The next day, Victoria and Tumblebrutus were sitting on an outside bench in the middle school quad while waiting for the rest of the gang to show up.
As Victoria was filing her nails she asked Tumblebrutus, "So, do you think Mr. Matthews is gonna give us another lesson for homework tonight?"
As Tumblebrutus was about to answer, his mouth flew open.
"Well, I hope not," Victoria replied to her own question. "I have dance practice tonight."
Tumblebrutus didn't reply.
"Tumblebrutus?" Victoria waved her hand in front of his face. Then she snapped her fingers. "Dude, snap out of it."
But Tumblebrutus didn't stop. He just pointed in the direction of which he was staring. As soon as she looked, her mouth formed into a perfect O.
The two eighth graders were staring at a redheaded girl with her hair in a super straight high ponytail walking their way in a pink tank top with a matching long sleeved pink plaid shirt over it. She was also wearing a silver tiered skirt with black leggings and silver flats. Not only that, but she also had on pink lip gloss.
As Rumpleteazer approached Victoria and Tumblebrutus, she smiled and said, "Hi Victoria, Tumblebrutus!"
Victoria snapped out of it and managed to mumble, "Um, hey Teaz." Tumblebrutus was still caught in a gaze.
"Well, I'm gonna go get a muffin," Rumpleteazer said. "I'll see you guys in homeroom. Bye!"
As she walked away, Tumblebrutus was still staring at her. "Man, I never knew how hot Teazer actually is!"
"The question is, why she made herself hot," Victoria said.
Rumpleteazer was no longer Teazer. She's Rumpleteazer.
/\/\
"Aw, crap!" Electra said as she accidently dropped her books in the hallway. As she was scooping up her books and her papers, Jemima noticed her on the floor. As much as I don't wanna do this, I'm gonna have to.
"Do you need some help, Electra?" Jemima asked.
Electra sighed. "Sure."
Jemima got down on her knees and scooped up some of the remaining papers.
"Why are you helping me?" Electra asked.
"Because maybe I'm trying to be nice," Jemima said. "Or maybe because when I dropped my things last year at my old school, no one helped me. And it was kind of embarrassing."
"So you wanted to spare me?" Electra asked.
Jemima nodded and gave the books and papers back to her. "Well I better get to homeroom. See ya around."
"Yeah, see you," Electra said, surprised. As Jemima started down the hallway, Electra called after her. "Jemima!"
Jemima turned around and said, "Yeah?"
Electra half smiled. "Thanks."
Jemima nodded. "You're welcome."
Just then, Etcetera came up behind Electra. "Hey, Electra, did you do finish the American History assignment last night?"
"Yeah," Electra said, not looking at Etcetera.
"Good, because I reeeaallly need your help," Etcetera said, pulling Electra over to a bench.
/\/\
"Hey, Tantomile," Coricopat said to his twin sister as they walked to second period. "You wanna hit the arcade after school today? I heard they got a new Fast and Furious game."
"Oh, gosh, that sounds awesome, man!" Tantomile said. "But I can't."
Coricopat's mood deflated. "Why not?"
"Because Bailey and I were going to his house to study for the English quiz we have tomorrow," Tantomile said. "And he invited me to dinner over at his house as well."
Coricopat frowned. "Oh."
"But you should come with us," Tantomile suggested. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind. And the studying could really help you. Our new English teacher is no nonsense."
"Uh, that's okay," Coricopat said. "I can just go with Admetus or something."
"Oh, okay, well I'll see you at lunch," Tantomile said. "Bye!"
Since when did Tantomile say "bye"? She usually says "later" or "see ya" or "peace"! Coricopat thought sadly.
/\/\
"And so for your project, I will need you guys to build a weird contraption that has to do with science," the twelfth grade teacher Mr. Simmons said. "But please everybody, no papier-mâché volcanoes."
Jellylorum Fisher frowned. "As if I was gonna make a papier-mâché volcano anyway!"
Her best friend Jennyanydots Brooks flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder. "I know! Soooo overrated!"
"And the best part about this project is, drum roll please," Mr. Simmons said jokingly to the students. One of the male students drummed on their desk. "You get to choose your partner!"
Everybody cheered.
"Okay, so you guys start choosing and I'll be back in a minute," Mr. Simmons said, stepping outside of the classroom.
At that moment, everybody started talking.
But before Jellylorum could ask Jennyanydots to be her partner, Skimbleshanks West came up to Jennyanydots and asked her. Skimbleshanks was also the crush of Jellylorum's life.
Well, I guess I can't be too sad, Jellylorum thought. After all, she is my best friend. But omigod, what if he actually likes her?
"Hey, Jellylorum, would you be my partner?" Asparagus asked.
Jellylorum sighed. Well, everybody else seems all partnered up. And Asparagus is pretty smart, too. "Sure, why not?"
Asparagus smiled. "Okay. How about we meet after school at, say, my house?"
"Okay, I'll see you then," Jellylorum said.
As he walked away, Jennyanydots was feeling good, but a little bit guilty. What have I gotten myself into? Skimbleshanks is Jellylorum's crush, not mine!
/\/\
"Hey, Demeter, tell Mom that I'm going to the mall with Cassandra," Bombalurina said to Demeter once school let out.
"Okay, but actually I'm going to the ice cream parlor," Demeter said. "So, I'll just text it to her—since I still have my cell phone." She pulled out her gold cell phone and waved it in her sister's face.
"Well it is not my fault that Dad had to confiscate it, thank you very much," Bombalurina protested.
"You're right," Demeter said. "It's Tugger's fault."
Bombalurina sighed and playfully rolled her eyes.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell her," Demeter said.
"So who are you going to the ice cream parlor with?" Bombalurina asked.
"Oh, just Alonzo," Demeter lied. "Nothing special. We're just gonna do homework."
"Oh, well have fun then," Bombalurina said, walking out to the junior parking lot.
Just as Bombalurina left in Cassandra's car, Demeter walked out to the same junior parking lot to find Munkustrap. Just as planned, Munkustrap was there.
"Hey, are you ready to go?" Munkustrap greeted her.
Demeter smiled. "Sure." He opened the door for her and off they went to the ice cream parlor.
/\/\
"So linear algebra and linear equations isn't the same thing?" Demeter asked.
"No, so that's probably why you've been missing those problems," Munkustrap said.
So far, the two were having a pretty great time. Munkustrap was helping Demeter with her Algebra 2 homework while making her laugh on the side. Now that they were done, Demeter was feeling hungry.
"Hey, I'm gonna buy us some ice cream, okay?" Demeter said, getting up.
"Oh, I insist, let me get it for you," Munkustrap said. "What would you like?"
"Oh, a medium strawberry ice cream with marshmallows mixed inside and whipped cream, please," Demeter said, getting out ten dollars. "Here you go."
Munkustrap made a face. "Um, okay, I wonder how that'll taste."
As he went to go get the ice cream, Demeter smiled. Munkustrap wasn't so bad after all.
