Chapter 7: The Undue Side Effects Of Anxious Pressure

Ridgemont High School, Felton Dr., Fallon Creek, Michigan...

Alarick Michael Channon was in something of a foul mood as he shuffled through the all too familiar halls of Ridgemont High School and toward his morning class. He had not been fond of having to be in this place, the loud noises, the bright lights, and the arrogant condescension that came from every one of his teachers who thought their classrooms made them the de facto power of the world had annoyed him to no end. His mood had not improved in the last four years following the murder of his entire family, everyone had known the story and they knew what he was like before. In the old days, he was a happy kid, helpful and kind. His test scores gave people something to strive for and his frequent participation in the Summer League for Basketball was the stuff of high school legend. The Channon family always frequented Fallon Creek during their vacations as Audra Ann Reynolds, had been born and raised there before taking off for college where she met and fell in love with her husband, Det. Vincent Michael Channon and they started a family. She enjoyed coming back to her place of birth and sharing experiences with her family and made it a point to do so almost every year.

Rick, was big on athletics...especially basketball which was his favorite sport. His father had played some in high school and college but never took it seriously enough to make a career out of it. He was more interested in law and eventually became a detective. For a long time everyone thought that was where Rick himself was headed, and if his Dad had anything to say about it, he would have. Unfortunately, the deaths and the subsequent shooting took away all those dreams and aspirations as Rick wasn't keen on crowds or loud noises as a result of his lingering PTSD and he'd been even less inclined to put on a show for anyone when his parents would never be able to venture into the stands.

He hated the school.

He hated the looks of pity and wonder as he moved about the halls.

The loud noise and the bickering of things didn't even matter to him.

No one had been any the wiser as to just how much that fateful night had changed him inside and out.

Rick made a show of dusting off his attire but caught the lingering scent of the new arrival, a younger teenage boy who had appeared out of place on the front steps leading toward the school. He let out a low growl as he glared down at the bumbling fool with messy brown hair and a thin baby face. He'd been much too young in the ways of the real world and it seemed his eyes reflected that innocence. Rick had come in hot, after overdoing it while running toward the pace and neglected to slow down as he was pressed for time. He had barely any time to maneuver properly before colliding with the new boy and crashing to the ground.

It was an odd experience, as the very scent of the boy had done things to him that he had not been prepared for and it repulsed him to no end that his wayward cock had responded to the friction, and his blood boiled in his veins. The low moan that escaped the lips of the native teen had only made the situation all the worse for him as it added to the already heightened sense of arousal Rick was suffering from due to the landing.

After glaring at the boy and making his annoyance with the entire situation known, Rick made his way inside the school where he heard the boy scrambling after him on their way to class. He didn't say a word to him and the brooding expression on his face seemed to be warning enough for anyone else that had the foolish notion of approaching him.

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The Corridor, Ridgemount High School, Fallon Creek, Michigan...

Casey Peterson was more or less in shock with how the angry teen seemed to handle a normal day of school and the fact that he smelled of cigarette smoke and booze this early in the morning. He'd been sweating profusely and his hair was slick from it. There was something else, something oddly intoxicating about him that made Casey a bit out of sorts as he recalled feeling light-headed while the angry boy towered above him. He had not meant to be any trouble and he certainly had not meant to make anyone angry let alone on his first day.

He began to feel the onset of anxiety fill him his breathing got shallow and his knees grew weak. He could see the old images of Royce Tanner and hear the laughter from the bastards he called friends as he shoved his head into the toilet drowning him despite the amusement. Casey felt his body give way and he was headed back toward the floor when he heard the voice of the angry teen who had prevented his fall.

"Hey!?" he said with a hint of concern despite their earlier introduction. "Are you okay kid?"

Casey said nothing as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and everything went blank for a few moments.

"Hold on." he heard before his vision faded entirely and the sound was muffled out. "I've got you."

After some time, Casey found himself awakening in a nearby boy's bathroom with the angry teen leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. He seemed to have been waiting for a bit despite the ticking of the clock and the fact that they were late for their first-period class.

Casey slowly managed to sit up and get back to his feet as the angry boy watched him from a distance.

"You alright kid?" he asked with an arched brow. "You were gonna bite it back there."

"I-I'm fine," replied Casey startled by the fact that he'd been so nice to him, especially after their first encounter.

"You sure?" asked the angry teen boy once more. "You don't look so good."

Casey sighed annoyed with himself for appearing so weak on the first day of school.

"I-I'm fine, it's just the altitude probably," he said in his defense.

"Sure." replied the angry boy. "Anyway, you're late to Hizen's class because of your little stunt and he'll probably let it slide with you being new and all."

"Hizen?" asked Casey caught off guard by the name.

"He's our first-period English teacher." replied the angry teen. "That is where you were headed before you nearly bit it out in the corridor."

Casey took a deep breath to gather his thoughts.

"I suppose it was," he said.

"Well you look to be doing better." said the angry boy. "Take care and whatnot."

He said before exiting the bathroom. Casey took a few moments before doing the same venturing out into the hall and nearly catching up to him as he prepared to enter the room of their first-period class. As the boy had told him, they were both late but not by much despite every one of the good desks being taken when they got ready to enter the class. Only two remained on the left side of the class which happened to be near one another.

"No time like the present," said Casey to himself as he followed the angry boy inside the room.

The teacher and the class turned their attention to the new arrivals which only made Casey want to squirm all the more.