#anywhere

The Guidance Counselor's office awaits... the door is open, clearly a sign of a policy.

"Yes'm?"

The lady points to a chair, "Please , have a seat, Adam. "

He plants himself.

The woman appears to be short of middle age, and of a hard to place ethnic heritage , her glasses are disturbingly huge giving her eyes an owlish appearence. Indeed, Adam may be surprised she is NOT soem kind of Owl pooka. "I'm Mrs. Pines. Adam, this is your first day at our school.. so you may not be aware of our policies on hate speech"

"Huh?"

"Hate Speech, racial, ablest, or... in your case, homophobic in nature" Mrs Pines frowns

"HUH???"

"Apparently you got into an altercation with one of our students on your first day," She says "And, someone over heard you calling him a .." She takes a deep breath "A fairy. Now. I do not know the student's orientation, whether he is a member of the LGBT community or not... and it is not my business. HOwever, neither is it yours, and even if he is... I must warn you, we have FIRM policies against this sort of thing."

"Now, Adam, did you or did you not call one of your peers a 'Fairy'?" She says

A shrug.

"I'll have to take that as a 'did not deny it'" She shakes her head "Adam , why did you use a word that you must know is a slur, agaisnt someone?"

Shrug.

"This is a serious accusation, Adam. This is no way to start your school year. Detention, or even expulsion, are not unheard of."

"Kay."

"Do you have anything to actually say in regards to this? " Mrs. Pines frowns

Shrug.

"Okay. Look, this is your first offense on your first day. So while a warning is going into the file, it is just that a warning" She reaches over and pulls out some pamphlets "I want you to do yourself a favor and read each one of these. Okay?" The pamphlets read America: The Any Orientation Nation! , Tolerance: The Road to Unity!, and , of course, So you've been hateful today?

Adam stands. "Thanks." Politely, but without touching anything, he leaves......unless stopped? And where he goes....

"Adam. " She says and PUTS the pamphlets in his hands, then one more thing "This a note for your first period teacher. "

"Okay."

"Now back to your first period, and hopefully a better fresher start for your first day in these hallowed halls of learning. And Adam? You're not a bad person, but that was a VERY bad thing to say." And she shoos him out

Adam leaves the office...

... and the school. He heads to his car. 'cause he can.

ANd he finds Mr. Gardener there.

Adam is sullen.

"What?" Finally.

"Ditching on your first day? Really?" Vali says "I don't have enough French students as it is and you're baling? WHen I hear d your name on the PA I figured something happened sure... but bad enough to bail? Can't be that bad can it?"

"Screw this and screw you." Muttered as he jerks his car open.

And it shuts as the big man puts a hand to it before Adam can get toit, "Hey. What the hell did I do to you?"

"I'm serious. I'd really like to know." He says "Is this a kithain related thing?"

"Whatever." the kid turns away "Fine, I'm not..... whatever. Fine."

"You're not fine, or more accurately, this is not a fine day. What happened? Sounds like shit hit on day one, and mortal or not, NO One wants that on the damn first day"

"Yeah, ok, I screwed up on my first day. Whatever. Done?" Adam looks up at the French teacher with hot eyes.

"No. I'm not looking for a confession, I'm trying to help. Dude, whatever you think of me, I'm a teacher. I'm supposed to fight for your education even when you don't. I wish I had a rousing movie speech about it, but you've probably seen them to and I'm not the best actor. I hear rumors you almost got into a fight, then hear about the Counselor wanting you.. and I See you carrying pamphlets and a chip on your shoulder. Neither of which is particularly useful"

"Want 'em" He shoves the paperwork. "Okay. Can I go now? You arresting me, or something?"

"More or something. Look, don't make me call big guns, please. I don't want to be that guy"

Adam slumps against his car. "Whatever."

"Seriously man, what would your mom say to you trying to race home like this?"

A frown "Hey, is it Dirk? did dirk threaten to beat you up after school?"

"That asshole can't threaten me with shit." Flat. "You're part of the club, tell him I said to bring it. Where, and when?

"Part of the Club? " He looks up "Wow. I owe many mentors thank you cards. I see that now." He leans against the car and turns to see Adam, "I"m not Dirk's secretary. Frankly, I leave his development to other more patient individuals , and I will, until he takes French. It's YOU I'm asking after. You got the look of someone who feels they just got bent over without lube. "

He pauses "mm with that metaphor, I think I'll keep one of these pamphlets after all"

Adam flushes at that, and scowls.

"What's 'fuck you' in French, then?" He dares.

"va te faire foutre is "Fuck you" He says "If you prefer, there is 'va te faire enculer' which is "Go fuck yourself"" Vali says "Go ahead, try either one. You know you want to"

Adam puffs dismissively and does neither.

"All right, but you're missing an opportunity" He looks over the pamphlets "mm elementary watson, they think you're .,.homophobic? Why would they... "He rolls his eyes "Oh no. SOme Narc heard you use the F word didn't they?..and I don't mean FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE either"

"Whatever. He wants to throw down, tell him where I'll be."

"Dude. I haven't spoken to him. Not sure why you're still treating me like his secretary. I'm here for you. To hell with Dirk, your'e the one trying to run out on school"