"Boy don't push your luck far." Mr Rodnell replied, putting a cigarette in his mouth, the other end kissing the gentle glow of the blue flame.
Of course he just drank in front of us, smoking not going to change a thing.
"And the other?" He puffed some rings of smoke in my direction which I actively dodged with a frown on my face.
I was displeased and he didn't care.
"The second is I would be away from school for at least two weeks."
"Okay, so.."
"I need no penalty attached and also promised that I would also graduate alongside my colleagues."
"Okay.....and I also have my own requests ?"
"Which is?"
"You keep your own end and I would do mine, no betrayal." I nodded my head in acknowledgement, wondering why he would be that afraid of betrayal.
"And also don't tell my secretary, my wife, don't tell her about all this."
"Okay Mr Rodnell, we're good."
We shook hands, his face showing the relief and slight annoyance and fury in his eyes.
Of course it was understandable, we were students and he was the principal, he was supposed to be in charge, complete control, not making deals with his students.
"Yeah! We are good !"
Josh voice reminded us both that we weren't alone. He took a gulp from the alcohol bottle as I wondered for a brief moment if it was another one. It was indeed another one.
I took a sip from it when the bottle got to me and passed the rest to Mr Rodnell who took it from my hand and gulped down the beer, his throat bulging as we walked out of his office.
Bang!
"Ahh!"
We heard the smashing of the bottle and then his piercing scream. Another bottle smashing against the wall and one more glass item, his actions rounded off by a scream to the heavens before going silent. It's okay, he was a Man; sometimes they are like that.
We walked out of his office with a smile, I feeling fulfilled and ready to move on with my mission, while Josh was completely filled with booze and probably looking for more.
"Hey girls."
Both girls looked up at me with mouth full of cake and a cup of tea seating pretty on their open palms.
"Seems you're having fun without me ."
I commented, feeling a heavy hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks brother , I would see you later."
Josh replied as he walked away.
"Sure ." I replied, watching keenly for any sight of wavering in his steps, but there was none. He wasn't drunk. Must be good.
"The secretary was nice to us." Adianne commented as we all walked out of the lounge.
"I don't doubt that."
I wondered where she was.
Walking into the class and there was a mixed of both standing and seating ovation by my colleagues, with both girls by my sides.
"The man of culture!"
"The man with two Queens!"
"The pathetic thief!"
"Glorified Boytoy!"
"Shamless Gigolo!"
"Dave, the golden haired King!"
I heard Josh voice louder than the rest, as my right hand went up with my head slightly bowed down, a prefect replica of king Baldwin while I walked back to my seat.
There was a new seat, placed beside mine, as Adianne quickly sat down on it.
I smiled to myself, the principal was on business.
Slowly I raised my right hand and stood up. Surprisingly everyone went silent as I quickly tapped my storage ring and spamming my table with the books.
"I have got a souvenir for everyone."
Of course quite a number of folks stood up and approached my table. Some didn't because they were simply proud and that was fine by me as it didn't matter. I would surely still catch them. I wasn't fishing with a rod, I was simply draining the water away.
"This book here is called :
'HOW TO MAX OUT YOUR CLASS RANK'."
The students began to murmur among themselves as I allowed it for some seconds, let them have their own thoughts before I make them doubt it. It was usually the best way of convincing and confusing people.
I cleared my throat loudly, getting their attention almost instantly as I continued.
"Now many of us are thinking, this is a scam? Right ? Right ?"
"Yes."
"It must be"
"Your reputation doesn't even help"
"Can a thief be trusted?"
"Yes, I know you all have every reasons not to believe me. Yes I'm a thief, I'm a dishonest person, even my class cements that for me. It's my future, my life, all I would ever know and be known for. But in the grandscheme of things, I don't matter , I'm completely irrelevant to this cause , completely irrelevant to the truth of this book. Don't you want to know where it was gotten? Don't you want to know how a thief got this book ? Or do you think I made it from empty air ? Of course I stole the book, cause that's all I know, all I know is to steal, and steal I did. I stole this prized possession and here you all are doubting this book because of me."
I paused letting my words sink in fully before continuing.
"You can disrespect me, abuse me, curse me, but don't, I repeat, don't insult this book. A book I risked my life for and I would surely risked my life for again."
I stared at the ring on my finger and immediately brought out the original copy.
"This here is the original copy, which I took from the principal office." I showed them the school stamp on it. " Now ask yourself why a book like this existed and the school didn't bother to give it to us, especially when we would be graduating in weeks to come, imagine!"
Immediately the students began to mummer and discuss amongst themselves, the inner me smiling from ear to ear but my facial expression straight like a man giving an arousing civil workers strike speech.
With a hand raised, my classmates went silent as I continued.
"So I sacrificed myself, my studentship and everything I owe to sneak away this book, make copies of my own hard earned money and bring it here for my colleagues only to be insulted. "
Immediately they began to apologise as some even started saying they never insulted me. A small grin on my face which left as quickly as it came, I decided to hit the nail on the coffin head.
"Don't ask for my forgiveness, forgive yourself for what you have done. All I want is for you all to get this book together, just so we can all grow stronger together!" I said zealously as the students around me cheered loudly.
Damn, no wonder the system refused to rate this mission.