Chapter 2

Next class was Biology, which by far became my favorite. The class had already briefly gone over genetics, and were working on the anatomy and systems of a body. This was something I'd previously taken interest in, and studied a bit from textbooks. Though, I guess most of my experience came from creatures I'd come across in the forest before. Sometimes, I'd just wonder how it worked; like how the bird's wings functioned to keep it aloft. I liked their ability of flight a lot, and studied their structure accordingly. I wasn't quite as experienced with the anatomy of a Yariko or Yaban, but still was proud when the teacher {a young woman with feet but no legs, a taller torso, and her hair up in a bun, called Ms. Erant} asked if anyone could recite the organs commonly found in all species, and I was the only one who knew almost each one.

I think this is the class where people actually started to like me, too. See, when the teacher left to get some supplies for a lab, I had this... idea. She needed to retrieve some measuring cups for water, and left us unsupervised for a short time. The moment she left, I happened to notice a rubber band sitting on the counter, and that the sink in the science classroom had one of those spray nozzles attached to it - the kind you can pull out to have a wider range of areas to spray.

Upon more of an impulse than anything, I leapt up from my desk and trotted down the aisle. Everyone's eyes followed me again, wondering why I could possibly be out of my seat. They sure seemed to watch me a lot.

I jumped onto the counter and grabbed the rubber band in my teeth before carefully wrapping it around the nozzle, so the handle was held down. It took a few moments, but eventually I got it secured.

Many of the students by now figured out my motives - surprise, they weren't completely stupid. I grinned wide at the class and gave a dramatic bow. Most gave quiet cheers, but a few looked nervous and scared. That was okay; they probably wouldn't rat me out because they were too afraid to go against the majority.

I hopped off the table and went back to my desk. The hubbub died down as the teacher entered the room. The class fell unnaturally silent as she walked to the sink. I had to fight back the grin that threatened to spread across my face.

She reached out and turned on the water. Instantly, the liquid shot out from the rubber banded nozzle and sprayed all across her shirt.

"Ahhhh!" she leapt back in surprise, then hurriedly realizing the source of the problem, she lunged forward and turned off the water. The front of her shirt was completely soaked, and I joined in with most of the class in laughing.

That is, until she stalked toward us like an enraged Kracko.

"Which one of you put a rubber band on the handle?" she practically growled. We all went silent. Students glanced at each other as if checking to make sure nobody had their hands up. After all, if one person was going to rat me out, then another person would want to beat them at doing the 'right thing.' If, however, nobody else was going to raise their hand, an individual student would not want to go against the others' unspoken code by giving away who'd done it.

To my immense satisfaction, everyone seemed to be on my side. Not a single hand raised. Even Derrick didn't. He probably didn't want to seem like a teacher's pet.

"No one?" the teacher pressed. "It wasn't here when I left. That means one of you did it, and you should all have seen who it was."

Slowly, I stood up in my chair and then stepped even higher onto my desk. The entire class stared. I could imagine them wondering why I'd confess if they'd kept my silence so well. I concealed a smirk at this.

"Ms. Erant?"

"Yes? Do you think you can tell me?"

I looked at my feet in glum nervousness. "He told us not to tell," I mumbled.

"It's okay, Marx. I promise whoever it is can't bother you. We place our protection of each student as utmost importance. Honesty is key."

I wondered if teachers went to school just to learn those stupid little phrases.

"You sure?" I asked.

"Positive." She attempted a smile which looked very strange with her angrily creased brows and strained lips. She sucked at faking it. Duly noted.

"Well..." I glanced at her for a fleeting moment so she could see the 'honesty' in my eyes. "It was Derrick."

'What?" Derrick shot up from his desk. "I didn't do anything!"

"Come here, Derrick," the teacher said firmly. "Now. You've stepped out of line one too many times."

"Marx did it!" Derrick cried. "The rest of the class could tell you that! Bastard's a little liar!"

"Derrick!" The shocked teacher exclaimed. "Come here this instant!"

"NO! I didn't do it!"

Ms. Erant was not willing to put up with it a moment more. She stormed over to him and clamped her hand on his arm. She then stalked from the room, dragging him after her.

The door slammed.

"Wow," one student voiced.

"That was good," another agreed.

I grinned and bowed again before happily sitting back down in my seat. The class broke into excited chatter, about how he deserved it and such. A few even came over to congratulate me. The rest simply went to their friends to mingle until the teacher returned.

I noticed a girl looking at me curiously from across the room, still in her seat. She wasn't in my previous hour, so I hadn't seen her until this class. She was a dee, with light colored skin and a blue bow and carmel colored eyes.

I smiled at her and she waved back.

Since it seemed like almost everyone else was out of their seats anyway, I padded over to where she sat.

"Hey, hey, hey," I greeted.

"Hello. Marx, right?"

"Yup, that's me! What's your name?"

"Arianna. That was pretty clever, how you blamed Derrick."

I shrugged. "He accused me of cheating; I figured he deserved it."

"He does," she rolled her eyes. "He acts like he runs this school. He's just a bully to other kids. It's about time someone got him back. Though, I hope he's not too mad at you..."

"Why hasn't anyone done something about him?"

"Can't, I guess. For all that stuff teachers say about fairness and protecting students, the school sure manages to turn a blind eye."

"Yes," I nodded thoughtfully. "The Rorschach especially doesn't seem to have a clue!"

"You have her too? Aw, I have her third hour. You shouldn't be mean to her, though," Arianna frowned. "She really does try her best to be a good teacher."

"Doesn't try hard enough," I muttered. Arianna playfully whacked me upside the head with her paw.

"She has her heart in the right place," she scolded. I stared. Had she just hit me?

Arianna laughed. "Sorry. Hehe, you should see your face right now!"

I laughed too. "You surprised me, is all."

At that moment the door opened and Ms. Erant and Derrick walked in. Derrick looked extremely pissed and when he saw me, his eyes flicked to Arianna. If anything, his sour mood worsened tenfold. Clenching his teeth, he stomped back to his desk.

I looked at Arianna inquiringly, but she shook her head. "Long story," she muttered. "I'll tell you later."

The teacher - whose shirt now looked as though she had rung it out but still was not properly dried, took her place at the front of the room and ordered us back to our seats so class could resume.

She didn't tell us Derrick's punishment, but later I heard he was given a week's detention.

Success.