~•~

Gwendolyn was panicking.

There had been a calling for every student at Welton to meet in the main hall for an announcement. It was the day after Charlie had slipped in his article. Gwendolyn thought that this announcement couldn't be anything but that endeavour. She sat there in the pew, her knee bouncing furiously which was obviously annoying the the boy on her right side who gave her a icy glare. She couldn't help it. Pressing down on her knee, she forced it to stop bouncing and instead started to bite the inside of her cheek, something less distracting. Todd, who was sitting on her other side, reached out and placed his hand on top of hers. Gwendolyn swallowed as Todd gave her hand a squeeze. Neil caught her eye and gave her a soft smile.

As Mr. Nolan and his colleagues stormed into the hall, the students stood until they were given the order to be seated. Gwendolyn could feel her stomach heaving and was glad she had decided not to eat much for breakfast that morning.

Mr. Nolan removed his glasses, "This weeks edition of Welton Honour there appeared a profane and unauthorized article." Gwendolyn felt sick and her hand gripped Todd's. "Rather than spend my valuable time ferreting out the guilty persons...and let me assure you I will find them, I'm asking any and all students who know anything about this article to make themselves known here and now. Whoever the guilty persons are, this is your only chance to avoid expulsion from this school." Suddenly a phone began to ring, loud and piercing. Gwendolyn looked about confusedly, no longer thinking about standing up and admitting what she did.

"Welton Academy, hello?" A voice rung out, the voice of Charles Dalton. Gwendolyn closed her eyes in a silent groan. "Yes he is. Just a moment." He stood up holding the receiver, "Mr. Nolan, it's for you. It's God. He says we should have girls at Welton." All the boys laughed except the members of the Dead Poets Society.

Gwendolyn let go of Todd's hand and stood up jerkily, "It was me Mr. Nolan sir." The laughter cut short and turned into murmurs of disgust. Charlie looked at her in disbelief.

"It wasn't! She has nothing to do with this!"

"Don't listen to Mr. Dalton sir, it was all my fault. I wrote the article and made Mr. Dalton publish it. He is not to blame."

Charlie spluttered, "She's lying Mr. Nolan!"

"Enough!!" Mr. Nolan boomed, "I want to see both of you in my office immediately!" Gwendolyn moved out of her pew, locking eyes with Todd who looked scared. She held her chin eye, not daring to look at her father for the expression of disappointment which would be etched on his face, would kill her.

With Charlie following in suite, the two left the front hall, not knowing whether they would be attending classes at Welton ever again.

***

Gwendolyn sat stick straight in the chair beside the door trying to keep her breathing in check. She flinched as Charlie was struck with a paddle and given the demand to count aloud. After the fifteenth hit, Mr. Nolan gave an ultimatum, "Turn in everyone, apologize to the school and all will be forgiven."

Charlie straightened stiffly and walked over to where Gwendolyn sat. He sent a wordless apology.

"Mr. Dalton, if you would." Mr. Nolan gestured to the door.

"You're not gonna hurt her, are you?" Charlie asked, his voice raspy.

"Leave Mr. Dalton." He barked. Charlie left, shutting the door with a loud click. "Miss Keating, come here please." Gwendolyn walked over to Mr. Nolan, her knees feeling wobbly. "To say I am disappointed in you would be an understatement." Gwendolyn stayed silent, "I gave you permission to attend classes at Welton Academy, despite the many complaints from the parents of several students. There has never been a girl at Welton Academy Miss Keating, I hope you understand the backlash I've faced because of my decision. And this is how you repay me for my kindness? An article stating that girls should be allowed to attend Welton. An opinion you obviously share with Mr. Dalton and a strong one at that. I ask why Miss Keating, why do you and Mr. Dalton think that?"

Gwendolyn swallowed thickly, "Because you let me attend. There's no difference between me and the thousands of other women who want a good education."

"There is a difference Miss Keating. Your father is a faculty member and I can bend the rules for a faculty member. I cannot bend the rules for parents who simply want their daughters to attend Welton. Boys and girls shouldn't be together in a learning facility."

"But that's wrong!" Gwendolyn argued.

"It's the way things are! Girls would be a distraction and would keep the boys from focusing on school and moving on to university. You understand that the women aren't the ones who will have numerous job opportunities, am I correct Miss Keating?"

Gwendolyn felt a bubble of anger rise in her chest, "No. You are not. Men and women are equal. Anything a man could do, I could do as well."

"Which hand is your dominant Miss Keating?"

The question caught her off guard. She shook her head and answered promptly, "My right."

Mr. Nolan grabbed a thin piece of wood and yanked on Gwendolyn's arm. Raising the stick, he brought it down onto the skin of her palm. Gwendolyn's eyes watered as she felt the sting spread through her hand. After the third strike, it started to become red.

Twenty five strikes later, Gwendolyn's right hand was an angry red and her cheeks were stained with silent tears. She began to tremble as Mr. Nolan said sharply.

"I suggest you keep your opinions and thoughts to yourself from now on, Miss Keating. There is nothing worse than a strongly opinionated woman. You may leave."

Gwendolyn couldn't even muster a "yes sir". She left on shaky legs, using her left hand to open and close the door. She walked out slowly, keeping her still stinging hand away from her clothes. She willed herself not to cry until she was safely behind the doors of her dorm. That wasn't going to happen though, since there was a group of boys crowed around her dorm room door. Six of the seven boys flocked to her side, the one with red hair stuck to the door, with his hands in his pockets.

"Gwen are you ok?" Neil asked, with a worried face.

Charlie pushed his way to the front of the group, walking a little weirdly as if every step was painful, "What did he do? Ribbon did he hurt you—" Gwendolyn revealed her hand which was tender and tingling, "Goddamnit!" Charlie swore. Todd covered his mouth with his hand. "Ribbon, I—" Gwendolyn cut off him with a hug. Charlie recovered from his shock and wrapped his arms around and closed his eye letting a singular tear fall.

"It's ok Charlie." She whispered.

"It's Nuwanda." He whispered back.

She laughed despite her tears, "You're an idiot."

"Tell me something I don't know." He said as he pulled away.

"Is that your writing hand Gwen? Cause if it is, I'll write all your homework for you, you can just tell me what to write." Meeks pushed his glasses up on his nose bridge and let a small smile come across his face.

"And if you need bandages, I've got some in my dorm. I tend to hit my head a lot." Pitts rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"No need Meeks, I was lucky enough to be born ambidextrous. I can write with both...I'll take you up on those bandages though Pitts, thank you." She swiped at the remaining tears.

"We just all wanted to make sure you were alright." Knox said, clapping her on the shoulder with a warm smile.

"Well, thank you guys, you're the best friends I've ever had. Even you Cameron, yes I can see you back there, scowling per usual." She smirked at Cameron who cleared his throat.

"Glad you're ok Gwendolyn." He replied shortly, being the first to leave, followed by Knox, then Pitts and Meeks. Charlie left soon after and the remaining two were Todd and Neil.

"I've got to go. Rehearsals for the play."Neil said, tucking his hands in his pockets, "Todd are you gonna stay with Gwen or?"

Todd opened his mouth, no sound coming out for a millisecond or two before he answered, "Um...I'd like to stay if that's ok."

"Why, of course. It's your decision after all." Neil replied, "Just no funny business, you hear?" He narrowed his eyes as the pair's cheeks flushed.

"Neil. No." Gwendolyn buried her face in her hand.

"Just making sure."

"Haveth a boisterous evening at rehearsals of thy play, mine dearest Neil!" Gwendolyn waved her arm wildly.

"I shall haveth the most merriest of times! Sayonara thy radiant Gwendolyn!" He laughed, waving back just as dramatically.

Todd, recovering from his own laughter, moved to open the door and realized it was locked, "It's locked." He said dumbly.

"Of course it's locked silly. Privacy reasons." She pulled out a key and jiggled it in front of his face. She swiftly turned the key and unlocked it opening the door in one quick movement. She gestured for Todd to go inside. Stumbling a little, he made his way into her dorm and looked around.

It wasn't much different than his own dorm, the only difference being more room since there was only one bed and not two. Textbook's were stacked neatly on Gwendolyn's desk with a typewriter next to it. An opened book laid in the middle of the desk with her lacy, pale pink, ribbon bookmark stuck in the spine. A small cork board filled with little notes was on the wall above the desk. The bed had no difference apart from the stuffed honey-coloured bear sitting on the pillow. The window was covered with stick on stars, some of them glow in the dark, some not and the wooden table next to her bed held a miniature record player. Finally, in the corner was an opened suitcase with some neatly folded clothes and a few upright record sleeves.

"Welcome, please have a seat." Gwendolyn gestured dramatically to the desk chair. Todd sat down, wriggling the chair closer to the bed Gwendolyn had fallen on. She grabbed the stuffed bear and cuddled it to her chest.

"Who's that?" Todd pointed to the bear trying to contain the laugh threatening to spill out.

"This lovely gentleman is Fudge. He protects my room from intruders." She patted the bears head.

"Fudge?"

"Yes, Fudge...are you laughing at his name?"

"No." He said, most definitely laughing.

"Don't laugh at him!" She pelted him with the bear, "Now he's attacking you!" 

Todd caught the bear and brought him to eye level, "No offence to Fudge but uh...he doesn't look like the vicious type..."

Gwendolyn shook her head, "Oh he is. Especially when you aren't looking." Todd threw the bear back to Gwendolyn in a graceful ark. She put Fudge back on the pillow and sat criss-cross.

Todd looked to the record sleeves and tilted his head, "Are those all yours?"

"The records? Yes, I have a bunch more at my house in London. I just took a couple that I couldn't bear to leave. How about we take a listen?" She asked, already standing up and moving to her suitcase. Carefully, she pulled a record out of the sleeve and placed it on the record player. Soon the dorm was filled with the song Tutti Frutti. Gwendolyn smiled widely, moving towards Todd and yanking him up by the arm, "Wanna dance?" She extended her non injured hand towards him, palm facing up.

Todd shook his head vigorously, his cheeks turning a bright pink, "Oh no, I-I don't dance."

"Come on Todd! Carpe Diem!" She took his hand, lifted it above his head and spun herself around, "It's fun, I promise." She flashed him one of her bright smiles and Todd immediately gave in, grabbing her hands with a gentle touch. He couldn't say no to her when she smiled at him like that. Gwendolyn bent and straightened her arms to the beat of the music in a sort of pumping motion.

The pair danced and twirled and rocked in the space available until the back of Gwendolyn's knees hit her bed frame unexpectedly. With a screech she fell backwards, pulling Todd with her on accident. He landed on her with a soft "uff" before realizing the absolute danger of the situation. He was way too close to her and could feel the heat of her body seeping through his clothes. Gwendolyn laughed breathlessly, her chestnut coloured hair splayed out on the bedsheet. Todd's heart jumped into his throat when Gwendolyn's smile disappeared, replaced by a look of surprise, excitement and want, all at once. The record had ended and the room became dead silent, apart from their now mingling breaths as Todd loomed closer.

"Todd." Gwendolyn breathed, arching up underneath him. Their lips were mere inches apart when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Todd jumped about ten feet in the air and put his head down to hide his furious blush.

"Gwen? Are you there?" The voice of her father was muffled by the door. Sitting up, Gwendolyn moved to the door but stopped about halfway before spinning round and rushing forward towards Todd. Before he could even utter a word, Gwendolyn grabbed his tie quickly wrapping it around her palm and tugged him forward, mashing their lips together. Todd exhaled on a sigh, feeling like screaming "finally!" but to preoccupied with Gwendolyn's lips to say much of anything. Bringing his hands to cup her cheeks, he revelled, hoping this moment would never end. Gwendolyn had let go of his tie and snaked her hand around the back of his flushed neck. When Gwendolyn went to pull back, Todd lurched forward, drunk on adrenaline and the taste of vanilla bean lip balm.

"Gwennn?" Mr. Keating singsonged, knocking on the door once more. Gwendolyn pulled away again, this time keeping the back of her hand on Todd's chest so he wouldn't moved forward.

"I have to answer it." She whispered quietly. Todd eyed her red, slightly swollen lips. "Later though." She giggled and backed away, "Do I look alright?"

"You always do." Todd replied with a dreamy grin, eyes widening when he realized what he said, "I-I mean...yeah." He coughed.

"Good. Tuck in your tie." Gwendolyn snorted, pointing at his tie before opening the door. Todd busied himself with tucking in his tie and grabbing a record to "inspect".

"Hello father." Gwendolyn grinned, leaning on the door.

"Hello Gwen, Todd." He waved to Todd who waved back, "If I may talk to you in the hallway." He lowered his voice. Gwendolyn shut the door promptly and moved into the hall, "Now I have to talk about this article business," he started.

Gwendolyn sighed, "I knew you'd be disappointed. I'm sorry, really I am—"

"That's not what I was going to say sweets," Mr. Keating smiled softly. Gwendolyn hadn't heard him call her "sweets" in a long time. When Gwendolyn was younger, she had a huge sweet tooth, so he called her sweets. "I was going to ask if you really wrote the article." He eyed her knowingly.

Gwendolyn flushed, "No, I didn't write it."

"I thought so."

"But I discussed the idea with Charlie...I just...had no idea he'd take it and publish it."

"Mr. Dalton is quite an impulsive person." He chuckled, "Now he told me about your hand, let's see." Gwendolyn showed him her palm which was still a vicious red. Small blisters had begun to form, "Oh my, have you got something to cover it?" He asked, concerned.

"Pitts is going find some bandages of his for me."

Mr. Keating nodded, "Ah good, good. Now Gwen, next you time you have one of your marvellous ideas, maybe don't share them, until you feel ready. I'm not trying to silence you of course, but just keep them until you're ready. And if you really want to share, maybe come to me instead. I'll always be willing to listen and, if you want, I will take your ideas with me to the grave." Gwendolyn nodded in confirmation, "On to more pressing topics, the topic of Todd Anderson mucking about in your room how about?" He gave a sly wink.

"Father! I told him about my records and he asked to see them." Gwendolyn rolled her eyes.

"Does Fudge approve of him?"

Gwendolyn smirked, "He's warmed up."

Mr. Keating laughed, "Well if Fudge is alright with it, so am I. I'll see you tomorrow sweets, farewell, farewell!" He threw his arms about as he strode away.

"Farewell O Captain, my captain!" Gwendolyn waved dramatically. Turning she reopened the door to reveal an enthusiastic Todd sitting on the bed scrutinizing another record sleeve and showing it to Fudge for a moment. Fudge gave no reaction. Todd jumped a little when he realized Gwendolyn was standing there.

He stood up and held up Frank Sinatra's Songs for Swingin' Lovers, a bright smile plastered on his face, "Could we play this one? I didn't want put it on incase I accidentally broke your player." He threw a glance at the record player sitting innocently on the table.

Gwendolyn raised a brow, "That one? A fitting title don't you think?" She plucked the it out of Todd's hands. He froze. Gwendolyn placed the record on the player and the opening notes of You Make Me Feel So Young rung out.

"Uh..." Todd said slowly, "I have the record at home...and that's why I pick—" he sentence was cut short by the press of Gwendolyn's lips against is.

"Shh." She shushed, wrapping her arms around his neck, her forearms resting curve of his neck, "No talk. Just dance." His hands found their way onto the curve of her waist. Todd let out a shaky exhale, "Scared Todd?" Gwendolyn awe-filled eyes locked onto his.

Todd exhaled shortly, "Honestly? Yeah, a little...are you?" He asked, barely hearing his own words because he was so lost in the beautiful sea of vivid blue.

Gwendolyn rose up to gently kiss him, smiling against his lips, "Not at all."

Todd responded with yet another soft kiss.

Outside it had begun to rain. The pair were so lost in the music, and in each other, that they didn't care one bit.