C.O.D.E
/“ Don’t be in the hallway, please don’t be in the halls.” Marcus walks at a brisk pace through the doors of Vermouth High to avoid another lecture from Principal Den on his tardiness. His gaze shifts to a crowd of students. “Stop, let me through...Make way, before I give everyone detention,” Marcus yells as he pushes himself through the sea of bodies. “ Stop, I said” He pulls them apart. “ I said stop... in my office now,” He instructs fiercely staring them down, “ And for the rest of you, go to class now.” The crowd quickly dissipate, Marcus walks towards his office and from the hallway can still hear the boys loudly arguing.
“Why the hell did you punch me. I thought we were boys,” Leo questioned.
“ You thought I was never going to find out,” Shawn responded, “ Fuck that.”
“ Mind your language Shawn,” Marcus interrupts slamming the door behind him. He notices that the boys have already distanced themselves from how spaced out his chairs were from one another, “ We do not allow this type of behaviour here at Vermouth High.” “ Explain yourselves,” he adds.
“ I should knock you out for this,” Leo said patting his face and checking his hand to see if he is cut and bleeding.
“ Go on then... knock me out, what more can you possibly do to me?”
“ Hey, hey. No violent talk here,” Marcus demanded slamming his hand on his desk. “ Can someone explain this to me?”
“ Yes Shawn, can you explain this? I would love to know.”
“ Shut up...He fucked my girl sir. What kind of friend does that?”
“ That’s a lie. You don’t even have a girl”
“ Shawn, your language. I won’t say again.” Marcus says.
“ Sorry Mr. Jakes. He knew how I felt about this girl. I brought her to the movies and i bought her stuff. How could you do this?”
“ All of this over Ava... She’s your crush. Not your girlfriend.”
Marcus clenches his teeth and takes a deep breath as he tries to not burst into laughter scooting his chair forward to listen to these young men dispute about a woman that neither are dating. “ Shawn...Is she your girlfriend or a crush?” Marcus asks
“ She is not officially but we’re close enough that he shouldn’t have done that,”
Marcus looks at Leo waiting for him to respond to these accusations.
“ I don’t want to talk about that with you Mr. Jakes. I’m not very comfortable with that.”
“I completely get that. You don’t feel like talking about this with someone like me or any adult for that matter. Understand that not having the space to have this dialogue is the reason why we’re here... How long have you two been friends?” Marcus responds.
“ Since the 2nd grade.” They both answer.
“ Nine years... Do you plan on being friends for life?” Marcus continues, “ You can’t start fighting each other whenever you two have any arguments. You must live by a code, gentlemen.”
“ The bro code mr.Jakes?” Leo asks.
“ Yes, exactly.” Marcus affirms.
“ From How I Met Your Mother ?” Shawn questions.
“ No, I'm not referring to the show... The code is an agreement amongst friends that you usually set between one another. Rules that are in place to have each others best interest at heart, always being honest, and never ever allow each other to lose face in public.” Marcus replies staring at them to see if they understood.
Leo’s face changes and his demeanour loosens. He turns to Shawn and opens up.
“Hey man, look...she’s not some chick that you didn’t care about. I could not see the benefit of telling you that we had sex before...Let me finish... I’m sorry I didn't say anything. I honestly was not trying to have you look stupid. I just wanted to keep seeing you happy.” Leo reaches his arm. “ Do you accept my apology?”
“ I’m sorry for hitting you,” Shawn picks up his bag from the floor and exits the office.
“ I’m sorry Leonard, but he’ll come around. He just needs to see this for what it is, a misunderstanding,” Marcus insists.
“ I hope so...Thanks anyway Mr. Jakes.”
Marcus nods and walks Leo to the door. “ What a way to start your day,” bursting into laughter. “ I need a coffee.”
Exits the office and walks towards the teachers lounge. Marcus looks down at the new coffee mug he received this morning and can’t help but smile . The door flung open and Marcus eagerly rushes to the coffee pot.
“Do we need to take action because of those boys?” Marcus could recognized that raspy almost phlegm congested sounding voice from anywhere.
“No, they are good boys. A little misunderstanding. I’ll follow up with them throughout the week.”
Marcus responds as he pours himself a nice cup of that hot, rich, caffeinated nectar. He can hear the heel clicking sound getting closer and closer, “ Should’ve came to me with this,” the voice challenged.
“ Yes Mafelda. Sorry Mrs. Den, I should've brought it to your attention. Sorry.”
“Don’t think I won't put you on review because you’re my brother.”
“ I wouldn’t dream of nepotism coming from you,” Marcus replied sarcastically and quickly lifting his mug for a sip.
Mrs. Den sees the mug and reads Sexiest Man Alive aloud and chuckles. “ Negro please.”
The day went by smoothly and quickly. Marcus logged this morning fight and conversation to be remedied through the upcoming weeks. He answered all emails and filed all documents that needed to hit Mrs. Den’s desk for approvals. Double-checked his schedule for all that could’ve been overlooked. He packs up and heads home.
“ Honey, I'm home!” Marcus screamed as he enters his 2 bedroom apartment.
“ Are we in a 70’s TV show?” Chelle answers mockingly.
Marcus laughs dropping off his bag, “come here girl, I’ve missed you.” He grabs her by her back and kisses her passionately.
“ Wow...I missed you too. How was your day?”
“ It actually went well...i finally put that psychology degree to work. These two boys almost ripped each other’s heads off today over a girl, and I sat them down and actually had them talk it out like men.” Marcus opens the fridge and takes out the leftovers. Chelle in an oversized hoodie looks at him with lust in her eyes. “I’m starving, I couldn't wait to get home.Thank god for these thanksgiving leftovers.” Marcus adds.
“ You want some?” Chelle asks.
“ Some of what?” Marcus replies looks at her and stares for a second.
“Well, hum, I was craving some sweets.” Chelle bites her lips and signals him over, and so he does as instructed with a smile on his face.
Forty-five minutes later……
“ooouuuhhh...Thank you for that,” Chelle exhales wiping the sweat off her neck.
“ I try,” Marcus responds as he swings himself to sit up.
“ You certainly do, so what happened between the two boys?”
“ They really just needed some man to man advice on how to deal with one another and maneuver in this world when women are involved.”
“ And, what did you tell them?”
“Misunderstanding can ruin a friendship and always make sure to always talk to one another before reacting.”
“ Basically bros before hoes,” she quickly comments.
“ No, Communication is key. In both friendships and relationships.”
“ Think they’ll follow it?”
“ Not too sure, but I hope so.”
“ I hope so too...Do you want me to heat up the food for you?”
“ Please and Thank You.”
Chelle puts on the oversized hoodie and with her weakened legs wobbles herself to the kitchen.
“Babe, the family channel is playing a HP marathon,” Marcus screams out.
“ Yes, I don't remember the last time I watched the Harry Potter movies,” Chelle responds.
The very next day, a troubled Shawn knocks on the guidance councilor's door.
“ It’s open,” he hears as he slowly opens the door.
“ Do you have a minute Mr.Jakes?” Shawn asks as he passes through the door.
Marcus looks up and replies,
“ Mr. Isaacs, it’s you, yes of course I have a minute. I needed to see you anyway.”
“Do you still remember yesterday?”
“ Yes I do and I want to help.”
“I cannot get the whole Leo and Ava thing out of my head. She just seem dirty to me now,” with a look of disgust.
“ Wait a minute...Does she know about your past? And the other girls you are rumoured to have had relations with?” Marcus interjects unhappy about where this conversation is going.
“ No but…”
“ No but’s, she doesn’t judge about that why would you judge her,” Marcus adds while offering a bottle of water.
“ No she doesn’t. Ever!” accepting the water.
“ Do you trust Leonard’s word?”
“Yes”
“He cannot take it back. I can tell that he would if he could. He will never purposely do that to you right?”
“ I guess not.”
“ Show them with the same love they give you.”
“ How do i forget about them two?” Shawn pleaded, his face turning red and his teeth clenching to keep his anger from leaking through.
“ You won’t but you must accept that it happened before you even met her and understand that this is not a betrayal from either one.”
“ I don’t know Mr. Jakes.”
“ He couldn’t have possibly have known you too would’ve met.”
“ It coincidental i understand, i guess my ego cannot accept it.” Shawn comments as he gets up and walks to the door. “ Thanks for listening. It means a lot to have an adult that actually cares and listens.”
“ Anytime Mr. Isaacs, i will always be here if you need to talk.” Marcus reassures as he smiles in excitement on the fact that he finally was able to help a student with a personal matter. What a wonderful feeling to see teens willing to sit down and express themselves instead of internalizing pent-up traumas.
Marcus dives back into his work with a little bit of enthusiasm. He phones starts vibrating and he can see some text message and replies;
From Tae to Marcus : Gym and lounge after. It’s decided
From Marcus to Tae : I'll be there
From Chelle to Marcus : Will be home late. See you tonight. Love you
From Marcus to Chelle: No problem love. Hanging out with the boys tonight.
From Tae to Marcus : Bet. And Vinnie is coming to the gym with us.
From Chelle to Marcus : 😘 😘 😘
“ You didn’t answer me. Am I wrong for thinking this?” Tae asks as he spots Marcus on the bench.
“ what happened again?” Marcus asks continuing to bench.
“ Alright boom, last Saturday night at the W. Terry is feeling this waitress right. I go to the bathroom to drain the main vein cause you know how liquor runs through the body.”
“ Get to the point Tae,” Vincent interjects. “So dramatic.”
“ wait, it’s coming,” Tae continues. “ That same waitress catches me outside the bathroom and starts flirting. Gives me her number and everything. So as a great friend that I am, I tell Terry. And you know Terry had the audacity to get mad at me.”
“ Can you blame him?!” Vincent answers.
“ It’s not the first time he lost a girl to you.” Marcus says as he gets up allowing Tae to get on the bench.
“ Can you add 10’s on each side, please...i wasn’t even flirting and i told him. What more could I have done?”
“ You could’ve just ignored her and let Terry shoot the shot even if he misses.”
“ Vinnie’s not wrong, The fact that women keep choosing you over him. After a while, that can fuck with someone’s ego.”
“ This shit hurts. What are y’all saying? I’m THE asshole in this story?” Tae asks shockingly.
“ Yes.”
“ Pretty much.”
“ Wow… That’s crazy,” Tae responds as he does a quick 8 rep. “ We’re all meeting tonight. I’m talking to you Marcus. No flaking from you. I'll apologize to Terry.”
“ I’ll be there. You of all people apologizing. I must see that.” Marcus answers jokingly.
“ I have my set to do. So, move Tae.” Vincent says completely ignoring Tae’s resolution to remedy his relationship with Terry.
After 75 minutes of the recommended workout time. Marcus, Tae , Vincent exit the weight room and head to the locker rooms.
“ I need shower bad,” Vinnie says after taking off his sweaty shirt.
“ I need to go home for a shower.”
“ Aren’t you the one who said we’re heading to a lounge after the gym.”
“ Yes, but I'm going to shower at home.”
“ Just use the showers here.”
“ Heck no, i’m still young and refused to be one of those old guys that just walk around naked with their wrinkled up monsters just swaying.”
The locker room burst into laughter, Tae packs ups and waves goodbye exiting the locker room. Marcus and Vinnie goes to their respective stalls for a shower.
“ Was Tae doing the right thing all along. I mean he’s making sure that his friend doesn’t lose face in a situation like courting. Those same ideals I expressed to those boys the other day. So why didn’t I side with Tae. Leo did precisely what we told Tae to do moving forward and that didn’t turn out so well. What makes Terry’s situation so different. The code clearly states to have each other’s best interest at heart and yet to be truthful. How do we then know which should take precedence if the truth and interest conflict?” Marcus tries to process under the nice cool shower.
“ Marcus...Tae just messaged me the location”
“ Okay! Almost done.”
To be continued…..