This batch is basically ones that didn’t make the cut for the first two posts but i spent time on them so imma just post them anyways, start college tomorrow and i’m trying to cope HARD right now
@inahallucination @theluminoussunflower ah yeah i still don't know who to tag so yeah KASDJASKDJAK am still writing the ATBDATE Au but this has been on my mind all day so I had to write.
"I do not understand why my son would ever do this, and it breaks my heart that-"
"Oh please, Mr. Perry you of all people should know why he did it!" Charlie's interrupted Mr. Perry's monologue causing all heads to turn to him, and he was smiling even through the tears that were still falling.
"What?" Mr. Perry could only say as he didn't expect anyone to interrupt him. Knox and the others looked at Charlie, some were trying to look at him pleading for him to just shut up. To Knox this honestly felt like the time Charlie did the call from god act on Mr. Nolan, this time though looking at Todd who was not stopping Charlie at all, both knew this was warranted.
After all, only Charlie Dalton can tell an adult a piece of his mind.
"Oh I don't know, at the night of his very first performance a night he worked so hard for, he was great ..." Charlie choked but with a deep breath he continued on. "He was really great, and you know that Mr. Perry since you were there. But what did you do Mr. Perry? Instead of celebrating your son's amazing performance you scolded him, humiliated him in public, and took him home without giving him any time to explain." Charlie let out a humorous laugh, as the other attendants started to whisper amongst themselves, apparently, this was not a known thing, and Charlie was glad they weren't the only ones who knew.
"I prohibited him from going to the play and he disobeyed me, what else am I supposed to do?" Mr. Perry spat as Mrs. Perry looked at his husband pleading with him to stop.
"Why? Is it because it's not part of your plan to vicariously live through your son's life? Is it because of how you want your son to live how you wanted you lived rather than letting him make his decisions and supporting him?" Charlie countered, the poets saw Charlie getting seemingly composed with a bittersweet grin, it was as if he was just waiting to say all of this to Mr. Perry.
"What do you know? You're an awful influence on my son, you were the reason why he decided to go through all of this stuff, to join that Dead poets society, and caused his life to fall apart." Mr. Perry countered, and it seems to have worked because Charlie's face fell, an uncertain look on his face and Knox knows well that he was already doubting himself in his head and what Mr. Perry just said isn't helping his case. Knox looked at Todd and the other nods, knowing they have to help their friend.
Knox stands up, along with Todd.
"That's not true Mr. Perry, Charlie was Neil's closest friend. And unlike you, he actually supports and helps Neil in all of his endeavors." Knox spoke, which surprised Mr. Perry and the Overstreets yet Knox didn't care.
"H-He's right, Charlie was always there to cheer Neil up whenever he's down, or whenever y-you say something that demotivates Neil." Todd continues, and they can both already see Todd's parents looking at him with wide eyes, Todd never met theirs as he kept his glare at Mr. Perry who looked surprised, his face getting redder by the second.
"You three, how dare you say all of these things on the wake of my dead son?" Charlie scoffed at the word 'my son' yet said nothing. "I want you three out of this funeral!" Todd's eyes widened and the three looked at each other, Charlie knew he would get kicked out when he started talking a while ago but he didn't expect for Knox and Todd to had his back, yet a part of him was glad he had friends who backed him up. So Charlie stood defiantly to Mr. Perry with a grin.
"Good, I don't want to stay any longer to this facade of a funeral." Charlie then looked at the two as well as the other poets.
"Let's go?" It was an invitation to the remaining sitting poets, hoping they'll join them. Unsurprisingly Knox was the first to join him, with a nervous smile the two gave a knowing look. And then next was Todd, to his parent's chargin as Mr. Anderson ordered his son to sit down, but was silenced by the person beside him, Charlie remembered that it was Todd's older brother, Jeff Anderson. Charlie gave him a thankful nod and Jeff nods.
The three stood there, as they gave themselves thirty seconds to wait for the others before they leave.
At twenty seconds Meeks stood up and joins them, his parents were surprised at his decision but before they could speak, in a quick motion Pitts stood up and went beside Meeks. Though surprisingly Pitts parents weren't surprised, they were even smiling at their son.
At ten seconds they looked at the last poets sitting, Richard Cameron as he didin't even met their eyes, just looking straight at Neil's coffin and as much Charlie dislike the other, he hoped that at least he'll stand by them right?
Right?
Ten seconds passed, and he didn't move a muscle, and Charlie could see the disappointed looks from the others and he decided to make the first move and left the venue with the others joining him.
...............................................
"Charlie." It was Knox. "Where do we go now?"
Charlie thought of it for a while until he found an answer. "Let's go to the cave? Give him a proper funeral?" The others seem to like the idea, as they started to talk livelier as they arrive near the parking lot.
"We should buy some food." Pitts supplied.
"And drinks, because I don't know about you but after all that happened I'm thirsty," Meeks added which made them all laugh.
They continued conversing until a car stopped right in front of them, Charlie and the others were confused at first until the driver's seat door opened revealing none other than Mr. Keating.
"Mr. Keating!" The others greeted him, surprised yet elated to see their favorite teacher. "I thought Mr. Perry prohibited you from going?" Charlie couldn't help but ask.
"It is true that I am not allowed to join the funeral of Neil Perry, however ..." He looks at Charlie and smiles. "I expected something like this to happen and decided to check on you boys." Charlie looked bashful for a moment knowing that Mr. Keating knew that somehow he would make a scene.
"I ... How?" Charlie could only ask.
"Phone call from god." The other replied which caused Charlie to laugh. "I mean the two of them deserved it." He defends himself.
"You don't have to worry about it Mr. Dalton." Mr. Keating smiles which slowly melted any doubt in Charlie's mind. Then opted to change the subject. "So to what destination are you kids heading in?"
"W-we decided to go to the cave and have a meeting in remembrance of Neil, but we thought we should buy snacks as well," Todd answered, always calmer whenever Mr. Keating or Neil is around.
"Well, then why don't I join you in this meeting? Just like that night?" Mr. Keating smiles, and the others agreed with him and started to let themselves in his car with Charlie in the front.
Once the others were situated Mr. Keating start the car and starts driving to the supermarket after Pitts pleas for sustenance which made the others laugh.
"Since we're all situated I wanna ask why Mr. Cameron didn't join you?" Mr. Keating asked and the other boys shrugged, not knowing what really to say, or perhaps not wanting to say it.
"You know him Mr. Keating, always the holier than thou guy, I wished he joined us but knowing him he probably would rather keep himself in the good graces of the adults there." Knox was the one who explained.
"I just hope he doesn't rat on us." Todd was the one who spoke, which caused the car to be silent for a moment.
"I hope so too Todd." Charlie spoke as they ride to the supermarket.
...................................
He psyched himself up.
He can do this.
This is the only way he can save the others.
This is the only way he can help them not suffer the same fate as Neil.
He knew that Charlie would make a scene, but he didn't expect Todd to defend him. Knox wasn't as much of a surprise knowing those two, and yet Meeks and Pitts later stood by them as well.
And he knew they all waited for him to join, and yet he can't
He just can't.
And he know's he's the only one who can do this.
He stared at the door in front of him, knowing full well what will happen once he enters this door.
A breath and he knocks.
A voice so familiar was heard inside the room.
"Come in."
He turns the knob even if a nagging part of him is trying to stop himself but he didn't.
It's now or never.
"Mr. Nolan, I've come to confess everything."
Mr. Nolan looked at him and he felt himself getting small.
"About what?"
Another breath.
"About the Dead poet's society."
Mr. Nolan's eyes widened for a second before his face transform into a scowl.
"Sit down and tell me everything."
@inahallucination @theluminoussunflower ah yeah i still don't know others to tag so yeah KASDJASKDJAK am still writing the ATBDATE Au but this has been on my mind all day so I had to write.
I made a thing! Tag yourself, I am a Neil hahah I was chaotic good before I realized Neil was one so I guess I kinned the right Poet oop-
I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT KNOX OOPS (Based this off of movie knox)
I had a hard time finding one where to place pitts and meeks, but Meeks seems more likely to be proactive than Pitts. Between Mr. Nolan and Mr. Perry, I used knowledge from the interviews to determine who’s doing something more evil (spoiler it’s nolan because he’s the head of the school haha)
@inahallucination and @giolovesyousm hey I'm here to deliver and not leave you in despair. Now time for the confrontation JASKAJDKA (Side Note: This was longer than I intended and I'm sorry.)
"You have to understand why I had to do this Charlie- " Cameron tried to talk to the other who just walked passed him, and as much as it hurts. A nagging part of him deserved it.
It was the night after everything that transpired in that room and Cameron for the first time after he met the poets (no his friends, no will they even call him that anymore?) He felt alone.
And he was stuck in the room with the moon who is the most furious about his decision. Charlie Dalton was packing his clothes for he shall be out of Welton at sunrise, another decision that Cameron made out of pure emotions.
He hated it, he hated thinking with his heart. All his life everything was thought out, all the probabilities he knew he'll do. It was so simple really, so easy that he was at the top of the class and was known to be a prodigy with a bright future that Welton would be so proud to have as its student.
That was when he met Neil Perry, a man who did as well as him, but yet to live his life free, it was a chance meeting with them becoming partners in a project.
He felt jealous at first, at how this man can do better than him without giving as much effort as him, he found it unfair that this man was given everything on a silver platter and he had to spend countless nights with no sleep just to make sure everything is perfect.
His thoughts changed once he spent time with Neil, finally understanding that he put the other in a such high pedestal without knowing him fully, a part of him feels embarrassed at what his past thoughts were but logically he thought it was fine, after all Neil was his academic rival.
When returned to his home he found himself planning like he usually did, that for his years in Welton, he'll plan for everything that will and can happen.
This proves difficult as he hangs out with Neil more, random hangouts, and group studies, not to mention the new people he met along the way.
There's Knox Overstreet a man whose intellect is hidden due to his shy nature, though he's not as close to him as the others given that reason, or that Cameron never really tried getting close to him.
Steven Meeks was a welcome change along with Gerard Pitts, the two are inseparable due to their shared love for anything robotics, two were geniuses in their own right, though are easier to distract than Neil or himself. He tried establishing a bond with them with robotics but he soon learned that robotics were a thing for only those two.
The recently joined Todd Anderson, shy and very meek that reminds him of a kid during their first day of school, he had proficiency in words, able to wove stories yet can't due to his own insecurities. Which Cameron can understand since all of them have their own insecurities, though he is glad that he's slowly coming out of his shell thanks to Neil.
And last and definitely least Charlie Dalton, the very first person Neil introduced to him, he's truly the person Cameron can't understand. Heart on his sleeves and decisions based only on feelings, he's the polar opposite of himself. He's gotten himself in so much trouble and usually the first instigator of hangouts. It is safe to say that Cameron didn't like Charlie, not one bit.
It was due to the fact that he couldn't plan whenever they are involved, joining the dead poets society, doing everything that they did after those, he knows what they were doing is wrong at that it's going against his own principles but he can't stop, because as much as he hates to admit it, he was having fun with them all. Actually, this has been the most fun he's ever had.
And then Neil died.
And then everything fell apart.
And then the funeral happened and Charlie and the others made a scene and left him and he felt so alone that he felt angry, and did the unthinkable.
Logically he said to himself that he was doing the right thing, that he was doing his for Neil, and for his friends so that they won't suffer the same fate as Neil.
He ignored the part of him that blames himself for Neil's death, that he didn't try enough. That he didn't try hard enough to stop Neil from going to the play because he was proud of himself, he blames his emotions for taking over his logic and look where did that leave them.
When he left out the room after giving Mr. Nolan everything that happened and basically threw Mr. Keating out of the bus to save himself and the others he felt that he did Neil justice.
He ignored the tears and sobs once he enters back to his room.
He thought what he did was good, that the other poets would understand, yet when he was confronted by the poets and Charlie's fist connected to his face, he felt betrayed and angry. Seeing all of the people he called friends to look at him with disappointment not understanding that he did this for them. He felt alone.
And with the flurry of emotions, he decided to stay true to his words and reported Charlie to Mr. Nolan.
"This is a serious offense Mr. Richard are you sure about this?" Mr. Nolan looked at Cameron who still fill with anger, he nods.
"Given his past misdeeds, I have no choice but to expel Mr. Dalton from Welton effective tomorrow." The words felt like a bucket of ice-cold water falling on him, the once hot anger now changed to cold dread as it only dawns on him what he's done.
"Please do call Mr. Dalton on my behalf Mr. Richard, I think we both have a long talk ahead." Mr. Nolan said before making Cameron leave the room, as he walked back to his and Charlie's room filled with shame.
He enters and saw Charlie, looking at him. There was still rage on his eyes and yet he walked over to where Cameron was standing.
"I ..." Charlie sighs, "Why did you do it?"
Cameron found himself surprised, all the anger was gone in an instant, and all that was left was betrayal. It was only at that moment that Cameron understood that even after the times they bickered Charlie still thought of him as a friend, and he was asking for his reasoning.
It felt like a stab in the gut with what he's about to say.
"I ... Mr. Nolan want to see you Charlie." He couldn't look at Charlie's eyes, not in the way Charlie's eyes looked confused.
"Mr. Nolan? Why?"
And then Charlie's eyes widened as he finally understands what was happening, his face become emotionless as he lets out a laugh.
"I can't believe you did it." Charlie said it more to himself than to Cameron yet it hurts much more.
"Charlie I-" Cameron tried to explain himself, but was stopped by Charlie.
"The others wanted to know your reasoning you know?" He starts as Cameron found himself frozen. "So they'll know if they can still forgive you."
"And here I was, thinking about giving you a chance." Charlie then leaves the room, to hear about his expulsion.
Cameron felt everything and nothing, he felt nothing logical could explain this feeling, how his heart hurts about what he's done, and nothing logical could ever explain it.
And so he weeps on his bed hoping that he could explain himself once Charlie returns.
------------
This was proven difficult when the other doesn't even wanna look at him, much less speak to him.
"Charlie ... please let me explain myself." Cameron tried to plead as he the other was almost done packing, it was easier to pack since he didn't really bring a lot.
"I ... I'm sorry okay? I was so angry at you that I did it without thinking. I thought you of all people would understand why I've done that-"
"Understand what?" Charlie all but glares at him, anger evident in his eyes yet he also looks tired. "That you thought that the Dead poets society was a bad influence on Neil, that Mr. Keating the only adult who actually supports everything we do that isn't what our parents wanted, the guy who gave Neil more reason to live was the one who made Neil kill himself?" Charlie was seething and Cameron found himself unable to sleep.
"I can't fucking believe you, doing that after you didn't join us at the funeral? I understand why you didn't wanna join us but this? Do you have any idea of these repercussions or were you too high on your pedestal to think about anything else?" Charlie stepped closer invading his own personal space. "And now this? I just can't believe you Cam."
"You punched me!" He tried to say then Charlie all but laughs. "You do understand I punch you because you threw everyone off the bus, you made it look like we were trying to actively hide this from Nolan and you were trying to stop us, not only us, you've thrown the only dependable adult here and accused him of being the reason of his student's suicide!"
"Have you ever thought of how we will react to this? How the well-being of others is when you drop these on them?" Charlie asked and Cameron's reaction was all the answer he needs.
"Of course, you wouldn't since after Neil died you never went with us anymore, did you know how hard it was to just ask for Pitts to eat? Or for Knox or Meeks to actually be motivated to do anything?" Cameron felt guilty since he knew it was true, and yet Charlie continues.
"And let's don't even get me started with Todd? It was already hard making him leave his bed, I even had to even ask the chefs of the cafeteria for favors just so we could bring the food to Todd's room." Charlie explains. "Did you know he jumped on the iced pools once? Thank god I was there to stop here or else ..." Charlie didn't want to continue his thoughts, yet both knew where he was going.
"That's what I'm afraid Cam, I'm afraid of the others when I'm gone, I'm scared of Todd since the only ones who he actually listens to are me and Knox, and even Knox has his bad days," Charlie explains, a single tear falling off his eyes. "I promised Neil to protect them and especially Todd, and how can I do that now?" All his anger subsides and for the first time that night their eyes met, and Cameron saw Charlie's eyes that were filled with fear. But before he could say anything Charlie moves away from Cameron to his own bed.
Cameron went to his own bed after that with him unable not knowing what to say, especially with what Charlie just said except...
"I'm sorry." He looked at Charlie who was facing the wall, unable to know if the other heard him. And after a few minutes, he heard Charlie.
"Make sure they'll be okay, alright?" That was what Cameron heard before sleep takes over.
The morning after when Cameron woke up, the other side of the room was spotless, Charlie was already gone. And he felt tears falling on his cheeks.
He just hopes that one day the others can forgive him.
