The Season of our Discontent
Author's Note: This is an Andrew story, with everyone else thrown into the mix, because I love throwing everyone else in when I can. In a couple of the story's Andrew's mom underwent a slight spelling change on her name, which leads me to wonder how exactly I intended to spell her name in the first place. If you notice me spelling it differently from one chapter to the other… sorry! This story takes place at the same time the Horizons story ended off, just so we know what time of year it is… figure mid April.
Disclaimer: I only own those characters I personally made up, and am not making any money off this – although I did get a package of hob nobbs from someone – and a lot of postcards!
OOOOOOOOOO
"Andrew? Could you tell me what the variable in problem 12 is please?"
Andrew Stephens looked up from the doodles he was making on the scratch paper everyone else was supposed to be using to figure out their math problems, and took a quick glance at the page and the problem in question.
"Fourteen."
"Correct."
That didn't surprise anyone in the room – including the teacher. Andrew turned his attention back to his doodling, and ignored the whispers that were coming from beside him.
"Who is that kid?" This was from the new guy that had transferred in the day after Spring Break.
"Andrew Stephens," came the whispered reply. This was from one of the girls that had known him most of her life. "He never gets the answers wrong."
"Wow…"
Yeah, yeah. He was a genius, wasn't he? Yippee freaking skippee. Never gets a wrong answer, never makes a mistake…
Andrew sighed, and crumpled up the paper he'd been drawing on. They were wrong, really. He'd made several mistakes; the biggest being when he'd decided to return to school instead of joining Shawn Adams at the Air Force Academy. Shawn had friends. Shawn had challenging classes. Shawn had a very cool roommate – had even had two up until a couple of months before. Shawn even saw Jack O'Neill and the other members of the SGC more than Andrew did.
Of course, at the time he'd had to decide, Andrew had been afraid. It'd taken him a long time to actually admit that to himself – and he'd never admitted it to anyone else – but he had been. He had been fifteen – a year older than Shawn had been, but he was all of 5 feet 6 inches tall and was lucky if he weighed a hundred pounds. He had been intimidated by the thought of being in a school filled with adults only. Even though they were only a few years older than he was, the difference was obvious, and when Shawn had asked him to join him when he'd accepted the early enrollment, Andrew had shaken his head and said that he'd think about it – and hadn't. He hadn't even discussed it with his mom and dad.
He'd just shrugged it off, and now he was paying for that. His classes were terrible. He hated them all. They were boring and easy and he never missed a question no matter how little studying he did. If not for the fact that he had to keep his grades excellent – because he was going to go into the Air Force Academy the next fall – Andrew would just wad up his homework assignments and throw them away without bothering to do them.
Andrew was aware that he was probably just going through the whole I'm sixteen years old and I hate my life stage. The problem was… he was sixteen years old, and hated most aspects of his life.
If not for the lessons he had with the Asgard every school night, Andrew was fairly certain he would have gone mad a long time ago. The Asgard lessons were interesting – and although Mrs. Keller looked a lot like Thor a far as he was concerned – none of his teachers were anything like the little gray alien that had been teaching him about technology and biology and all sorts of history for the last few years. They were challenging and interesting, and he wished that his real schoolwork was as interesting.
"Andrew? What did you get for 18?"
He turned his head at the whisper. Jared Sink was another kid who'd known Andrew for most of his life, and he wasn't above asking for help now and then. Well, not really help – it was more like cheating – but Andrew didn't care. He looked at his paper. He hadn't written anything down yet, but he'd finish before everyone else, anyways. He looked at the book, and did the math in his head.
"Four hundred and seven."
Jared nodded, and went back to his work, content in the knowledge that he'd get one problem right, anyways, and Andrew gave another mental sigh.
The only good thing about the day so far was that he was going to see Teal'c that afternoon. Visits had been rarer and rarer as time had passed, and Andrew understood that things were hectic at the SGC – Thor had told him that Sam and Shawn's former roommate Ian had been taken prisoner by some system lord, but had managed to escape. And Sam had had her baby. A boy, just like Shawn had said it was going to be. Andrew hadn't seen the baby, yet, although Sam and Jack had both called him and invited him over. Andrew hadn't wanted to impose.
He liked Sam and Jack – God, he loved Sam and Jack – but he knew what a hassle a new baby could be, and he didn't want them thinking that they had to invite him over. He'd made up an excuse and promised he'd come see the baby – Jake – another time.
But today, he was going to have a chance to see Teal'c, and maybe he'd have a chance to see if the Jaffa wanted to spend a little free time that weekend with him – maybe they could even do some self-defense classes. Teal'c had been teaching Andrew basic moves whenever the two of them had a chance to get some time together, and Andrew thought the moves were pretty much the coolest thing ever. He never needed to use them – no one at his school hated him enough to pick a fight with him – but he always dreamed that some day he'd end up in the middle of some huge brawl and end up wiping the floor with those around him.
"Thirty minutes left…" The teacher announced, drawing Andrew's attention back to reality. They'd been doing an impromptu quiz – not something Andrew was all that worried about since Thor and he and Shawn had covered Algebra back when he'd been 12 – but Andrew knew he needed to get started n it so he'd have something to turn in. Had to keep the teachers happy, after all. Had to keep everyone around him happy. No matter than he was about as miserable these days as he could be.
He picked up his pen and looked at the first problem.
OOOOOOO
"Ian Brooks…"
Ian looked up from his book and saw Teal'c standing by the table he was sitting at. The Jaffa was looking down at him with a slightly annoyed expression on his normally impassive face, which made Ian wonder what he'd done to piss him off.
"Yeah?"
"Are you occupied?"
He shook his head.
"No. Just reading a textbook for next year – if I decide to take the class. Did you need something?"
"Indeed. I am scheduled to meet with Andrew Stephens, and my car will not start. The motor pool corporal says they will not get it running until tomorrow."
"You want to borrow mine?"
Teal'c smiled, and shook his head. It was a nice offer, but he didn't like driving all that much, and Ian's convertible had a lot more horsepower than he was used to.
"I was actually wondering if you would be willing to give me a lift…? If you are not busy."
"Sure, Teal'c," Ian said, closing the book and standing up. He'd love a chance for some fresh air, and it wasn't like they needed him around here – he was just killing time. "Where are we going?"
"McKinley High School. Do you know where it is?"
Ian nodded. He'd seen it a couple of times, and knew he could find his way back.
"Sure."
"I was to meet Andrew there and take him to get a meal before taking him home – if you do not mind?"
"Not at all – I'm always up for a burger or something." And Fraiser was still trying to fatten him up.
"Thank you."
"You sure he won't mind me tagging along?"
Teal'c shrugged.
