Chapter 6. Disclaimer is in Chapter 1

Jarod made a joke about the mating rituals of the praying mantis. He'd seen it on television yesterday. He already knew of the ritual but this was the first time he had seen it in color, and he couldn't stop talking about it. Parker just stared at him as he rattled off the information. It was just like being kids again. Parker laughed out loud at something he said.

Ms. Parker? Mr.….

" Jarod, Sir" he said politely to the teacher.

"Do you think it would be possible for you and your partner to get started on your lab work." he questioned, bordering on frustration. Mr. Brodick had been working in the school for almost 30 years. He was way overdue for his vacation.

" We're done." Parker said.

" You're not done. I assigned this lab 10 minutes ago. So unless you both settle down, that's a zero for today.

" Jarod seemed to sink farther into his seat.

Parker rolled her eyes at his submission, she reached for the paper then moved her chair away from the table.

"We're not done, Parker." Jarod whispered with a smile.

She stuck out her tongue then headed for the professors desk.

" May I help you Ms. Parker ?" the teacher said not even bothering to look up.

" Here's is our lab work. And we are done." she said, putting it down.

" Once you turn it in. That's the grade you get." he warned.

" Yes sir." she spun around then went to her seat.

" I love proving teachers wrong." she whispered into Jarod's ear as she sat down.

Mr. Brodick picked up the paper and looked over it. Everything was correct, the answers, the procedure, everything. He looked up to meet Parker's smirk from across the room.

They must have cheated. They got the answers from last years students, they got their hands on my answer sheets. Yes, that must be it. he reasoned with himself. The bell rang shattering his thoughts.

" Turn in your labs before you leave. Have a great day. See you tomorrow. Jarod. Ms.Parker, I need to speak to the both of you.

" Jarod, Jarod, Jarod. What have you done this time. Always getting me into trouble." Parker shook her head.

" Me? What did I do? You're the one who couldn't just wait for the bell to ring to turn in our work."

" I'm just saying. You're a bad influence." she shook her head again.

" You may turn in your cheat sheets." Mr. Brodick said.

" Cheating! Sir, I resent that. Cheating is a high offense in this school. Are you accusing us of the heinous crime? She said with her hand on her chest.

" Let's stop with the dramatics Ms. Parker. I've known you since you started here. You've never been in a hurry to do any work. Let alone correctly. Did Jarod do all the work.?"

" I think I've just been insulted Jarod. Why I've never " she continued with her dramatic antics. She smiled at the teacher. Fueling his indifference toward her.

Jarod decided to butt in. Mr. Brodick looked as if he was ready to explode.

" Sir, we finished the lab quickly because we have a thorough understanding of this material. We were basically raised in labs. Experiments aren't new to us." Jarod said sincerely

" I know Ms.Parker. She has no idea what this subject is. I taught her last year." he said.

" We could do the lab again if it'll put your mind at ease." Jarod offered.

" What? No!" Parker chimed in. " We did the lab just like everyone else. We did not cheat. I don't think it's fair that we have to do this stupid thing over again." Besides, who gives a crap about his peace of mind. she thought.

" Another lab sounds just fine to me." Mr. Brodick said. " Sit away from each other."

" No. It's Friday. I want to go home" Parker said.

" You're in your senior year Ms. Parker. You can't afford to start of the year with bad grades." he said

Parker huffed loudly then found a place to sit away from Jarod. Why did he have to offer a replacement lab.

Mr. Brodick handed them the papers then as they solved the problems. They were both done after about 10 minutes. Parker a little behind Jarod. Parker handed the paper to the teacher then walked out of the class.

" She's just having a bad day." Jarod made up an excuse for her. He stood there waiting for him to dismiss him. Sydney had told him to mind his manners. He wouldn't want him to be disappointed.

" You may leave." Mr. Brodick said.

He hurried after Parker. She was sitting on top of car waiting for him.

" I almost left you." she said

" No you didn't. You couldn't."

She laughed. " Aren't we sure of ourselves." she slid off the car. "Get in. I have a dinner to go to, so we only have 2 hours to hit all the good spots in this crazy town."

It was a little town outside of Ireland. Everything there was built for them, the students in the boarding school. Their parents didn't want them to be isolated. As if that wasn't the reason for putting them here in the first place. They visited all the quaint little shops in a square. They had everything from movies to a sword fighting classes.

They spent a while in the café as Jarod downed almost 50 dollars worth of pastries. He had to try everything. The best part of the square was coming around. Candy shops, Bakeries and Arcades.

Wallace pulled up next to them on the sidewalk.

" Your diner is in 10 minutes Ms. Parker." he said

" Oh. We have to go." she said. Jarod emitted a whine. He really wanted to go into the candy store. He couldn't even remember the last time he had had one.

" We'll come back later." she said as she pulled him into the car.

Parker said goodbye to Jarod as they got to her house. She tapped on the window in the front. " Please take him home." she said then ran off to change.

" I'll be back in 6 minutes. Be done." Wallace yelled after her.

He dropped Jarod off then went to pick up Parker.

" Jarod!" Mrs. Brannon called as he neared the pool house.

" Hello Ms.Brannon" he responded with a smile.

" Come and have dinner with us. There's plenty of food." she said

" I'll be right there. I have to get a change of clothes."

" Don't worry about it, please. Come on." she said

Jarod walked into the house. The father smiled at him, but the smile never reached his eyes. He was probably just being nice to please his wife. Lucas on the other hand didn't even pretend to hide his dislike toward him. Jarod smiled at the both of them then found a seat at the far right corner of the table. Lucas eyed him warningly. There was an empty seat to his left. Someone was coming to dinner. The door bell rang.

Lucas got up. Jarod broke into a smile as he saw the person walk in.

" Parker."