It was a shame really. Just hours ago, it had looked like it was going to be a great day. His hair was perfect, his shoelaces tied, and a cheerleader had sent him a flirtatious wink through his locker mirror. But when he crashed down from his cloud nine daydream, it all turned to mush. Now all he had was throbbing toes, a sore elbow, a grumbling stomach and embarrassment to last the next generation of Moons. A fantastic day indeed.

Sighing heavily, he slumped down further in his seat, ignoring the rest of his class filing in. His parents were going to be so mad. Not another one Austin, he could practically see his dad moaning, running a hand through his greying hair. What happened this time? His mum would whisper, reaching out to grasp his hand in hers. And then I'll say the same bullshit answer as before, 'nothing.'

"Tough day buddy?"

Blinking, he snapped out of his thoughts to see a tall red head settle into the seat in front of him, a sympathetic look creasing his face. He must have looked confused in response for the ginger's gaze flickered down to his clenched hand before back up to him, full of questions. Exhaling he uncurled his fist to show the bright pink detention slip screwed up in it, causing his friend to hiss in understanding.

"What happened?"

"Was late to homeroom. And I'm expecting another one soon when Mrs Francois finds out that Tony Rogers stole my assignment." He muttered, slouching back in his seat.

"Well, that just sucks. Here, have some breakfast." Dez offered, finishing out a cereal bar from the depths of his backpack. Seeing Austin's crinkled brow he shrugged, "I saw you drop your toast earlier. Figured you'd want something to eat."

"You," Austin sighed as he ripped into the packaging, "are the bestfriend a guy can ask for."

"It's a gift." He grinned.

As he munched, Austin pointed his snack towards the teen, muttering, "Did Didi rat you out to your parents yet?"

"No, but she's still threatening to unless I buy her a tub of Chunky Chews icecream after school today. Again." Dez grumbled, slumping across the back of his chair. "I'm going to be broke."

"But you might get your face up on the wall behind the counter."

"The obsessive customer list?"

"Yeah."

"Already on it."

Austin stopped mid bite to shoot a questioning look at his friend, only to get waved off. "It's not important."

"O-kay…um-" he was cut off as Mrs Francois strode into the class, looking ruffled and angry.

"Alright class settled down, turn around and pay attention. I'm not in the mood today." She snapped, dropping her briefcase onto her already cluttered desk. Dez sent him one last sympathetic grimace before turning around, sitting ramrod straight in his seat like most of the class. If there were two things about Mrs Francois you had to learn they would be to never ask if her hair colour was natural and that she hated meetings of any kind. And from the way she was itching to tear out her hair, she must have just come from one.

"Right. So, yes…welcome back, homeroom subjects and discussions can stay there until lunch or break as you are now in Health. So while I'm giving you the highlights of today's meeting- haha, yes Stephanie, highlights. Funny- I want you to start passing your assignments forward. Not so funny now are we Stephanie? Detention after school."

Gulping Austin slipped a little further down in his seat, praying he could be somewhere else. Dez sent him a quick nod over his shoulder just as someone tapped his arm from behind. Registering what had happened, he turned around and grabbed the stack of homework before passing it on, still praying. Was it his imagination, or was Mrs Francois giving him the eagle eye?

"Three major notices for you all today: As the principal has so kindly reminded me and the rest of the staff, it is Spirit Week. So that means Pep rally on Friday, with compulsory attendance. And if I catch any of you smoking beneath the bleachers during that night's basketball game, the lectures I give during this class will seem tame to the ear lashing you'll get. Spirit Week leads us on to notice number two; fundraising. That's the objective of this year's spirit event. We want to see bake sales, car washes, raffles, whatever, simple fundraisers that abide school rules. All proceeds will be either donated towards a charity of the student body's choice- from a preapproved list- or they will go towards a section of the school that you all find the most needing. Again, preapproved. All assignments gathered? Good, just pass them forward….thankyou."

Setting the stack of papers down in her inbox tray, she leant against her desk briefly before taking a deep breath and staring at them all.

"The third notice is one that I've just had approved. It's come to my attention that some of you are slacking off or struggling in this class. Because of that, your grades are slipping and I really don't see them improving after the Christmas break. I thought over it, and it seems that maybe some of you need a more hands on approach to learning than what I've been giving you. So, in the spirit of 'Spirit Week'-"

She paused, glaring at someone behind Austin, much to his confusion. As he turned around, he caught the last of their sentence before the rest of the class shifted in their seats, half embarrassed, half giggling. Frowning he turned to look at his teacher again, only to see her close her eyes and mentally count to five before barking out, "No, it's not the kind of hands on you're after Tony, but you will be one of the selected few for this assignment. Yes, it's another assignment. Stop your whining and I'll explain. Now, as I was saying, as it fits in with the spirit event for this year, we are giving back to the local hospital by volunteering. You'll be assigned different wards each week for the next two months. Like I mentioned, a few of you have no choice in the matter and are already participating, but if there are any volunteers, come see me after class. Any questions?"

A few hands shot up, asking the generic questions, which she answered monotonously until she saw Austin's raised hand. A brief show of emotions flicker across her face before she squared up and nodded towards him.

"What 'local' hospital is it?"

She didn't need to ask for him to clarify. No one needed to. Looking him dead in the eye she responded, "St. Margaret's on Forty Fifth Street. Now, all that aside, let's begin today's class."

St. Margaret's. He hadn't been there in a while. His parents absolutely refused to go back for joy visits, so he usually stopped by after school to chat with the nurses or to drop off a homemade pie he had conned his mother into making. After everything they had done for him when he was younger, it was the least he could do. There no one mocked his speech. There no one tripped him up in the hallways or stole his homework. There he didn't get sympathetic stares or offered hands to guide him around the corridors. He was deaf, not blind. He saw it all.

Rolling a pencil over his fingers, he stared blankly at the board, wondering if he was on the list for this new assignment. If he was, it might just be the opportunity he needed to give back to the hospital without his parents guilt tripping him or asking if he needed to see a psychologist. And if he wasn't, well someone had to volunteer. Health suddenly got a lot more interesting.

The rest of the class seemed to drag by as he struggled to remain focused, but eventually the bell began ringing, its light flashing away above the door. The class were quick to jump to their feet, hastily grabbing their belongings as Mrs Francois shouted above the din, "Those who are starting the new assignment, a letter will be sent out to your houses today, which needs to be signed by a guardian. I won't name and shame you, but I'll need those permission slips in by the end of the week. Any volunteers, come see me at some stage today."

Having not seen a word of what she said, Austin lingered behind the rest of the group, nodding a goodbye to Dez who smiled in response. When the last kid had disappeared into the hallway, he slowly approached her desk, where she was busy hunting for something amongst the pile of rubbish that occupied it.

"Damn keys, always vanishing on me- oh, Austin. How can I help? Wait, let me guess. You want to be part of the new assignment."

"Um, yeah." He stammered, flushing slightly, "I was kind of wondering if I was already on the list though…"

Smiling she gestured at him to grab a seat, which he hurriedly pulled over. Once they were both settled, Mrs Francois rested her elbows on the desk, leaning a little towards him. "To be honest Mr Moon, you weren't until earlier when I noticed you didn't hand in your assignment."

Damn, she did see. "Would you believe that Tony handed it in for me?"

"Given the fact the kid hasn't handed anything in to this date? Yeah, I'd believe it. But it still doesn't excuse you. Also, seeing how you've been struggling to follow everything I've been saying in class- yes, I know it's also my fault. I turn my back to the blackboard while I talk- I thought it might be easier for you to join the hands on approach. Do you think your parents will mind?"

"To be honest, I'm not too sure. I know they want me to improve my grades, and volunteer work will just have them puffing their feathers like proud parents, but when they find out it's at St. Margaret's…"

"They'll think you conned me into asking if you could join? Which, you're technically doing right now?" Mrs Francois grinned, earning another guilty blush from him. "It's okay Austin, I understand. I'll send a letter out with the rest today, explaining the situation. I'm sure your parents won't mind. Now, you'll have to give me the permission slip by the end of the week or I can't let you join. Once I've got that, you'll receive a volunteer uniform which has to be washed, pressed and worn each time you visit the hospital for class. Sneakers can be worn, but I'm not sure about those hi-tops you seem to be always sporting. Maybe if you're in the children's ward. They'd like the colour. Aside from that, everything will be pretty much straight forward when you get the letter, and I'll explain the rest next week. Any questions?"

"Uh, just one. Uniform?"

Was it just his imagination, or did her grin just grow bigger. "It's lovely. Now, here's a late pass for your next teacher, and I'll see you in detention after school. I'm running it today."

As he accepted the slip of paper from her, and allowed her to shoo him out of the class, he couldn't help but to wonder what he'd gotten himself into. Suddenly, a simple volunteer seemed so much more.