Legal Disclaimer: This story contains homoerotic content. If this offends you, or if it is illegal for you to access such content, please press the 'Back' button on your browser now.
This story is fictional in every way. The characters in this story are not based on real people, alive or dead, and the events in this story are not based on real life events that the author has been a part of or seen. Any similarities in names or descriptions are purely coincidental.
The author grants the Nifty Archive a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, and non-cancelable license to display the work.
Author's Note: First off, so sorry for the delay in posting this chapter! It's been like a month...ugh. Uni has just started back, so I've been right into that. Anyhow, this is the fifth chapter of Lunchroom Fun. Also, there's no sex in this chapter, sorry! I promise there will be in the next one. If you're wanting action, I'll be writing the next chapter of my other story House Party which will definitely have some good stuff :)
Love/hate the characters? Want more sex? Think I've overdone the suspense? Give me feedback! As usual, any comments or suggestions are welcome, and a big thank you to all those who have commented on past submissions or made suggestions for future ones, they are all appreciated.
aleksandercaspian@gmail.com or aleksandercaspian@hotmail.com (msn)
Lunchroom Fun - Chapter 5
"My name's Jason. Jason Orrone."
Ben stared, open-mouthed.
"Orrone? As in, Mr. Orrone, St. Aleksander's Christian College?"
Jason slowly turned to face Ben. Very quietly he said: "You know my brother?"
"Brother?" said Ben, stunned.
Jason quickly drew a line across his throat, indicating silence.
"Later," he mouthed. Suddenly he spun around and began striding down the corridor, beckoning for Ben to follow.
Ben found it hard to keep up as Jason whisked through the corridors at Good Shepherd with quick, confident gait. The older boy strode purposefully ahead down the white hallway as if he owned the place, nodding casually to other light blue-clothed patients as they walked past in the opposite direction. Ben caught up and fell into step behind Jason, who began speaking loudly over his shoulder.
"Alright Ben, we're just going to have a quick walk around the main wing and I'll show you the places of interest."
They rounded a corner into an identical featureless, white corridor. Jason pointed.
"Over there is the Reading Room. Don't know if you're much into books but it doesn't matter much: nothing worth reading in there. Up here is the Dining Hall, I'll take you back there when it's time for dinner. Oh and by the way, where we just came from was the East wing, rooms 75 to 150."
As Ben was absorbing this information, he noticed a commotion up ahead. Gazing down the long corridor he saw a figure in a white lab coat walking towards them. Ben watched as the white figure approached a group of patients walking in the opposite direction: the blue-clothed teenagers immediately pressed themselves up against either side of the corridor like an honor guard to allow the white-coated figure to pass between them.
Before he even had time to contemplate this bizarre behaviour, Ben felt a hand grab him and pull him against the wall. Beside him, Jason was pressed against the whitewashed concrete, holding Ben against it with on hand and straightening his shirt with the other. The figure in white strode past them without once glancing up from the clipboard folder he carried. Ben leaned out into the corridor and watched as the man continued to stroll down the corridor, bodies parting before him like the Red Sea. The oddest part, thought Ben, was not the action of the students: it was the fact that the man felt so confident his way would be clear that he did not even have to look up. He felt Jason relax his previously tense body and step away from the wall.
"I should have told you about the protocol earlier, Ben," he said apologetically.
"What protocol?" Ben asked, still bemused by what had just happened. Jason continued to walk down the corridor as he explained.
"Whenever you see a doctor coming towards you in the corridor, you move to the side and let them pass. If you hear them coming behind you, you move to the side and let them pass. You don't try to walk faster than them. At best, you duck into a nearby door, but if they get within two metres of you, you MOVE TO THE SIDE AND LET THEM PASS. Doesn't matter if the wall has wet paint on it, if there's a puddle of water or vomit, you step into it. Got that?"
"What happens if you don't get out of the way?" Ben asked. Jason stopped walking and turned to look at him.
"Look, it's like this," he said quietly. "It isn't like school here. It's not like failing to get out of the way equals an afternoon in detention or half an hour picking up rubbish at lunchtime. There's no set punishment because it's not technically against the rules. But you'll find your time here much more...trauma-free," he muttered darkly, "if you pretend to respect them. People who stand up to the doctors tend to be given 'special attention'. Trust me, that is the last thing you want."
Ben was shaken. There was something about the cold, quiet way Jason had mentioned special attention. Jason eyed him closely to make sure the message was conveyed before turning back into the hallway, leading Ben further into the labyrinth of the Institute.
"Alex, you can't possibly do that."
Alex glanced up to see Mr. Orrone frowning across the table at him. They had decided to stop in at a fast food restaurant to talk. Alex hated eating the stuff, but it was close and convenient. He sighed. McDonalds had won again. He took a sip from his orange juice.
"Did you hear me, Mr. Michaelson? I said you can't do that."
Alex laughed.
"I was expelled, sir. I don't have to listen to teachers anymore."
Marcus Orrone sighed, his expression softening.
"Then I hope you'll listen to a concerned friend. It's crazy, Alex. You can't break into the Institute. I mean, not only is it crazy, it actually IS crazy. Everyone inside the Institute wants to break out, and you're trying to break in?"
Alex grinned.
"Exactly," he said smugly, "They'll never expect it."
Mr. Orrone raised an eyebrow.
"And have you given any thought to breaking back out again?"
"Well..." the boy shifted his gaze down to the pile of paper and plastic before him.
"I thought not," said the teacher, smiling in spite of himself. "Look, let me just give you an idea of how the place is set up before you go rushing in."
He found a piece of paper and started sketching.
"OK," Mr. Orrone said, drawing quickly. "The Institute is set on private property owned by the Church about half an hour out of town. There's a wood at the back, but for about a mile in all directions around the main building, there's just grass. You'd be spotted long before you even got close. There's one dirt road leading up to the main gate, which is patrolled by a guard 24/7."
Alex whistled.
"Talk about a fucking prison...oh, sorry sir."
The older man smiled.
"Like you said, Alex, you're not a student anymore. You can say what you want. And you don't have to call me sir anymore." He laughed. "I always hated being called sir. Worst part of being a teacher. Makes you feel so old."
The corners of Alex's mouth turned up in a slight grin.
"OK...Mr. Orrone."
"Marcus will do, Alex, if you're not uncomfortable with that. Or Marc."
"I might have to work my way up to that, Mr. Orr...Marcus." Alex corrected himself.
Mr. Orrone chuckled and turned his attention back to the drawing.
" As I was saying, there's only one road, and one way in. There's an iron gate in the wall, which leads to an open courtyard between the wall and the main building."
Alex frowned.
"Wait, you mean this place has a wall, and THEN the main building, separately?"
"That's right, Alex. It's practically a medieval castle. The only thing missing is a moat."
Alex shook his head in amazement as Mr. Orrone continued.
"The courtyard," he indicated a section of the map, "Is so the residents can walk around and be out in the open, not that they are often allowed out, from what I know. The main building is, shockingly enough, in the shape of a cross."
Alex raised an eyebrow in disbelief as the teacher drew a crucifix on the page.
"I'm not joking. It has five 'wings': North, East, South, West and Main. The main is obviously the square in the middle..." he pointed with his pencil, "and the other wings make up the arms of the cross. The South wing, being the longer part of the cross, contains most of the treatment rooms, as well as the administrative offices. All the doctors, counselors and priests work in that wing-"
"Priests?" Alex interrupted. "The place has its own dedicated priests?"
"Indeed it does, a fair few of them, in fact," Mr. Orrone confirmed. "Their purpose is to offer spiritual guidance, apparently. Where was I..." he murmured, glancing back at the diagram. "Ah yes, the East and West wings are residential, and in between them, the Main wing holds the dining hall and limited recreational facilities."
"What about the North wing?" Alex asked. Mr. Orrone frowned.
"I'm not sure, Alex. It's listed on the floor plan as storage, but I don't know what kind of facility needs that much space."
Alex sat back and absorbed this information. Mr. Orrone watched him for a moment, then cleared his throat.
"As I said, Alex, it would be crazy to try to break into the Institute. I know you want to see Ben again, but it just isn't feasible. Even if you got past the wall and the guard, they would arrest you for trespass. There's no way in." Mr. Orrone concluded.
Alex sat, thoughtful. Finally he spoke.
"There's one way."
Mr. Orrone cocked an eye brow questioningly.
"And that way would be?"
Alex smiled grimly.
"As a voluntary patient."
As Ben and Jason entered the Dining Hall, the sound of young people talking and laughing washed over them. Ben smiled, relieved: at least here, things didn't seem so bleak and hopeless. Jason guided him over to the serving line, where a severe-looking, bony old lady scooped spoonfuls of an unidentifiable substance onto their plates, glaring universally at everyone she served. Ben stifled a laugh: the woman was quite a caricature, looking as though a comedian had gone out of his way to create the stereotypical bitter old lady. A warning look from Jason caused the laugh to die in his throat. Head down, he accepted his plate and allowed himself to be led to a nearby table, where several other boys were already seated, eating.
"Boys, let me introduce you to Ben Steckman. He's my new roommate."
Four faces looked up and, as one, they smiled. Jason began the introductions.
"Ben, this is Mike," he said, gesturing to a blonde surfer-dude type with golden tanned skin and a slightly lopsided grin, "and Tim--", pointing at a smallish, skinny guy with short, dark brown hair, a slightly pale face and the most startlingly blue eyes Ben had ever seen, "Sam-" a thick-set African boy with very noticeable biceps waved at him, "and last but not least, Grey." The final member of the group smiled at Ben, displaying perfect dimples, a smoothly defined jawline and grayish, blue eyes. His most distinguishing feature, though, was a perfectly circular scar on his right cheek just below his eye.
Aware that he was staring, Ben looked up and smiled at the group.
"Good to uh...meet you all," he said, surprised at his own awkwardness. Usually he was cool and confident, and made friends easily. Perhaps it was the way these guys were openly and obviously checking him out that threw him off balance. Jason glanced up from his food and chuckled.
"Guys, settle down. Poor Ben isn't used to being checked out by guys: look at him, he hardly knows where to look!"
There was a ripple of laughter around the table. The boys turned their attention back to eating, and Ben relaxed.
"So..." he said, attempting conversation, "You guys all in for the same thing?"
There were a few grins around the table.
"Yup, got it in one," said the blonde haired Mike. "My parents sent me here when they discovered my surfing buddy rode more than just the waves." He winked at Ben suggestively. The others groaned.
"He tells that joke to everyone he meets, and it still isn't funny." Sam said, dodging an elbow from Mike. "As for me, my parents caught me making out with my brother's friend. Older brother, that is." He amended.
"Well, if it's going to be 'sharing time'," said Tim, grinning, "I may as well throw my hat in the ring. My parents walked in on me whacking off to gay porn in my room. I'm...I'm still a virgin." He finished, embarrassed. Jason ruffled the younger boys hair.
"We keep telling him there's nothing wrong with that, but he doesn't believe us." Jason said, smiling fondly at Tim, who muttered something half-heartedly before smiling back.
Grey noticed the others were looking at him expectantly, and smiled slightly.
"I actually came out to my parents voluntarily," he explained. "Unfortunately, they didn't take it as well as I'd hoped."
"That's all you'll get out of him on that subject, Ben, so don't ask any more." Mike said.
Tim looked curiously at Ben. "So what about you? How'd you wind up here?"
Half grinning, half blushing, Ben recounted the story of what had happened in the lunchroom. The other boy's eyes widened in shock.
"Dude! That's freaking awesome!" Mike enthused, a look of admiration on his face.
Tim nodded. "You're so lucky to have had such an awesome experience...even if it did have unforeseen consequences."
"Fucking worth it though!" Sam laughed, punching Ben lightly on the arm as Jason stifled his own hysterics.
Grey stared intently at Ben for a few moments, an unreadable expression on his face. Then he smiled.
"Impressive," he said, and turned his attention back to his food. After a few moments the others quieted down and continued eating. Ben was suddenly reminded of something Jason had said earlier. He turned to his roommate.
"Hey, I just was wondering...exactly what did you mean by 'special attention'?"
The smile instantly disappeared from Jason's face. He placed his fork gently on the plate before him.
"I have to go. I'm sure one of the others will help you out."
Without another word he rose and strode out of the hall. Ben watched him go, unsure of what to say. An uncomfortable silence descended. Finally, Grey spoke.
"Forgive Jason. It's a painful subject for him."
Ben was confused.
"But why?"
Grey glanced at the others. Seeing assent in their expressions, he explained.
"Jason was here long before any of us. I arrived a few months after he did, and when I first came here, Jason was very close with another guy called Lucien. If they'd met on the outside they'd easily be boyfriends: the two just clicked perfectly. They drew strength from each other, and almost seemed to act like they were the same person. They...well, sometimes they got too confident. They made trouble for the doctors. They were uncooperative with the nurses. They made up phony answers to questions on their psychological evaluations. Basically, they made waves."
The mood at the table had turned somber and quiet. The others all listened to Grey recounting the story, not even raising their heads.
"One day, Lucien disappeared. It was so sudden. He and Jason were roommates. They went to sleep in the same room one night, and the next morning Jason woke up to find him gone. He went tearing around the place, trying to find Lucien. Eventually, the doctors told him he'd been taken away for..." Grey paused, then, as though forcing the words out: "'special attention'. When Jason heard that...well, let's just say they needed to sedate him. It was terrible." Grey finished, a grim expression on his face.
"Why didn't they take Jason too?" Ben asked.
"We can only guess," said Mike. "Probably because they knew being apart from Lucien would be far worse a punishment than anything else." He leaned in close.
"Knowing that Lucien was in 'special attention' killed Jason's spirit, Ben. He never stood up to the doctors again after that. For all intents and purposes, he's the model patient. Without Lucien, his strength just evaporated."
"But what IS 'special attention'?" Ben pressed.
"We don't know," said Tim, in a low voice.
"No one knows," added Sam.
"The only thing we do know," Grey said slowly, "is that whatever it is, it happens in the North Wing. And once you get taken there..." he paused.
"Once you get taken to the North Wing, you don't come back."