where all the poets went to die [dead poets society]

16 - oh-so-grateful

"Probation?"

Maria shrugged. "Mr. Snuggles' words, not mine."

"What happens after probation?"

Maria's cheeks turned pink and she dropped Mr. Snuggles back onto her bed. "Perhaps we don't go as slow," she said softly.

Charlie squeezed her hand. "You'll let me know when I pass?"

"Mr. Snuggles will let you know," Maria said and revelled in Charlie's chuckle.

"Okay."

Charlie's attention was soon drawn to the record player in the corner of her room and he let go of her hand to step over there. A few records she had brought from home were stacked neatly beside it. He picked one up, examining it with interest. "You have good taste in music, doll," he remarked, looking back at Maria. "I heard you know how to sing."

Maria's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "How did you know that?" She asked, surprised. She had only ever told Todd about that.

Charlie shrugged. "I have my ways," he teased, winking at her and refusing to elaborate on how he had lost a pair of Buddy Holly-style sunglasses and a pretty penny to Todd for that information. "Come on, sing something for me. I bet you have a beautiful voice."

Maria shook her head quickly, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I don't know," she said, feeling suddenly very shy. "I'm not very good."

"I doubt that," Charlie said, moving closer to her, taking her hand in his and pulling her towards him. "You're good at everything. You're my genius girl."

Maria nibbled on her bottom lip.

"Come on," Charlie pleaded, his voice low and persuasive. "Just a little something. I promise I won't judge."

Maria hesitated for a moment before relenting, giving in to Charlie's charm. She nodded to the record player. "Put something on," she said and Charlie moved quickly to do as she asked. Maria cleared her throat as the first notes rang from the player. Her voice trembled slightly but she began to sing along to the soft, sweet melody.

Charlie listened in awe, captivated by the sound of her voice.

After a few moments, she stopped singing and the two of them stood there for a moment, the silence between them filled with a newfound intimacy as the lyrics of the slow love song continued.

Charlie shifted his hands and smiled when Maria caught onto what he was doing and they began to dance softly to the music, swaying together as the room began to dim into the early evening. It felt like Charlie and Maria were the only two people in the world, lost in the moment, and lost in each other.

••●••

The dinner bell rang and students began rushing down the hall.

"What's for dinner?"

"I heard it's spaghetti and meatballs!"

Neil came up the stairs as everyone else swarmed down to the cafeteria. "Save some for me," he called out before beginning to recite a line from his practice. "But, room, Fairy! Here comes Oberon."

He opened the door to his room and jumped when he found his father sitting at his desk.

"Father."

"Neil."

"Wait a minute," Neil breathed, sensing the tense air immediately. "Before you say anything, please let me ex-"

His father rose from the desk. "Don't you dare talk back to me!" He bellowed. "It's bad enough that you wasted your time with this, this absurd acting business. But you deliberately deceived me! How, how, how did you expect to get away with this? Answer me. Who put you up to it? Was it this new man? This, uh, Mr. Keating?"

"No!" Neil shook his head furiously. "Nobody - I thought I'd surprise you. I've gotten all A's in every class."

Neil could feel an uncomfortable lump beginning to form at the base of his throat, squeezing it tight.

"Did you think I wasn't going to find out? 'Oh, my niece is in a play with your say,' says Mrs. Marks. 'No, no, no' I say, 'you must be mistaken. My son's not in a play.' You made me a liar, Neil! Now, tomorrow you go to them and you tell them that you're quitting."

"No, I can't!" Neil shook his head, his voice trembling despite his wanting nothing more than to sound strong. "I have the main part. The performance is tomorrow night."

"I don't care if the world comes to an end tomorrow night," Mr. Perry seethed. "You are through with that play. Is that clear? Is that clear?"

Neil swallowed, tears pricking his eyes. "Yes, sir."

Mr. Perry nodded once and turned to leave. "I made a great many sacrifices to get you here, Neil, and you will not let me down."

Neil once again, swallowed his words and shook his head once. "No, sir."

••●••

In the cafeteria, the group save for Neil, laughed amongst themselves at the absurdity and difficulty of the task they had invented amongst themselves.

"East of Eden is by far the best James Dean movie," Knox said, continuing the banter the group had started on their way down to the cafeteria.

"Nah," Charlie shook his head. "Rebel Without a Cause is better."

"Why am I unsurprised that you like Rebel Without a Cause more," Maria gave Charlie an amused expression.

"Because you know me well, precious," Charlie said without missing a beat. "Just like how I know your favourite is Roman Holiday."

Maria looked at him, wide-eyed. "How did you - I've never told you that. How did you know?"

Charlie grinned and reached over to tug on one of her curls. "Told you I know you," he said and leaned toward her, about to press a kiss to her cheek.

Just then, Hager walked up to the table and Maria and Charlie sprang apart quickly.

"Mr. Dalton," Hager said, eyeing the group, and Charlie straightened up quickly.

"Sir?" He asked.

Hager looked around the table. "Are you gentlemen - and lady - normally all left-handed?" He asked.

The boys looked at one another. "No sir," one of them said quickly.

"Then why, praytell, are you eating with your left hands?" Hager asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We thought it would be good to break old habits, Sir," Knox said.

Hager looked unimpressed. "And what's wrong with old habits, Mr. Overstreet?"

"Well, they perpetuate mechanical living, Sir," Knox said in a matter-of-fact tone. "They limit your mind."

Hager gave Knox a stern look. "I suggest you worry less about breaking old habits and more about developing good study habits," he said. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir," Knox said, looking chagrined as his friends around him held in snickers.

"That goes for all of you," Hager said, grabbing one of them by the left hand. "Now, eat with your correct hands."

Everyone quickly swapped their utensils into their right hand and began to eat, but Charlie couldn't resist. As soon as Hager had turned his back, he shoved an enormous meatball into his mouth with his left hand.

Maria giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "You're going to get into trouble," she said, flicking his nose.

Charlie grinned. "It's worth it," he said.

The boys laughed, and Maria felt a warm sense of belonging wash over her. These boys were her friends and she was oh-so-grateful to have them all in her life, every last one of them.

She wasn't sure what the future held - for who could be sure - but she knew that she would always cherish these moments with her friends. They were all so different, but somehow, they all fit together perfectly. Maria felt lucky to be a part of their group, and she couldn't imagine her life without them - without any one of them.

She smiled to herself and took a deep breath, trying to hold on to this feeling of belonging and happiness as long as she could.