I know I know you guys are about to kill me for not updating for five freaking months but before you do that, read the story first because I reserved a HUGE apology in the end. XD

Go on!


Chapter 4: Playing with Chemicals

The view below was familiar, especially with that very familiar yellow building and the very familiar flagpole that stood within it.

Southdale Jr. High. The Clarks were back.

After changing from their teenage-disguises, the four middleschoolers left the WOOHP jet with their feet now stepping on the solid ground. The trip from Michigan was pretty quick which was just great because they didn't want to enter the school again only to be greeted by deserted hallways, or worse, by a hallway monitor or even worse, by a teacher, and much worse, by Principal Shields. However, the trip went too quick that they didn't have time to send their clues to Jerry. So as the four of them went their separate ways in the hallway, Marc rushed to his class, slinging his bag over his back which had the packet of used tissues and the test tube of clear trophy substance inside.

"Nice for you to join us, Mr. Clark," Mr. Pipette said to the boy who didn't even bother to look at him when he entered the Science lab. Marc went straight to his seat on the second row and once he sat down, that was only when he answered with a "Sorry, Mr. Pipette."

Mr. Pipette went on with whatever he was telling the class as Marc breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey, Marc. You alright?"

Marc turned to his left and met the blue eyes of his redheaded partner. As usual during lab class, her red hair was tied in a single braid that lay over her right shoulder, over the lab gown she wore. Her lips were curved into a smile but her eyes, that met his, carried a slight hint of worry.

"Yeah. I'm fine," he replied, returning his breathing rate back to normal. He didn't realize his chest had been heaving up and down faster than usual because of his running across the halls. "Just got back from finishing some business with my siblings. Haha."

She no longer looked worried and the smile remained in her face. "Oh, your siblings. I think they're cool."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

"I don't know, but people say that I always think that way towards people with siblings. You know me, being an only child isn't fun at all. Besides, I think you're cool so I think your sibs are too."

Marc turned his look away just in case his cheeks had decided to become pink. "Oh..yeah…well having a room all for yourself does seem like a lot of fun though," he said, fixing his bag on the table.

"And having to play videogames against the computer all day? Not really," she joked as she fiddled with the empty test tubes on the tube rack.

"Hehe." Marc got tongue-tied again, like he always does when he's in the middle of a conversation with Sel. He unzipped his bag on the table to get something out of it although he didn't really intend to. "So, did you try the Bunsen burner yet?"

Celine stopped it with the test tubes and looked at the lab apparatus like it was some destructive device. "Haven't laid on a finger on it," she answered.

Marc chuckled. "Come on, it's not that dangerous," he said and he reached for the Bunsen burner. "This part right here is the..." he started, with Celine standing right beside him listening attentively.

As soon as he finished another one of his informative lectures with Celine, he met her eyes again, this time hers was filled with combined sparks of interest, curiosity and amazement. "That's interesting," she commented before staring at the burner like she had found something new to play with.

As Marc watched her become entertained, he couldn't help but thinking that there was something he should be doing. Something he should ask Celine. And it hit him.

"Umm…Sel, can I ask you something?"

"Hhmm?"

"Well, you know that dance on Friday—"

"Alright, class." Mr. Pipette stepped away from the desk and started down the aisle. "Today, we'll be observing chemical reactions and its effects on the molecules…"

Both of them had turned their attention to the teacher that Marc didn't get to finish what he was supposed to say. Because of his normal urge to take notes, he zipped his bag open again to get his pen but as he did that, the spy clues slid out from his bag. Quickly, he inserted the pack of tissues back into the bag, and held the test tube when…

"Mr. Clark, what do you have there?"

Mr. Pipette stared at Marc who was still holding the test tube.

He began to stammer but Mr. Pipette quickly took the test tube - which was the clue sample - from his hand.

"I know that you've most likely done an advance reading on this, Mr. Clark, but don't start doing experiments on your own without my permission," he said, bringing the clue sample to his table and setting it down along with the other tubes. "You can't always be sure what's contained in the containers in this lab."

That's exactly what I'm afraid of, Marc thought, now concerned for Mr. Pipette and everyone else in the laboratory.

"Know-it-all," said a voice from the class. Tami. Marc purposely forgot that she was in this class too and he was willing to forget it again, especially now that he had a bigger problem that was currently in-progress right in front of him.

"Where-?" He heard Sel say beside him. He saw her looking at the test tube rack, the one that she was playing with a while ago, and then she looked back at Mr. Pipette.

"Everyone, listen to me carefully so you won't end up dealing with the wrong tools and chemicals. The first thing to do…" Mr. Pipette started as he picked up a beaker.

"It's okay," Marc whispered to himself, his hands pressed flat against the table. "As long as he doesn't mind it, we'll all be okay."

"Marc?" Celine was holding the beaker.

"Oh yeah. Right."

They continued like any other Science class; following Mr. Pipette's instructions and getting to experience handling those laboratory equipment and substances. Every once in a while, when they looked at Mr. Pipette to hear his instructions, Marc would always focus his eyes on the test tube on the desk. The clear substance in it remained unknown to him and it disturbed him.

What is it? What is it called? What does it do? What is it used for? How was it used against the two scientists? What kind of evil scheme is this substance being used for?

He didn't like the feeling of not knowing. If only they had given the samples to Jerry for analysis while they were still in the jet, then he would have known what it was. Then he wouldn't have to bring it in school and he wouldn't have to worry about it getting exposed like this.

"Just 20 ml, Marc," chuckled Celine.

Marc stopped pouring right away. "Sorry!"

"It's okay," she said, unfazed. She took the beaker and started to pour the excess onto another glass as Marc looked back at Mr. Pipette's desk again.

"I didn't know you had your own chemicals to bring to class," Sel said.

"Huh?" His attention went to her. "I didn't really—"

"Class, turn your eyes over here." Mr. Pipette was starting one of his demonstrations again. "When you've done the mixture, put it on the Bunsen burner for heating. Pour a whole tube of water in it so it can aid in the heating and in the mixture's viscosity," he explained, staring intently at the bubbling liquid. He continued to talk and stare at the mixture as his hands reached for the container of water.

That was when Marc gasped. He stared at Mr. Pipette's hand that grabbed the test tube containing clear liquid.

But it was his test tube. His clue!

"Mr. Pipette, that's not—"

The teacher didn't hear him over his own talking. He removed the cork and acted to pouring the unknown clear liquid into the—

"No!"

Marc dashed to the front. Mr. Pipette was adjusting the burner to a higher temp when Marc came and flipped onto the desk and whisked the test tube away from the teacher's hand. He stood on the desk, smoke from the experiment rising to his clothes and face. He coughed. The smoke spread to the whole lab.

Mr. Pipette was shocked. "What on Earth are you doing, Mr. Clark?"

Marc jumped down from the table. Smoke continued to fill the air. "You got the wrong test tube, Mr. Pipette."

The teacher looked down at his desk and there, along with his other test tubes, where he expected, was his test tube containing the clear harmless water.

"Oh, yes." He pulled it up. "Well, thank you, Marc. But what's that?" he pointed to one in Marc's hand.

"No idea," Marc answered and it was true. "So umm… how's the mixture?"

Mr. Pipette bent down to observe the mixture. "There's no noticeable chemical reaction. It seems stable. It has a funny smell though."

Marc quickly pocketed the test tube before Mr. Pipette ordered him to go back to his seat. His classmates, including Tami, shot him weird looks as he made his way back beside Celine. Meanwhile, Celine had been wearing a mask over her nose and mouth and was removing it when Marc sat down.

"That was close," Marc whispered to himself again. He felt his pocket and slid the test tube out, just enough for him to see its contents. The clear substance that once filled it now only filled one-fourth of it.

I hope it's still enough for WOOHP to analyze.

He slid it back to his pocket. He looked back to Mr. Pipette in front and to the mixture being heated on the desk.

No chemical reaction. No changes. No nothing. Nothing terrible happened. No mutant effects, not even putting people to sleep.

His mind wasn't on the lesson anymore.

What is it?


- end of Chapter 4 -


I didn't expect this part to be this long so I had to split it into two chapters. I thought I can post two chapters today like I did last time, but alas, I cannot. /3

Now on to the apology...

GUYS I'M SO SORRY FOR DISAPPEARING FOR FIVE MONTHS. I didn't expect school to make me that busy. Turns out, this was my busiest semester eveeer. T_T I had time to come here every once in a while but only to read and review and reply to PMs, but to write? No it's difficult especially since we have to be in a good mood, in a creative state of mind, in a condition filled with inspiration and other requirements in order to write in peace. I promise I'm not gonna disappear that long next time. Maybe just four months. Haha just kidding! But really I'm so sorry.

And I'm sad too because I really missed you fanfiction people! :D When school gets me down, I just come here and read your stories, reviews and messages and bam I'm already happy. People at school are all study-study-study-study, it's repetitive and tiring but when I come here, you guys look like pure fun and happiness! Yay!

Okay, apology done. Hihi. I'll post the next chapter really soon, as in it won't take a month! Maybe just two weeks at most. *wink wink* In the meantime, I'll leave this chappy to you. Err the truth is I have no idea what to think of this chapter.. -_- although I loved writing this because Marc's the only spy here hihi

I wanna hear from you guys! Please review. Idk if I should even ask for reviews because I haven't even thanked you enough for the reviews you've given! I guess you don't deserve just an apology but also a massive thank you! Really thank you!

MAN I TALKED TOO MUCH AGAIN. I just missed being here with you guys. 3

Will be back real soon~~

-Kimmy!