Page 81 of Misconduct Zone

“I’ve only been teaching a year, but I volunteered before that. It’s been a rewarding experience. These kids are inspiring and teach me about bravery and tenacity.”

When the camera light goes off, Cole asks if they want to keep painting or watch Alec’s drawing class. They all decide to watch Alec except one girl, and I stay behind with her.

“Not into drawing?” I ask.

“No, yeah. It’s well… Don’t tell him I said this, but Alec is a lot. I mean, he’s loud and cheerful all the damn time. It’s…” She waves her hands and I get it.

“Too much,” I finish for her, and she agrees with a chin tilt. “I’ll leave you to paint in peace.” I’ve been told I’m loud and talk nonstop. Not everyone is into that.

“You can stay as long as you don’t try to recruit me to play hockey.” She shivers. “Being cold is not my thing.”

I mime zipping my lips and she laughs. Our conversation is easy as she tells me about her painting. It’s a collage of her favorite things growing up, a bear, a memory box, and a few other things but no people. It’s sad and makes me think about what my favorite childhood things would be besides a hockey stick.

By the time we’re done talking, we join the others in Shane’s finance class.

He has five questions written on an old-school chalkboard. Can you accurately check your bank balance with a debit card? What is your monthly budget? What are your monthly expenses? How much do you have left over to spend? How much of that should you save?

My girl leans over and asks me why she can’t check her balance with her ATM card.

“I don’t know. Maybe I need this class.” I snicker and the surrounding people glare. She laughs into her elbow, and I feel like I made a new friend.

Next we set up to film dinner, where I’m serving along with Trevor and Jayce. Emmet left to support Madyson, their partner, at her gallery for her art show.

We have an easy job. Put food on the kids’ plates and talk to them. Well, easy for me. I notice that none of the introverts are serving. Jayce isn’t the most outgoing guy, but he knows all the kids by name, and they have a great rapport.

“So what’s this about?” a skinny sixteen-year-old from Shane’s class asks, pushing his glasses on his face.

“It’s part of the Enforcers’ commitment to supporting LBGTQ rights and programs. This place relies on grants and donations. If we can bring attention to it, hopefully you’ll get more funding.” I give the PR answer. He side-eyes me but doesn’t respond.

“I call bullshit,” his friend with light-brown hair and shrewd amber eyes says. “What are you really doing?”

My mouth falls open. Luckily, the cameraman has gone into the back, where Lars and that crew are packing bags to distribute to the homeless. Statistically, queer people and the mentally ill are the largest segment of the homeless population.

“I saw the schedule on Joanne’s desk. You and Lars have an interview with the reporter by yourselves,” he says accusingly. “And there’s a list of a few of us for individual interviews too.”

I scrub a hand over my face.

“Are you using us for good publicity?” the girl from Cole’s class asks in a soft voice from the next table.

“No! Absolutely not. Well, maybe. Sort of.” I didn’t think of it that way. “It’s not our intention. We want to do right by you.”

“Give it to us straight. No bullshit.” Glasses guy folds his arms over his chest.

“I’m in love with Lars Drakenberg, but I’m not doing a press conference to announce it to the world like it’s this thing that has to be handled like a stick of dynamite that could explode any second. We just want to talk about our beliefs and support of this program and let everyone draw their own conclusions.” I word-vomit all over them.

My girl claps her hands, and the guys have huge grins.

“Another one bites the dust. Welcome to the dark side.” A kid smacks me on the back.

“We’re going to have three out NHL players here. This is like the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life.”

These kids leave me speechless, which is hard to do. But this is why speaking our truth is imperative. So that kids all across the country aren’t afraid to speak theirs. Not everyone is in a safe environment to be themselves, but we can give them hope.

The reporter motions me and Lars to her side. “We can use a conference room or an office for the interview.”

“What if we do it right here?” I turn to Lars. “These kids can smell a lie a mile away, and we need to be genuine. I know it’s not what we talked about, but…” I hope he doesn’t hate the idea.

“It’s a good plan. Can you make it work?” he asks the reporter.

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