A/N: This is all for now, so you better make it last...

ENJOY!

Chapter 4:

Professor Z was startled when the door to his class opened and Principle Durst marched in. Her face was pale, splotched red in places. His students had looked up from their assignments, relaying what they learned from the slime experiment. They watched as she quirked her head at Z, motioning him to the door. He started over, staring at her questioningly.

"Class…keep working," he called distractedly over his shoulder, as they disappeared into the hallway, "Can I…help you with anything, Principle Durst."

"Professor Zachary," Durst started, her voice a whispered hiss, "As you are well aware, Mr. Pearson has been very interested in the events that happened in the science lab last week."

"As well he should be," Professor Z returned, "A sudden explosion like that at a school he funds is going to be very…"

"Cut the crap, Zachary," Durst interjected and Z flinched, startled by the outburst. He'd never heard the principle use such vulgar language before, "You and I both know that we each know that there is more to that event then either of us is letting on to the other." Surprisingly enough, Professor Z understood that statement, "I think it would be in both our benefit, if you told me exactly what happened over the course of those days Lucas was…"

"Out of commission?" Z offered. Durst gave him a curt look and he shrank back, clearing his throat, "Principle Durst, what is there to explain? I've already told you everything that you already knew. Lucas was fine, he arrived back at the school from the hospital…"

"We both know he wasn't at the hospital!" Durst snapped. Professor Z gave her an amused innocent look.

"But where else would he be?" he questioned, then slyly, "I wouldn't think you'd send a student in that condition anywhere but the hospital…"

"Professor Zachary," Durst hissed, "I know you may think this is a grand game, but I will have you know that both of us are under Mr. Pearson's scrutiny! I don't doubt he suspects we are co-conspirators against him," she was wringing her hands now, obviously under a great deal of stress, "Our jobs could be on the line here, Professor!"

"Don't you think you're overreacting…?"

"I am dead serious. If you won't help me for yourself, then do it for your student," Principle Durst said between clenched teeth, "Mr. Pearson has something in mind and I don't doubt it spells some sort of trouble for Lucas and at the heart of the matter, your entire Science Club." Professor Z felt his heart quicken, but took a deep breath of resignation.

"I'm sorry, Principle Durst," he told her wearily, "But I've already told you everything I can." The elderly woman pursed her lips, jutting her chin out slightly and straightening her blouse.

"As you would have it, professor," she jeered, "Just keep in mind, there will be repercussions for your choice to retain any information. If you do, however, change your decision, I will be in my office. Get back to your class." She turned on her heel, marching down the hall with a determined stride. Professor Z watched her leave with his heart pounding in his chest. So Victor was up to something. He didn't doubt it spelled trouble for the entire school.

-00000-

Corrine found Marshall in the school darkroom, luckily before he'd begun anything. She slipped in and he glanced at her briefly, not even bothering with a greeting or acknowledgment of any kind. She sighed, taking a few tentative steps forward, and standing patiently with her hands behind her back. She watched as he shuffled through his different canisters of films in silence. She tapped her foot then, placing her hands on her hips.

"Are you not talking to me either?" she demanded, throwing her hands in the air, "I'm sorry, alright?"

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," Marshall told her, without even looking up. Corrine rolled her eyes.

"You think I should be talking to Josie," she guessed.

"Or even Lucas," Marshall offered bitingly. He paused from his shuffling, finally meeting her eyes, "You know, for someone who spent most of the day on her high horse talking about how she didn't want to see people hurting her friends, you sure are doing a lot of hurting…of…your…friends." He shook his head, furrowing his brow and turning back to his film canisters. He had yet to bother even turning the red light on, he seemed to just be fumbling aimlessly with the film, "What's your problem, anyways? Lucas said they had a great time on their date."

Corrine sighed, twisting a bottle of developer so that it's label faced outwards and fidgeting somewhat.

"I…don't know," she admitted, "Something about this relationship just…I don't know. I want to be happy for them, but for some reason…it just doesn't feel right to me."

"You sure you're not jealous?" Marshall questioned.

"Jealous?" Corrine scoffed slightly, "What would I be jealous of?"

"Right," Marshall agreed uncertainly, "It's not like you…like…Lucas." He peeked at her nervously and she seemed to have frozen at that, her eyes wide.

"Me…like Lucas," she mused, then broke into laughter. Marshall breathed a sigh of relief at first, but caught himself. It was his friend, after all, that she was laughing at. She waved her hand in front of her, trying to suppress the giggles and Marshall couldn't help but smile slightly, trying to force a frown of disapproval, "Don't…get me…wrong," she gasped, "Lucas is great…but…he's just…he's Lucas."

"Yeah, well," Marshall mumbled, "Maybe Josie doesn't feel the same way about him. Didn't you talk to her at all after their date?"

"Yes," Corrine muttered, her voice low and resentful, "I got all the gory details."

Marshall shook his head before flicking the light switch. The room darkened and was glossed with a red hue. He picked up one of his film canisters and began the process of developing it, all the while continuing talking to Corrine.

"I for one think Lucas deserves this," he was saying, "Finally having a girl…after Katya…" Corrine raised an eyebrow. Katya had been a pretty exchange student that Lucas had developed a crush on. After an embarrassing first talk, and then a genome mix-up with black hole written all over it, they seemed to have hooked up. At least, for a short time.

"Katya? What does she have to do with anything? I thought things went well between them?"

"Which must be why she's hanging on the arm of that muscle head, what's-his-face," Marshall muttered, "You know, she really did a number on Lucas."

"Really? What happened?" Corrine asked, interestedly. Guiltily, she thought, she hadn't even noticed how things hadn't taken off between Katya and Lucas. In fact, she'd almost completely forgotten about Katya, or the fact that Lucas had attempted courting her. It just seemed normal, Lucas not having a girl around him.

"I don't know. Lucas never really talked about it," Marshall shrugged, "He just moped in our room for a few weeks and worked on that gravity sensor device of his…"

"I didn't know…"

"Well, yeah. You don't have the insider scoop, like I do. Don't have the privilege of living with him and being his best friend. But you know, even then…when he was crushing on Katya, there was still Josie. She's just always been the one for him, the unattainable," Marshall went on, "And after all this time…all the time I had to listen to him moan and groan about how 'of course she's going to choose Vaughn, guys like me never get the girl'…all the time he was up until three in the morning working on his inventions and devices that he could never get to work…all the time he kept me up until three in the morning working on his stupid inventions…finally, he gets the girl. Why are you trying to ruin it for him? For both of them? You know, Josie almost started in with the girl-gossip with me! Do you know how traumatizing it would have been if I'd had to listen to her talk about her feelings towards my best friend? Have you any idea the repercussions?" He turned, reaching for the developer and meeting her eyes, "No, you don't. Because if you did, you would have apologized to Josie already. Or just…not said anything to begin with."

He went back to his film and Corrine lowered her eyes. She was mulling things over in her mind. She knew Lucas had a thing for Josie, she just didn't think it was that serious. She didn't notice how Marshall had paused, slowly turning back to her. She was shaking her head, lips pursed.

"Uh…Corrine?" Marshall started and she looked to him questioningly. His eyes were focused on her own, "Since when are your eyes…green?"

"My eyes aren't green," Corrine informed him angrily, assuming he was making the same jab Josie had in science class. He followed her as she shook her head, never taking his eyes off her own, his face a bit stunned.. She stopped, frowning, "Right?"

Marshall went to turn on the light, forgetting the film he had developing and looked back to her. He furrowed his brow. Turned the lights off again. Then on again. Corrine raised an exasperated eyebrow at him but he paid it no mind. His mouth parted slightly.

"Corrine…you have glow-in-the-dark eyes," he informed her. She stared at him unbelievingly.

"Marshall, that's not funny," she told him steadily.

"It kind of is," he grinned, turning the lights on and off again, "This is so cool…"

"Marshall," Corrine snapped, then pouting somewhat, "You're serious?" He nodded, still flickering the switch on and off. She scowled at him, rushing to the door, "We have to go to Professor Z."

Marshall rushed to follow as she tore down the hall, nearly bowling a few students over in her rush. They flung the science lab door open and let it swing shut behind them. Professor Z stopped, as he was busy collecting the papers from his last class, readying to grade them. He looked questioningly to the two out-of-breath teens.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Marshall reached over and turned the lights off, Corrine's eyes faintly illuminated green. They heard the sounds of papers scattering to the ground. Marshall turned the lights back on and Professor Z was standing amidst his dropped papers staring in shock at Corrine.

-00000-

Lucas sat in the Rec-room, hiding behind a book he'd picked off the shelf. Most of the jocks were outside, training and practicing. And most of the girls were out watching them. But it didn't change the fact that people were still passing by him making jeering comments and seemingly focused on leaving him miserable or regretful of the relationship he was trying to make with Josie. He just wanted to yell at them, "what does it matter to you what's going on with Josie and me? None of you know anything about it!" But he'd never exactly had any skills in the 'sticking up for himself' department. It just brought him back to wondering how a girl like Josie could bother even associating with a coward like him.

Josie would never hesitate to say something challenging to people who were picking on her. She would stand up and stick her fist in their face, threaten them probably, and there would be no doubt that she would follow through. It was one of the things he liked most about her. Her strength. And her smile. And the way she explained molecular deconstruction. Now that was hot. He smiled a bit goofily at that thought. It quickly faded when a weight plopped down on the couch beside him. He lowered his book and turned, finding himself looking at Vaughn, who was doing a very good job of looking intimidating. No doubt he got that from his father.

"Can I help you?" Lucas questioned, rather snidely. Somehow he had a feeling whatever Vaughn wanted was not a good thing. Ever since science class, Vaughn had been sending Lucas dark looks. And now, there was that scary twitch in his cheek, just below his eye.

"When were you going to tell me about your date with Josie?" Vaughn demanded. Lucas sighed, closing the book and laying it on the arm of the couch. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Vaughn, you and I aren't exactly best buds," he calmly pointed out. Vaughn shook his head.

"But we are friends," he replied haughtily, then muttering under his breath, "At least…I thought we were."

"Hey, I asked you if it was cool if I asked Josie out," Lucas started.

"That was months ago," Vaughn snapped.

"I didn't know there was a time limit," Lucas scoffed.

"I like Josie," Vaughn blurted out.

"Oh, and I don't?" Lucas shot back, before rolling his eyes and scowling at the other boy, "I didn't tell you because I didn't think I had to. I don't recall needing to keep you informed on my personal life. If you're going to be mad at someone not telling you, then be mad at Josie. She's the one that's your ex, not me."

"We weren't a couple," Vaughn stammered, flushing at that, "We…we were just…we just have a destiny together!" Lucas shook his head, turning back to his book and flipping it open again.

"And you wonder why she went out with me," he muttered under his breath. Vaughn narrowed his eyes at Lucas, bolting to his feet and knocking the book out of his hands.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded, fists clenched at his sides and body tense. Lucas looked up in shock, shrugging.

"Exactly what I said," he answered carefully. He wasn't looking forward to a fist fight of any kind with Vaughn. He sighed, "If you're going to hit me, Vaughn, just do it. Because I can't exactly stop you, and I'm not going to throw away this thing I've got going with Josie because you decided you sort-of-kind-of-think that you might-possibly-want-to-probably have a relationship with her…again!" Vaughn looked to be considering swinging. His eyes were locked with Lucas's, the tension between them was obvious and unsettling.

They both startled when they heard a thud, and then a familiar, "Ow…" They turned, watching Josie with curious faces as she felt along the wall she'd just run into, running her fingers over it and grimacing, "Who put this here…?" She found the entry way and started forward.

"Josie, watch out…" both boys cried, coming forward as she tripped over a potted plant and stumbled to the ground. Vaughn and Lucas were both at her side at once, helping her up.

"Josie…are you okay?" Lucas questioned, and she turned to him.

"Lucas…?" she murmured, reaching forward and lightly running her fingers over his chest. She was squinting her eyes and brought her hands up to lightly trace his face, "I can't…everything's so fuzzy…out of focus…" Lucas looked to Vaughn, who was staring at Josie with concern.

Neither wanted to say anything, but they both knew, and silently confirmed one another's suspicions in an exchanged glance. There was something not right about Josie's eyes. The color was dim. The light that usually shone brightly within them, was going out.

END A/N: Oooooh, the weird stuff has started. Yay! I wonder what will happen next. Oh, wait, I know what'll happen next, I wrote it. Hehehe...

Please excuse any grammatical and typing errors. Please REVIEW!

Thanks for reading.