Honeysuckle Love

Chapter 2

Chapter 2It was decided that Keller’s school guidance counselor would become the equivalent of his parole officer. Essentially, it would be her job to monitor him and make sure he was progressing with his service hours.

He took a seat on an oversized chair in her cluttered office. “So, Carol, did you miss me?”

“I think to miss someone you have to spend some time apart from them. You seemed to have taken a permanent residence in my office the last two years.”

Keller leaned forward on her desk, propping up his head with his elbows. “Maybe I just don’t want you to get lonely.”

“Maybe, but my money is on a lack of impulse control.” Carol sighed. “Really, Andreas, you’re lucky it was only community service and not jail time. For God’s sake, stealing a vintage Rolls-Royce? What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking my current car is s**t. Don’t worry, though, I’m very remorseful. I’m just so gosh-darn eager to give back to my community.” His facetious smile was accompanied with a boy-scout salute.

Carol gave an involuntary eye roll. She liked Andreas Keller, she really did, but he was a right pain in the ass. She placed a large manila folder on her already crowded desk. “Honestly, I don’t have many opportunities for you. Most places don’t want you as a volunteer.”

“They’re rejecting unpaid slave labor?”

“No, they’re rejecting unnecessary risk. You’ve garnered yourself a reputation. Doesn’t help that you never take those damn things off,” Carol said while gesturing at his sunglasses.

He pushed them farther up the bridge of his nose. “Nothing I can do about it,” he said and shrugged. “Helps add to my aesthetic.”

“Because that giant snake tattoo and piercings weren’t enough of a statement?” she scoffed. “There is one thing I managed to find. It actually fits in well with your work and school schedule. For three hours every weekday you can volunteer at the Beauville Public Library after school.” Keller opened his mouth to speak, but Carol held up a finger. “Do not protest. I don’t want to hear how this cuts into your valuable time smoking behind the bleachers. This is the best option you’re going to find.”

* * * *

Keller let out an overly dramatic sigh and slid further into the well-worn chair. “That’s doable, I guess.” It was actually more than doable. He would have been royally f****d if he had to quit his job or cut back on hours. He worked only some weeknights, and it was mostly after closing.

“Also, as per suggestion of the court, I’ve paired you with a peer mentor. He’ll be here in a few minutes. He works at the library and will be with you during your volunteer hours. He made some adjustments to his schedule so he could work during your shift.”

“People were willing to make changes just to volunteer with me?” He placed a hand over his heart. “I’m touched.”

“Person,” Carol corrected. “I tried reaching out to multiple students who worked in the community. Mr. Samuels was the only one who agreed to spend any time with you. I’m assuming the rest were too afraid.”

“Wait, Samuels? As in one of Reverend Samuels’s brood? No, no way. They’re all self-righteous d***s!” Beauville was full of critical eyes, but the Samuels were especially harsh. It was a small, religious town and the reverend had an unusually strong pull on public opinions. Keller did not want to be on their radar.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Andreas. They’re not all bad,” Carol protested.

“Gabriel Samuels called me a ‘fag’ last year, remember? I ended up in your office after I broke his nose.”

“Gabriel has already graduated, and Cameron is—”

“Cameron? The quiet one who never talks to people? Nooo, he’s the weirdest one! At least his sister Ariel says what she’s thinking, instead of silently judging everyone.”

“Give this a chance, Andreas. Trust me when I say that this could be good for you.”

There were three gentle taps on the door. “Hello, Miss Bedford. I’m sorry, am I late?”

“Not at all.” Carol stood and waved her hand between the two boys. “Cameron, this is Andreas Keller. Andreas, this is Cameron Samuels.”

Keller somehow slouched further into his chair and turned to look at the person he’d be spending three hundred hours with. Cameron was in accelerated courses, so their paths rarely crossed. He had seen Cameron before, but the two had never spoken.

He was still standing hesitantly in the doorway, blue eyes shining like he was some sort of Disney character. He was wearing tan pants and an oversized green sweater, undoubtedly hand-me-downs his much-taller brother had worn last year. A mop of unruly, white-blond curls sat at the top of his round face. Overall, the man looked as threatening as a marshmallow. His full lips parted into a radiant smile as he reached out his hand.

“Pleased to meet you, Andreas.”

Had the circumstances been different, Keller might have admitted that Cameron was, for lack of a better word, “cute.” He shook away the thought.

Keller stared at Cameron’s manicured, pale hand and decided to shake it. It was surprisingly soft.

“Call me Keller,” he replied flatly.

Cameron beamed at him. “Well, Keller, I look forward to working with you.”

After quickly reviewing the terms of his community service, Carol shooed both of the boys out of her office. “I’ll give you some more time to get acquainted. Andreas, your service work begins today.”

After the door had shut, Keller turned to face Cameron. “So you’ve got nothing better to do? Not a single friend to spend time with you instead?” He gave the blond a pitying look. Maybe he could get Cameron to quit. If he was lucky, Cameron would at least rearrange his schedule so Keller wouldn’t be babysat while serving his sentence. “Or does Jesus keep you enough company?”

“I’m quite content with my social life, thank you very much,” Cameron said and sniffed. “You can’t insult me out of doing this, if that’s what you’re attempting to do. If it makes you feel better, I’m not in love with this arrangement either.”

“Then quit.”

“I’ve already agreed to work with you and I don’t go back on my word. Also, you’re required to have a peer mentor and it sounds like no one else will help you.”

Keller clenched his fists, making Cameron flinch. “I don’t need anyone else’s help—never have,” he growled.

“That doesn’t seem to be true at the moment. It might help if you tried being nice to your peers.” Cameron began walking down the hallway, but called over his shoulder. “My shift starts at 3:30 P.M. I’ll meet you by the reference desk. Don’t be late.”

The library was a half hour walk from the school. Keller considered offering him a ride, but decided against it. The less time he could spend with this sanctimonious bastard, the better.

* * * *

Keller walked outside and leaned against the stone school building. He had barely inhaled the first puff of his cigarette when it was plucked from his fingers.

He turned, fists clenched. “What the f**k, Desi?”

Desi smiled as she proceeded to smoke his cigarette. “Is that any way to greet your friends? We wanted to know if you were free tonight. My sister Sabrina is officially twenty-one so we don’t need that fake ID you used anymore.”

“No, I’m not free. Unlike you assholes,” Keller growled, “I have a job and community service to go to.”

She exhaled a cloud of smoke in his face, making his eyes burn. “Ditch it.”

Her matter-of-fact tone made Keller’s blood boil. “You realize I could go to f*****g jail, right? I’m the one doing all three hundred hours of f*****g community service for you dumbasses.”

Their friend, Eric, finally leaned forward. “Heard you got stuck with one of the Samuels as a babysitter. What a s**t deal.”

Keller glared at them. “Maybe the sentence wouldn’t have been so long if one of you t***s had been willing to testify on my behalf.”

Eric smirked. “No point in having all of us get punished. You’re supposed to be the tough one, right? You can handle putting up with a holier-than-thou d**k for a few months.” Eric clapped a hand on Keller’s shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll be good for you anyways, being inspired by the light.” Everyone started snickering as he mock gagged at the sentiment.

“Look, we’re sorry,” Desi said in a tone that did not convey any remorse. How about we make this up to you? Or, at least, we make this more interesting.”

Keller fished another cigarette out of his pocket before answering. “I’m listening.”