Murder in the Chem Lab

Ooo, I swore to myself I'd have this done months ago... The time just flew by. Anyway, here's the story. It's sort of based on my friends and their relationships to each other but it's kind of not… you'll see. This is a Seto/Serenity fanfic (where of course Serenity is me!!!) that takes place in my high school. It's a long story how the idea came about but it's romance/mystery/humor (with some angst too I think…) and a lot of it is actually true (and actually the name's pretty stupid cuz this has nothing to do with a murder in the Chem lab… well, o-k, originally it was supposed to be a small scene but I think it's been deleted…). Note, this is rated R for a reason. Not so much this chapter but definitely in future ones. (Mainly for language, later it gets very graphic.) NO YAOI!!! NONE!!! No Tea either, I'm not too fond of her (though now that I think of it, she was in the original version I had planned…)... And "Yugi" here is Yami Yugi. I'd rather only deal with one of them right now cuz this gets complicated... Would you like to know some of the pairings? Oh well, you'll just have to keep reading to find out! J. I tried to "capture the essence" of a typical student at my school… or really at any school… by the way I don't own YuGiOh or my high school or the people in it, nor do I wish to own YuGiOh or my high school or the people in it. Here we go. (Italics means thoughts)

Chapter 1- Things just can't get any worse...

            "Hey Yug!" Joey screams. "Watch it! Dat's way too much MgSO4!!!"

"Ah! O, sorry Joey...  I can't mess this up again..." Yugi dumps the contents of the beaker back into his transfer beaker and carefully measures out the right amount. "We don't want a repeat of last time...unless you'd really enjoy summer school with Mrs. P!"

            "Sorry Yug, but HELL NO!!! You're right, we can't mess dis one up!"

            This is the second time their chemistry class had done the experiment; the first time was a total disaster. Yugi would rather forget it- the screaming students, the horrified look on his teacher's face... the shocked firefighters when they arrived at the scene... As he recalled the day's events, his face contorted into a grimace. It had turned out to be a day of pure mayhem, and from that day on Yugi has felt that he is destined to fail chemistry. Their teacher, Mrs. P, was strict and overbearing. She lived to catch the slightest mistake in anything and everything her students did, claiming "I only want to prepare you for college!" She was like a lioness just waiting for the kill, and, Yugi had a gut feeling, he was to be the prey. Yugi knew it was only a matter of time before she would attack, and he hoped with all his heart that it would be quick and painless.

            The bell rings and everyone quickly scrambles to get to lunch. "What?! Dat bell is early!" Joey exclaims in frustration. "You should've been done Joseph! Hurry and clean up, you can start over after school -in Detention." Mrs. P leaves the lab to chastise a few students who are running down the halls. "HEY! STOP WHERE YOU ARE!!"

            An expression of pure loathing rushes onto Joey's face. "Aw man! Not anotha detention! That's 3 in the last 2 hours!"

"Damn, that sucks! You just got a Saturday!"

Mrs. P suddenly sticks her head back into the room. "Yugi, your shirt is untucked, your socks are below your ankles, and you don't have your ID. You're a Junior, Yugi Mutou, you should know better! See you on Saturday boys!" and she leaves.

            Yugi just stands there looking dejected.

            "Aw man Yug! She gave ya 3 in one shot! Dere goes ya perfect record! And ya got a Saturday!"

            Yugi says nothing but frowns, his brow deeply furrowed in frustration. Why does she torment me so?!

            Both boys silently stop for a minute, not speaking a word but staring at the shoe-scuffed floor. They glance up and catch each other's eye. Neither will admit it aloud, but it is obvious that they are thinking the same thing- things just can't get any worse.

            Just down the hall, Mai and Serenity are leaving their Honors Geo/Trig class. "I HATE THIS CLASS!!!" Mai screams as she tugs furiously on her long blonde (well conditioned) locks. "HOW DOES SHE EXPECT ME TO DO ALL THIS?!? IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" Serenity attempts to calm her frantic friend, though she herself is not at all appeased. "Mai, calm down! It's not... that... bad... Monday's are always a little hard…" Serenity bites her lip to keep from bursting into tears. It's not that bad… it's worse!

            The girls were far behind the rest of the class in both class work and tests. It's not that they don't understand the work. They have enough to do already, juggling schoolwork with their after-school jobs while still trying to enjoy life to the fullest.  Hundreds of memories of life before high school flash through Serenity's mind: She and Joey playing on the swings at the park. Joey surrounded by all his friends at his 13th birthday party, Serenity holding a huge birthday cake in front of him, and they blow out his candles together. Suddenly her memories turn dark: Joey coming home from his first day of high school exhausted and irritable. Joey sitting in the kitchen for hours upon hours trying to finish reports and homework for school the next day, his face and shirt drenched in sweat, his eyelids ever drooping, his already unkempt hair even messier as he tugs at it in frustration. Their parents disappointment at Joey's extremely low grades and their threat to send him to military school if his grades didn't get better.

            Serenity snaps out of her dismal reverie and bursts out in anguished tears despite her attempts. "I can't take any more of this!" This is not how high school was supposed to be! It's not fair!  She runs down the deserted hallway and crashes into none other than Seto Kaiba. Serenity gets up without so much as glancing at Seto and runs into the girls' bathroom.

            "Watch it Wheeler!" Seto stares after her, slightly irritated. Somehow that girl always manages to bump into him. Bumbling little ditz... He loathed her family with a passion. At least it wasn't that stupid mutt she calls her brother... Despite his hatred of the Wheelers, he still felt strongly attracted to the girl. There's just something about her... Why do I like her so much?! She's a fuckin' Wheeler! But still… doesn't matter anyway, I heard she's dating that Taylor guy, the one with the hair that could put an eye out… as if I care… besides, if we were to go out, where'd we go, the petting zoo?! She's just a sophomore, and juniors NEVER date sophomores!

            "Hey, Kaiba, get outta the way!" Seto is yanked out of his thoughts and into reality. Mai is standing in front of him, hands on her hips. "I said move it Kaiba!" Seto looks around. He is sprawled unceremoniously on the floor in front of the girls' bathroom. He quickly jumps to his feet and roughly brushes past Mai, turns around the corner, and calmly struts down the stairs. Girls…

            Mai rushes into the bathroom and spies Serenity curled up in a concealed corner sobbing madly. Her hair is disheveled and crumpled up tissues surround her. Mai sits next to Serenity and hugs her. "Don't worry. It'll be all right. We'll get through it together. It'll all be ok..."

            Both girls sit on the floor talking until Serenity feels   better and is ready to leave. Just as they push open the door and go into the hallway, Mr. Grim, the Hall Nazi*, spots them. "Girls! What are you doing out of class! Where are your hall passes?!"

Serenity turns to Mai. Mai starts to explain. "Sorry, Serenity wasn't feeling well and couldn't get to the nurse in time so we stopped in the bathroom at the end of lunch. I stayed with her until she felt a little better."

" If your story is true you've missed an entire class already." Mai and Serenity's eyes swing to the clock.

"Oh no!" Serenity groans.

"Truancy! I'll have to write you both up for Saturday suspensions..." The girls sigh, frustrated and near tears, and follow Mr. Grim downstairs. He escorts them to the dean's office, writes something on a sticky note, and then leaves.

Mai and Serenity sit on hard plastic chairs and wait for the Dean to come. Both are scared and silent for a while. Serenity is first to break the ice. "I'm so sorry Mai, this is all my fault!"

"Nonsense. I chose to stay with you, we're friends. It'll be alright... don't worry."

Serenity can't help but worry. Joey'll be so disappointed... this is going on my permanent record! I can pretty much kiss National Honor Society good-bye! They'll never let me in now… And my parents… ugh, I don't even want to think about what they'll do… Things can't get any worse...

END CHAPTER 1

So, what'd u think? Yea this one's a little short… O, and a Hall Nazi (copyrighted! By everyone at my school that is…) is what we call the teachers and staff that patrol the halls between classes. They're evil!!! REVIEW!!! Please! This will get better I promise! Flame if you think it's that bad! It's 12:43 AM right now and I haven't slept in days! O, and I don't own Post-it Notes. Well, I own a lot of them but it wasn't my idea… shame… Genius invention… but if anyone who does own it wants to sell it, call me!!! Ooo, I have ideas for the next chapter, off to start it.  ^^"  …please review.