Author's note: Don't have much to say about this chapter, but anyone who knows me well will understand the list of boys' names :D

Rimmer fidgeted with his tie nervously. It was his first day as a professional teacher. He knew all the girls would be in there, but he didn't know if that was going to give him support, or just make him more nervous.
"Good morning, class," he said shakily.
"Good morning, Mr. Rimmer," the class chorused. Rimmer smiled a little; so far, so good. He caught Gemma's eye and she grinned at him. He took a deep, vitalising breath and picked up a piece of chalk.
"Today," he spoke as he wrote 'Class R' on the blackboard, "We won't be doing any work."
The class cheered happily.
"We're going to take out a day of our timetable to get to know each other. So everybody up on their feet and move the tables and chairs to the edge of the room."
The class proceeded to do so. During the commotion, Gemma managed to snatch a few seconds alone with Rimmer, "You're doing great!"
"I know!" Rimmer agreed, without modesty, "Look how enthusiastic they all are!"
Gemma smiled and touched his arm for support before Bex thrust a chair in her hands, "Help us, then!"
Gemma took the chair to the other side of the room whilst Bex spoke to Rimmer, "Laura isn't here."
"What?"
"She hasn't turned up!"
"Why?"
"I don't know," Bex thought hard, "Maybe it was because of that Greg guy."
"Ah…"
"What's the deal with that?"
Rimmer sighed and began to explain, "Well, for Laura's birthday, Nicole thought it would be a good idea to invite Laura's ex-boyfriend along."
"Oh, I see."
"Bex!" Liz called, "You complain that Gemma isn't helping, then you bunk off yourself!"
"I'm coming!" Bex called back.

Rimmer sat at his desk whilst the remainder of the chairs and tables were stuffed to the sides in deep contemplation. He hadn't been able to tell Bex the full extent of the situation with Laura and Greg. Now she had completely the wrong idea. Oh well, Rimmer thought, Maybe later.
Seeing the tables and chairs all stacked up, Rimmer called the class into a circle.
"Now, we're going to go round the circle saying our names and one interesting fact about ourselves. For example, my name is Arnold Rimmer, and this is my first year of teaching. Gemma?"
Gemma, who was sitting next to him, cleared her throat, "My name is Gemma Adler, and…and…"
"Your mum is going out with the teacher!" a boy yelled out. His comment was revieved by several cheers and laughs from the majority of the class.
Rimmer and the girls, however, remained stony-faced.
"That's enough," Rimmer said sternly, "Perhaps you'd like to tell us your name?"
The boy who had made the comment stood up, "Certainly. My name is Omigalinini and I'm an alcoholic!"
Again, the class burst into peals of laughter. Rimmer calmly stood up and fetched his register. He ran his finger down the list of names, calling out any boys' names, "David? Christopher? Jordan? Thomas? Dennis? Patrick? Michael?"
To each name, the boy replied 'no' until there was only one boy's name left, "Tony, please sit down."
"'K."
Tony threw himself to the floor and sat completely still.
Gemma mouthed the word 'hyperactive' to Rimmer who had to bite his lip to stop from laughing.

"Excuse me," a voice came from the door where a fairly short girl with mousey hair was standing, "I think I'm supposed to be in you're class."
"Excellent! What is your name?" Rimmer asked.
"Steph. But everyone calls me ZK."
"OK, well, you're just in time. Come and join the circle, we're learning everyone's names."
ZK smiled, put down her bag and sat in the circle.
Just as Bex was about to give her name, Laura appeared in the doorway.
"Sorry I'm late, sir," she said monotonously, "I had some problems at home."
"That's OK, Laura," he said softly, "You're here now. Join the circle with us."
Laura sat down and rested her head in her hands.
Rimmer tried to continue with the lesson, but was distracted by Laura's unusually less-than-enthusiastic mood. He set trust exercises to the rest of the class and led her over to a corner.
"I want to say I'm sorry about Greg."
"Fine. I accept your apology," Laura said, though her voice was monotonous and she was avoiding his eyes.
"Laura, I really am-"
"Whatever!"
Rimmer was taken aback; he wasn't used to hearing her talk like that.
"If Gemma and Nicole just…" Laura began, but faltered, "Oh, forget it."
"No, what?" Rimmer said eagerly, "If Gemma and Nicole what?"
"If they could just understand! I don't need an apology, I just need them to understand what he did. That would be as good as an apology. Because I know they'd feel as bad as I do."
"I can talk to them," Rimmer suggested.
"I thought you'd never say that!" Laura cried, "Praise be to the Lord!"
Rimmer laughed, "I think Michael over there is without a partner," he said with a smile, "Why don't you go join him?"
"Yeah, he's cute," Laura said, the sparkle slowly returning to her eyes.
"When I say 'partner'…"

A/n: Any more intrigued, Laura? Heh. Well…I'm STILL not gonna tell ya :P