Last Train Home (Dorrie)

[Rhett Goddard]

Rhett was anxious about moving out, but he couldn't just yet. Apparently a handful of paperwork had to be done because he could officially be left off Hammel's long and strong grips. He was not a patient person, but there was nothing he could do really besides waiting.

He wasn't sure how long the process was going to take, but he was told to come back after a week to check how things were going and additionally to report any advance on his part. Rhett was told, or actually ordered, by Ms. Wilson to not only get a place, but also show he could support it and himself economically, which of course meant getting a job. The apartment part was done and he was carrying the paperwork to show how he had pay the first couple of months already. He even had pics in his cells showing the very simplistic furniture and decoration he had bought in company of his brand new ginger boyfriend. Unfortunately, the job part, however, was still a work in progress. He just hoped it would not hinder the process of moving out.

After he was done with all his classes this day, P.E. had been particularly hard with that new Russian teacher, he went back to his dorm, took a shower and walked up to Ms. Wilson's office/apartment. With his hair still slightly wet, he mentally crossed his fingers and knocked at the door.

"Hey Ms. Wilson." He said as soon as the door was opened.

[Dorothy Wilson]

Dorothy was renovating. She hadn't changed anything about her apartment in a long time, almost since she first started and felt it was a time for a change. A change to go along with her job promotion. Smiling at the thought she moved the one box to a different spot and laughed as she realized that was where she had it originally. Already she had painted the apartment a nice light blue and with accents of white in random places.

Seven years of the same old boring white was well... boring. Giving a grin Dorothy remembered when she first came. She had been given the smallest of the apartments and she was extremely glad she did not have a lot of stuff at the time. A part of her contemplated how it was annoying to have to use the same washer/dryer room as the students in her early days. She was very happy that she was able to finally use the previous' heads. Really she was grateful to the previous head of housing. She was helped a lot, not only as a newbie at her job, but as a student from her day here. In some ways the last head was Dorothy's role model. Though she knew she could never pull it off.

Before she knew it she was sitting down on the new white couch she had purchased in her new blue living room and resting. Her eyes closed only slightly she was just enjoying the silence. It was something she didn't have very often, silence. What with the busy students and the filing of the new students everyday it was something that was a very rare occurrence. Lately Dorothy was used to being woken up in the early morning. It was a fact that the head of housing didn't get much sleep, so whenever she got a chance she did.

Maybe she might rest her eyes for a bit.

Dorothy was so rudely awoken from dreamland when she heard someone at the door. The person was knocking. Quite loudly. She immediately woke from her resting of the eyes, no she doesn't like to call them naps, and went over to the door with a yawn. “Who is it?”

Opening the door she looked down at the boy who was standing there. Rhett Goddard. She frowned and opened the door inviting him in. It was no use for him to be standing there was it? Although she didn't like the boy had been smuggling a dog in the dorms for a while he had already been punished and seemed to regret what he had done. Dorothy didn't like people breaking the rules, but once they paid for their price, she was more then fine with them. Smiling over at the boy she waved in for him to have a seat. “ What do you need Rhett? Not another dog problem I hope.”

In actuality she knew why he was there. The boy had submitted the papers to move out and have his own place. She had thought long and hard before agreeing to it. As long as he could have someplace to stay, support himself and said place, there was really nothing she could do to stop him from moving out. He was eighteen after all. There was nothing stopping him. If he met her requirements she would let him. Only then.

“Or you came to speak about the moving out process?” Dorothy grinned her eyes sparkling. It was fun to tease the student.

[Rhett Goddard]

Blue... It was clearly the first thing that passed Rhett's eyes and mind as soon as Ms. Wilson opened the door. So dull... He found it odd. He didn't think Ms. Wilson was a "blue" person. Not like she was more a "white" person, which was the color of the walls the last time he had been here, but he could understand it more than blue since it was the previous color and not one chosen by her. She always seemed more... yellow. Or green.

"Why blue?" He asked after he was inside the place, just before taking a seat. "You should have actually said 'dog trouble', and, at least, be a little funnier about it, although I'm not completely sure if you actually knew his name was Trouble, not that it mattered actually, and it probably didn't for you."

Rhett should have settled with a "no more dog problems" or just get into the matter directly instead, but well, this was Rhett, and going around things flowed too naturally out of him. Also, the fact that the woman probably did know what he was doing there hinted at Rhett that mentioning the dog thing was probably a, badly done, joke. Rhett confirmed his thought right away as she mentioned the moving out process.

Good.

Rhett reached his white-ish satchel and took some papers from it, quickly handling them to Ms. Wilson. It was the lease contract and some other paperwork Rhett could barely understand. Summed up, they named "Rhett Allexander Goddard" as lessee of an eleventh floor flat not far from Pilot Ridge's apartment and with six months paid in advance.

"It's small, but I don't need anything big." He said, not directly answering the woman's question. "Kitchenette, laundry, balcony, nice view, good price." He was careful not to let a grin slip out while thinking that soon, it'd be his home. "I already bought some basic things as well." Rhett reached his backpack once again, took some photos he had printed the day before as well and passed them to Ms. Wilson as well. "I wasn't really sure how the 'prove you can support yourself' thing worked, so I brought pretty much anything I could."

The photos were of said apartment with the things he had bought with Odion some days ago. A big mattress with a bedspread on the floor acted for a bed in one side of the room and a rug, a small table, and some chairs act as living-dining room. It was simple, but even in the pictures you could see it had some charm, or at least Rhett thought so.

[Dorothy Wilson]

Dorothy grinned as he asked the exact question she was anticipating. “The color blue is said it is supposed to be calming. Plus its a change from white. White really was getting dull.” Dorothy grinned at her troublesome young student. “ No I did not know your dog's name was Trouble, and you are right that it would have been funnier if I had. The thing is though, I did not so there is no reason to continue on the topic is there? After all I am sure you have more important things to talk about.”

Grinning at the small scowl that was on Rhett's face Dorothy went off to the tiny kitchen set she had in her apartment grabbing some water bottles. She quickly came back and set it down in front of the blond. It was better to see how he would react and how he would behave on his own. She knew he wanted out and she knew why, but maybe he would tell her all on his own. No prodding from her.

That'll be the day.

Dorothy watched amused as Rhett immediately started fumbling in his bag looking for something. Expectantly she held out her hand and grinned even more when papers were set in it. She quickly shuffled through them waiting for him to continue with what he was going to say. Smiling she took a sip of her water and set the papers down in a neat pile. They could wait until he was done talking.

No Dorothy wasn't planning on antagonizing the boy... well maybe a little.

Dorothy nodded at the boys words a smile lighting up her face. She thought she might of, but wasn't sure if she saw a smile play on the boy's features, if only for a second. The boy really wanted this, that much was sure. Smirking only slightly she nodded at the details he was giving. It looked like he had thought this through and was starting to become responsible for himself. “Small is OK, and that sounds good for the interior. It should suit your needs well.” Dorothy was going to say OK when he pulled out photos of things he had bought. All of the basic living requirements were there from the pictures and she gave another smile. The boy had all of his bases covered.


“All right you have proved that you can keep your apartment for the next six months, you have basic supplies and you are very anxious to get out.” Smiling she looked at the pictures before handing then back to Rhett. “ Have you found a job yet? I can't send you off into the world without one, soon you will not have the money to pay for your necessities if you do not have a job.” Dorothy grinned at the person sitting across from her. “Your almost out, don't worry.”

[Rhett Goddard]

Everything Rhett was showing Ms. Wilson was actually much more than he needed, contrary to what she had said. He didn't need kitchen utensils, he didn't even know, or intended to learn, how to cook, for example. But heck, if it helped him assure that he was in his way out of Hammel and into freedom, he'd happily spend all his savings. Which he actually did, he was close to broke at the moment. Thankfully it didn't worry him, it was just a matter of selling some emergency jewelry he had been carrying since... was it Germany or Italy? From that point on, a good job would suffice his survival and the occasional target would suffice the little luxuries he enjoyed, namely, cellphone payments and the expenses Trouble was going to bring him for sure.

The problem was actually this, getting a job, which Ms. Wilson addressed after seeing the pictures.

"Well... no." He hesitated. He was half tempted to lie, specially after she told him he was almost. "I sent my résumé to a couple of places." He had been trying to get a job for a week or two now. "Restaurants and the such. I figured waiting was a good idea. McDonalds. Starbucks. Sales too, at the mall."

It was a weird idea, he didn't picture himself bringing people food or coffee with a smile. At least to wait tables he didn't need charisma, but if he got a job on sales, it was going to be a problem. Walking towards people and convince them to buy this shirt while telling them it looks good on them and that they do not look fat at all while keeping a smile and a cheerful, friendly attitude? None of it spelled Rhett in any way, even if he believed himself to be a pretty convincing actor. Then again, the fact that he was so obviously not meant for this job meant that he was not going to get it, if whoever hired in such stores was smart enough to notice this.

"I'll be hearing responses this week or the next one, I believe." He said confidently while leaning to get the plastic bottle. "So I wouldn't count it as a problem. Actually, I don't think there are problems," He opened the bottle the ease and placed it just in front of his mouth to drink as soon he finished talking. "Are there?"

[Dorothy Wilson]

Dorothy was pleased with what Rhett was showing her. It showed her that he really cared about getting out of Hammel. He was willing to accept responsibility and was willing to work for what he wanted. It showed he was willing to become an adult. If he was willing to work for this, she could find no fault in his attitude. Everything that she had held in he hands just a few minutes before was really quite unnecessary. The both knew that he didn't have to have the photos. All he needed was the contract. They both knew that he didn't need to act like he was. Fearful, respectful, and completely unlike his normal self. It showed that he did have the class and more importantly the face, to show to the adult world. If he was going to be living on his own he would soon learn that he couldn't act like a teenager all the time. Though, there was an air about him that said he just grew up too fast. Maybe he should smile more.


Yes that was it. He needed to smile more. Dorothy silently smiled to herself, she had a plan.

Dorothy frowned in just the slightest when he admitted he did not have a steady job lined up yet. Her face quickly rose into a smile again when he reassured her that he had been applying to numerous places. “ Good. Your smart enough to get it you know.” He was too. The kid had kept a dog hidden, a puppy even more, in her dorms for almost a full two weeks. That took effort. He had the drive to be a leader if he applied himself, and he was smart enough to know when to quit and when to keep going. Honestly of all the students who had passed through her halls it was no doubt Rhett Goddard was one of her more... street smarter students.

Dorothy smiled at her young charge and looked him over. “ Now. Tell me why you want to leave Hammel. What's the reason?” Dorothy did this with everyone who went through her office wanting to leave. She had heard it all. From the oppressiveness of Hammel, to the wanting to live on their own. She knew when someone was being real and when someone was giving her a crap answer. She leaned forward and smiled a sickly sweet smile at Rhett. “Now that you've thought it over, the fake reason, why don't you cut the bullshit and tell me the truth?”

When Rhett asked if there was anymore problems Dorothy thought long and hard. “ Who will be cooking?” It was not normally insisted upon but Dorothy had a feeling Rhett didn't really know how to cook. She could see him now, eating instant noodles and beans. She shook her head. That was no way from him to live. He needed proper food and nutrition. She knew he would be at Hammel for Lunch. But that didn't take care of Breakfast or Dinner. She shook her head. “If you don't know how to cook you are going to need lessons. You have two choices. Do them with me, or the Food Education teacher.” Dorothy gave a grin wondering which he would choose. He needed to know how to cook the basics. “ Before you ask yes this is mandatory.”

[Rhett Goddard]

Rhett let only a slight smile accompanied with a nod with Ms. Wilson's comment of him being smart enough. Her next words, however made him wet his lips as he prepared to talk, asking himself just how many times did he have to answer such question.

"Well I've found that I d..." Say what? She interrupted him, claiming not only that he was lying, but that he was keeping something from her. She was wrong with her assumption that the public reason was fake, but she was right with the fact that he was not saying the honest truth. If she knew Rhett better, far better than any other human being on Earth, she'd know doing so was privilege few people could claim to have witnessed. "That is the truth. I want out. I'm eighteen. Not only I'm entitled to independence, but according to, I'd say a large amount of, psychologists, most teenagers feel the need to be independent as well." He said softly, leaning back in his chair. Come'on, if she thought getting honesty out of him was going to be that easy, she was seriously misjudging him. Just the fact that she believed she was going to get an honest one was enough of a misjudgment. "What's wrong with that?"

Rhett hadn't actually thought much about the cooking part of his independent life. Anyone could cook breakfast, and chances are he'd be at Hammel by the time lunch came. Dinner was a matter of take out? It was just something he'd figure out along the way. It bugged him that now he had to attend cooking classes, but the fact she was meddling so much was actually starting to seriously bother the blonde.

"Mandatory?" He asked, leaning forward towards Ms. Wilson. "You've said it already, I'm smart, I am pretty acquainted with the moving out rules of Hammel." He said staring at her eyes. "I never get into anything without knowing enough." It had sort of been a psychological side-effect of his meta-ability, a thirst to learn enough about things beforehand. "It is not mandatory, it is just you meddling. Have the decency to not lie about it." Just an honest request, right? "I will bring you the receipt of the inscription fee of cooking classes in town." He started closing and reading his satchel to leave. Standing up, he gave a very soft, and yet cold, smile at the woman. "Is there anything else, Ms. Wilson?"

[Dorothy Wilson]

Dorothy watched as the boy smiled at her comment on his intelligence. He didn't really know did he? There were so many people that came through her halls that didn't know how smart they were and didn't know what they could achieve. Dorothy was one of those people who truly believed in her kids. It was true, the few that Dorothy got close to were the lucky ones. Dorothy prided herself on being someone the kids could go to, no matter what the case. She did know however, that some of the kids felt uncomfortable around her. This just made her sad.

Rhett had started to speak when she cut him off. She knew it wasn't the most polite thing, but then again Dorothy wasn't the most polite person. Shae also knew when someone was bullshitting her. The reason that Rhett was going to say was most certainly true, but she also knew there was something deeper. Dorothy liked the truth. She listened to is reasons nodding, thinking of how many people had said it before. “Nothing. Not a single thing is wrong with that.” Dorothy gave a grin and looked at the blond, leaning forward in her chair. “That is the normal reason. That is the textbook answer. I wont say it isn't true. It is, what I am saying is that every single person has a reason to themselves why they are leaving. I can't know yours. That is why I am asking, honestly, Your smart enough to know I'm telling the truth. Believe it or not Rhett there are some people in your life who really do care about you.” Dorothy wasn't saying that she was someone who could sympathize with Rhett, but she did want to know why he was so adamant about leaving. “You may not like me, in fact I think you don't, you think I am associated with the taking away of your dog.” It was unfortunate that she couldn't have helped him there. If he had come to her sooner she might have been able to find housing for the tiny dog. “ I don't expect you to trust me. I don't expect you to like me. I expect you to acknowledge the reasons why you are leaving, really think about it.Then, tell me why.”

Dorothy knew that she might be going to far. The kid needed to learn to feed himself though. She couldn't have himself out on the street with no food, nor any experience. She wished he would see that. She knew to him that she was just a meddlesome hindrance who was in the way. He was so gun-ho about getting out, about getting her permission that he didn't like that she was meddling. She also knew she had to meddle. It was her job and her basic personality. If she didn't meddle who would?


Dorothy looked at Rhett as he leaned forward mimicking his actions. She would match him move for move, reason for reason. “Yes mandatory. Mandatory by me.” Dorothy stared back into his eyes searching for what she knew was there. “Rhett you need to learn how to cook, its just a good life skill in general. I know that you will have breakfast easy, and lunch at Hammel, but dinner needs to be done the right way. You can't live on takeout every night.” At the mention of her meddling she grinned and set her head on her hand looking at him. “ It is not in the rulebook no, but its in mine. I never said by who it was mandatory. So really I did not lie.” Dorothy quickly shook her had at the cooking lessons fee. “ Rhett...” Sighing she sat back as he started to get ready to leave. “I trust you will go to the cooking lessons. You don't need to bring me the fee, I would be willing to do it for free you know. You wouldn't owe me anything.” Dorothy looked at the standing boy in front of her, with his cold smile, void of any warmth of happiness.

"Actually Rhett there is one more thing. You may go if you do this one thing for me." Dorothy smiled and looked back over at the standing adolescent. Standing herself she crossed her arms over her chest and stood in a non threatening way just looking at hi for a few minutes. "Smile Rhett, truly smile. " Dorothy grinned at her young charge. "Do that and you may leave."

He needed to smile. A true smile.

[Rhett Goddard]

Speech, great. Rhett carefully rolled his eyes as Ms. Wilson went on and on about... In all honesty Rhett decided to stop paying attention quite early in the speech, only coming back to his senses after he heard the "why", which context and logic pointed at her asking, again, about the reason for him to move out. Stubborn people are the worst.

"I want to have my dog with me." Not a single drop of emotion was on his face, making the phrase look the most blatant of lies.

Oh great another speech. Been less obvious about it, Rhett decided to carefully inspect his nails as Ms. Wilson explained how she is right and he's wrong, as every single adult Rhett had met had always attempted to convince him. He really loathed adult figures, not only they had to be always right, because they had experience, something that apparently younglings lacked, but they also had to be inquiry about everything of someone younger than them did, and since asking questions was just not enough to supply their needs to "live through the life of someone younger", they also had to criticize and give advice about everything. Ugh. And now she wanted him to smile? This conversation, if it was still so, had probably just become plain... dumb.

"Next time." He finally said before turning to rudely leave without the host's actual permission, probably breaking his little 'polite' charade.

Good thing he didn't really care, nor that he thought he'd be coming back anytime soon.

***

Time jump into a day after the events of This Is For You.

"I'm sorry." Rhett immediately said with his eyes closed as soon as the apartment's door was opened. "I really, really, am." He let himself in, passing Ms. Wilson and walking into the living room. "I swear it was not planned. I mean, at least not by me."

The speed of his talking was picking up into an faster-than-usual one, and since he knew Ms. Wilson already knew what he was talking about, he attempted to be one step ahead by guess everything she was going to ask or say and explain himself before she even had too many chances to talk.

"Though I'm not saying it's his fault." He didn't want to get Odion in trouble either. "It's both our fault," He started walking up and down, motioning with his hands as he talked. "and I pretty much swear that I knew what the possible consequences could have been when the... decision was made." He stopped for a moment. "It was not reckless behavior, I was fully aware of the repercussions it may had over me being able to move out but..." I didn't care... The thought struck him for a moment. He hadn't realized the fact that Odion was far more important than... anything else? He sighed. "One small curfew break won't kill my chances to move out, will it?"

[Dorothy Wilson]

Dorothy eyed the young blond looking at her. He honestly wasn't listening and she knew that. She sighed and watched him as he watched anywhere else but at her. He wasn't paying attention. Oh well. It was his own loss, though she had hoped of more of him.

Ah and there was the lie. Or maybe it wasn't. Honestly right now she thought it was a bit of both. A lie and a truth, all together, all the same.

Ah, there he was, not listening again. Instead he was looking at his nails.Honestly if he wasn't gonna listen he could try to let it not show, or find something more interesting to examine. Sighing she moved her head at him. What would she do though? He was in such a rush to get n with his life he wasn't looking back. He wanted out. She understood that, what she didn't understand was how he could do it so easily. It had been different when she was around, though she figured it wasn't that different. She smiled. He would be out in the world soon enough.

And he was off, “Goodbye Mr. Goddard.” Honestly it had taken him longer then she thought to leave. Who cared what she thought anyway? No one really. Shaking her head with an amused grin she looked at his retreating figure.

He was such an interesting student.

***

She opened the door to see a very nervous looking Rhett Goddard. Before she could so much as get a squeak out he was talking. This was more then he had said the whole meeting last time. It was sort of amusing to tell the truth. She knew exactly what he was talking about. After all she had gone to par for him, when he and Odion went missing. She knew he knew the severity of the situation. By the way he was talking she was certain of it. At the moment she kept her mouth shut waiting for his reactions and explanations. They were sure to come.

Now to see what he explained. It didn't change the fact that the two had snuck off campus and went to god knows where but she was going to see what he had to say. It was only fair to him, and she never liked to judge a situation before she had heard all the details. Then punishments could be discussed.


Dorothy grinned as he was quick to assure her that it wasn't his fault. By his she was assuming it was Odion, it would make the most sense. She nodded from the couch, where she had sat. The other chairs were open and it was an unspoken agreement he could sit if he wanted to. At the moment? He was pacing. She watched him go back and forth talking. It was obvious he knew what he had done wrong and it was obvious that she was going to have a tricky time saying this. “Rhett will you sit down?” At his question she smiled and nodded towards the chair. He would have to sit before she said anything. “First I want you to breathe. Second I want you to just be quiet and listen.”

Smiling over at him she hoped he realized how lucky he was. “You can move out Rhett, on the premise you and Mr. Martins have detention for a few months.” Dorothy grinned before looking over at Rhett and smiling. “Now tell me, did you have fun?” Its not as if he would ever know how much she fought to let him move out, and honestly he didn't care. It was fine with her. He was finally smiling.

(Late! Sorry >>)