“Hi, everyone, I’m Mr. Connors,” he said. “As I’m sure you’re all aware, it has been decided that during homeroom, we’re going to have to explore the elements of relationships.”
Everyone groaned. Homeroom was an excuse to sit around for twenty minutes while the register was called to make sure we were all present.
“Yeah, I know, it sucks. This isn’t part of your grade. The principal believes it’s a good time as any seeing as you’re now all seniors, and with a certain incident last semester, it’s time for us to explore all elements of relationships.”
Last semester, the rape incident.
I remembered the shit from the fallout.
A guy drugged a junior at a party, raped her, and then tried to claim they were in a relationship. Not cool. A huge investigation had happened. All of us had been interviewed. We’d been at the party, and I knew it had pissed Gideon off that someone had got hurt and we hadn’t known about it.
It had put a little dent in our reputation for senior year. We were supposed to be the fucking kings of the school and yet, we’d failed. Before the guy had been arrested and charged, we’d all pounded the shit out of him. He’d been on the football team, and he’d expected us to lie for him.
We made sure his ass was handed right into the police.
“So, as I’m sure you’re all aware, we’re going to be learning about this throughout the year. I want to also mention if that any of you feel at any time you’re being pressured to do things or are being abused in any way, then please do not hesitate to come and talk to me.”
The room was silent.
Didn’t he know who we all were?
Of course, we were all going to be pressured at some point to commit to a relationship none of us fucking wanted. This wasn’t a normal school. This was All Saints, the boarding school for the rich and famous. The next generation of business owners. The dominants of the world.
“So let’s start with the type of relationships,” he said.
No one said a word. Seconds ticked by.
“Parental,” Sian said, speaking up. “Mother and daughter. Father and daughter and of course vice versa for sons.”
“Good, correct, Miss…”
“Roberts. Sian Roberts.”
“Good.” He smiled and started to write on the board.
One by one, we all joined in.
“Fuck buddies,” William said.
“That’s not the kind of relationship I’m referring to.”
“So you have something against a chick or dude you fuck? Like, you stick your dick in it and that’s not a relationship at all?” William asked.
Mr. Connors went bright red as snickers erupted around the room. I chanced a look at Sian and saw she had also smiled.
“We’re talking a more detailed relationship.”
“How can you get more detailed than that?” Sian asked. “Are you saying that relationships can only be limited by blood or loyalty? What about love? What about basic human attraction? It’s all relevant.”
“We’re exploring the relationships on a familiar level.”
“Well that makes no sense,” Heather said. “You have relationships across the board. William’s views are a little blunt, but let’s face it, sex is considered the oldest profession in the book.”
“And you should know,” someone said at the front.
Heather rolled her eyes as Mr. Connors reprimanded the asshole who said it.
“Then what about the selection?” Sian asked.
This silenced the whole room.
“The selection?”
“You may be new to this school, but it’s something that is learned early on. You can pretend not to know, but what are your views on it? A single red rose given to one girl and she is expected to what, bow down? To belong to not one but four guys as if it’s some kind of honor?” she asked.
“It is an honor to be chosen,” Gideon said.
“Right, it’s an honor to be chosen to belong to four guys, but a girl who brings up the profession of sex is insulted. There is no honor in this.”
“I think we’re getting away from the point,” Mr. Connors said.
“Do you have any idea what it would mean to belong to us?” Gideon asked.
“Yeah, being your damn slave, and that’s something I will never do.”
“Don’t say never, Sian. You’ll embarrass yourself.”
“I think it’s time we moved on,” I said, speaking up. “Before we say something we’re going to regret.” I shot a glare at Gideon, wanting him to stop speaking. We couldn’t get her to agree to the selection without pissing her off. Now he wanted to have it out in front of an entire classroom and a teacher. This would make our chances even worse.
As if someone was on our side, the bell rang, drawing a close to homeroom until tomorrow.
“Shit!” Mr. Connors said, grabbing his folder and quickly running down the list of names. “We’ll carry this on through to tomorrow. Think about the importance of relationships.”