(Lunch Time)

The cafeteria turned to be the most crowded place in school where most of the students flocked together and took their meals. Steve and Bucky spent a long line waiting for their turn to take their food. While they were in line, they spent talking about the class earlier.

" Hey, Punk, " the brunette boy called him." What's the matter with you? "

" What do you mean? " his blonde friend asked.

" Like, you spent daydreaming about Nancy in class, " Bucky shrugged.

" Oh, that… "

" You really like her do you? "

Steve blushed harder than ever and saw his friend grinning. This time, silence visited him for the second time. Bucky waited for his friend to respond and snapped his fingers.

" Hey! "

" Oh…" Steve got surprised and became oblivious. " Sorry, what was your question again? "

" I said, did you really like her? "

" Y-yeah, " he nervously nodded. " S-she's a g-good friend to me. Nancy has been so nice to me. She's too gifted in music. I like her a lot. "

" That's great to hear, " the brunette boy smiled. " Don't worry, no one knows you like her. I can keep that secret. "

" Yeah, thanks a lot! "

" Next! " the cafeteria lady called the next student.

Now, it was their turn to get their food. Steve and Bucky looked nervously at the middle aged woman who served the meals to them. She was a red-headed one with a stern set of blue eyes, frowning at them. The two friends wryly smiled as their response and took their meals. Steve and Bucky went walking around the place where the most of the tables and chairs had been occupied.

" Oh, crap…." Bucky sighed and muttered while holding the food tray. " The seats are already taken. "

" Now, what? " Steve asked.

" We have to wait for the next vacant seat."

" Right. "

The two spent waiting and searching for the possible seat and table. They found nothing since most of the students had occupied them. Steve looked at the two seats from a distance and turned to his friend. He saw a vacant table with four seats where the teachers had left.

" Bucky, we have found one! " the crippled blonde one pointed out.

" Heh, finally. We have more space! " Bucky exclaimed.

The two had quickly taken the corner and begun eating. They never talked while eating which they thought of the time rushing to the next class. After they ate, Steve and Bucky rushed to the hallway, thinking of not getting late for the science class. Without notice, they accidentally slipped on the wet floor and fell down. The other students turned their attention to them as they laughed. The brunette boy and his blonde friend became more embarrassed than ever. Bucky managed to stand-up and helped his friend getting up and taking their belongings.

" Oh, crap…" Steve anxiously muttered. " We didn't notice that. Now, our clothes are wet! "

" Yeah, Bad luck…" Bucky sighed. " Nevermind, we have to get inside before…." He looked around as the others entered the classrooms and closed the doors. " Now, another bad luck…."

" Right…"

The two turned to their science laboratory and gently knocked on the door. Finally, it was opened as their teacher sternly glared at them. It appeared to be a balding man in his late forties with a moustache. Steve and Bucky became more embarrassed than ever. Despite walking and slipping on the wet floor, they turned out to be late in class again. Their classmates laughed at them as the two bowed in shame.

" Steven Rogers and James Barnes, " he called their names. " You two are late. "

" We're sorry, Mr. Edwards, " Steve humbly said. " We…."

" I don't need more explanations from you both, " Mr. Edwards seriously answered. " All I want is to begin with this class. Then, you gentlemen may take your seats. "

" Yes, sir, " Bucky nodded.

The two friends took their seats as Mr. Edwards began discussing the human body and its functions. The other students got bored in listening except for Steve who was intently hearing and taking down notes and sketching about the internal organs. It took minutes into an hour for him to finish the lesson.

" Do you have any questions? " he asked.

" None, " they answered boringly.

" Next week, we will begin dissecting frogs as a lab experiment. "

The rest became disgusted upon hearing the taking frogs when they exchanged glances and murmured. Some got interested in the activity. Steve raised his eyebrows in doubt as he had never heard of making animals as lab experiments. Bucky remained silent and became uncomfortable for another science activity.

Mr. Edwards turned to his students and looked at them curiously.

" Is there something wrong, class? " he asked.

" Sir, is that a good idea to study frogs even, we're learning about the human body? " Steve broke his silence as the class turned their attention to him.

" As you see, the frogs have the same function as human beings, we have to learn their organ system. "

" Okay, so what will happen if we study them? "

" I will give you instructions in dissecting a frog. Understood? "

Steve felt hesitant in the science activity and remained silent. He was uncomfortable to see how a four legged amphibian would suffer and die in a science experiment inside the school. Then, he looked at his teacher when he had no choice but to do it.

" Yes, sir. "

" Good, see you on Monday class. "

The rest of the students had left the laboratory and headed to the next class. Bucky became more concerned at his friend. He wanted to find out why Steve was bold enough to speak in class.

" Steve, are you okay? " he asked.

" I don't like the activity tomorrow, " his friend sadly sighed. " Seriously, are we taking down an animal's life for real? "

" Hey, we're on the same page, too, " Bucky gently patted his friend's shoulders. and joked. " Maybe, we can skip class and join Nancy and her friends! "

" I'm not sure though…"

" Okay, what triggered you about that? "

" Well when I was a little kid, " Steve recalled. " My parents and I visited at

Central Park. We used to walk around the place when I found a frog in the corner. I asked my parents if I could keep it as a pet. So, they allowed me to have it. "

" Wait, what?! " Bucky got shocked to hear at his friend's story. " I didn't know that! No way! "

" I kept a pet frog for some time and took care of it. Then, I felt sad when it died. "

" Oh, I understood now. So, you love animals, right? "

" Yeah, after that, I took care of dogs, cats, and then some goldfish."

" Well, that explains it, " Bucky smiled and turned to the other door. " The art class is next! We need to get hurry. "

" Got it! "

In the art class, Steve began sketching his pets in the sketchbook after the teacher discussed the lesson about lines and perspective. He was finished in doodling the dog. Then, he was about to work for the cat when the class ended. The art teacher reminded them to continue the work for next week as they left the classroom. Walking around the corridor, Steve and Bucky joined with the students leaving the school.

" Steve! " a girl's voice echoed.

The crippled blonde boy turned around as his brunette friend poked at his shoulder. It was Nancy who smiled and greeted him. Steve smiled back and blushed to see her.

" Mind if I join you guys in walking home? " she asked.

" Sure, " Steve nodded and asked. " Where are your friends? "

" They just have left earlier. "

" Sure, you can come along with us, then. " Bucky answered.

" Thanks! "

The dark haired spectacled girl joined the two boys in walking. They had fun in talking and going on their way home.