Realms Beyond Reality [WIP]

Chapter 7: Add a Little Chemistry

Friday 18, October

BRING

9:45

Second period has just begun. I sit in my seat, which is on the left side of the classroom, and wait for my table partner before turning in my homework into the tray. As the rest of the class is doing exactly that, Jake finally walks into the classroom. As usual, he's late.

As he quickly sits in his seat, I slide my homework over to him. No words being exchanged, he copies. I couldn't really talk to anyone else while waiting, since the tables were meant for two, so I drum my fingers to the music playing in my head.

Jake is just about what anybody would expect from someone named Jake, at least from the movies. He's in the popular boys group, not exactly beefy but handsome, and (no surprise here) not what you would call smart. Although he's not on the football team (he tried out but his grades wouldn't let him join), he's constantly seen as one of them for his attendance to every game and friendship with everyone there. He's usually seen wearing dark blue skinny jeans and a white T-shirt with a plaid red and black flannel.

I casually watch the door on the lookout for the teacher. I eye Jake to see him on the last page of the packet. Our friendship used to be just homework pals, but soon we became joke buddies, making each other laugh until either our sides hurt or one of us is pointed out by the Ms. Pay.

"Okay, I'm done now. Here," Jake says as he passes his and my homework over to me. I get up and walk to the homework tray. Pacy, a member of the popular girls group, is there. She smiles at me and rests her hand on my wrist for a second, gives me a wave, and does a slight sashay as she walks over to her seat. I turn in the papers and head back to my own seat with a confused look.

What was that for? Pacy is not necessarily mean to me, but she's not exactly my friend friend either. She's more like an acquaintance on good terms. We've never talked so the exchange was quite...out of the norm.

Ms. Pay walks over to her desk at the front of the class, meter stick in hand. The meter stick isn't for punishment; it's more like her fidget spinner but not a spinner or meant for spinning. She faces Diangalo, another classmate, and points her finger at him.

"Turn in your homework now. Class isn't the time to be doing it."

"Wait! But I was at a funeral and I cou-!"

"Just save me the trouble and turn it in. Late work and cheating will not be tolerated in my classroom. I'm giving you ten seconds before I throw that in the trash."

Diangalo mumbles a few choice words and does so. He lays his head on his desk and faces his lap. It's pretty obvious to everyone that he's on his phone. Everyone except Ms. Pay.

"I guess I finished doing my part just in time, eh?"

I turn around to see Jake giving me a playful grin, hand in the air waiting for a high five. I give him a fist to his palm and reply, "Yea, but if you don't do your own work we're both going to get in trouble!"

"I honestly don't see why you need to worry. We haven't been caught so far and besides, not everyone is a goodie-too-shoes like you!" Jake pokes my side and I let out a slight yelp. The person to the table right of us looks over and I give a simple smile and turn back over to Jake.