Better Life
By: Lilly Blitz
Chapter 3: Professor Aurion
If Lloyd had talked to Genis at the end of school instead of lunch, he would have given a different answer.
English was, just as he thought, easy. The class was spent reading and then answering a few questions. Lloyd could have fallen asleep if he wanted to. Unfortunately, the bell rang and his would be nap was interrupted.
He was able to find his last class, Chemistry, easier that his Calculus. He had gotten Genis to tell him where his English and Chemistry classes were. He stopped by room 116 and looked at his timetable, making sure he was right. He was and he made to enter, but someone was entering at the same time and they collided.
Lloyd reached for his textbook and was thinking of what he would be yelling at the person when he noticed who it was. It was Colette.
"Oh! Hey Colette," Lloyd said, feeling slightly awkward.
"Oh Lloyd!" she exclaimed, picking up her textbook. "I'm really sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!"
"It's okay," Lloyd assured her. "I wasn't really paying attention either." He gestured to the class. "You taking this class too?"
"Yep!" Colette smiled. "It's my favourite class! Professor Aurion is so nice to me!"
Lloyd just nodded and followed Colette inside. A lot of other kids were there already, all getting out lab equipment. Lloyd raised an eyebrow and turned to Colette. "What's this?"
"We're doing an experiment today," Colette replied, putting her books down. "Don't worry, the experiment is on page 24. It's really easy."
Lloyd hoped she was right and took a seat on the other side of the room. The girl beside him smiled and asked if they could be partners. Lloyd was surprised, but nodded. "But why ask me? I'm new."
"Which is why I want to be your partner," she responded. "You'll need the help. Even though it's easy, the professor is really picky to detail and he doesn't cut new kids any slack."
Lloyd didn't like the sound of that, but helped her take out the equipment. He glanced across the room and spotted Colette. It looked like there was no one who was going to be her partner. That upset Lloyd and he was about to go and ask Colette if she wanted to join them when the door open.
Professor Aurion was not what Lloyd would have expected as a science teacher. He was a tall, young man with hair quite similar to Lloyd's, only it was a red shade and his eyes were a light brown. He was wearing a lab coat.
"Good afternoon class." His voice was quiet, but it commanded a lot of respect. "I want you to start the experiment as soon as you can. It should only take 45 minutes, then spend the rest of the class working on the report. Mr. Irving, I'd like a quick word with you."
Lloyd had no idea what the professor wanted, but complied with the request. Professor Aurion was looking him over.
"You're new here, but I'm sure you can catch on quickly. The experiment is an easy one. Just make sure you talk to a few of the others after to catch up on what you have missed. I'll be coming by to check that your experiment is going well."
Lloyd didn't know why, but the teacher's tone sent a wave of dislike through him. But he nodded and said, "Yes sir," before heading back to his spot. His partner was looking at him with interest.
"First day and he's already given you a talking to."
"Not something I wanted," Lloyd muttered, grabbing a lab coat from the wall.
The experiment was a simple one. They simply had to add hydrochloric acid to different metals and record the reaction between the two. Lloyd and his partner had decided to take turns adding the acid and recording. Lloyd's partner went first and he watched, the pen poised. It was really easy.
When it was his turn, however, Professor Aurion came off to take a look. Lloyd was about to add the acid to a magnesium strip when he heard, "Mr. Irving, you are about to add too much acid."
Lloyd almost dropped the dropper. Professor Aurion was giving him a look. "You need to pay close attention to detail, especially when using acid." He turned to a different pair.
Lloyd scowled at him. "What's his problem? It's diluted. It's not that deadly."
His partner just shrugged. "Professor Aurion is always like that. He just wants to make sure we pay attention to what we do."
Lloyd grumbled slightly, but put the excess acid back into the beaker.
If it had only happened once, Lloyd wouldn't have been too upset, but it didn't happen once. Every time Lloyd would be the one adding the acid, Professor Aurion would be waking by, giving him rather unwelcome advice. After the fourth time, even Lloyd's partner was looking shocked at the professor's attitude.
"That's not like him; he doesn't do that. And that last time shouldn't have made a difference!"
Lloyd felt miserable; the teacher was already out to get him. He didn't like Chemistry to begin with and this guy was making it worse. Maybe he'd switch classes?
Lloyd looked up from the observations; his partner was adding the acid to copper. He saw Colette writing on a piece of paper, all her equipment gone. His mouth nearly dropped. She was already done!
He looked at the copper, than wrote down the observation. "Colette's good at Chemistry, huh?"
His partner looked up at Colette. Her nose wrinkled. "Yeah, she is, but that's because she's a teachers' pet. No one wants to be her partner; I certainly wouldn't be."
Lloyd glared his partner when she wasn't looking. If he was still in this class, he would work with Colette. She seemed pleasant, what was everyone's problem?
Finally, they were finished and Lloyd started on the report. He looked at Colette, only to see she was looking at him. She blushed, but grinned and waved a little. Lloyd grinned as well, but that was all. He didn't want Professor Aurion to get on his case anymore.
He had gotten a little over a quarter done when the bell rang. Before anyone moved, Professor Aurion stated, "Reports will be handed in day after next. Marks will be taken off for late ones. Have a good day."
Everyone stuffed their things into their bags, Lloyd being one of the fastest. He didn't want to stay any longer. He was one of the first out the door, but not before he noticed the teacher giving him a strange look. Lloyd had no idea what that look could mean, but at the moment, he didn't care. He just wanted to get home.
"So, how was school Lloyd?"
Lloyd was helping Dirk get dinner ready. Neither men were great at cooking, but they got through. Lloyd placed the chicken on the table and went to grab plates.
"It wasn't bad. But why did you make me take Chemistry, dad?"
"Because if you have Chemistry, you have more opportunities in this world. The class can't be that bad."
"The class isn't the problem, it's the teacher. He has it in for me already and it's only the first day."
Dirk gave his son a searching look. "You didn't do anything, did you Lloyd?"
"No," Lloyd said, getting a little defensive. "He just kept pointing out every little mistake I was going to make, even though some others were making bigger ones than me."
Dirk couldn't say anything to that. Some people could be extremely unfair, even the teachers. "Well," he finally said, "all I can say is try not to let him get to you. I'm sure he'll lay off you soon."
"I hope so," Lloyd muttered.
"Well, besides Chemistry and the teacher, how was the rest of the day?"
Feeling a little better, Lloyd recounted the rest of his day. If he thought about it, the day wasn't bad, it was just the last class and the teacher. Besides, he had met a lot of interesting people and that was better than anything he could think of.
A/N: Sorry for the wait. But when you have spring cleaning, the flu and you have to fight for writer's freedom of speech, time does get taken up.
About the couples. Lloyd/Colette is going to be one, but it is one of the only ones that will be given. I want you, the reader, to vote for or against Sheena/Zelos and/or Genis/Presea. The story can work with or without those relationship, but I want you readers to pick. And if there are any other couples you can think of, let me and I'll see. There will be a couple others that I need in a realtionship, but other than that... Oh, and no pairings with Kratos. He has to be alone for this story. Sorry
Onto the reviews!
For my last two reviewers: Remember, patience is a virtue. I'll keep writing, but it will take time. Thank you for hanging in there. (I'd actually put the names, but symbols don't show up. So for all you anonymous reviewers, pleae don't put symbols in your name! Thank you!)
Mandy: Thank you! And I will try.
Dracobolt: Thank you for pointing that out! I will make sure I do not make those mistakes again. And hope you like this chapter.
Lord Cynic: Hehe, I don't think Colette could make a hole in the floor, unless it was shoddy work. Thank you for the review!
Hope to see you next time and I hope you all enjoy!
