Summary: Logan and Patton (both 16), the older students, are expected to look after two groups of freshmen in Watersouth boarding school for boys. Both of them despise the tradition of bullying that is subjected to the newcomers by older students. The two respectively get a student in their groups who is a little different from the ordinary crowd: Roman and Virgil (both 15).
Author’s note: I’m so excited to begin this new au! Message me for getting into the taglist, please.
Triggers: Bullying, abuse, violence, panic attacks, i n s t i t u t i o n
Other parts here
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Patton stepped out of the bus, taking a deep breath. He was back at the Watersouth boy school for another year of strict rules and studying. This year, however, he wouldn’t have to walk on eggshells to the same extent as before. He was sixteen now, and would get a group of students to look after for the school year. The boy glanced around, locking eyes with Logan who had been sharing his group before summer break. He flashed a bright smile at his friend.
”Can you feel the air of hope, Logan?” He asked, walking next to him to the school. ”There’s no older student to dictate us any more. We can choose to treat our groups as we please, and maybe even make a difference!”
Logan smiled at the cheerfulness of his friend. ”I suppose it feels.. more hopeful, as you portrayed. Though I doubt we single-handedly could break decades of tradition.”
”I didn’t mean that, Lo,” Patton smiled. ”I meant we can help the young ones to feel safer here than we did in the past.”
”You are making it sound like it has been longer than a simple summer vacation since we left here,” Logan commented. He processed what his friend had just said. ”I hope you don’t mean to let your group slip with the rules, Patton.”
Patton tilted his head, sighing. ”I guess not, it’s just, I want them to feel comfortable here. Don’t you want it for them as well?”
Logan nodded. ”Of course. But still, I am determined to make my students obedient enough to help them get the education they need.”
Patton let out a giggle. ”Now you sound like you’re the principal himself!”
Logan smiled, opening the front door for the two of them as they stepped in.
At the first assembly of the year, Patton kept an eye on the freshmen on the rows before them. He felt sorry for them, but at the same time he knew they could make it. He knew the bullying wasn’t the worst kind, but it simply could not be happening. He watched the younger boys, wondering who he would get under his wing for the year. Logan was listening to the principal’s speech, and Patton wondered what he was thinking. He wouldn’t belittle his students, right? Patton shook his head. He didn’t know a cruel Logan, just a strict one. They would be alright.
”Students under Logan Andrews’ supervision are..”
Logan watched the students forming a line before him as they were called. They looked rather nervous, some taking side-glances at Logan, not wanting to stand out. The older student knew the stress they must be under too well, but didn’t know a way to ease it. Time would show them that he wasn’t going to mistreat them.
Logan heard somebody in the crowd sigh as Patton’s last student was called out. His friend was smiling shyly to the kids before him, and he assumed a few more students would have liked the seemingly easy-going tutor. He considered smiling to his own students, but decided it would seem a bit weird. He led his group out of the hall and to their first class instead.
….
”Hello students, my name is Patton and I am your tutor for this year.” Patton stood in front of the nervous students, smiling lightly. He hoped after his talk they would be a bit more relaxed.
”Watersouth is a tough school. I am here to make it a bit more pleasant for you.”
The older student felt a silent sigh pass through the class. He smiled, nodding.
”That is right. I know you have heard the tales of what’s going in here, and they are absolutely true. But I won’t be bullying you like that. I want you to have one person in this school that you can trust and feel safe to tell anything to.”
Patton sighed.
”But you can’t assume that from anyone else. One thing is crucial that I can stay here with you guys and that you don’t get any more punishments than the inevitable ones.”
he glanced through the students.
”You need to pretend. Pretend you’re fine even if you feel terrible. Pretend you are obedient even if your blood is boiling. Pretend you are like everyone else here, and that I am exactly like the other tutors you meet.”
Patton took a breath.
”You must not stand from the ground, or somebody will soon give a punishment for whatever you just did.”
He smiled sadly.
”It’s.. how it works here, sadly. And none of you heard my last statement, correct?”
The class nodded. Patton nodded back. ”Alright. Welcome again to Watersouth. If I call your name, stand up, please.”
A boy at the row in far left let out a breath he had been holding. Well, the first impression of their tutor was alright. He wasn’t as bad as he had assumed. Everything else apparently was like that, though. Luckily he was used to blending in and staying quiet, whatever it would take.
”Virgil Glasgow?”
Virgil stood up. ”Here, sir.”
…
”Welcome to Watersouth. As you heard from our principal, Mr. Yolk, we demand high quality in our studies and discipline. I am your tutor for the time being, and you may call me Mr. Logan Andrews, or sir for short.”
He glanced at the students. They were waiting for him to continue.
”You must be eager to know how far I am determined to push you this year. The answer is, as far as I can. I want all of you to do your very best and to study intensely.”
”However, I am not willing to participate in any sort of disparagement towards you. If I need you to run an errand for me, I will tell you to do so. But no extra pressure will be put on you by me.
I see your success in studies tremendously more important, so I ask you to not let me down on that category.”
”Phew, we got a soft one, boys,” a relieved voice stated from the second last row. A few horrified students turned to look at the commenter.
Logan frowned, walking slowly to the desk, where the boy who had dared to speak up was sitting.
”Stand up.”
The boy stood up, looking Logan in the eye. The older student frowned again. ”And what is your name, smart guy?”
