Detentionaire
Chaz Monerainian #2
Song's point of view.
Math Class Eight-thirty.
Lee and Song sat next to each other in their math class. Lee had been assigned to help Song catch up to where the class was in the text book.
"You call this math? I've done this. In grade eight. Just after we moved to Tokyo." Song said, looking at her math work sheet like it was diseased.
"It's algebra." Lee pointed out.
"It's simple. Little kids could do it in their sleep." Song said finishing her work.
"So, look, there's this whole framed for a prank I didn't do thing, and I need your help for a few days, maybe a week if he turns out to be difficult." Lee began in a rambling manner.
"You want me to manhandle someone?" Song asked with a grin. "Who?"
"Chaz. The guy on the school news. I need him away from the news room long enough for me to go through all their archives." Lee said, glad that Song wasn't going to play games like she usually did when he wanted something.
"So you want me to do what? That decimal place is wrong." Song asked before pointing out Lee's error. "And the ex mathlete has to tutor me?" she asked with a chuckle.
"You're never gonna let that die, are you? All you have to do is keep him busy. Make him think you're his girlfriend or something and pander to his ego. The longer he's gone, the better." Lee said shrugging indifferently. "Just tell me when he's on his way back to the news room, so I can get out of there, okay?"
"Alright, but you know my views on teenage romance, especially with a butt cover like him right?" Song asked, Lee shook his head. "He's a complete moron. And this math is too easy."
"It's advanced and the beginning of the school year." Lee said, Song gave him a look that said she didn't accept his excuse.
"Maybe I should put in to be a tutor. There's bound to be some kids needing help in math or science." Song said.
"Science?" Lee asked.
"You don't think I learned how to make flash fountains from the internet, do you?" Song asked, she and Lee grinned. "That was the best family reunion ever."
"Totally epic. Your grandmother looked ready to kill someone." Lee chuckled.
"She was aiming for Tohjo. No one ever thinks to suspect me for some reason." Song said with a mock sigh.
"Mainly cause Tohjo's been at this longer than either of us." Lee said. "He's a great scapegoat." he added.
"So when do I start with this Chaz guy?" Song asked.
"Soon as possible. And I have to warn you, he's really self-centred." Lee said. "And he's mean to people he doesn't like."
"Most hat racks are, cuz." Song said, dusking her head when the teacher looked their way.
"Okay, you have ten minutes to convince him that you're interested in him…Song?" Lee began before noticing that Song had disappeared when class let out for break. He spotted Song down the hall, her pink and black hair distinguishing her form the other students.
"So, Chaz Monerainian, is it?" Song asked sweetly, making Chaz turn to look at her.
"It certainly is and what can I do for you?" Chaz asked, oozing smarm.
"You can tell me what you use on your hair. It looks just fantastic." Song said, feigning interest. She regretted those words three minutes later.
Eleven-thirty Lunch time, Cafeteria.
"And so there I was, no hair product and about to go on air." Chaz said adding in a false tone of dread. "The school kleptomaniac had stolen my hairspray. Thankfully, one of the football grunts found everything. I made the shoot on time and perfectly coiffed." Chaz continued rambling, while Song sent glare after glare at Lee, not bothering to hide them from Chaz, as he was too wrapped up in telling another story.
"Oh, Chaz, I haven't been to see all the school yet. Why don't you show me around after class? We can call it a documentary and you can narrate it on screen." Song suggested.
"That is a great idea." Chaz said. "A documentary, with me narrating it to new student Song Ping, cousin of the infamous Lee Ping. I'll win a Tazle Trophy for sure!"
"A tazle…?" Song wondered to herself, Chaz was off on another tangent. Song sent an absolutely venomous glare at Lee and was pleased to see him pale slightly and leave the cafeteria. She gave Cam a curious look when Cyrus and his band sat down after Lee had left.
"So, Song, shall we say, three-ten? Outside the news room?" Chaz asked.
"Huh, oh, sure. Whatever you say, Chaz." Song said blankly. Another half hour of listening to Chaz ramble on about his hair and Song was ready to tear hers out. The class bell couldn't ring loud enough. Song went to gym, her all girls class was playing badminton, while on the other side of the gym, the boys were playing dodge ball. Lee looked to have gotten struck out early and was talking to Cam and Cyrus again. Than he was scared by a larger boy Song hadn't met yet.
After gym was home economics. They had to cook a full meal. Song suspected it was for the teacher's own meals.
"Alright students, get into your groups. Today, you'll be preparing a dessert instead of a meal. Miss Ping, you'll be in group six, they're short a member." said Ms. Salvatore. Song joined her group, which was comprised of two skaters, Ned and Ted, the news cameraman, Steve, and Cyrus.
"Hey, Babe, welcome to the team." Cyrus said.
"Finally, a chick on our team. Maybe we'll get a passing grade after all." Ned said quietly.
"What makes you think I know anything about home economics?" Song asked.
"You have to know more than we do. We're all getting an F minus in this class." Steve said, Song winced. "Don't girls like baking with their mothers?"
"I had other things on my mind when I was five." Song said as the teacher handed out dessert options.
"Like what?" Ted asked.
"Like helping my brother set up flash fountains for a family reunion." Song said with a grin. "Did you know that too much flash powder can set your grandma's wig on fire from ten feet away?" That got surprised laughs from the four boys.
Song looked at the list of suggested desserts.
"Key lime pie? Pineapple upside down cake? None of these are interesting at all."
"Got something in mind, Babe?" Cyrus asked hopefully, trying to get Song's attention away from the other boys.
"Look in the fridge and tell me what we have for fruit. You, look in the cupboards and get out vanilla, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and as many food colouring bottles as possible. You two, go look in the deep freeze for anything that looks like dessert to you." Song said to Cyrus, Steve and the skaters, respectively. They all practically jumped to obey.
"Okay, we have bananas, limes, lemons, oranges, apples, grapefruit, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, plums, nectarines, pears…And some weird looking things. What are these?" Cyrus asked holding several odd looking fruit. "And there's like a million pounds of cream cheese in here too."
"That's dragon fruit. Those are lychee fruit, and those are kiwis." Song said, looking over at Cyrus, she was helping get out dry goods and mixing utensils. "You guys are helpless in the kitchen, aren't you?" she asked, just before Ted dropped an open bag of powdered milk on Cyrus.
"What do you think?" Cyrus asked dryly, Song started laughing at him.
"Okay guys, here's what we're going to make. You said there was cream cheese in there didn't you?" Song asked, Cyrus nodded. "Right, we are going to make five different kinds of cheesecake. And here's what everyone needs to do…" Song listed off everyone's part in the making of the dessert. Song helped the boys with their cakes and toppings, as well as making her own. The teacher came by to check on them.
"I must admit, miss Ping, that I am surprised that you managed to get these boys to make something that didn't involve rice cereal or marshmallows." Ms. Salvatore said, as she surveyed the scene before her. All four boys were industriously cooking, or cleaning used utensils. Song herself was trying to get Cyrus' dragon fruit to turn into a topping instead of looking like bad ricotta cheese.
"We'll have to turn it into a cold spread instead of a warm glaze. I've never used dragon fruit before. Why did you choose the most difficult fruit?" Song asked irritably.
"It tasted good." Cyrus said with a shrug. "Besides, you said there's a cheese cake recipe for almost any fruit."
"I didn't think you would choose dragon fruit. Kiwis maybe, not this." Song said.
"Like any guy wants to use something called 'kiwis' or 'leechee'. Cyrus pointed out.
"Any guy should know better than to try and screw with the only person capable of passing home economics for him." Song said pointedly. "Still not past the point of plausible deniability on sabotage, you know?"
"I'll just say that you and I went halves on your cheese cake." Cyrus said.
"The teacher won't buy that. You managed to burn plain water, remember?" Song asked with a superior look. Cyrus grumbled something.
"Fine, is it too late to make up the kiwi?" Cyrus asked with a grating groan.
"Yup. 'Cause the dragon fruit is ready." Song said innocently.
"You don't think she'll fail us for letting you do most of the work?" asked Steve.
"Doubt it. Even getting docked points for one member of the team doing the work, our score should be better than what you'd usually get." Song said as she and Steve took the tray of cheese cakes out of the oven. He had the most experience in the kitchen and was quickly made second in command. Four older sisters was his reason for knowing all this. He also had the steadier grip, having held a camera for most of his high school career. Cyrus had been set to slicing the cold fruit for putting on as garnishing, while the skaters were trying to whip up cream stiff enough to hold peaks.
"So I just place them in circles till the top is covered?" asked Ted, he had chosen lemon cheese cake.
"After you dip the wedges in sugar, and try not to eat them. They aren't candied, just sugared." Song explained as she cut a lemon into the shape of a rather rotund bird. Cyrus had done a very convincing job on his kiwi turtle and Ned and Steve were making miniature flowers out of their apples and strawberries. Song had used three kinds of field berries and had only used cold berries as her topper.
"And that's time!" called Ms. Salvatore, she rang a little silver dinner bell. "Alright class, lets' see what you have done with your time." she wandered around the class room and stopped to inspect each dessert. Two groups had done the same dessert and both managed a passing grade, a third group, that included Brandi, had managed to burn their pie. The fourth and fifth had aspiring pastry chefs and received top marks. Finally, the teacher got to Song and her group.
"I do have to dock points, since you deviated from the set assignment, but otherwise, well done boys, Song. I am impressed." Ms. Salvatore said warmly.
"And they did most of the work themselves. All they needed was a little direction and some hands on instruction." Song said brightly.
"Really? Well, hopefully they'll take that with them. Women love men who can cook, but worship those who can bake." Ms. Salvatore said with a wink at Song. "A B plus is the best grade I can give you today. No more deviating please."
"No ma'am." said the whole group. Class was let out and the students scattered.
"I have to get going. I gotta meet Chaz for his documentary." Song said. "Eat your cakes, you guys earned it!" she shouted from down the hall.
"Man, she and Lee are like the most awesome kids in the school." Ted said, taking a bite of his cheese cake.
"I'm voting for her to be student of the week." Ned said as he and Ted walked away.
"I'll put her name in the polls. See ya around Cyrus." Steve said, heading off.
"Later man." Cyrus said and went to meet his band in the music room.