Disclaimer: Man! The positive feedback I have gotten is so unexpected. I'm mega flattered. Thanks, you guys. You know how to make someone's day bright and shiny. Here is another chapter. I want to show the various relationships and tensions that exist in the characters' lives, primarily Bonnie and Marceline's lives. Let me know if it gets too angsty.
I do not own Adventure Time or any characters.
"Due to this grievous miscalculation, it is possible that the theoretical yield could have been correct." I lowered my cue cards and exhaled. My teacher looked pleased. My classmates had mixed expressions. Some looked impressed. Some looked irritated. Some looked concerned. I took my seat and shrugged off the animosity oozing from a particularly loud-mouthed girl that rose to give her presentation.
"Thank you, Bonnibel. Well done. Anna," Mrs. Byrd gestured to the blackboard.
"Yes, Mrs. Byrd." Anna cleared her throat and lifted her brightly colored cards.
"Yes, Mrs. Byrd." A high-pitched, nasally imitation of Anna's voice caught my attention. Not too many people heard it, but those who did eshifted uncomfortably in their seats, or snickered, or looked around the room with venom practically dripping from their eyes. I watched as the black-haired boy I'd learned to be Marshall Lee elbowed Marceline. The two exchanged amused looks then quickly turned their heads away, both straining not to laugh. Anna did not notice any of it and carried on with her presentation.
"Good." Mrs. Byrd nodded once and motioned for Anna to return to her seat when she was finished.
"Does anyone have any questions? I know this is probably a bit complex and I wouldn't want to act like I am flaunting my knowledge to make other people look stupid. I'm not that kind of person." Anna looked at me as she said this. My fists clenched and, immediately, I wanted to rip her throat out.
"Oh cram it, pretty pretty poser. That was as complex as addition. Sit down and try to wipe the green off your face." Marceline brushed the hair from her face to show her sneer.
"What did you just say?" Anna drew her shoulders back, furious.
"Now now, girls." Mrs. Byrd put her hands up. "That's not necessary."
"Mrs. Byrd, she just insulted me in front of the entire class. You're not seriously going to let her do that, are you? Mr. Eriksson wouldn't have let that go on for a second." Mr. Eriksson was the old chemistry teacher. He had retired at the end of last year. Mrs. Byrd was a new teacher and also his replacement. Marceline raised an eyebrow, watching Mrs. Byrd for her reaction.
"We will discuss this after class. There is still time for one more presentation and I would like to stay on schedule." Mrs. Byrd spoke with authority but her expression showed her uncertainty. "Fionna, would you like to present?"
"Yes!" I couldn't tell if she was answering Mrs. Byrd or cheering. As Fionna dug a slew of bright props from her bag, I turned to Marceline, touched. There was no way to be certain, but it felt like she had defended me. When she caught my look, Marceline cocked her head to the side, brow raised in question.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the amazing world of chemistry!" I looked to the front of the room and my jaw dropped. Fionna was wearing a mustache, wig, and had transformed herself into Albert Einstein. Marshall Lee's laughter was louder than anyone else's. The cheerful reaction from the class encouraged Fiona.
"Awh man." Finn slumped in his desk, setting his head on his arms. "I was gonna do that." He muttered to himself. For some reason, that did not surprise me.
When class ended. Marceline and Anna were held back to talk. Marceline crossed her arms over her chest, covering the anti-smoking label that's faded color showed signs of frequent use. I slowed down packing up my things so that I could hear some of what was said. With the passing periods so short, it seemed like Mrs. Byrd wanted to waste no time on waiting for privacy.
"Ms. Abadeer, you know better than to insult your classmates. That kind of behavior is completely unnecessary."
"She knows that. She just wants to 'fight the man' and rebel against everything because that's supposed to be cool."
"Anna!" Mrs. Byrd snapped. Marceline only laughed.
"Cute, Anna." She turned one of her palms upright. "Sorry for the interruption, Mrs. Byrd. It won't happen again."
"That's a lie. She once bullied a girl so badly that she left the school, Mrs. Byrd. Ask anyone. I'm just trying to show my classmates that it's okay to stand up to her."
"It sounds like this is a much deeper problem than I thought." Mrs. Byrd rubbed her face with her hands, visibly stressed.
"If you'd like, I can always go to practice late so I can fill you in on everything after classes end." Anna clasped her hands together in front of her, putting on her best innocent face. Marceline shook her head and took a step toward the door.
"Is there anything else you'd like to say, Mrs. Byrd?" Marceline spoke with gritted teeth.
"Hey!" I was speaking before I could reason with myself enough to know it was an absolutely idiotic idea. "That's not fair. You don't know Marceline's side of the story. And besides, Marceline was sticking up for me."
"Bonnibel, you're still here?" Mrs. Byrd turned around, a bit surprised to see that I had not left. All of the other students had filtered out. "What do you mean?"
"What Anna said about Marceline is unfair. There are two sides to every story. Only hearing the story where Marceline is demonized will result in an incredible bias."
"Girls. You all need to work out whatever it is that is going on and come back to class tomorrow with a different attitude. I do not want to hear anymore outbursts, side comments, or bickering. If I do, you will be suspended immediately. Am I understood?"
"Yes ma'am." The three of us spoke in unison, turned, and left. At the door, Anna muttered a stream of insults so quickly that I could barely make them out before she left. I lowered my head and took a few steps forward. My heart sunk. I did not want Mrs. Byrd to think of me as a problem student.
"Hey." I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned quickly. "Thanks." It was Marceline.
"Oh, um." I bit my lip and shrugged. The confidence I had felt earlier was gone and replaced with a flustered discomfort. "No problem."
"Don't go sticking your neck out for me. What Anna said is true. I'm trouble." She took her hand from my shoulder and grinned. "And proud of it." She walked away but turned to look over her shoulder once. "See you around, Bubblegum."
"S-see ya." I stared after her. I blinked a few times and shook my head. Did I just stutter? I never stuttered. I pursed my lips and walked quickly to my next class, cheeks burning. But this time, the agitation wasn't because of my reputation with my teacher.
"How are you doing at the public school, Bonnie?" My mom asked, passing me the salad.
"I'm doing well. I think that I'm going to join the debate team. It seems like a good challenge-"
"Challenge? Are your classes really that easy for you that you'd need to join a club just to challenge yourself?" My dad cut me off. He set the steak platter down with much more force than necessary.
"No, that's not it at all."
"So then you are struggling with classes meant for average students?" My mother joined in immediately. My heart sunk. I had been hoping to have a normal dinner, one without my parents ragging on me about not trying hard enough.
"I am getting solid scores on all of my assignments and assessments. I do need to study for them and work, but I do not think that I would fail if I didn't put in as much effort as I am now. I just think that I could be doing more." I was careful with my word choice. I wanted to avoid putting out anything they could latch on to.
"Then why are you not doing it already?" My dad asked "Are you comfortable with slacking?"
"No. The try-outs are in three days. I haven't had a chance to join yet so I've been studying policy debate, the rules, and the topics. I joined the choir, rehearsal starts next Monday. I am running for student government, but the election has not happened yet."
"Fine." My father busied himself with cutting into the steak. I waited to make sure my mother was done speaking before picking at the salad.
By the time dinner had ended, I heard at least three different ways in which I was making "terrible life choices" and was "ruining my future" by doing what I was doing or by not doing what I was not doing. I had agreed that I would join the debate team and pretended that I believed my mother that it was her idea.
I threw myself into my bed and screamed into my pillow. For some stupid reason, I had thought that they would get better when I got into high school. I thought that when they were separated from the overly competitive and snobbish magnet school parents that they'd be a bit more normal. It didn't seem like I was going to get that kind of relief.
When I had checked my emotions, I rolled out of bed and to my desk. There were still a few math problems I had not finished. Other than that, my homework was mostly done. I'd never tell my parents, but the classes were really easy. The homework loads were very minimal.
My phone buzzed once, letting me know that I'd gotten a text. I finished the last problem and picked it up.
Hey Bon Bon! Did you do the math yet? It was Fiona.
I just finished. What's up?
What page is it on?
It was a worksheet. Did you get it?
Uh oh. There was a long wait before her next message. Oh good. I found it. Thanks, Bon Bon!
No problem. See you tomorrow.
I laughed to myself and shut my phone. Fiona and I were quickly becoming good friends. There was something about her naïve and innocent look on life that made me want to be around her. She was full of energy and passion, but she was also very real. Sure she was a bit of a spazz, but that was endearing in and of itself. My phone buzzed again.
Hey Bonnie? The text was void of any weird nicknames or jokes. The seriousness of it bugged me.
Yeah? I waited in silent agony for her response.
So normally I don't do this, but someone asked me for your number and I gave it to them. I'm really sorry. I read the text a few times. Nothing about that seemed like reason for such regret.
That's fine. I don't mind. People do that all the time. Who was it?
It was Marceline. Before I could respond, another text came in. Well, it was Marshall Lee, but he was asking for Marceline. Are you mad?
No! Don't worry. Really.
Are you sure?
Positive.
Oh thank glob.
I let out my breath, face turning hot quickly. Why did Marceline want my phone number? I was glad that I had finished my homework early. After that, my concentration was shot. Up until I went to bed, I was waiting for a call or text. I checked my messages again and again, losing sleep without doubt, but nothing came.
A/N: I hope that you guys liked this chapter. Please, if you'd like, give feedback and let me know if you think that the way Bonnie's parents act is believable. Heck, I'd like to hear if any of it is believable/unbelievable. Characters, relationships, reactions, etc. I like to suspend doubt, stay in character, and make a good story. Let me know if I'm falling short and I'll gladly see what I can do to improve.