A/N: I'm back! And I got inspired by finals to write a story! It's pretty much an AU (and pretty much pointless...), considering that I don't think the crew of the Enterprise all went to high school together. Oh well. Sorry, Scotty! I'm not sure why I put you in Remedial Biology...
Sixteen-year-old James T. Kirk was staring furiously at a Geometry book on a circular table in the library of Starfleet Academy. He wanted to be anywhere but here, but, this time of year, he didn't have a choice. For, in three days, first semester finals will take place, and Failure is not an option. James T. Kirk did not like to lose.
Sitting on either side of him were his classmates, Spock and Hikaru Sulu. Montgomery Scott was on the other side of Spock, Pavel Chekov next to Sulu and Nyota Uhura, and Leonard McCoy, clear across the table. Spock had passed Advanced Calculus last year, and was now studying a book with a title that Jim could not pronounce. Sulu and Chekov were comparing notes on ancient civilizations while McCoy was trying to make Scotty understand the principles of Remedial Biology. Uhura was just reading a novel; she already studied and was just there for moral support.
But back to James T. Kirk; he did not like Geometry. In fact, he was pretty sure he wasn't going to use any as a Starfleet Captain. And he was going to be Captain. And Captain's do not need Geometry. That's what they have officers for. Were they really not going to let him be a Captain just because he failed his Geometry final? Probably not.
"Having trouble, Jim?" Spock asked, becoming aware of his friend's dilemma.
"Huh?" Jim responded, pulled from his thoughts.
"Are you having trouble studying for your exam in Geometry?" Spock said again, slightly pressing this time.
"What does it matter?" Jim exclaimed, slamming his book shut. "Starfleet Captains don't need Geometry! That's what they have officers for!"
Spock raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps Starfleet Captains do not need to know Geometry, but sixteen-year-olds in Geometry class do."
"Aye, and that's what they have friends for! Now tell me laddie, what's got your panties in a bunch?" Scotty added as the whole table became aware of the situation.
"These f-ing proofs, that's what! Why would I ever need to prove if two triangles were congruent or not?"
"Well, say you were on an unknown planet," Spock began. "If you wanted to know the width of a river, you could set up a system of-"
"I don't care about the width of a river, Spock! I think it's safe to say that I never will, either."
"Jim," Spock said earnestly, "it is illogical that you should ever hope to pass this exam if you refuse to study, or care about, the materials. By telling yourself the materials in question are useless, you are, in a sense, signing your own death certificate."
"He's right, Jim," McCoy piped up from the opposite side of the table. "And you know how much I hate agreeing with that green-blooded freak."
"I could assist you, if you wish, Jim. I have already passed that class," Spock insisted from right next to him, ignoring the Bones's comments, as per usual.
"Thanks, Spock. I don't know what I'd do without you," James replied gratefully.
"Probably be a whole lot better off…" McCoy mumbled from across the table.
"Now you see, there is more than one pair of triangles in this polygon, so the first step would be to decide which triangles to prove congruent to reach the ultimate conclusion: Angle AFN is congruent to angle HGI. It would seem that these triangles need to be congruent, but you cannot prove that without these triangles being congruent because the Givens state that…"
It was right about there when James T. Kirk stopped paying attention. Nodding and grunting in agreement when he saw fit, the young Half-Vulcan's words floated in the background as he let his mind wander. Jim knew he should be paying attention, but he would rather think about his date with Janice Rand the Saturday after finals. So, naturally, he was thinking about trying to convince her to see Bloody Chainsaw Zombie Invasion instead of Love at First Sight when the crew decided to pack up and go home.
Needless to say, Jim did not feel the need to inform Spock, or any of his friends, for that matter, that he got a 43% on his Geometry final.
A/N: I don't know about you, but I kind of want to see Bloody Chainsaw Zombie Invasion. How about you?