A/N: I'm grateful for all the reviews, we're writing as fast as we can. Well. We're writing. And that's the important part. So, hopefully you'll enjoy. Leave us a review, each one just makes our day. Ava let me peek in her closet, and Carter's still there, wrapped up like the best Christmas gift ever. I'm insanely jealous. Well, maybe "wrapped" isn't exactly the right word. Partially wrapped...it looks like she took an early peek at her present.
Disclaimer: We don't own RFR or any characters (or actors). This is all make-believe. But oh, what a fantasy world to live in...
The students in fifth period health were looking anywhere but at Mr. Wexler's beefy hands as he clutched an infant-sized doll by the neck with his fist. Ray gazed out the window longingly, and Robbie read a magazine hidden inside his notebook. Even when she craned her neck Lily couldn't see what Travis was scribbling in his notebook. She stared at the back of his head and drifted off into an all too common daydream about the two of them walking through the park, holding hands. Travis led her to a secluded corner of the park she'd never seen before, where he had a romantic picnic set up for her. He gazed lovingly into her eyes and told her she was the only girl for him.
When the real Travis turned around and whispered, "Hey, Lily...Lily?" she snapped out of her reverie.
"Huh?"
That endearing smirk crept across Travis' face as he asked, "Not listening to the exciting lesson, huh? I would have expected that from Ray, but not you, Lily."
"Oh. Well I...um..." she couldn't think of an excuse to save her life - or think of anything intelligible at all when those mysterious eyes were focused directly on her.
"I just wanted to borrow a pen, mine ran out of ink." He shook it twice for effect.
Lily reached into her bag, producing a simple, black Bic. She only nodded when he said, "Thanks, Lil," before turning around.
Frowning, she wondered when she had let Travis get so deep under her skin. It seemed like he was all she thought about these days, all she wrote songs about anymore. After last year when they shared that kiss, she thought she had moved on from her hopeless crush on Travis. During the summer after freshman year the four Radio Free Roscoe DJs had all gotten closer as friends - even Travis and Ray. When Lily started her sophomore year she relied on her friendships with all three boys; she surmised that it would only unnecessarily complicate everyone's lives to try and become more than friends with any of them. But these feelings for Travis were a serious threat to her resolve. She sighed and finally looked away from Travis' broad shoulders, her eyes moving back to the front of the classroom.
Ray snickered as he finished scrawling a note to his friends. He passed it back to Robbie who clapped his hand over his mouth to hold in the laughter. Robbie held the note out to Ray, who nodded to his right. Passing the note to Lily, Robbie signaled for her to show Travis too.
She unfolded the scrap of paper and poked Travis' left shoulder with the covered nib of her pen. He turned and looked down at the note. Lily read it at the same time.
Guys - check out the CPR dummy, one of her boobs is missing!
She's only got one foot, and I think her head is about to fall off.
As soon as they finished reading the note, Lily and Travis looked at the dummy lying prostrate on the classroom floor. Sure enough, one of its feet was gone, and one side of its chest was visibly more flat than the other. Travis raised his eyebrows at his friends, and when he looked back the head of the practice doll had snapped off. Robbie had gone back to his magazine, and Ray was looking for something in his backpack. Mr. Wexler looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed as he struggled to reattach the head. Travis and Lily burst out laughing at his efforts.
Looking up with narrowed eyes, their health teacher pursed his lips. "Do you think this is comical, Mr. Strong? Ms. Randall? Do you find the lacking budget at this school to be a joke?"
"Certainly not, Mr. Wexler," Travis answered respectfully. Lily shook her head, agreeing with Travis.
"Good. Please try to pay attention to the CPR lesson, not the issues with poor Caroline here," he gestured to the now defunct mannequin.
Mr. Wexler looked around and sighed. He started the basic adult CPR lesson from the beginning. "So first, you call for help or have someone nearby dial the paramedics. Then..."
At that point Lily stopped listening, she looked down and drew spirals around the design she had made in her notebook earlier. A minute later Travis made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat, and Lily looked up from her notebook. "What?" she whispered.
Travis rolled his eyes. He hesitated, then explained, "He doesn't know what he's doing. He didn't even mention checking the throat for anything that might obstruct the airway."
"Seriously? Well, I don't think anyone's exactly taking notes on this."
Mr. Wexler suddenly stopped and stood up, glaring at the two of them. "What is so important that it needs to be discussed during this crucial lesson?"
"Well, you -" Travis began, but stopped when Lily shushed him and smacked his arm. "Oww, Lily, what, do you think I'm Ray or something?"
"I told you to pay attention! This is a life or death technique I'm teaching up here!" Mr. Wexler's eyes seemed to shoot death arrows at both of them. Somehow he said this without losing his temper, but he did get the class' full attention.
"Really, Mr. Wexler, I would pay attention but it wouldn't help anyway," Travis began.
"I do not appreciate being disrespected, Mr. Strong." His voice began to get angrier by the minute.
"But you're skipping steps! You have to check the -"
"What makes you think you're qualified to be correcting me?" The scowl on their teacher's face was positively menacing. Now the entire class had turned their attention to Travis.
He glanced around the room once and continued, "Well, I've been CPR certified in three different countries and actually performed it once..."
Scoffing, Mr. Wexler stared at the teen. A slow smile spread across his face. "I see, Mr. Strong. Well than I have just the job for you. Tomorrow after school there is to be an extra-curricular CPR class for students not taking health this year. You seem to be a perfect candidate to teach it. Unless...you wish to fail health this quarter?"
Travis knew this was unfair, and probably technically against school regulations, but he grumbled and accepted the task. At least some Roscoe students would learn proper CPR techniques this way.
Mr. Wexler clapped his hands with glee. "Excellent! It's in the cafeteria, at 4 P.M. sharp. Oh, and Mr. Strong? Be sure to bring someone you can demonstrate on, Caroline is about to be retired."
The bell rang, and Mr. Wexler smirked as the students filed out of his classroom. That same satisfied smirk stayed on his face for the rest of the school day.