The Boy I Bothered to Love

Westridge International School smells like new paint and old money. Theo didn't walk through the glass door alone. His father drove him. A black Bentley stopped at the gate. The window rolled down. His father’s voice was cold. "Behave, Theo. One problem and I'll cut you off. Don't make the Laurent name look bad." No good luck. No bye. Just behave. Theo slammed the door and walked inside. The principal's office was next. "Mr. Laurent," she said, "your behaviour during your St. Adrain's was... enlightening. Aggressive behaviour. Physical altercation." Theo said nothing. "Westridge believes in second chances,” she continued. “But I expect you to conduct yourself with decorum. Am I clear?” "Crystal," Theo said. She handed him a schedule. First class: Homeroom 2C. He walked out of the principal's office and went down the hall. He pushed the door open without knocking. Twenty heads turned. One didn’t. A boy in the back row was writing, head down, ignoring the commotion like Theo was just air. The teacher said, "Oh! Are you the new transfer student? Come to the front and introduce yourself to the classmates." "Theo Laurent," he said. The teacher smiled. "Theo, welcome to our class and I'm Ms. Reyes, your new teacher." She looked toward the back of the room. “Finn Kelly sits in the back. You can sit with him, Theo.” Finn looked up from his desk. He was in the last row, by the window. He didn’t look happy. “Finn, Theo is new here,” Ms. Reyes said. “Please show him around the school. Help him with his studies.” Finn sighed. “Fine.” “Finn’s yours, Theo,” Ms. Reyes added. “Make sure he doesn’t—” she smiled, “—burn the school down.” The class laughed. Finn didn’t. Theo walked to the back and dropped his bag next to Finn’s desk. “So you’re my babysitter?” Theo asked. Finn didn’t look at him. “I’m your class rep. Not your friend.” Theo leaned on Finn’s desk. “That’s what they all say at first.” “Westridge isn’t like your old school, Laurent,” Finn said. Theo grinned. “Good,” he said. “I hate my old school.”