A/N: Okay, so! First off. I'm sorry this took me a week to update. I think it did. School's been a major pain and I am really just about done. Well, more than just about, I AM done. But, whatever. It'll be alright in the long run. I hope. Thanks to my reviewers, you all rock my socks off! Ponytail30527, Knockknocktimerico, and Soothesayer16! ... Am I forgetting anyone? No. I don't think so.

P.S. : This chapter is dedicated to Kowalskiluva11, who left not one, not four, but SIX reviews in hopes of getting the next chapter up. That made me smile. So, here's your wish, and thanks for all the reviews!

Chapter Six: School Day, School Day

Elli was the first to wake up that morning, excited to go to school. She wasn't as much of a brain as Athena, but school was always fun. Speaking of the genius... She was curled up on her side of the incubator, murmuring softly. A devious grin worthy of Marshal crossed her face and she tip-toed over ot the other side. She leaned over to hear her roommate better. "Heh... heheheh..." More giggling... then--! "No... you're cute! ...No, you're right... I am cute. Oh, Cube... tell me more about my eyes..." She hummed a little then turned over, her beak almost hitting Elli's. Her eyes shot open and she gasped, scooting back. "Elli!? Wh-what are you doing there, you startled me!" She yelled, her feathers ruffled.

By now, all of the penguin kids were awake, their parents woke up long ago. The sneaky smile Elli was sporting was giving Athena an uneasy feeling.

And she wasn't sure why. Until she said something. "Did you know you talk in your sleep?" As Marshal hooted with laughter, Athena felt her face drop.

She knew that she was dreaming, and she clearly remembered that dream. She loved that dream. She never wanted that dream to end. ...She also never wanted anyone ever to know about that dream. "H-h-how much did you hear?" Elli shrugged her shoulders and subtly flicked her head toward the boys. "Take a hike!" Athena yelled, startling both boys and Elli. This dream must be really important to her, she thought as the boys left. Then Athena rounded on the younger penguin.

All at once everything came flooding out. "And I didn't mean to hear it... well, I did, but I'm... I... I..."

Elli's eyes began to water a little and Athena just tilted her head back and sighed. "Elli, it's okay. I'm not mad." The tears cleared up real fast (Athena had to wonder if she was faking it.) and Elli sat, closely and quietly, to listen to her friend. "I just.. don't get it. It's illogical and confusing. And yet..." A sigh escaped her beak, one she didn't mean to really do. But she ignored it, hoping Elli wouldn't catch on. (She did.) "Every time I think about him, I feel like..." She searched for the right words, but the only thing she could get was... "I feel like I have to throw up. But in a good way." That didn't stop the little bird next to her from looking severely disgusted.

"So that's what love feels like? Throwing up in a good way?" She didn't mean to say love, it more or less slipped out. Athena either didn't notice, or was acting like she didn't notice.

Either way, it went uncovered. "I don't know! It's just... really, very confusing right now. Maybe I should talk to my dad about it?" But the thought of having any sort of relationship conversation with her father was more or less disturbing. The same feeling of dread and embarrassment filled her when she thought about talking about it with any of her uncles. "Wait... what about Miss Marlene!? She's a girl!" Elli stared at her, the statement she just made was obnoxiously obvious. "I mean, of course she's a girl, but she's been in a relationship before! And if she's not constantly flirting with Uncle Skipper, I'll eat Alice's socks." She looked over at her friend, who was starting to turn a sickly green. "Sorry. The point is, she'll understand! I'll talk to her really quick before school! Thanks for the advice, Elli!"

As the tall penguin rushed upstairs, Elli brushed herself off. "So... love feels like throwing up, and then you act like that? I am NEVER falling in love." She vowed, leaving to find the boys.

In the otter habitat, Cube and Peanut were getting ready to go to school, the former more excited than anything to actually be going somewhere where they could teach him things he didn't know before! How much better could it get? His mother smiled down at him before looking at his younger sister. She was still asleep, snoring hard. 'I knew I shouldn't have let her stay up with the penguins.' She thought, as she tried to wake her up. No avail. Marlene left the cave for a second, a large cup in her hands. Cube looked at his brother inquisitively, receiving only a shrug in reply. A few seconds later she came back in, holding the same cup. Taking her time, and Cube barely realizing what she was going to do before she did it, she slowly tipped the cup over...

Aaannnndddd--

"WAAAAAAAAHHH!" A drenched, cold, upset and choking Roz sat up, looking for the culprit. When she realized it was her own mother, she looked hurt. "Mooom! REALLY!?"

She stood up and shook off her fur, giving her mother time to explain. She wasn't waking up and they were going to be late for school. At this, Roz laughed. Animals didn't have school, especially her. But after a very stern look... well, that changed really quickly. Gritting her teeth, she shoved the boys out, claiming she had to get ready. And after they got outside, Peanut noticed something peculiar.

Something he either didn't pay attention to, or honestly didn't think to look for. "Hey, bro?" That felt funny, saying it to someone who was actually his brother. The otter nodded, even though he was washing his face, to show he was paying attention. "What's up with the gloves?" Cube jerked, as if he had run out of energy and stopped what he was doing. Oh yeah. Those things...

It was only a matter of time that those came up, best to get them out of the way now. The taller male stood up and sighed. "A while back... sometime after our dad died... I was in the lab... and I shocked myself up pretty badly. The worst were on my paws and forearms. They were nasty, lemme tell ya." He didn't go into detail (Thank goodness, Peanut thought), but the younger otter got the idea. "Even after the scabs went away, the scars remained... and... I wear these, so no one has to see my mistake." His voice was so serious, Peanut got lost in it, and didn't even realize himself asking his brother to see them. Just as he was about to take it back, his brother flexed his fingers slowly, and clutched the opening of the glove. "This isn't pretty." He said simply.

Behind the pair, Athena was hiding, watching, listening... waiting.

The glove slid off easily, and Peanut gasped, loudly enough to mask Athena's own shrill noise. Marks from the shock clutched his paw and forearm, as if they were still trying to pull him away somewhere. Small patches of fur were trying to grow back, but not succeeding very well. He held his hand up to the sun. "This is what I get for trying to play Frankenstein." He muttered bitterly. Peanut thought about this for a minute. After his dad died... Did he really try to do what he thought he tried to do!? Cube read the look on his face like a billboard. "Yeah. Obviously, it didn't work, and I had to give up... Just... Don't tell Roz. She doesn't know. It's better that way." Athena turned away, back against the rock now, heart thumping like mad and breath coming in short gasps. It was a minute before she ran back home.

He was a genius. And he was really caring. And really sweet. And really kind. And... She really felt like she had to throw up.

But in a good way.

Quickly and quietly she slipped back into her home, not sure why she left there in the first place. "So what did Miss Marlene say?" Elli asked. Athena looked over at her, very confused. Her mind was elsewhere. "About your... situation." She whispered, trying to keep it away from the boys... mostly Marshal. Thinking back, Athena was finally able to remember. She was supposed to talk to Marlene about relationships. A shy smile curled her beak, and she shrugged. "Athena... You didn't talk to her, did you?"

In her defense, it wasn't her fault. "I... got distracted." Her voice told Elli that she was hiding something, but she didn't bring it up, since the boys (Marshal) were trying to listen in.

The four penguin chicks climbed out of their headquarters, looking for their friends. As soon as Elli saw Nellie and Lily, she rushed off to catch up with them. Prince J.J was racing to school with Maurisa, a little bit slower than usual, since he was stranded last night for so long and therefore, still very tired. Marshal looked around for Eggy as Lucky appeared, Buttons sliding off to meet up with him.

When he finally DID see Eggy, he was surprised he was... so tall. No, it wasn't that, Eggy was on Peanut, who was very tall. Wait... Apparently, Eggy and Peanut AND Cube had formed a totem of themselves, and were trying to walk to school that way. Marshal whooped and rushed over to them, trying to see if he could join. "Yo! Marshal, jump on!" As Cube tried to protest, Marshal climbed up and over, surprisingly not as heavy as Cube thought he would be. Still, having three animals on your back can be a bit of a chore. He struggled through it as best as he could, before noticing Athena was watching. The very second she waved, he threw everyone off of his back and ran to catch up with her. "Is it bad when you can't feel your leg?" Eggy asked, still a little dazed.

He heard a sigh from somewhere beneath him. "That's MY leg! And if you could stop fondling it, that would be great." Marshal growled. After untangling themselves, they noticed they were being watched by a (finally) clean Roz. She was grinning knowingly, at them, and then at Cube and Athena, who were walking to class together, talking up a storm, probably about fusion or fission or something else scientific sounding. Once the boys got up, they looked over at Cube and Athena too, and as they walked to class (Roz with them, since she didn't know where she was going.) they did what most boys their age do: Mock the boy in love. Roz was with them in doing it, but when their conversation reached a lull, she had to ask.

"Don't any of you have girls you like?" As if a gun went off, Marshal yelled and denied having any feelings for any girls whatsoever. Of course, this made everyone around him suspicious, instead of convincing them of the opposite. "Marshal... If you like a girl, it's okay. You can tell us. We'll only rip on you a little."

The other boys laughed and the four finally reached the class, waving a friendly hello to Phil and Mason. Roz smiled. She liked those chimps, they were funny and smart. When she turned back to the guys, Marshal had rounded on her, angry, obviously, at what she had said before. "I do not like anyone, Roz. What," He smirked before he could stop anyone. "Are you looking for a boyfriend?" Eggy and Peanut laughed harder and Rozalin rolled her eyes.

Just before she was about to say anything, she heard a voice from behind her and cringed visibly. "Oh, I doubt that, as Roz already has a perfectly magnificent boyfriend, who is not you, and is me." Marshal's jaw dropped, not sure he heard correctly. Roz and J.J.? Together? J.J tried to drape his arm around her, but she moved away quickly, letting everyone know she wasn't with him. Her head whipped to J.J and she started to hiss more threats. "Please, Roz." The Prince gave her the hand, and she leaned back sharply, mostly out of surprise. "You're already going to break my arms and legs if I ever did talk about that hugging, what else could you do?"

Roz groaned and smacked her forehead, the three boys around her laughing loudly. "Worst. Day. Ever." She grumbled, before making her way to an empty chair. The girl looked over at her brother, who was in a heated discussion with Athena over... atom smashing. Trying to hide a loud snicker, she turned in her seat. They really were perfect for each other. Two geeks in a pod. Class started, and, to her displeasure, J.J took the seat right next to her, trying to scoot it over as closely as he could manage.

School progressed, and activities and problems were done. Both Cube and Roz struggled with reading and writing, partially because they couldn't that well, and because... well, writing is hard! Learning just wasn't her strong suit, Roz decided, after spelling cat with a "K". And an "E". She pushed the misshapen letters away from her and looked over at everyone else. They were breezing through this, she noticed. Even Marshal, whose face was scrunched up hard in concentration, was doing better than she was. As soon as class was over, Roz felt more relieved than anything. And knew that as soon as she got home, she was going to curl up in a ball and cry. It was on her to-do list. She buried her head in her arms as Mason got up to the front of the class to make an announcement.

"Okay, class. Three things. One, no homework until Thursday." The area erupted with cheers and yells, and J.J even stood up on his desk to start dancing! "Yes, yes, learning is terrible, and a pox on those who make you do it at home." Mason said sarcastically. The class settled down and he continued. "This is due to number three, but we'll get to that in a minute. Two, for extra credit," All eyes shot to Athena, the only one in the class who actually ever DID extra credit. Though... it appeared the penguin chick wasn't paying attention, choosing instead to doodle and write on a scrap piece of paper. On the other hand, Cube, who was seated in front of her, was sitting up at full attention, ready for any extra credit. "This week, and next, we will be studying space. A constellation we will be studying will be directly overhead, and so, in celebration of this once in a lifetime experience, we will grant extra credit to anyone who can find, name, and sketch this constellation." The class turned back to Athena, who... still wasn't paying attention. Nellie tapped Elli and pointed to Athena, then raised her eyebrows, asking without words what was wrong with her. A simple head nod to the otter boy in front of Athena was the only answer.

"Finally, number three, and probably the most important this week... On Wednesday night, we have decided to allow you students to put on a talent show, for the rest of the zoo." Both Mason and Phil covered their ears, smirking knowingly. A louder, even more zealous burst of noise came from the class this time. All at once, the students began to chatter about talents they had. Nellie, Lily, and Elli discussed something about a fashion show, Prince J.J was trying to convince Maurisa and Roz to get on stage to dance with him, and even Marshal, Eggy and Peanut wanted to do something. Mason raised his arm to get everyone's attention again. "So, if you have a talent you'd like to share, you can sign up in the back after you are dismissed. Class won't be held on Wednesday so we can set up. Uhm... yes, Cube?" The otter had his hand up since he said the word "share".

Turns out that Cube felt he had no sharable talent, but still wanted to help work lights and audio stuff. Mason turned to Phil, who shrugged and signed something. "Of course, Cube... I suppose our technics could use some... fine tuning." In truth, neither Mason nor Phil were planning on HAVING audio or lights. Thank goodness for small miracles.

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Next Time on Geeze Doumani

Why aren't we in this story, Buck?
I don't know, Jack. It's like the author-lady hates us.
I think that's it. I think the author-lady hates us.
Why do you hate us author-lady?
Yes, why?
Do enlighten us.
I don't know how you guys got in here, but... leave. Because you're annoying.
But... We love you. Right, Jack?
Or at least, we love your character. (Looks over at Roz) How you doin'? (Roz glares at them, a clear look of disgust on her face. J.J appears, insulted. "Hey! Do not be hitting on my girlfriend!" He receives a sharp punch in the arm. "That was sweet, but I'm NOT your GIRLFRIEND!" She edges away from all of them.)
You guys... Look, if you're going to be in here, you need to say what happens in the next chapter, okay?
I'll tell you what happens. We're not there! Happy?
Nice, up high, Buck!
Down low, Jack!
Ugh. This is why I DO NOT work with squirrels.
Is that why? Because your discriminating against us? (Roz rolls up pretend sleeves and looks at J.J., ready for a fight. "Shall we?" He doesn't want to get in her way, so he cracks his knuckles too. "Yes, let's." They start to close in on the squirrels.)
See you next time! Well, not Buck and Jack, because... Well, yeah.

Please review, and maybe we'll see them again. Heheh, I'm just FULL of ultimatums, aren't I? :D

A/N: Okay, so I don't think I'll try the "X Reviews = New Chapter", so I'll just say this: The next chapter will be up after American Thanksgiving. Since Canada had Thanksgiving a while ago, and I respect that. Go Canada. So, see you next time, and... yeah. Thanks for reading! HAPPY THANKSGIVING URVRYBODY!