Chapter 4.
Danny walked to school, ok more like he limped to school, glad for once that Sam and tucker weren't around to ask any questions. It hurt to move, to walk, and to breathe. His life seemed dark and dull, yet he was alive and for that he was thankful for.
The first thing that he did when he arrived at school was to place his very well constructed mask of lies on. And to walk very slowly so as to not cause too much pain.
After stopping in advisement for his new schedule, he headed to his first class of the day. Math.
He sat there and listened to the teacher explain what they would be learning this year and then proceeded to work on the review of last years work. Since neither Sam nor Tucker shared math with him, he wasn't distracted and asked questions. By the end of first period he felt like he could fly. He finally understood what was going on in math.
Throughout the day all his teachers took notice of his increased attention span and how much effort he put into his work. They all hoped that it would last.
Sam and Tucker were only in two of Danny's classes Gym and a new elective on Human Relation. They didn't even share the same lunch. But Danny was beyond fine with that. Maybe this year he would be able to pull up his GPA.
The day was all most over with only two periods left and he should have known that it wouldn't last.
Dash hadn't made any attempt to cause Danny bodily harm even though he was in over half of his classes. Sixth period was Mr. Lancer's elective class.
The class filed in slowly, reluctantly. Everyone was sharing his or her wonderful exciting summer vacations. Well, almost everyone. Both Danny and Dash entered silently and alone and took their seats quickly.
"Settle down class," Lancer began the class, "Well since you are all so intent on hearing what your neighbor is saying then you should enjoy the only project that we will have for the whole year." Some groans were heard but many looked at it as being the only project. "Let me give you the full detail of what this project will entail. You will be working with a partner, I will be choosing the pairings." This time the whole room was over powered by the groans of unhappy students. Lancer was notorious for pairing up the most unthinkable people. "Your task will be to get to know your partner. You will learn what makes them who they are and what makes them that way."
"This project will count for half your final grade and it will go on all year. The last week of school you will each give a detailed report on your partner. You will also write a paper on your self. That is how I will grade you at the end of the project, by the similarities in your reports."
The class could do nothing but sit there in stunned silence as Lancer continued to dish out the projects details. "You will all take notes on your partner and keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings through this project. Mondays and Wednesdays will be partner ones turn to share and Tuesdays and Thursdays will be partner twos turn. Every Friday I will come around and check your journals, not read them. Only your partner can read them. And you will inform me of your progress."
"Well since that's finished let's start the pairing. When I call your name please move to sit next to your partner, keep in mind that these will be your permanent seats and partners will not be changed. Okay, Paulina and Tucker, Sam and Quan, Dash and… Danny."
Both Dash and Danny sat up straight and stared at Lancer as if he had grown an extra head. Indeed, the whole class seemed to think Lancer was off his rocker for that last pairing. Everyone then turned to see what Dash and Danny would do. Nobody moved and the only sound was Lancers voice drifting off when he noticed his students were distracted.
"Class! What seems to be the problem?" Lancer asked in frustration. Quan was the first to recover his voice. "You just paired up Dash and Fentonia," still in disbelief. "They will, well, Dash will kill Fentonia before the weeks end." Quan laughed in anticipation, while many others simply nodded in agreement. "Baxter! Fenton! Get in your seats now and let me finish." Lancer steamed.
Dash was the one who finally got up and moved next to Danny, Who could only sit in shock of how his day could go from good to miserable so quickly. Lancer finished naming partners and gave them there first assignment. "Everybody turn towards your partner. If I called your name first for the pairing then you will go first today. Just introduce yourself, full names, and talk about your family." Lancer instructed then moved around the room to monitor progress.
Danny and Dash sat there for five minutes without looking at each other before Lancer yelled at them to get to work reminding them that if they failed this project they would fail the class. No extra credit.
Dash finally began. "My name is Dash Alexander Baxter. I have an older sister, Kate, who is a psychologist like my parents. My father has in office in the next town that he and my mother run together. They hope that I will become a psychologist like them, but I really don't want to." Through his little speech, Danny wrote down the whole thing. As Dash finished his last sentence the bell rang signaling the end of the period.
"Okay class, tomorrow will be your partners turn to talk. Have a nice day." With that said Lancer released them to there next class.