honorstudent97: Gotta love irony! Karma was a bitch for Johnny in the movie. :P Omg, I am so excited for Finding Nemo 2! I love that movie! I even have Finding Nemo vinyl clings on my wall, haha. Do you have any favorite characters from Finding Nemo? I really love all Pixar movies! And aw, that's so nice of you for deciding to follow this even during your stay in Beijing!
I-Like-Sulley: Haha, that quote reminds me of something that I would say. xD And yeah, Doom and Mike are causing so much trouble for Randall, poor thing. I'm so glad that you liked the chapter and I hope that you like this one too!
Nymris: Yeah, poor Randall has two evil dudes on his case now! Of course, I think that I'd take Mike over Doom any old day. How about you? And omg, I just imagined coating my backpack with slime! You've got a good point though - it would keep the spiders away! I hate spiders so much. *shivers*
Remy: Hehe, that last chapter was kind of intense even though Randall and Mike didn't end up in a fully fledged fight. Just out of curiosity, who do you think would win in a fight? I put my money on Randall, but you never know. I know what you mean about Mike not being your favorite or least favorite. Who do you think your least favorite character is? Aw, well, I hope that you end up liking some pairings after reading my stories. :) I'm glad to hear that you'll stick with this story despite it being a tragedy. Randall goes through a lot of tragic evens in this, poor thing. And omg, a slime fight between Randall and Funk would be so cute! I love your idea! Thanks so much for reading this.
a fan: I'm sorry for not explaining what OC means before! It stands for original character, which means that it's a character that you made up and that's not in the movie. I'm glad that you think that Doom is a good villain though. I tried to make him a good antagonist. I agree about Randy's science class! It does sound like fun! I always had to do textbook reading for my science class. It was really boring. Nice prediction! There will be a confrontation between Randall and Doom in the future!
jade4563: Wow, thank you so much for such a nice review! It really brightened my day. :) I can't believe that you've been sitting glued to the computer reading it, lol. I'm surprised that you didn't get bored to death by the detail. :P But anyway, you'll have to let me know what you think of MU, okay? I really loved it, but everyone has a different opinion on it. And yes, there is definitely something special about our lizard love! What do you like most about Randall? Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
BloodRedRoses04: Hehe, were you hoping that Randall was going to choke Mike? Mike definitely deserved it, that's for sure! Hope you like this chapter!
Mysterious: Aw, that sucks about the permanent ban, but there are ways around it. *looks around sneakily* Have you tried getting a new account by using a proxy? Let me know what you think of this chapter! :)
xBearingSecretsx: Same here! I wish that I had that close of a friend too, but I don't have any friends irl, so yeah. =/ I know, right? How can you NOT ship RandallxSulley? It's obvious from their chemistry in MI that they had something going on there. ;) Oh god, I get what you mean about that BooxRandall story putting the pairing into your head. I've read fics that I've later regretted reading for those reasons. Doom is a bitch! He needs to go die in a hole with Mike. :P Thanks for the comment!
Chapter XXV
I ignore Mrs. Jones' biting words and the snide looks I receive from my classmates as I turn sharply and slink down the isle toward the door of the science classroom, keeping my eyes locked resolutely on the ground. It's unfair of Mrs. Jones to blame me for spilling my container of slime when I wasn't even the one who did it. Unfortunately, there is no proof that one-eyed Doom was the one who overturned my vile besides for Fungus' and my word on it. From what I know about Mrs. Jones, she'll sooner believe that a human child is present in her classroom than whatever Fungus and I tell her.
Not exactly in a hurry to return to the classroom filled with scornful students all smirking at my humiliation, I take my time walking through the hallway. Most of the monsters must currently be at class since the halls are surprisingly quiet and mostly empty for once. I enjoy my temporary solitude and find the bathroom at the end of the hall just where Mrs. Jones told me it would be. Creaking the door open, I step inside it and find that this bathroom is small and square-shaped. It lacks the multiple mirrors the bathroom on the fifth floor had and also lacks the cleanliness of that bathroom. This room has dirt on the floor, toilet paper strewn all over, and the single mirror on the wall is cracked.
Careful to step around the toilet paper lying all over the floor, I pick my way over to the counter and grab several pieces of paper towel. I wad them up into a ball and then exit the bathroom once again. Realizing that I'm walking too fast for two reasons - I don't particularly want to return to the sneers of the others students and I need to save my energy for gym - I slow my pace until I'm almost dragging my feet against the floor. Despite this, the door to the science classroom seems to be growing larger much too quickly.
Luckily, an obstacle which proves to work as a distraction presents itself to me. Don Carlton, the second-year university student who slightly resembles a walrus with his bushy brown mustache, waves a hand cheerfully in greeting to me and stops to talk to me, saying, "Hello, Randy. I haven't seen you since the day I rode on the bus with you. How are you liking the university?"
"It's...fine," I reply without much thought to what I'm saying. Don raises an eyebrow at me, clearly waiting for more of an explanation. I go on and admit, "I like the learning and most of my classes. Some of the students, mostly Wazowski, are less than serious about their studies though. I had to partner with the one-eyed cretin for history. Let's just say that didn't go well. Plus, my only friend already got beaten up and it's only the third day of school. Guess that's just the way things are around here though."
"It's not so bad once you get used to it. Most of the students are nice. You just have to give them the chance to get to know you. Mike Wazowski may be an exception though. From what I've seem of him, he's an arrogant little fellow who will get put in his place in time," Don says. His smile fades slightly and he points out, "You said that you only have one friend. I thought that you and Scott got along?"
"I wouldn't say it's that we don't get along. We just don't hang out in the same groups anymore. Scott hangs out with the rejects and I've been labeled as the know-it-all nerd," I point out, rolling my eyes.
Don raises an eyebrow at me in confusion and asks blankly, "The rejects?"
I blush, realizing that the term I've used to label Sullivan's group with sounds derogatory. Owing Don an explanation, I admit, "You know, the group with everyone who didn't make it into the headmistress' scare program after school on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Sullivan seems to be the leader of it and Terri and Terry Perry, Scott, Art, Wazowski, and a few others hang out with them."
"I'm actually part of that group," Don says passively, not taking offense to my words thankfully. "You could join the group if you wanted to, I'm sure. Everyone is nice enough. You just have to overcome your shyness and introduce yourself to them. We're already planning for the great scare games at the end of the year. You could help us if you want."
I look at Don as if he's just started speaking in Chinese. I don't think that he gets it. You either automatically become part of a group or you're not welcome in it. You don't invite yourself into a group! Besides, what makes Don think I want to hang out with the rejects anyway? Scott seems, well, stuck on Sullivan. Although I don't know Art, he seems like an oddball. Terri and Terry Perry I can't comment on. It's well known that I need to keep a good fifty meters away from Wazowski at all times. Guess I wouldn't mind talking to Sullivan a bit more, but in no way, shape, or form am I going to become a member of his little fan club. That's just not the way I do things. I do things my way.
"Then again, you could stay a loner," Don says, judging from my expression that I don't particularly care for his suggestion. "Anyway, I've got to run to computer class. I'm already late. Talk to you later. Good luck with whatever class you're going to next."
"It's gym," I say more to myself than to Don since he's already hurrying down the hallway, looking at the watch on his wrist with a frown on his face. Stopping abruptly in front of the door to the science classroom, I add, "And knowing me, I'm gonna need even more luck for gym than for science."
Supposing that I've procrastinated for long enough, I push open the door to science classroom and walk straight down the aisle to my desk. I've already resigned myself to failing this first assignment since there's no way I can possibly remake my slime in the remaining ten minutes of class. Kneeling on the floor, I start blotting up sticky bits of ooze sticking to the carpet. Luckily, it comes up easily and the carpet is clean in no less than three minutes. After that, I get to my feet to clean my desk, only to find that my desk has already been cleaned.
Surprised, I stare at my desk with narrowed eyes. My container of slime has been righted and a new portion of completed slime is sitting in my container. My spilled slime has been discarded and my desk has been wiped clean. Odd. Who would've bothered to do something like this for me? I'm not complaining since this is how my slime would've looked like by now if one-eyed Doom hadn't interfered, but still.
I sit down on the edge of my desk and am hit with the answer like a slap to my face. Turning, I fix Fungus with my emerald green eyes. He pretends to be busy reading his science textbook, but his eyes aren't moving and I know that he's just trying not to give himself away. The right corner of my mouth quirks up in a small smile. It pays to have a friend who happens to be a genius at art and science.
"Alright, class, science for today has come to an end," Mrs. Jones announces a few minutes later. "Although we've had a few incidents with slime getting all over the place, I'd say that you all did a good job today. Most of you will be ready to start on part two of this assignment next week. As I mentioned earlier, your homework for this week is to read chapter one of your textbook. I know that fifty pages seems like a lot, but if you split your work over the weekend, you should be able to handle it just fine. You're all dismissed."
The class rises from their desks in unison and chatter breaks out throughout the room. I pile my notepad, textbook, and pencils into my arms and then make a straight line for Fungus. Standing over him, I point out, "I know what you did. Thanks. You didn't have to help me, you know."
Fungus blushes a shade of keep red and asks curiously, "How did you k-know it was me? I didn't think I was that obvious."
"Think about it, Funk. Who else would wanna help the four-eyed freak, hm?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at Fungus. The bean-shaped monster glances around the room for another monster who might have been willing to help me out. He finds no one there, not unsurprisingly. Smirking, I say, "Exactly. C'mon, let's go."
Not in mood to delay, I capture Fungus' wrist in between two webbed fingers and lead him to the front of the classroom with me. As we approach the classroom door, Fungus comes to an abrupt halt and I practically yank his arm out of his arm socket before realizing that he's come to a stop. Frowning, I come to a halt as well and give him the what's up look.
"Randy, Doom is s-staring at you," Fungus whispers in my ear, true fear lighting up his features.
My head jerks up and I realize that Fungus is right. The strange squid-like pitch black monster with the evil red eye is sending me a murderous look from the classroom doorway. I meet his stare defiantly in an almost challenging way. After he beat Fungus up earlier, I want to confront him and figure out his problem.
"Look, Funk, I know that I promised you that I wouldn't talk to him, but I think that I should. The monster's being a real jerk," I say, taking a step forward and pulling a reluctant Fungus with me.
"No! Randy, you promised," Fungus whines, yanking back fiercely on my arm, his expression one of severity.
"Fine," I mutter, allowing Fungus to pull me to a stop as one-eyed Doom turns his sharp eye away from me and disappears into the hallway. Once he turns the corner, Fungus and I resume our walk out of the classroom. Suddenly, I realize why Fungus doesn't want me talking to Doom. Turning to the smaller red monster with an insulted look on my face, I point out, "You think that Doom would beat me up in a fight, don't you? I'm not that powerless, you know. I could take him on."
"Pardon me for saying this, but that is not a good idea," Fungus shakes his head at me vigorously, his words polite as always despite the amount of emotion behind him.
"And why is it not a good idea?" I ask, daring Fungus to call me weak until I realize there's another reason why Doom and I shouldn't get into a fight. Frowning, I answer my own question, "Because fighting is against the rules here. Right. Okay, you win." Fungus sighs with relief and then tries to pull me to a stop yet again. Getting a little exasperated with all of this stopping and starting by now, I jerk my head downward to look Fungus full in the face, asking, "What now?!"
Apparently, my change in demeanor frightens Fungus because he flinches away from me and stammers meekly, "Well, I...I just wanted to point out that the computer room is the other way."
"Computers? What do computers have to do with anything?" I ask Fungus blankly before realizing what Fungus is trying to say. "Oh, I get it. You have computers instead of gym, don't you?"
"Yes. Computers are on Mondays and Wednesday," Fungus says, looking at me out of the corner of one of his eye. "You don't have computers next?"
"Nope, I'm stuck with gym. Guess we're gonna have to split up then," I point out the obvious since the computer classroom is on the opposite side of the school than the gym. "I'll see you around."
Fungus looks tempted to follow me despite the fact that he doesn't have gym class next, so I quickly step forward through the crowd and let myself get swallowed up by the swarms of monsters flooding this way and that. I appreciate Fungus' loyalty, but I don't need an escort. I will admit that I'm dreading gym double the amount that I was dreading it before. Without Fungus around, I'll be the only geeky misfit in the entire class. If we have to have partners, something that happens a lot in gym from what I hear, I'm gonna end up all alone or with someone like Wazowski.
If doing well at the university and achieving top grades was not so important to me, I would have ditched gym. Unfortunately, both things are important to me and so I resign myself to trudging down the hall to the elevator and hesitantly sealing my doom by pressing the button that will lead me to the floor the gym is on. I've been to the gym once before because that's where the scare program tryouts were held. At least I won't get lost trying to find the place.
As soon as I've stepped out of the elevator and have rounded the corner, I am almost immediately swallowed up by a large mass of students all moving in the direction of the gym. It definitely looks as if this is going to be a very large class. I allow myself to get herded along until I reach the locker room. The first time that I saw the locker room, I thought that it was much too big. Now, I think that it is much too small. Everyone is pushing and shoving in an attempt to find an empty locker. I stand back from the fray and run my eyes over the lockers until I spot an open one not all that far away from me. Dodging monsters here and there, I slip through the crowd and press myself up to the locker to keep from getting trampled while I cram my school supplies into the locker.
Suddenly, a familiar voice speaks in a loud voice from behind me, "Did you see that look on Randall's face earlier? I think that he was going to try and hit me if you hadn't interfered. Why'd you have to ruin it, Sulley? I could have gotten him dismissed!"
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