Worming out of a chemistry quiz

AUthor's note: My muse is still gone. I can't believe I actually wrote a chapter without her (thus, I am sorry once again about the late update; I really try). Evil thing. However, lots of chapters considerably later in the story are practically writing themselves.

I unfortunately have never taken Chemistry, so there is no course material written in for James' quiz. And a few of the VOY characters finally make their appearance. I'm really sorry about the delay, but they're proving to be remarkably hard to write.

If there are any suggestions for this story, I want to hear them.

And now, for the responses to my lovely reviewers. You people are amazing.

Anonymous: Hermione-of-Vulcan's sister? Awesome! That's so funny, how coincidences work…lord, do I love coincidences. It's one of my weirder quirks. Oh, and thank you for your kind words. I'll try to add more of the VOY characters.

Hermione-of-Vulcan: I was surprised at how easy and in character he was when I wrote Q. I usually struggle with characterization, but now, in future chapters I'm thinking through (thinking it is easy, but writing it is a pain), he's appearing a lot.

Yes, Data's backstory will become clear. I hinted at it a bit lat chapter, but it's hardcore angst. So is Pavel's. Oh, poor, poor Pavel.

Trekkie2: How did you possibly guess? That's exactly what happens! And Pavel WILL start talking. Much, much later. Kathryn Janeway appears in this chapter. I was worried people would confuse them. Which one should I call Katie?

Susan Hilton: 14th of October? I'm writing it on my calendar if that is indeed so! Not quite on theory about the mutism. In earlier drafts of the first chapter, he talked. This just makes it a little interesting. And he still is a bit communicative. In his own way.

About the different eras? Yeah, this requires a lot of willing suspension of disbelief. It's just a melding of two ideas I had: one was a high school AU and another was when all the characters from the different show were interacting. It makes for a story.

Engage, warp factor nine! (translation: let's read)

First Period passed. For James, that meant struggling through music for forty-five minutes (fifty-five if you counted morning announcements). When he tried to sneak some notes for Chem which he'd found floating around at the bottom of his backpack, the conductor had caught him and had given him a round scolding before forcing him to return the notes to his backpack.

"Busted," muttered Tasha [1], his rumored-to-be-a-homeless-delinquent stand partner.

"I bet you know the feeling," he replied teasingly.

"Oh, shut it, you."

Second period passed. For James, this meant real worry started to set in about his quiz. Until then, it just hadn't hit home that he might fail the quiz. However, the drama teacher was able to distract him.

"Stop yelling, James!" she criticized his performance. "And quit speaking…like this! As though…you…don't know your lines." [2]

James nodded, having heard this particular criticism more times than he could count. He tried again, but with his mind on the quiz, he was unable to.

Then came third period. Then came Chemistry.

"Janice, draw a name," the teacher instructed. The blonde girl complied, sticking her hand in the hat the teacher offered to draw the name of her partner on the group quiz.

Two desks away from her, James frantically tried to remember something, /anything/, that they'd been studying. He knew it was his fault for not studying last night. He'd totally forgotten, having done all the rest of his work in spite of having a date. But somehow, this had slipped his mind. And now he couldn't remember anything. He silently wished Spock were here, as his stoic twin was excellent at anything scientific. Alas, Spock had chosen to take AP Chemistry, and James was only in Honors [3]. Besides, Spock probably wouldn't try to help him remember, seeing as he had a devotion to following rules like no other. Perhaps he would make an exception in his twin's case, but he probably wouldn't.

Janice had drawn a name and quickly moved off to start the quiz with her partner. Now James' neighbor, Garth, was up for name-drawing. He pulled a name out of the hat and read it. James, so engrossed in trying to get his act together, didn't notice. Nor did he care. Garth wasn't exactly a friend of his.

"James, draw a name."

The teacher was right in front of him, holding out the hat of death and doom. James took a deep breath and, hoping he didn't have to work with anyone else who hadn't studied, took the name out of the hat.

Kathryn. That was the name on the paper.

"But Kathryn's not here today," James began. He hadn't seen her earlier in the music class they took together.

"I'm here. Don't worry; I was just late."

James turned around to see her standing just behind her desk [4]. Apparently, she'd known she was his partner when he mentioned her name. James never failed to be impressed by how astute of a listener she was.

He turned to his teacher, who handed him the sheet for the quiz. Mindful of Kathryn's approach, he pulled the desk Garth had so kindly vacated next to his own and set the chemistry quiz down.

"Kathryn, I have a confession to make."

"Spill."

"I didn't study."

"Good thing I did."

Unlike Spock, Kathryn was willing to help him, even if he didn't deserve it. She was one of James' best friends, and one of the few girls James would not under any circumstances date.

"What would I do without you?" he asked her hypothetically.

"Fail the quiz?"

"Ha."

Kathryn got to work fairly quickly, James watching her and occasionally trying to help (even if he hadn't studied, it was the right thing to do), but she would silence him and keep working.

"So why were you late today?" James asked. Kathryn flipped the paper over and started answering the back.

"Harry and Seven had washed the car last night."

"On a week night?"

"Seven wouldn't let it go. She kept on about how a dirty Delta Flyer was not up to a standard of perfection or something like that. Anyways, turns out they washed the engine too." [5]

Unlike the families from 1701 and 1701-D, Kathryn's family lived on the other side of town, and although it would only take twenty minutes or so to walk, they preferred to drive. See, Kathryn knew all about the distractions of walking to school, and, unlike Leonard or Jean-Luc, figured it would be better to avoid them.

"Ouch!"

"Only Tom was upset. The way he acted, you'd think they killed his girlfriend." [6]

"He doesn't have one."

"He needs one, though." Kathryn did another problem.

"So you walked to school," James guessed.

"Correction: we ran."

James smiled. Kathryn's usually neatly-done hair was indeed a little askew. He idly took a copper lock of her hair to put behind her ears, but she smacked his hand away before he got a chance to.

"There. Done," she had finished the quiz.

"Wow," he marveled. She'd gone quite quickly through the work.

"Tuvok helped me study," she explained as she waved the teacher over. James nodded in understanding. Tuvok was a great deal like Spock, and it would make sense that he helped his slightly older sister study.

"How can I ever thank you?"

"I'll get back to you on that."

Imagine the look on Spock's face when he finds out I wormed my way out of this one, Kirk thought. Although he could pretty much guess that he would be as straight-faced and logical ever, perhaps he would raise his eyebrow. For him, that was about as expressive as he got.

Oh, to get an emotional reaction out of Spock. It was something he and Leonard constantly tried to do.

At that very moment, Spock sat in AP Chemistry wondering how his brother was doing.

Somehow, he doubted James would fail the quiz. James had an unusual talent of worming his way out of trouble, whether it was through charming, bluffing, or sheer luck. Whatever it was, it served the teenager well.

A small part of Spock privately hoped James would be able to do that again. James was his brother, and, much as he preferred not to admit it, Spock preferred it when James remained out of trouble.

Oh, how very illogical emotions were. Particularly attachment of any kind.

[1]: Not Natasha Friedman. No, this is Tasha Yar, a character I can't help but like. Alas, there was such little characterization available for her in TNG I've struggled a little with her characterizations in earlier ideas for this fic.

[2]: I have nothing against William Shatner's acting style. I actually find it highly entertaining and perfect for the character of Kirk. Just had to include this.

[3]: I don't know about you guys, but in my school, there are three levels of classes: college prep (pretty tough), honors (in which we race through concepts), and AP (college level which takes over your life). I can see Spock in loads and loads of AP courses, even though the only people who do that at my school spend all their time studying. But of course Spock can handle it ;)

[4]: Welcome to the fic, ASTCE-verse Kathryn Janeway. Do you know how many times I've rewritten her dialogue here? Yeah, a lot. If anyone would be willing to constructively criticize it, you're more than welcome.

[5]: Originally, this was how thr VOY characters were going to be introduced: with their car broken down on the side of the road. James' family would then pick them up in a very crowded van. Sadly, I lost that draft of ASTCE months ago when all 133 of my unpublished stories were erased from my computer. Man, I was ticked off. But that didn't make much sense anyway. But really, does any of this story?

[6]: hermione-of-vulcan's fanfiction Dear fanfiction writers VOY style (check it out; it's absolutely hilarious and makes a point well) has one letter from Tom Paris jokingly (?) requesting a Tom Paris/Delta Flyer fic. Well, here it is. Sort of. *snickers* Don't worry, this is by no means one of the main couples (or even a couple at all) in this fanfiction. It's just a gag for now.

So here it was. What did you think? Hope to hear from a lot of you!