After a rather disgusting experience with making cookies (though her hands were now admittedly softer), Claire headed off to her next class with two paper plates stapled together containing the cookies that had caused her so much grief earlier that day.

"Here's hoping they last until lunch." The girl mumbled to herself, tugging her bag over her shoulder, doing her best to dash to class in a pair of heels (she would have considered something else had these ones not matched her outfit so perfectly, but that was beside the point) She hadn't intended to take the cookies with her and didn't feel like Texas making a grab for them.

"I just need to get to Hudson's class an-"

"Hey, Texas smells cookies!"

"Texas!"

(Line)

Safe within her desk in second period health class with Nurse Kaia (who probably shouldn't have signed up to be both the nurse and health teacher), Julie had sunk as far into her chair as humanly possible, her knees almost parallel to the seat in front of her. It's not that Julie hated coming to class or school in general, but when you sit in the front row, getting called on was something you were never truly spared from.

"Alright class, today, we'll be learning about the heimlich. Now has anyone every had to perform the heimlich maneuver?" Kaia sauntered barefoot to the front of the classroom, writing the word in dainty cursive, that only came along with writing a million notes home to parents, on the board. With a predicted hush suddenly growing in the classroom, Kaia rolled her eyes, "Perhaps a demonstration...Kane, Chilton, would you mind setting an example for your classmates?"

Julie tried pathetically to sink further into her chair, even considering sinking to the floor and crawling her way out of this nut house, but Mike was already halfway to the front of the room, one of his signature smirks on his face, "Sure thing, Kaia. It's a great skill to have...coming Jules?" Mike turned one shoulder to the side, casting a glance at the girl. Hanging her head and looking away quickly, Julie avoided all eye-contact as she slowly stood from her chair. It was no surprise at this point that she was blushing, both out of embarrassment and a small crush she still harbored for the brunette in front of her.

It started...man, she would have to guess it was somewhere around eighth grade when she met him. Yeah, eighth grade sounded right. He had a ten-speed bike and, oh man, did he know some cool tricks! Back before the 'incident' that would lead to Kane's disdain toward Mike, the two would hop on their bikes, meet up with Chuck, Dutch, and Texas, and usually spend their afternoons and early evenings running around Jacob's kitchen, usually being scolded by the older man to go spend the day outside and to stay off the Duke's lawn.

However, those simpler days were gone now as bikes became cars and Jacob's kitchen was just too small for the now young adults' adventures that soon became too big to keep under one roof.

And apparently a friendship grew along with it.

"Alright, Mike, remember how it's done?' Kaia folds her arms, leaning against her desk. Mike smirks at his childhood friend, stepping up behind her. Had Julie been blushing any harder, her face would have matched her hair. That blush would have continued to grow had the phone in the back of the classroom not began to ring. Groaning in disbelief, Kaia pushed off her desk, stepping behind her desk to grab the device, "Hello? Yes, she is. Okay, I will send her down. Julie, Principal Kane wants to see you." Kaia hung up the phone, turning back to the front of the room. Silently praising whatever angel above made all this possible, Julie wordlessly grabbed her bag from beneath her desk, fleeing the room without even grabbing a hall pass.

(Line)

"So, er, dad, what did you call me down for?" Julie let her backpack hit the floor before finding a seat in front of her father's desk. A brown paper bag sat neatly on the desk, her own name scribbled crudely in sharpie.

"You left your lunch on the table this morning. So how are those classes of yours going?" Principal Kane was in the midst of reading over a student's transcript, which he promptly folded and set aside, folding his hands and resting his chin atop them, grinning at his daughter. Julie on shook her head, bring her knees to her chest.

"Eh, I'm not looking forward to Duke's class much." The teen rested her chin on top of her knees, making sure to add a small pout to her face, hoping that maybe her father would find a reason to excuse her from the class without her actually having to ask him to do so.

"And why is that? Duke is an excellent teacher. Is someone picking on you? I can give them a we-"

"No, no, Dad. That's fine. It's just, I didn't get to spend any time with you last night since I was A- cheer practice and I really wanted to tell you about how my project for Hudson's class went." Julie cast her eyes toward the floor, hoping to mask any mischievous look she knew would most likely be reflected in them. Apparently it worked because next thing Julie knew, a pass was withdrawn from her father's desk, a quick signature scratched into place,

"Bring in the project with you, I would love to look it over with you." Kane grinned, setting the pass beside the lunch bag. Julie lept to her feet, throwing her arms around her father's neck,

"Thanks, dad, you're the best!"

That day during Duke's choir class, Chuck wasn't the only one not to answer roll call.