Payback - Z, G

[serai]

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Payback
by Serai


Mr. Furlong gave a chuckling snort as the class's nervous laughter tittered into silence. He leaned forward and slowly placed his hands wide apart on the desk. With a long, sidling look, he asked, "Why are you still here, Zeke?"

The pen flipping in Zeke's hand stilled instantly, and his eyes took on that flat look the students knew too well. He didn't answer.

"Seriously. I'm asking because I can't figure it out," Furlong continued. "You're not doing the work, you're barely cracking a book. You've got a hell of a brain but you're not doing anything with it. Obviously, this thing you've got going is very convenient for you. I'm sure you're getting copiously laid, what with the whole James Dean vibe." A low gasp from the class, especially the girls, and Zeke's face tightened another fraction. "But you're wasting people's time. My time." He gestured towards the other students. "Their time, the other teachers'. Your time, too. Only three more months til graduation, Zeke. Nobody here has time for your wit." He enunciated the last word to make the subtext crystal clear.

Furlong straightened up and smiled a little. "Or is that what it's about? Them? Their reaction? Are you entertaining us, Zeke? Are you honing an act? You going to be a stand-up comedian? Famous, one day? Zeke Tyler at the Improv? What's your act going to be about, Zeke? Us?"

The class was quiet now, and Zeke's face had paled. He said nothing, just looked at Furlong, waiting. The teacher was on a roll, though - every time Zeke had undermined or subtlely belittled him was being paid back now, in front of his peers. There was a glint of enjoyment in Furlong's eye.

"Because I've got news for you, Zeke. You're not enrolled here to entertain anyone. You're not enrolled here to amuse yourself. Or to humiliate Miss Burke, or get chesty with Mr. Tate, or disrupt my class and waste my fucking time." Another gasp. None of them had ever heard a teacher say "fuck" before. "Yes, you're funny, Zeke. You're clever, quick on your feet. You're also genius level brilliant, and a goddamn heartbreak to try and teach. Now get the fuck out of my class, and don't come back without a reason to be here."

Zeke stared at Furlong, amazed, and as Furlong turned away to the blackboard, he caught a grimace of sadness on the teacher's face. The dismissal stung, as well as the truth in Furlong's words. Zeke got up and silently left the room. Furlong didn't watch him leave.

"Okay, everybody. Let's review our results, shall we?"

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Comments

[addie71.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was certainly unexpected from Furlong, but just maybe, it was what Zeke needed to hear.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Isn't it? Surprised the hell outta me! But I was watching The Faculty again, and I was noticing the reactions the teachers had to Zeke. He's a rather subtle bully, Zeke is, and he's got some of the teachers, at least, quite cowed. Check out Furlong's expression when Zeke pushes him off the microscope. Then I just heard him rise up righteous and give Zeke that bitchslapping. Yep, I think he needed to hear it, too.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Zeke needed someone to tell him a few home truths, but this was brutal.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I don't know what Zeke said to him, but apparently it was the last straw. I'm often surprised by the stuff I'm writing, but this one puzzles me a little. I'm not sure it actually belongs in the confines of High Contrast - it might be a stand-alone instead. I'm thinking about that.

[aliensouldream.livejournal.com]

So great, because it reclaims goofy Furlong in the smart sharp incisiveness of Jon. Now that's a man that would get Zeke's respect, make him pause and pay attention. Pity Furlong didn't go for broke when Zeke was a junior and heading for the skids. But a hellbent all-for-glory Zeke wouldn't have heard. The days are longer and more tedious now. I'm seeing Casey's bleeding heart at the back of this class, fiercely staring at his text book, loving and hating them both.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice image. I'd actually thought to include something about Casey in this fic, as he is indeed sitting in that class, but I couldn't find a way to make it work. And yes, this is as much Jon as it is Furlong. (I still giggle at his name - Edward Furlong. Big Terminator fan, is Rodriguez.)

Thanks for the love!