Laughter pierced the air.
Colton stared at his feet. He mumbled his normal “any port” refrain.
Kevin, in his Devil mask, spoke up. “Has the defendant ever docked in a female ‘port’ during any of these so-called ‘storms?’ Or just guys’ mouths and guys’ holes?”
“Any male port in a storm!” Luke/Princess quipped.
More laughter.
Colton glared.
Matt held up a hand for silence. He turned to Colton. “On the drive here, you admitted to your crimes against gays. You even bragged about them. You showed no remorse. Do you deny that?”
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Colton said. “Wrap up your little show trial and find me guilty, if that’s what it takes for you to feel better about yourselves. Then, we’ll get down to business and cut a deal. I mean, you’ve scared me, right? Message received, loud and clear. I’ll leave you fairies alone all the way through my next term as president of SGA. That’ll get you to May ’97, when I graduate and move on. Deal?”
Matt gave a cheshire cat grin. “So, are you admitting guilt about getting Adam kicked out of school? Blackmailing Paul? Getting Debbie fired? Planning to steal William’s ‘fairy letters’ and use them to get him expelled?”
“Sure. Whatever. Guilty as charged,” Colton said airily.
“You heard him,” Matt said to the GM jury. “It’s time for your verdict. Raise your hand if you find Colton Langley guilty.”
Five hands shot up. Matt raised his as well.
“It’s unanimous,” Matt announced. “Guilty.”
“There!” Colton crowed. “You’ve had your ‘Kumbaya’ moment! Feel better? Can I go now?”
Matt pasted on a smile. “This calls for a drink, wouldn’t you say?”
Colton shrugged.
Matt retrieved the bolt cutters from the ground, held them out. “Clown,” he said to Jake, “take these to your car. When you return, please bring the vodka. Both bottles.”
Jake left with the bolt cutters, returned a minute later with two bottles of vodka.
Matt opened the bottles, handed one to Colton, and kept the other.
“Cheers!” he said, clinking Colton’s bottle and taking a swig from his own.
Colton returned the gesture and took a drink.
“Again!” Matt tipped his bottle to his lips.
Colton did the same.
When Matt suggested a third round, Colton declined.
“I’ve had enough,” he said, holding out his bottle. “I need to return to campus. Can you have someone move the Jeep or the Jetta? They’re blocking me in.”
Matt shook his head. Any trace of a smile was gone. “You’re not going anywhere. Take another drink. I need you wasted when the police arrive.”
“Police?” Colton’s eyes went wide with surprise. “You fairies do realize that none of the stuff I confessed to is an actual crime, right? That the police can’t do anything about it?”
Evan draped an arm over Colton’s shoulder, squeezed it menacingly.
Josh took hold of Colton’s vodka bottle and guided it towards his lips. “Drink up, buddy.”
Colton screamed and tried to wrench himself free.
