A/N: The completed version is all up on my website (just click on my name!). This is a response to a challenge, so I don't even really own the plot, let alone the characters. I already have sequals planned in my head!
Carson decided that being the new kid sucked. He didn't know his way around, didn't know what people to avoid, didn't know the social circles, he pretty much knew nothing about his new school. Except where the office was, and that was only because he was currently sitting there, waiting to talk to someone about his schedule.
"The principal will be with you shortly," the office assistant, Walter, told Carson.
Carson nodded.
"Mr. Beckett?" asked a short, balding man. Carson nodded as he stood up. "If you come with me, we'll get you all situated and then off to class." Carson followed the seemingly nice man down a hallway into a door that had 'principal' written across the glass.
"After reviewing your transcript, I've put together a schedule of classes that are the closest we have to what you were taking. If you would like to change any of those classes, now would be a good time to do so."
"May I see my schedule before I make a decision?" asked Carson.
"Certainly," George Hammond (according to the nameplate on his desk) answered as he handed over a piece of paper. Carson looked it over and found only one thing that he would want to change.
"Do I have to take PE?" he asked.
"No. I just put that on your schedule since you were taking one less class at your old school and didn't want to presume to put you in anything else."
"What else is available during that time?"
George took down a notebook from behind him and after flipping to the appropriate page answered, "you can either take a religious studies class, another English class, or an anatomy course."
"Could I take the anatomy course?" Carson asked, getting a little excited. "I'm thinking of becoming a doctor."
George smiled. "Of course. We just need to fill out a few forms and then you can be off to, what's your first class?"
Carson looked down at his schedule. "Classic Literature."
"Ah, with Mr. Murry. I think you'll enjoy that class." A few minutes later, and with the usual 'my door is always open' speech, Carson was standing outside of his first class at Atlantis High School in Pegasus, Washington.
"There was never any doubt is was a dream! It was either that or drug induced, and as she was a little girl, it seems a little unlikely."
"But Carroll, the author, could have been on drugs at the time, so it could have been drug induced. Or maybe Alice's sister slipped her some!"
"That is probably the stupidest thing I have heard all day."
"Rodney, John is entitled to his opinion," the teacher evenly said, like he had said it many times before (which he had).
"But," Rodney started, but was interrupted by the door opening and the most beautiful man he had ever seen slowly entered.
"Is this Classic Literature with Mr. Murry?" the beautiful man asked with his delightful Scottish accent.
"Yes, you must be Carson Beckett," Mr. Murry answered. "Welcome to Atlantis and my classroom. You can take the empty seat over by Rodney," he continued, pointing to an indeed empty chair in the middle of the classroom.
Rodney felt like he was on top of the world. The gorgeous new kid was sitting next to him! He might actually have someone to talk to for a few days before he got word that nobody talked to Rodney 'the geek' McKay. Before Rodney could introduce himself, Mr. Murry was talking again.
"We're currently reading works by Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Have you read them before?"
"Aye. My family used to read them every Easter."
"Good, then you can join in the discussion. I'm sure you've all seen a movie version of the Alice story…"
Carson was rather shocked when the bell rang in the middle of the discussion. He found the entire class rather amusing. First, there was John and Rodney who were constantly arguing. There was also Elizabeth, whom he later found out was the student body president. She had a very smart mind and the points she brought up always made the class think. Teyla, who was sitting on the other side of him, seemed to always point out the little details that everyone had missed. He didn't think he had made any friends yet, but the day was still early.
Or he could have been mistaken. "What class do you have next?" a voice to his left asked.
"Huh?"
"Your next class. What is it?" Rodney asked again.
"Oh." Carson quickly looked at his schedule. "Physics."
"Cool. I have that class next as well. Maybe we can walk there together?" asked Rodney as he put his notebook in his bag and avoided eye contact.
"Well, it would be more like you leading and me following since I have no clue where I'm going, but that would be grand," replied Carson.
"Really? Uh, lets go then. I don't want to be late." Carson followed his hopefully soon-to-be-friend out the door and down the hall. Before they had gotten very far, a voice drawled behind them, "New kid. I'd watch out if I were you. Don't want to be hanging around the wrong sort." The tall, pale teen smirked and shouldered Rodney as he passed.
"What was that all about?" asked Carson.
"Nothing," mumbled Rodney. "They don't like me very much. Actually, not a lot of people here do. I guess I should warn you."
"Why don't they like you?"
"Uh, you'd have to ask them," Rodney replied as he turned a little red and hurried down another hall. "Here we are."
The first thing that popped into Carson's head as he stepped inside was 'someone likes to go fast.' There were pictures of different types of motorcycles and various fighter jets around the room. When he saw the teacher, she was not at all what he was expecting: young, blonde, and very cute.
"Rodney! I see you went ahead and tried out that experiment with out supervision?"
"Of course. And just like I had predicted, it went off without a hitch."
"I think some cars in the teacher's parking lot feel differently," she answered with a glare and a smile.
Rodney just waved his hand. "Nothing that won't come off."
"Yes, well. Next experiment you decide you want to try out, try the football field." She then turned and started talking to another student who was asking some questions about the homework.
"I'm sure coach O'Neill would really appreciate that," Rodney mumbled.
"What was that all about?" asked Carson.
"I, uh, built a rocket and let it off in a field by the teacher's parking lot."
"Wicked," Carson replied. He was a little startled when he heard the teacher's voice right behind him say, "You must be Carson. I'm Ms. Carter, but you can call me Sam."
"Pleasure."
"Why don't you take the empty seat next to Rodney and he can fill you in on what we're covering right now since today we are just analyzing the results from the last experiment and I know Rodney has already finished with that."
When they reached their seats, Carson asked, "That now makes two classes where there are empty seats next to you. Why is that?"
Rodney ducked his head down. "Like I said earlier, they don't seem to like me very much."
"Oh. Well lets see if we have any other classes together so then there won't be an empty seat next to you anymore," said Carson with a smile.
Rodney looked up in shock. "You can't be serious."
"I don't make friends very easily. I get uncomfortable in social situations. But I'm not uncomfortable around you and you seem like a nice enough chap."
"Well then, lets take a look and see what you've got," Rodney replied with a smile. He leaned over and pulled the schedule from Carson's fingers. "Hmm. Next is History, oh, with Mr. Jackson. You'll love him, he's one of the best teacher's here, aside from Sam of course."
"Of course."
"Anatomy? Why would you want to take that class?"
"I want to be a doctor."
Rodney shuttered. "Noble career choice, not for everyone. Then lunch, same time as me, good, good. Then you have Microbiology. You really are crazy. Two classes with the little Napoleon."
"Who?' asked Carson a little confused.
"Ms. Frasier, excellent teacher if not a little strict and punctual. And to round out the day, Calculus and Psychology. Well, I think the fates are against you. Except for your Anatomy class, which is when I have my honors Chemistry class and Microbiology, which is when I have orchestra,"
"You're in the orchestra?" Carson interrupted.
"I play piano. Anyways, the rest of the classes you share with yours truly."
"And so why are the fates against me?"
"You're going to be seeing a lot of me. The only empty seats in some of those classes are of course next to me."
"I still don't see why the fates are against me."
Rodney just sighed. "Never mind. So, lately we've been studying projectile motion..."
Carson managed to make it through his first day of classes still alive and not overly confused. Mainly due to the presence of one Rodney McKay. As the day progressed, he found that he liked his new friend's (for he felt that they were friends, even if they had only known each other for a day) snarky sense of humor and unabashed way of saying things as they are. When he got home, he was surprised that his mother was in the den unpacking.
"Mum? I thought you started work today?"
"I did, but they let me leave early since they knew we had just gotten in late last week and haven't had time to settle in yet," she replied as she emptied a box of books. "How was your day? Make any new friends yet?"
"My day was good, and actually, yes."
Peg (Carson's mom) stood up and looked over at her only son. "I'm impressed. When are you going to invite him over?"
"I was thinking maybe for dinner this Friday, if that's alright."
Peg raised an eyebrow. "Wanting to show off are we?"
Carson looked at his feet and hurried out of the room. He knew perfectly well that it was his job to cook dinner on Fridays. Just like every Wednesday they either went out to eat or had take out. He also knew that is mum looked forward to their dinners on Fridays, not just because she didn't have to cook, but also because he made excellent meals.