave when Aaron caught up with him.

“Well we can walk together.” Alex picked up his pace hoping that Aaron would take the hint.

They strode in silence for a few corridors. “So you finally bang that sweet little red head I keep seeing you with?” Aaron’s tone was joking, but Alex grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.

“What did you say?” Alex’s eyes raged with fire. “You shit. Do you have any idea what in heaven and hell you put her through?” Aaron only whimpered what sounded like ‘don’t hurt me’, but Alex continued to whisper in a deadly manner “You think you’re hot you little prick? You think you’re all that cause you raped her? Guess what? The next time I think that you look at her in a suggestive manner, I swear on the oath we took freshman year that I will castrate you and anyone who would help a sniveling pansy like you.”

Alex felt another presence behind him. “Is there a problem gentlemen?” the teacher asked.

“No professor we were rehearsing for the next school play. Were you convinced?” Alex grinned.

“Oh yes, very convincing. Carry on then.”

Alex released the sniveling scum and began to head for the headmaster’s office again. They arrived in silence and stood waiting for the secretary t o take notice of them. She was busy taking calls and writing feverishly in a daily planner. When she did notice them she motioned for them to have a seat and wait patiently. She hung up the phone about three minutes later and smiled at them.
“Hold on just a moment, let me let him know you are here.” she buzzed him.

She motioned for them to knock before they entered and they did so. A voice boomed from the other side “Enter.”

“Headmaster you wished to see me?” Aaron asked. Alex elbowed him and he said “I mean you wanted to see us?

“Yes I did. I wished to see the both of you immediately.” the headmaster stood by the roaring fire and though it was only October it was cold enough to where you needed one. The headmaster looked every one of his 26 years of age and then some. The grave expression gave Alex and Aaron the chills.

“Is someone hurt sir?” Alex questioned. The headmaster looked at the pair of them for a moment with a grave expression and then continued to glare at the flames burning away at the fresh wood he had just place in the fireplace.

“If only it were so simple as to be a flesh wound.” his voice seemed mischievous though very sad.

Alex hated the tone even more than he hated the solemn expression. “Sir what’s wrong? Have you informed the other heads?” Both guys’ blood had turned to ice. They looked at each other and then back at he glowering man before them.
“I have already informed the majority of the other heads of this matter.” the headmaster took a deep breath and sat in his desk. The grieving look in his eyes portrayed dismay to the level 5‘s. “You know that there have been rumors of a marriage law going around the country I assume?”

“Yes sir.” Aaron said rather suspiciously “I keep myself well informed on the news for the sake of the lower levels, but what does that have to do with the school?”

Alex scowled at the bragging nitwit that he had once considered a friend.

“You may wish to sit Mr. Wilson, Mr. Serrano.”

As Aaron and Alex did so they each caught a glimpse of anger and hate in Mr. Wise’s eyes. Alex sat straight backed in a black leather chair and waited, while Aaron reclined back on one of the sofas. After a moment Alex was frustrated that the headmaster had said nothing. “Sir are you going to tell us or are we going to have to get some magazines?”

“Yes well” the second hesitation had Aaron’s full attention “They are saying that there are too many unwanted pregnancies and too great a number of single mothers. They are saying that to prevent the increasing number to grow they are instating a law that every girl from freshman year and up are able to receive petitions from admires. She must choose one in a month’s time and they are to be wed. They must produce an heir to fill the “American Family” image within a years time.”

Both stared at the headmaster. Alex’s mouth dropped and Aaron began to laugh. “That is very amusing, sir.” he said through chuckles “You really had us going for a second.” when Wise did not laugh with Aaron, he asked “You are joking, right?”

“That was what I said my dear boy.” the headmaster rubbed his temples. “I encourage the individuality here but that law is what it is. Even if I pulled all of the strings and favors I could, nothing would change and the law would withstand all efforts. The government has made their decision and they aren‘t about to go anywhere with it.”

“Isn’t there some way…” Alex’s voice trailed as he realized something.

Aaron jumped in and grinned like he was the mad hatter. “Sir do we have a list of all of the eligible ladies here?”

“Why yes I believe we do.” the headmaster stuttered at the sudden excitement in his student’s eyes. “Why? Mr. Wilson did you have someone in mind?”

“A certain level 3, sir.” Aaron grinned wickedly.

“You will do no such thing.” Alex growled ready to punch Aaron’s lights out.

“We’ll see who she accepts, Serrano and then,” he paused making a rude suggestive movement “we will see who is the better man. And by better man I mean me.”

“Don’t hold your breath Wilson.” it was taking all his will power not to haul off and strangle him right there “On second thought do. It will save the world the trouble of having to deal with you. And later disposing of your sorry ass. So do us all a favor and kill yourself.”

“I think that’s quite enough Mr. Serrano.” the headmaster said forcefully. “You will both have petitions out for Miss Vaughn, you both made that quite clear. I advise both of you to stay away from her until the announcement is made next week. Unless of course you have class with her. I believe each of you has at least one that you assist her teachers?” both guys nodded and the headmaster grinned “Wonderful, you both may go.”

They both stood and bowed. Each threw the other a dirty look and headed for the door. As Alex reached for the door knob the headmaster called after them “Oh and boys,” they turned and waited “please refrain from telling too many about the law. I don’t want a panic running amuck through the school.”

They mumbled ‘yes sir.’ and left. Aaron closed the door after them and Alex stormed away not trusting himself to linger. Aaron caught up to him though and grabbed his shoulder.

“Don’t think that just because you told me to stay away from her, it doesn’t mean she won’t stay away from me.”