The first class had barely started when the many students of senior year received their first scolding.
"Sit, sit, SIT!" The teacher fumed, causing red spots in his cheeks. The students that were standing were now seated firmly, awaiting their next set of instructions.
"Take out your reference material for Anthony and Cleopatra. Act one, scene one" The teacher announced, and turned to write on the board. A deep sigh and a rustling of paper moved through the class; they had expected the first day to be a bit more easy going. No one really paid attention when there was a knocking on the door and two students came in. The teacher stopped for a moment to peer over at the pair of students that just walked in. He grabbed their yellow notes of school admission and read them over.
"Please welcome two more new students to senior year, Chase Collins and Annabelle Rainer." The teacher droned on in the most unexcited tone that he could muster. He put the notes on a spike on his desk and pointed out two empty spots in the fourth and fifth rows of the class room. Chase naturally took the seat next to a bunch of blushing and giggling girls, while Annabelle had to stick to the seat with the boys…the four boys she had seen earlier on the front steps. She slipped into her seat, next to the blonde.
"Hi there again, guys…" She said softly. She peered over at the books on the table in front of them, and took out her own study material. Caleb and Tyler gave her a small wave, Pogue didn't budge, but Reid turned wholly in his seat to face her.
"Starting quite early isn't he?" She asked quietly with a joking tone, pointing her thumb towards the teacher. Caleb and Tyler smiled at her, but once again, Pogue said nothing. They all looked back at their books, except Reid, who still sat facing Annabelle. He ran his finger along his top lip and leant over to whisper to her.
"Well you know teachers; they're there to make our lives a little more…boring." Reid smiled as he pulled back. Annabelle smiled at him and opened her book on the same place as his.
"I'm Reid by the way. And he's Tyler, Caleb and Pogue." Reid pointed out each of his friends and then stuck out his hand for her. She nodded and placed her hand in his.
"Anna. Don't call me Annabelle. It's a little old-fashioned." She smiled back at him. They were still in mid-handshake when the teacher spotted them and called them out.
"Reid and the new girl! Seen as though you have so much to say to each other, would you be so kind as to read us the first dialogue between Anthony and Cleopatra, starting with line 14?" The teacher ordered with a smug smile. Reid hung his head in embarrassment, while Anna tried her best not to laugh at him. Anna picked up her book and continued to read as instructed.
"If it be love indeed, tell me how much." Anna spoke so convincingly, that even the teacher sat back and listened for a while. Reid picked up his book, tried to stop his laughter and complied as well.
"There's beggary in the love that can be reckoned." Reid attempted keep the laughter at bay, but it came out in a stifled cough.
"I'll set a bourn how far to be loved." Anna read again, making Reid calm down enough for his next line.
"Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth." Reid read the next line, with a surprisingly straight face. The teacher clicked his fingers for them to stop.
"Ok. Annabelle, surprisingly good and in depth. Reid, take things more seriously. But that's enough embarrassment for you two troublemakers…continue to read until act one, scene three.
Anna and Reid looked at each other and tried their best not to laugh.
"Well done Reid; got to keep those giggles down though."
"It really doesn't help that I didn't know what the hell I was reading though." Reid sounded joking about it, but he was serious. Anna shook her head at him and continued to read. After an hour's worth of reading the set of study material, and random pop-quiz questions and explanations; the bell finally rang for the next class. The students headed down the hall to the science laboratory. They all went in and stood in front of the blinding white class. The long benches were lined with tiny bottles of solutions and chemicals, ready for experimenting. The teacher came out the store room and headed up the class, with a clipboard on hand.
"I will be pairing you according to your grades; one good partner with a more scientifically challenged partner. No exchanges in the first month of the term. Alright, Wenham and Tunney together in the first group." He pointed to the first bench, and two girls emerged from the crowd and sat on the tall laboratory chairs at their bench.
"Rainer and Simms." The teacher called out the next pair, and pointed to the bench right behind the first two girls. Anna came out the crowd and sat at the bench assigned to her. She waited to see who her partner was going to be. The crowd parted and baby-faced guy that sat next to Reid emerged.
"Ah. So you must be the better half of this team-up…" Tyler rolled his eyes, but said it in a light-hearted tone.
"You're Reid's friend, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. The name's Tyler." Tyler held out his hand for a handshake.
"Just call me Anna. I guess we're lab partners." Anna shook his hand and smiled.
"Well, at least for a guaranteed month." Tyler joked. Anna smiled, but looked a little hurt, which made Tyler laugh.
"I'm just joking. I highly doubt I'd change, if you can help me get my grades up by even one point, I'm staying right here." Tyler pulled out his chair and sat down.
"Well in that case…here's to partnership, and your better grades." Anna reached out and gave Tyler a high-five which made them both feel a little more at ease. Reid and Caleb were sitting at the bench three tables back and across. Tyler was usually so shy around girls, but not around Anna. Caleb and Reid both took note of that before sitting down.