ok, so i had to write a short story for english and i was watching "see no evil" and alas, this was born. it's not the greatest thing ever, but when i changed the names around, my teacher will think im smart:D

Disclaimer: no owny ncisy for me:P

"When are we ever gunna need to use this in real life?" I muttered to myself as I slumped deeper into my desk in Mrs. Power's tenth grade math class.

"Something you want to share with the class Mr. Dinozzo?" she asked, startling me.

I guess I said it a little too loud.

"Uh, no." I replied, her glassy eyes staring me down.

"No, no please, Anthony, why don't you tell us? It's not like this is going to be on a test or anything." she stated, sarcasm dripping from her voice, as she walked to the front of her desk and sat on the edge.

By now, half the class had turned their nosey heads around and looked at me. Those that didn't, knew me well. This wasn't unusual. I was known for speaking my mind, although the teachers called it "disrupting".

What the hey, I thought. If there was one thing Mrs. Power's was, it was persistent. If I kept denying this, she'd waste half of class embarrassing me to no end. And I'll admit it, I'm pretty suborn, like I said before I speak my mind and hate to apologize.

I shifted up in my chair slightly. "I was just wondering when we're ever gunna need to know this, you know, in real life?"

I watched as her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Excuse me?" she asked, with slight confusion.

"I mean like x+y, slope, and what train is arriving when? Can't you just look at the ticket?" I asked sincerely, but it earned a few laughs.

Thankfully, Mrs. Reid took me seriously. "Well Anthony, there are plenty of jobs that require this knowledge of math. For example, if you decided to go into engineering or architecture-"

"But that's just it!" I almost jumped out of my seat in protest. "I'm not gunna be an engineer or architect!"

She shot me a questioning look. "Well, how do you know that?"

"Because I'm gunna be a cop." I said proudly. "And I don't think I'm ever gunna need any of this math in real life."

"Oh, really?" she said, a small smirk threatening to escape her lips.

"Yea, I mean simple math, sure. But not this algebra and trig stuff." I explained.

"Ok." she replied in defeat, putting her hands up and turning back to the write on the board. "But when the day comes when you need to know this stuff, you come see me, got it?" she smirked.

I rolled my eyes when she wasn't looking and slumped down further into my seat.

Well that was a waste of time.

*

It's been 17 years since I bet my teacher that I would never be required to use that sort of math in real life. And for most of those years I was right. I had soon forgotten about my little bet with Mrs. P. and life went on.

I finished high school, went to college, graduated, and became a cop. I moved around to a couple different departments before being earned a job at NCIS on Special Agent Gibbs' team. And for the last 3 years, this is where I've been.

But then one day, and like I said I never thought about Mrs. Powers, me and the probie, McGee were trying to figure out where a blind girl's, Sandy, mom might be and I was totally proven wrong:

"The only train in the area is an Amtrak. It left D.C. at 1620 arrived at Lorton Center 1730, average speed 65 miles an hour. Now we know it passed our dirtbag at 1706, right? So…" I began doing the calculations in my head.

"Damn it." I muttered, earning a questioning look from McGee. "I owe Mrs. Power's an apology."

reviews are definetly appritiated:D