Afraid.

Bryce tapped his pen on his desk as he stared at the clock in his last class. Today he had to stay over and talk to his teacher, Ritz, who seemed to have dropped his grades for whatever means. Bryce was a top A student before this so why he was now failing made no sense to him or anyone really. Even Smitty had higher grades than him and he was the one who helped the man with his homework and such. Smitty, being the friend he is, tried to talk to Ritz himself but the teacher replied with, "I've asked Bryce to see me about his problems." And that was that.

No matter how hard Smitty tried to get answers he was shoved off a bridge after each attempt. Finally Bryce had told him it was okay and that he'd meet the teacher if that's all he wanted him to do.

The bell rang.

Bryce stood to his feet and grabbed his stuff before dashing out the room. Part of him was curious but the half was telling him he had failed the blonde on purpose. As Bryce wrapped his fingers around the knob he took a deep breath and then he opened the door. Ritz looked up and smiled wildly when he seen his favorite student standing in the doorway. "Bryce! For a moment I thought it was Smitty." Ritz chuckled out as he stood. "Guess you're here about your grades?"

Bryce found he had lost his voice at how dangerous his professor sounded at that last part. "Yes sir." He managed to say without showing fear. Ritz leaned back after dropping his pen and sighed. "Well Bryce, I've noticed you've been distracted here lately..your mind seems to be elsewhere. You're already failing my class and there's not much opportunity I give.." Bryce got a feeling he knew where this was going and he didn't like it at all. His stomach had turned in a knot..

"And..?"

"I'm going to give you an opportunity to pass the whole class Bryce. All I want," he stood and walked to the blonde, fingers ghosting over his cheek. "Well, I'm pretty sure you know what I want."

He shivered at those words. Bryce wouldn't dare do it just because he wanted to pass this class for all he cared he could fail. With enough strength he managed to push the male off him and stand his ground. "I don't know what you got in mind but I'm not interested in staying after. I'll catch up myself." Bryce was putting all then strength he had into those words and it was scary, he had never used such tone with anyone before now. "Fine," Ritz shrugged and made his way back to his desk. He lazyily plopped back down. "I expect better out of you then McQuaid."

With that Bryce left and his knees felt weak when he seen his friend standing by the doorway leading out. "Hey Bryce man you okay?" Smitty asked as he watched his friend fall on the wall and take deep breathes. Smitty held onto his friends shoulder as the younger male tried to calm himself down, after what seemed like forever the male finally calmed his nerves. "I just.." He paused as his eyes locked with brown ones, making him feel uneasy again.

"You just what?"

"It's nothing.." Bryce sighed as he hung his head in defeat. He didn't understand why Ritz even bothered because he knew the student wouldn't even bother. Suddenly his phone went off and he pulled it out of his pocket to see his girlfriend was calling him which had caused him to groan out in annoyance as he held his head. "This day can't get worse."

Smitty snatched the phone from him and turned it off before grinning at his friend as he handed it back to him. Bryce couldn't help but chuckle at his friends behavior. "Yeah she shouldn't have done dat right there." Smitty said as he pointed to the phone.

"Bryce," The two men stopped talking and the one who had been called on looked to the teacher. "Can I see you in my room a moment?" Bryce nodded and hugged Smitty before following the older male to his room. In the room, Bryce found a seat in front of Wrecker's desk and sat there until the older male was sitting in his chair facing him. "Bryce I heard about your grades in Ritz.." He began as he shifted in his seat. "I also heard that Smitty and you have been disrupting.."

Bryce nearly screamed in anger at everything Ritz has told the man in front of it. "That's a lie! Ryan I was passing until he purposely failed me!" He cried out as he stood from his desk. "I figured..just a few days ago he bragged about how you were top but what about Smitty and you?" Silence. "Bryce?"

The thing with Smitty was also a dirty lie that Ritz must've told him because there was no way Smitty and him were causing a distraction. Bryce admits that they joke around sometimes in class but it's only for a short second and it's not bothering anyone because they sit in the far back away from others. He clenched his first.

"Smitty and I aren't even beside anyone so it wouldn't matter.."

Ryan sighed as he sat his pen down. "You can't just joke around in class Bryce. Ritz could kick you out if he wanted too." He watched as Bryce crossed his arms and looked away from his gaze, "Bryce please just, try to calm it down.. I suggest you change teachers anyways.."

"Why?"

"I just do.."

"You don't like him do you?"

"Around you? No I don't.",

"Ryan you've not even got anything to fear yet your tone says differently. It's like high school all over again!"

"I've got a lot to fear now Bryce because just like high school I was drug back under."

"Then what Ryan? What're you afraid of?"

"Losing you again!"