Thanks to everyone that reviewed and read and stuff. way to be awesome. Um, this is the longest chapter i've ever posted/written for ANYTHING. 6000 words, I am never doing that again!
Yes, I do realize there is a lot of drama, and a bit of randomness. Oh well. Also, certain character in this chapter may seem quite ooc with their reactions to things, but do remember at this point of time they're all in this little perfect world, especially Mimi, Roger, and Maureen.
DISCLAIMER: -sarcastically- Yup, we finally own Rent. I magically got a billion dollars and somehow manged to get rights to it. Joanne was my lawyer. (Seriously, if I owned Rent, what the hell would I be doing on a FANFICTION site)
CHAPTER FOUR – STARTING TO LEARN
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I Should Tell You I'm Disaster
I Forget How To Begin It
Let's Just Make This Part Go Faster
I Have Yet -- To Be In It
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As homeroom turned into first period, everyone with science entered the library. A few were gathered around a sheet posted on the wall and Roger was cursing loudly. Collins stood behind him, trying to stifle laughter.
On one of the lists was posted…..
"Partners
Mark Cohen and April Ericson
Tomas Collins and Angel Dummot Schunard
Roger Davis and Maureen Johnson
Benjamin Coffin III and Alison Gray
Joanne Jefferson and Mimi Marquez"
"Me and Mark? Is this some sort of joke?" April hissed in Roger's ear.
"I hope so." Roger replied, glancing around for Maureen. If he was lucky, she was absent.
Collins merely smiled and walked over to Angel. Both nodded, sat down, and began talking and working.
Joanne didn't know who her partner was, but she was happy to work with anyone as long as they tried.
Benny smiled at the thought of working with Allison and he waited, wondering if she'd gotten sent home by the nurse.
Mark looked a bit skeptical. He didn't know what April's problem was, at the moment, but he could tell she wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Who's Joanne?" Mimi wondered aloud, and then she got to Benny's name "Not HER again!"
Joanne hearing this, walked over to the girl. "Are you Mimi?"
"Yup" Mimi said, thinking to herself about how dull this would be.
Suddenly Alison walked in to the room, using crutches. "What's everybody looking at?" she asked.
"We're working together on the project." Benny replied, walking over to Alison.
"Really?" Alison said, looking happy...but then her face fell, "What about Mimi? Benny, I don't think she'll like this."
Benny shrugged. "She'd have to deal with it. The names were picked at random."
The three teachers in the room called attention, ordering everyone to take a seat at a table with their partner.
Alison giggled for no reason before blushing and heading off, attempting to maneuver through the maze of chairs and desks. Benny followed her until they were at an empty table. He pulled out her chair and then took the other seat. She took the chair he pulled out and couldn't resist saying "Not many guys still pull chairs out for girls nowadays..." She laughed "Makes a nice change..."
In the middle of the room Joanne finally sighed and started to walk to a seat, motioning for Mimi to follow her. Mimi didn't take her eyes off Alison and Benny. She had a pleasant little day dream that involved her whacking them both over the head with Allison's crutches.
Joanne sighed. "Mimi." She tried to give the girl the benefit of the doubt, but she'd love for her to at least stop staring at Benny and Alison. "Mimi."
Mimi turned. "Huh?"
"You've been spaced out the past five minutes. We need to take a seat now." Joanne informed.
"Sorry" She apologized "it's just that girl likes my boyfriend...and he might like her and-" She was cut off.
"It's fine."
Roger, after watching basically everyone else take a seat, shot a finally glance at Mark and April, before retreating to a table in the back. Maureen still wasn't there, and he was amazed by his turn of luck.
April pouted and put her hand up "Please could Roger be my partner? His partner isn't here."
The teacher sighed, not liking the idea, but complied. "Mr. Davis, you can work with Mr. Cohen and Miss Ericson." Roger bit back a grin and joined them.
You heard her before the bang of the door slamming opened. "I'm here Mrs.! I got caught up in homeroom." The whole class was staring at her.
"Well Mr. Davis, your partner has arrived…Just in time Miss Johnson." Roger swore he saw a hint of amusement on that teachers face.
"Sure thing Mrs.…..Wait, ROGER'S MY PARTNER!?!" Maureen cried in horror.
Roger groaned. "Couldn't you have come just a minute later!" he complained. Sighing, he grabbed his stuff, which was basically nothing, and went back to his original table.
"Well soooooorryyyyy I'm not a mind reader." She snapped, sitting neatly in the chair next to him, still tossing her curls.
The teacher sighed. "This is very similar to a science fair. You can do any project you'd like, but it must be finished when school ends, six hours from now. The older student will be responsible if hazardous materials are needed. All basic supplies are on carts around the room. Chemistry equipment and things of that sort are behind the desk and can be obtained with permission. You may begin. And do remember, this counts as half your grade in science."
Everyone got busy talking. An hour quickly passed and everyone had started except Maureen and Roger. Even Mark and April were getting something done. Well, Mark was doing the work and April was writing what he told her too, but still.
"For that last time, I' don't know what your talking about." Maureen said, staring at Roger's notes, which couldn't at all be classified as scholarly. "I can't read your fucking writing!"
Roger groaned and snatched his paper back. At least he was trying. "This is fucking impossible!.... You know what, I say we grab some random shit and put it together and see what happens. Cause this isn't working!"
"Fine!" she snapped.
Roger went and started grabbing random things from around the room. He dropped them on their table. "Now what are these and how are we gonna use 'em?"
A row of tables over Allison felt herself speaking again. "Sorry about getting you into trouble with Mimi...I should have guessed you had a girlfriend..." she blushed.
Benny shook his head with a smile. "It's alright. Mimi's...." he trailed off. "And how would you have known? Really, Alison, it's cool." he tried to distract himself with their project.
Ali took the papers away from him. "Are you okay?" She could see it in his eyes, that something was going on.
"I'm fine Alison." Benny assured, taking back one of the papers and writing more notes.
Allison sighed and nodded. It's ok you don't have to tell me..." She said to herself, writing notes on another paper.
Only two tables from there, Mimi ranted to an obviously bored, and trying to work, Joanne. "...I mean she just sweeps in, breaks her ankle and he's all over her"
Joanne sighed. "Mimi, that sucks and all but first off, you're overreacting. Second, we need to work on the project."
Back at Roger and Maureen's table, Roger fiddled with things for what felt like the hundredth time. He'd only be trying to work a few minutes, but since he had no idea what anything he was touching was, it was much more difficult. "Maureen, can you please try something?!" he asked, sighing and drumming impatiently on the desk.
"Fine!" Maureen shouted. She hated Roger so so very much. She thought about accidentally pouring acid onto Rogers smug little head, but instead she grabbed various chemical filled test-tubes off the table pouring them together until…
BANG!
The air filled with bright pink smoke that seeped around the room. Mark was the only one in the room who thought to cover their mouth. Mostly everyone was coughing or trying to take cover, Maureen and Roger in the worse position of course. Between a few smart students and the teachers they managed to get the windows opened and eventually it depleted.
"Fuck Maureen!" Roger managed, glaring at her. Mark looked at them both before around the room. He didn't want to be the one to tell Maureen her hair had turned pink. He didn't want to tell Roger either for that matter.
April suddenly pressed her hand to her mouth and ran from the room. Mark ran after her. He didn't know why, but she was his partner.
Mimi had taken something other then panic for the explosion, an idea. She was going to make Benny explode, not literally of course, but he was going to pay. She murmured to Joanne something about something, grabbed a box of matches, and looked around the room.
She needed the polar opposite of Benny....someone scruffy, rebellious...someone like...him. Her eyes fixated on Roger and she got up and walked over to his desk when she knew Benny was watching. She stretched out, leaning on the desk in a way she knew made her looked good. Mimi then held out the box of matches, "Would you light this?"
Roger coughed and turned towards the girl. "Um... sure." he replied, wondering why she'd randomly walk over to him and ask for a light. Either way, he pulled a matchbook from his pocket and lit it.
"Thanks" Mimi laughed, pocketing her own matches "Oh..." A draft from the open window blew the light out "Would you mind?" There was a pause "I don't think we've met before..." she smiled, batting her eyelashes. She thought he was pretty cute, considering he had pink in his hair.
Benny glanced at them from his table. He could not in a million years believe Mimi was flirting with Roger. Especially after everything she'd told him about when he was with Alison.
"Really...I can't believe her" Alison muttered to herself, disgusted "The nerve of some people..." She turned back around in her chair before she went over and beat Mimi with her crutches.
"Um, yeah, I don't think so." Roger agreed, lighting the match again and trying to ignore the flirting.
Mimi was almost certain Roger was ignoring her. "I'm Mimi..." She said, taking the match and purposely blowing it out "Ooopsy" She smiled "I'm not having very good luck" She pulled out one of her own matches and held it out to him "I could never get the hang of it" Her eyes we're large and pleading as she smiled.
Alison put her hand on Benny's arm to get his attention, and she was shocked at the sensation of the touch and held it for a split second longer then she meant to "Erm" she blushed "Just ignore her..." she could see he was hurt "She wants a reaction..."
Benny nodded and took a deep breath. "I know. Sorry."
Roger lit it again. "I'm Roger." simple and uninterested. He was mentally squirming though, and he wondered how much joy Maureen was getting from this.
Maureen was in fact having so much fun. She was stifling giggles. April was gonna be so pissed. Maybe she was taking a little too much pleasure from this, but then again...
Mimi was now sure he was ignoring her. She was a little hurt that Benny didn't seem to even be looking. He was paying more attention to that Alison girl. She wanted to go and break her other ankle…but then she had a new idea. And if this didn't work then nothing would.
And it was in this sequence that things happened.
First, Mimi crashed her lips into Roger's. Alison then saw them and gasped loudly and Maureen's mouth hung opened.
Next April walked back into the room, bursting into tears and leaving as quickly as she arrived. Mark hadn't even gotten to the door when he found himself chasing her again.
Then Roger stood up, harshly pushing Mimi off of him. He just stood there, looking pained and shocked and so unlike himself. He lowered his head, an almost vulnerability passing through his eyes, and then he bolted out of the room as fast as he possibly could, both from shock and anger, running in the opposite direction as April and Mark.
And lastly, Benny stood up. "Mimi!" he glared at her. She and Roger just kissed! Nothing could get past his mind. The thing was, he didn't really know what happened. But either way, he was hurt. He knew Mimi was jealous, but Alison and him didn't kiss! They were only talking, maybe flirting a bit. So he figured they actually might have liked each other. And he was furious.
Collins and Angel exchanged a worried look, unsure what to do. Collins wanted to help his friends, but he had more than one friend in this situation, and he didn't know what was going on, or who to go after. So he sat there, staring at the scene as did the others.
"What" Mimi asked, a sly smiled playing at her lips. "That got your attention!"
"What's your problem?" Came a voice. Mimi knew exactly who it belonged to. Alison had gone pink in the face and look almost as angry as Benny did. "Seriously...what is your problem?"
"I don't have a-"
"He had a girlfriend!" Ali shouted "But you may have missed that!" Alison had never met Roger or April but it didn't take an idiot to figure that out. She continued, "Look I apologized for what happened this morning but I didn't know and besides but this is ridiculous and downright hypocritical!"
Mimi looked like she was about to murder her were she sat.
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Roger didn't stop until he was on the exact other side of the large campus behind some unused buildings and he slammed hisfist at the wall in frustration. "Stupid girl! Who the hell does she think she is!?" He yelled to nobody in particular, swaying slightly against the wall. He sat down.
"Stupid fucking girl I don't even know just kissed me! Benny's girlfriend...in front of my girlfriend....but I didn't mind....no....she....NO!" he groaned and closed his eyes. He'd deal with it later.
He knew he should be doing something; Apologizing to Benny, explaining to April and Mark, hitting Mimi in the face....
He had this horrible habit of running from his problems. It was quite easy to keep up, because most of the time he could just ignore his problems and pretend nothing was wrong. It made everyone's lives so much easier.
But he had no idea how to ignore the fact that his kind of friend's girlfriend just kissed him because her boyfriend may have been flirting with some new girl. His own best friend and girlfriend waked in on this and ran away.
Just thinking about that scenario had him between angry and confused. He took a few deep breaths.
Roger didn't care about much. But he did care about April. She had to know that. She had to know he'd never hurt her like that....
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"April…" Mark softly called to the weeping girl.
"Oh, for fucks sake Mark! Not now!" she shouted, burying her face in her hands. Mark shook his head and turned to leave. "How could He, Mark…." She stood up and looked at him. "Answer this for me…Why?" after an uncomfortable silence she murmured, "My baggage was too heavy for him."
"April it's not like that." Mark said in a comforting assurance, although he was shocked too. "He, Roger's never met her."
"Are you sure?" April asked. "…'cos you are with him all the time…"
"I'm sorry...I don't know what to say..."
"Me neither Cohen" She said, patting the ground next to her. He sat obediently and she leaned on his shoulder.
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"Mimi." Benny just shook his head. He hadn't even thought about April and Roger, or Allison. He glared at her. Mimi was always like this and it was really starting to get to him. He was too angry to properly think. "I'm done."
Angel pouted. "Eveyrone's breaking up." Or they're going to....
"I know." Collins replied, sighing. "I'm gonna go look for Mark and April." he told her, receiving a nod and leaving the room.
"Well I'm not." Mimi said, looking hurt "You know, I didn't mean it any of it...Baby I went too far. If your call girl can see that then of course I can...I'm so sorry" tears we're welling up in her eyes.
"Call girl...your calling me a prostitu-" Alison said angrily but Benny cut her off.
"Both of you, stop, please." Benny interrupted, looking between the two. "Mimi, you did go too far. Really. I-I want to forgive you...so I'm going to try. But I mean what I said when I said we were done.... Alison, I'm sorry you got involved in this. Mimi, she's not 'my call girl'. Anything else? Either of you?" he somehow managed to remain calm throughout this.
Alison shook her head "It's fine" she said shakily and turned her back on everything, blinking furiously trying to stop herself from getting upset. She grabbed papers and furiously made more notes.
"Oh Benny" Mimi cried she ran towards him and stopped "What am I doing...Benny. We're living a lie...this has been coming for a while hasn't it?" Mimi whispered softly "This was just the straw that broke the camels back wasn't it...Please don't lie to me..."
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"Sorry Mark." April sighed. "For everything…..the fights…the bickering…what I'm doing to myself and Roger…just everything."
Mark laughed a little. "April, you're not yourself."
"I am." She informed. 'Maybe for the first time in a while." She got up, wiping her eyes. "I have to find him." She ran off.
After wandering around the outskirts of the school -he always came here- she turned a finally corner and stopped dead in her tracks, just staring at him huddled in the corner. "Roger?" she tensely managed.
"April, I'm sorry." Roger said immediately, "She didn't....I....we...." he trailed off, unsure of why he couldn't just say what he wanted to. "I'm sorry." he repeated lamely.
She sat next to him "You know what? I don't even blame you...After all my baggage...I can see why"
"No, April, really is not like that." Roger started. "I love you, okay. You need to know that....I don't know who that girl was or why she just kissed me."
"No it's fine...I understand" April smiled weakly
Roger sighed in relief. He'd been so worried she wouldn't. And he honestly didn't know what he'd do if April didn't. Then he kissed her. It was a bit...spontaneous, but he felt like it.
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Collins caught up with Mark, where he had been with April. "Man, what happened? Is she alright?" he didn't feel the need to say Roger didn't do anything. That part seemed obvious.
"She's gone to find him." Mark paused "What happened after...everything?" he pushed his glasses back up his nose.
He sighed. "Roger ran. Benny got angry. Alison got even angrier. Mimi had mood swings. I think Benny dumped her." he shook his head and changed his answer. "Hell if I know."
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Benny sighed. "That....true." he admitted. "It has. I'm sorry, but it is...."
"I guess this is good-bye then." She kissed him on the cheek and left the room, finding herself face to face with Mark and Collins. She sighed and smiled. "I'm free..."
"What the hell was that?" Mark asked as Mimi walked away.
Collins looked at Mark. "I have no idea." he walked back into the room.
A strange silence met the two. Even Maureen hadn't spoken a word.
Finally Angel stood up. "Oh, will you all stop making such a big deal about it and get on with your lives!"
"Amen" Mark said, sitting in his chair. The silence was broken and everyone had gone back to work except Maureen, Mark, and Joanne, who didn't have partners.
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April kissed Roger back and for a while there was nothing but them in that corner. They broke apart and April laughed as she played with his hair, "Your pink"
"What!?" Roger pulled some of his hair in front of his eyes. "Fuck!"
She laughed "I think it suits you."
"Well...I guess we should go back....."
April helped him to his feet. "Come on then Pinky!" she put her hand round his waist.
"April..." he moaned, following her.
She giggled and took his hand in hers...She hadn't felt this good in a long time. They arrived back at the class room.
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"You look like a weight's been lifted..." Ali observed aloud to Benny. "Not that I mean that...um..." she fumbled around for a piece of paper "Could you help me with this..." she passed him the paper there was a pause "...I hope everything works out" she looked down, feeling like she was only making things worse.
Benny just nodded with a small smile. He took the paper from Alison and started working again as if nothing had happened.
Back with the others, Maureen was watching Joanne work quietly on her project, alone. She piped up "Roger, can we ask if Joanne wants to work with us? Mimi was her partner, and it's totally unfair that she should work alone and she might be able to help us with the pink, 'cos that's pretty much all we've got and we've only got about four hours left and-" Roger cut in.
"Maureen." He took a breath, trying to control his rising temper. "Yes, she can work with us. Why? Because I really would like to pass....or at least get a D....And as long as you two don't spend the entire time being mushy." he then smirked and added teasingly. "By the way, I love your hair."
Maureen's hand flew to her hair. She took it away and was shocked to find her hand was covered in….
"Pink!" She exclaimed, looking between her hair, Roger, and her hand. Then she noticed his hair and laughed even harder. "At least I'm a girl. I can do pink." She walked over to Joanne's table, still giggling.
"What's she so happy about?" Mark wondered.
Roger rolled his eyes and informed, "The fact she can pull off pink better than me." He followed her to Joanne's table.
Joanne looked at the two. "Hi Maureen." she actually sounded happy to see the girl. She glanced at Roger, whom she didn't personally know, and she sort of doubted that she wanted to.
Maureen sat down and pulled out a chair and gave Joanne a huge flirty smile. Mark bit his lip...Maureen was being Maureen again.
Roger offered Mark and April a fake smile. It was the best he could do. He pulled a chair over to them and sat by Maureen and Joanne. He ignored both females in entirety, switching his attention between staring at the ground, tapping on the desk, or trying to get the pink out of his hair.
Joanne smiled back to Maureen and started talking about something or other relating to the project.
From the next table, Mark continued to watch them. April snapped him out of it. "You okay?"
"What are we, best friends now?" Mark snapped before realizing what he'd said. Actually, April was being so different. He didn't really, he kind of liked it. "Sorry...it's just Maureen being..."
"Herself?"
"Herself" He agreed, back to watching them.
"Maureen's just flirty...it doesn't mean she'd..." They exchanged a 'look' before Mark tried to find something else to avert his eyes too. That was Angel and Collins.
Angel and Collins were obviously the group with the least bickering and drama. Not only were they getting along, and very well at that, but they'd just about finished their project, and it was good. They're been in the shadows for most of the project, until they began the talk more. Angel was leaning over their piece and grinning, and Collins was looking at her and helping with something. Overall they just seemed phenomenally comfortable in each other's company.
Alison was also looking at the two. She'd just finished with what she was doing and was looking for something else to start on.
Benny looked up and at Alison again. He really liked her, but after everything that happened, he was sure she wouldn't feel the same way. He followed her gaze over to Angel and Collins and smiled a little bit before turning back to her, just sort of staring.
"What?" She smiled, playing with a strand of her curly blond hair.
"I-its nothing." Benny replied. He sighed, "Alison…I....um, never mind." He had no idea to just say how he felt. He already knew it would be a bad idea, but he didn't want to lie and....he was very very confused.
Alison tilted her head to the side "This seems very out of character..." she laughed at his expression. It was easy to see that Benny usually had control and now he didn't...But she didn't know why.
"I know." Benny replied, smiling a little. "Alison, you know what Mimi said....about....us?"
"About us?" Ali asked, looking worried. Her blue eyes met his.
"Yeah....I think, she may have been.....right....." Benny trailed off again.
"Oh," Ali said faintly. This couldn't be happening.......
Benny sighed, feeling very embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I should have said that......."
"That you had a girlfriend...yes" Ali said, but smiled "But I think you've redeemed yourself" she put her hand on his arm.
Benny looked at her. "I know...but I mean, when she....thought we were flirting...That I like you....maybe..." He was so bad at this!
Ali giggled. "Your adorable when you're out of your depth" she teased. She took his hand in hers. "But I like you too...maybe..."
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"So Joanne, I don't get any of this." Maureen said, leaning on the desk similar to how Mimi had, to see what the girl was writing. Mark was trying his hardest not to notice but he wasn't blind...or stupid...
Roger felt like banging his head on something hard. It felt like Maureen had just said that, because she had. Well, he didn't get what Joanne was doing either, but he didn't care. His hands were now covered in pink, which he figured would mean the pink was out of his hair. Rather than that, it seemed he made it worse. Not to mention that he wanted to hit Maureen; both for the pink thing and her flirting.
Joanne sighed and shook her head. "Maureen, I've put it as simply as I can." she smirked and looked up, eyes meeting only a few inches from Maureen's. For a second she looked almost mesmerized.
Roger coughed loudly, causing Joanne to blush and slide back, glaring at him with anger and embarrassment. He didn't pay her any heed though, or Maureen for that matter.
Maureen shot Joanne an apologetic smile and glared at Roger. It wasn't like he didn't have his own problems… Luckily, Roger actually decided to do something 'smart', in her opinion.
"You guys seem like you have this under control...I'll be back later....you can take my name off the project if you want." Neither girl responded so Roger went to leave.
Maureen started trying to get the pink out of her hair. Joanne wordlessly scooted closer to her and started helping.
Mark followed Roger. "Where are you off to?....You can't just leave?"
"Why not?"
"Roger are you blind?" Mark pointed to Joanne and Maureen. "I know it's dumb but she wouldn't...with you around...and I know it's selfish but-" Roger cut him off.
He looked back and shook his head, unable to believe how stupid he was being. "Of course...Man, sorry." he had that spaced out look but he nodded and went back to his seat.
Maureen couldn't shield her disappointment when she saw his return. She had started to really like Joanne. She was smart and beautiful. Mark was sweet and could even be a romantic….but it was nothing compared to Joanne.
Roger watched Maureen and Joanne flirt some more. They had no intentions of going back to the project it seemed. Oh, and to top it off, Joanne actually knew how to fix the pink shit in Maureen's hair. He glanced at the clock.
Two more hours..... He could deal with this for two more hours..... Maybe....
He started counting down the time, which only lasted him like thirty seconds. Sitting there was boring but he was doing it for Mark, which made him at least have a reason. He looked around at all the other groups.
Joanne smiled at Maureen and went to 'fixing her hair' again, using that as an excuse to get close to the girl.
Roger was about to tell his table partners to get a room but, actually thinking before he spoke for once, he decided against it. "Mo, you're hair's not pink anymore, so you two can get off each other now." he informed blandly.
April looked at the desk behind her and instantly whipped around. She knew Maureen was flirtatious but this was getting a bit too much. She tried to distract Mark with the project and luckily it worked.
Mark kept stopping himself from looking back by chewing the skin round his left thumb. He knew it was gross but it was a nervous reflex. April noticed this and looked back her mouth shot open.
"What the fuck is going on!" she mouthed to Roger.
Roger rolled his eyes at April. "Isn't it obvious" he mouthed back.
April bit her lip..."Stop them!" she gestured vaguely towards Mark who was still chewing at his thumb.
"I'm trying!" Roger pointed with his eyes to the two now not so close females. "What am I supposed to do!?"
"I don't know...ANYTHING…," April mouthed furiously.
"I can still see you..." Mark hissed. April blushed.
Roger tried calling to the transfixed girls again but they were oblivious to him. Sighing, he looked back up to April and Mark, "If she kills me for this, I'm blaming you." He mouthed.
He grabbed a test tube full of something off the desk and poured half of it on top of each female's head.
"ROGER!" Maureen screamed "WHAT THE FUCK!" Her hand flew to her hair. Luckily, the test tubes only had water in them, but it was freezing cold. Maureen threw her book at him but missed.
Roger picked up the book, placed it on the table, and then sat down again. He smiled at Mark and April.
April nodded with a small smile and Mark laughed, faking it off as a cough.
Joanne finally stopped giving Roger a death glare, which he appreciated. And she didn't start flirting with Maureen, which he really appreciated.
"Thank you!" Mark mouthed to Roger, looking grateful. "I owe you one!"
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Alison looked back "Please tell me this isn't normal!?" she asked, bother concerned and shocked.
Benny sighed. "Its normal... Uh, yeah. Roger and Maureen. Very very normal."
She giggled. "So you we're saying about...that...thing.." she blushed.
"That....I like you?" Benny asked, as if clarifying rather than stating.
Alison said nothing. She was happy; really happy, but just lost for words. No guy had ever said that to her...ever. Her blush deepened and she couldn't dare herself to meet his eyes. What if it was some cruel joke, an elaborate trick to hurt her, but hey...No day but today...right?
"I...I like you too..."
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Before anyone knew it, another hour had passed and the teachers were coming around to grade projects.
As expected, Angel and Collins received a perfect score and then some, not that either of them really needed a good, let alone amazing grade. Angel had squealed and, in the moment, kissed Collins on the cheek. At first she pulled away, embarrassed, but after a few minutes it seemed they worked everything out, and not only that, but they also were a couple.
Benny and Alison also got a top score, although it leveled to a low A or B. Still, Benny at least was pleased with it. By this point he'd managed to ask Alison out a bit of an awkward way. Alison had again been stunned into silence, but she agreed.
Mark and April managed to pass despite the drama. Well they got a C, but neither minded. And, they didn't seem to hate each other so much anymore.
Roger, Maureen, and Joanne didn't exactly have much to turn in. Only the pink stuff and Joanne's half done project. Needless to say, they got a fail, and Joanne was extremely upset. She'd never failed anything before, ever! She wondered if Maureen could help with this disappointment. She, unlike everyone else, remained oblivious to the fact Maureen and Mark were dating.
Mimi most obviously failed as she never returned to class.
Before anymore drama managed to start the bell rang and the library was quickly emptied.