A/N: Hello, the sections that start and end with these * are the ones I wrote when I wasn't at school, for this chapter specifically when I was in the car over Mother's day weekend.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bakugan but if I did it would be terrible.

Chapter Three: A 'B' Grade Argument

Dan's POV

"Daniel come on you got to wake up" I heard Drago say and even though I know he's waking me up early I get up and look at the clock. Sure enough it's 6:30 A.M, and he woke me up when I haven't eaten in two days from mom drinking when she gets home.

Dad comes back at the end of this week because that's when the second moth of school starts, I won't enjoy that because they'll argue as soon as he walks through the door. I was about to open my door when I heard mom opening hers, so I closed my door and heard her stumble past before I opened it again.

I saw her walking down the stairs holding the railing so she wouldn't fall, I quietly followed her with my bag on my left shoulder and Drago on my right. I saw her enter the kitchen and make food so I quickly grabbed my shoes, went upstairs, and put them on before opening my window and jumping out.

I was debating whether I should go to Carrie's and Atticus's house but decided against it because it was early for them to have visitors at 7:25 which is when I'd get there. I continued walking to school pulling out my sketchbook and flipping through it till I ended up on the page with Shun and I, this is my favorite picture from the whole book, I drew it overseas after Runo broke up with me.

When I looked up from the picture I realized I walked past my school's gate, I turned back around and walked inside hearing many voices from the cafeteria I walked in. *When I entered the cafeteria I saw Alice, Shun and Runo, Alice and Runo were fighting about something while Shun was only watching looking like he was bored.

I walked over and stood next to Shun seeing he was stiff for some reason "you broke up with him Runo! He didn't do that to you so stop being so mean to him!" I heard Alice yell and I knew they were fighting because of me. "Well he didn't have to leave right after! And I broke up with him because he likes someone way more than he does me!" Runo yelled making me flinch.

"Who did he like more than you Runo? Who?!" Alice yelled and I didn't like where this was going "he likes…" Runo tried to say but I interrupted her. "Ahem, guys why are you arguing? It isn't like you Alice" I said clearing my throat first, I apparently surprised them but more Shun than the girls.

"Dan?! When did you get here?" I heard Alice ask as Runo glared at me "when Alice said who broke up with who and that's why Runo should be 'mean' to me" I answered shocking her. "Sorry I didn't notice you were here earlier Dan" Alice apologized before I could stop her "it's fine Alice it's no big deal" I said smiling at her.

"Well I got to go to Mr. Ruke's class so I'll see you at lunch" I said as I left the room to my AP Chemistry class "why didn't you tell them your parents told you to go overseas Daniel?" I heard Drago ask as he stood on my right shoulder. "They'll want to know why and I can't tell them or else they'll think it's their fault instead of mine" I answered as I walked up to the second floor of the building.

"They already had your stuff packed and wouldn't take no for an answer so it isn't your fault Daniel" Drago said as I entered the room. "I had already signed up for it Drago, it gave me the experience I needed to teach the Bakugan class at the middle school along with the education to take AP classes" I said as I sat down.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing that they rushed you Daniel" he told me when the bell rang and I did the work given to me, which wasn't hard, before we were told we had a test on Thursday over everything that we learned over the course of the month. I knew I had to get a good grade on the test otherwise I'd be on my parents bad side and I didn't want that at any time of day, so I'd study until I've memorized all of it.

The bell rang so I headed to my Indian English class (1) and sat down at the seat I was assigned to by Mrs. Carbuckle, I had finished the work I was given ten minutes before the bell rang so I grabbed out my sketchbook. I finished drawing Alice's Grandfather's laboratory before going to AP Calculus with Mr. Cross and Runo who will most likely be with her friend who might verbally 'abuse' me.

I walked up the flight of stairs and opened the door taking my seat in the first row, middle section noticing that only Runo's here and not her friends. This time I had finished the work twenty-five minutes before class ended, grabbing out my sketchbook I drew Hydronoid perched atop the laboratory before Runo looked over my shoulder.

"So after seeing Alice again you fell for her? She's Shun's girlfriend which means she's taken" Runo said after I was too late to close my book. I shook my head not liking where I was sure this is going to go "maybe I should tell Shun you like his girlfriend? I bet he'll take it very well" Runo said and I was correct.

"Mrs. Runo that is enough!" I heard Tigrerra exclaim making Runo hesitate before sitting down still glaring at me before I gave up drawing the rest of the hour entirely. The bell ran a few minutes after I made that decision so I left heading for the lunch line and bought an almond salad which cost a dollar surprising me since at a store they cost $2.50 instead.

When I paid she gave me the $5.90 back and I walked on looking around and seeing a circle table by the window which has a wide and beautiful view of the garden, I chose that as my seat. I sat down and for a few minutes I was eating alone until Alice and Shun sat next to me, Shun on my right and Alice to my left.

"Why aren't you sitting with us Dan?" I heard Alice ask, I answered by looking out the window to my left, I was looking at the marble fountain with water lilies that's located in the middle of the vast rectangular garden. "Oh that's…" I heard Alice say but was interrupted by the clattering of a tray across from me, I winced at the loud noise already knowing who it was without looking.

I looked anyway and saw Runo sitting across from me, completing the cross, with a scowl on her face "you're supposed to answer a woman/lady/girl verbally Dan, or have you forgot your manners over the past year?" Runo asked with venom. "Runo! That is uncalled for, I knew what he meant" Alice said making me sigh "I like the garden because of the serenity that's why I chose to sit here Alice" I answered before I looked out the window.

I continued eating before Runo spoke "see that wasn't too hard was it Dan?" Runo said with a smirk in place of a smile. "Runo I knew what he meant without him telling me, so stop this right now" I heard Alice say as I picked up a forkful of salad.

"Stop defending him Alice! That's probably the reason he fell in love with you" Runo said causing me to choke on the salad I had chewed before she spoke. "Daniel are you okay?" I heard Drago ask worriedly and I nodded yeah… yeah I'm fine Drago" I said looking up and seeing that Shun isn't there anymore.

"Where'd Shun go?" I asked and saw a look of sadness pass Runo's eyes before it disappeared making me think that Runo's known I've liked Shun even before she saw the drawing of him. "He left when Runo say you love me, is that true Dan?" Alice answered with glazed eyes as if the information is still being processed.

"I like you as a friend Alice, Runo just saw me drawing you last hour and assumed I like you that way" I said getting up and throwing my container away since I have to get to class soon. "I have to head to my next class Alice, I would never hurt Shun by taking his current girlfriend" I said smiling at her and not liking Runo even more now.

Time Skip: New Vestroia Garden Free Period

"The students improved again Daniel, I wouldn't be surprised if the passed the final exam by the end of next month" I heard Drago say making me smile since he's not far from the truth. I continued reading my Chemistry noted confident that I'll pass the test on Thursday but worried that what Runo said made Shun mad at me since I have yet to see him.

"I'm sure he's not mad Daniel, he could just be studying right now or doing homework" Drago suggested but I shook my head slowly "he does his work and studies next to me on the fountain, he's mad because of Runo's lie" I said sadly before I looked at the wall clock. It's 2:18 which means I have seven minutes to get to class before the late bell rings, I walked out of the garden missing the man who had a sad expression on his face.

I entered War History which I have with Mrs. Henderson and sat in my assigned seat getting a worksheet she told me to start working on, when I started it was a minute before the ball rang. The worksheet wasn't hard but I apparently missed the lecture that was being given.

"We'll be having a test on Friday over what I've been teaching you this week" Mrs. Henderson said and unlike with the Chemistry test I have a bad feeling about this test. I looked up at the clock to see we had ten minutes before 3:25, the end of school, so I turned the paper in that she'd given me that I forgot to turn in twenty minutes ago.

I packed up my stuff when the bell rang and went home, I had to climb through the window though because my mom was allowed to take work off until she stopped drinking which will be when dad gets back. I finished my homework, took a shower when mom went to the store to buy sake at five which was before I finished my homework, then went to bed.*

For the next few days I snuck out my window, did my schoolwork, taught my class, studied, and snuck back into my room from the window after school. However on the second day something changed and it was a good change to, I had already finished my bakugan class and was heading to the garden to study for my history test.

When I approached the arch showing the wide garden I saw someone there, when I walked closer upon closer examination I realized it was Shun, he was standing by the fountain with his back to me. I was going to call out his name but I decided against it since he might still be mad at me because of what Runo said.

I saw Skyress jump on Shun's shoulder and tell him I was here, when he turned around I saw he was holing a Purple Hyacinth (2) which makes me sad. "Hey Dan, this is for avoiding you for so long" he said making me smile "what's your answer?" he asked looking away from me.

"I wish I could give you a White Tulip (3) is my answer" I said making him look at me with a shocked but knowing expression. "I only like Alice as a friend Shun, Runo saw me drawing her in sketchbook is all" I said and he nodded sitting down at the edge of the water fountain.

I sat down and started studying for my test in two days "you're not drawing today?" Shun asked suddenly and I nodded. "I have a test in War History on Friday and I have already studied for my AP Chemistry test tomorrow" I said making him nod in shock.

"You're in AP classes?" he asked me and I nodded before I looked at the clock to see we only have a few minutes till the bell rings "yeah, I have to go now Shun" I said getting up. At the same time Shun got up as well "where's your class?" he asked making me turn to him in confusion.

"It's room 57 with Mrs. Henderson, why are you asking?" I asked making him shrug before he grabbed his green leather satchel and passed me saying 'no reason' which confused me. I shrugged it off and continued to my next class, I opened my class's door when the bell signaling to head to your next class rang "Daniel I have a question for you" I heard Mrs. Henderson ask confusing me.

"Why have you been arriving at my class so early? Are you skipping classes?" she asked making me shake my head "I leave early at lunch to go to the bakugan class I teach during fifth hour and I have free period after which I spend in the garden" I said and she nodded. "Okay that's good to hear, now take your seat" she answered with a calm smile, I followed her order and took my seat before Drago spoke "that wasn't so bad" he said so I nodded.

Time Skip: Friday AP Chemistry

"Daniel Kuso" I heard Mr. Ruke say in a proud tone, I didn't really know if I got a bad grade from it or not "yes Mr. Ruke?" I asked wanting to know my grade since he seems to be making an example from it. "You received the highest grade in the class, a 100% or in other words an A+" he said making me fight back a smile, class ended then and I smiled all throughout the day until I reached my War History class.

"Evening class! You are to be taking the War History monthly test today, don't worry about the questions you don't know, just skip them" she said passing out the tests. I started the test and I knew all of them except for questions twelve to eighteen, or seven questions, which means I won't get an A or above for this test.

"You did fine Daniel I'm sure of it" I heard Drago say when I finished "for your standards yes, my parents unlikely" I said as I picked up the test and brought it to the front. "How do you think you did Daniel?" Mrs. Henderson asked me making my shoulders slump "I couldn't answer seven questions, sorry" I said.

"It's fine Daniel, I'm sure you got a good grade regardless" she told me smiling as she took the test from me, I smiled at her before I headed back to my seat. "What would you get if you only got those wrong Daniel?" I heard Drago ask making me look at my table as I calculated in my head.

"A 28/35 which would mean a 85%" I answered looking at the scoreboard showing the scoring percents for the school.

A+ 99-100

A 93-98

A- 91-92

B+ 89-90

B 83-88

B- 81-82

C+ 79-80

C 73-79

C- 71-72

The 'Ds' are the same with the 'E' being the rest of the percents which means I'll get a 'B' if I don't get the rest wrong. "A 'B' is the most likely that I'll get if I don't get the others wrong" I said making him nod "you'll be fine Daniel I'm sure of it" he said making me smile but it was strained.

Time Skip: Monday Morning

I woke up before Drago which surprised him apparently, I had yet to eat and I wouldn't be able to anything once dad gets home either. "Drago come on, you have to get up" I said shaking my friend, who was still sleeping on the windowsill by my bed, lightly.

"Daniel? Why are you up so early? I'm normally the one to wake you up" I heard him say before he yawned "yeah I know but I don't know when dad's getting back" I said before I opened my window. I grabbed my bag putting him in it before I jumped out.

I walked to school, well the garden, bringing out my sketchbook on the way and flipping to a new page deciding to draw Ace, Mira, and Baron when I arrive. When I reached the garden I saw Shun and Alice on the fountain talking about something, I turned around not wanting to hear what they were talking about but luck wasn't on my side today.

"Dan? Where are you going?" I heard Alice ask 'and I was so close to leaving to' I thought as I turned around when Alice grabbed my wrist. "We were just talking about you" she said shocking me "what were you guys saying about me?" I asked as Alice sat me down next to Shun and she took a seat on my other side, the left.

"Your drawings, can I see them?" she asked and I nodded showing her my sketchbook, she flipped through the drawings her eyes widening with every page she flipped. "They're all really good but I like this one more" she told me going back to before pointing out the drawing of Shun and I in the woods.

"I like that one as well" I heard Shun say making me smile at them "thanks guys, that means a lot" I said my smile getting brighter before I realized it was 7:50 which means I have to get to class. "I have to go sorry" I said getting up and packing away my sketchbook before waving 'bye' to them.

I went to class and saw Mr. Ruke writing something on the board "hello Mr. Ruke, what are you writing?" I asked making him turn to face me. "Just writing an equation we'll be discussing in class" he answered and I nodded noticing it was the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

"An equation for calculating the pH of a Buffer system is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation" I answered as I sat down, I was wanting to draw this morning to ease my worries over my score on the test but it doesn't seem to want to happen. The rest of the day wasn't too bad, I had talked to Shun the entirety of sixth hour which was the highlight of my day.

I headed to my seventh hour where I'm going to get my test score and most likely my test, when I entered the room I saw pieces of paper on everyone's desks. I walked up to my desk to see it was my test, it had an evergreen 'B' on it with a red 28/35 next to it.

When the bell rang everyone was present and many of them didn't seem to like their scores "I wonder what the mode for the scores are Daniel" I heard Drago say and I nodded wondering the same thing. "Before I say the top three scores the most abundant score is… 65%" Mrs. Henderson said and I figured that was the reason they didn't like their scores because they got a 'D' or below.

"Resse Barred has the top score of 94%, Daniel Kuso has the second top score of 85%, and Darla Khan has the third top score of 71%" she said making me smile since I didn't think I'd be mentioned. The test was hard for many students but saying I got an 85% means I got seven wrong and I didn't answer seven so if those questions weren't counted I would've passed.

"I emailed all of your parents that you got the results of your end of the month exam so be sure to tell them what it is when you get home" I heard her say making me anxious because of what my parents might do when they find out. "It'll be fine Daniel, I'm sure of it" I heard Drago repeat before the bell rang and I left school grounds heading home, when my home was in sight I saw my dad's black Chevrolet in the driveway.

"They're going to fight about it Drago so it's not going to be fine" I said walking up to the front door knowing that dad will notice they're missing even though I'm home. I heard the yelling even before I reached the door, it seemed to be about mom not going to work because she's been drinking for weeks.

I opened the door to see my mom had her hands on her hips and dad looked about ready to pull his hair out "I'm home" I said closing the door behind me as I took off my shoes. "Hello honey, how was school?" mom asked putting on a bright smile I inwardly cringed at "it was fine" I said.

I was almost up the stairs when mom asked about my test, I froze a quarter of the way up the steps before I grabbed out the test paper and handed it to her. "A 'B' I thought I said nothing less than an 'A'? I thought you understood that Daniel" she said in a disappointed and angry tone.

"It was probably because of your drinking habits" my father said the arguments commencing "it was most likely your absence from us" my mom countered making me want to leave so I won't have to hear the yelling. "If you want to talk about absences why don't we talk about your work" dad said his voice rising in volume "let's just go Daniel, they don't even know you're here" I heard Drago suggest so I started quietly creeping upstairs.

"Daniel's probably failing his classes because you're not here to help him study!" my mom yelled almost making me trip on the last step from the volume "Daniel?! Are you failing your classes?" my dad yelled not even looking at me. "No, I just wasn't paying attention to a lecture so I missed seven questions" I said flinching when my mom's eyes narrowed on my father.

"He got the lecture when you were gone so it's your fault for not helping him study!" my mom yelled even though it's not anyone's fault but my own for not paying attention while I did my work. I ran silently to my room locking the door so they can't get in, I have the key so that makes it possible, before my dad answered.

I was hoping the door would block out the yelling but it wasn't in my favor "well I wasn't but you were! You were too busy drinking and putting pressure on him to care!" my father yelled so I tried blocking it out with my hands and pillow but it didn't work. "It'll get better Daniel, I know it will" Drago said but I didn't believe it one bit, a while after Drago said that I didn't know when or even that I had fallen asleep but I did.

A/N: Hello, I finished writing this on May 18, 2016 at 12:25 P.M. in my school's library.

1) This is one of the course classes I was conflicted to take so I decided to put it in here, mainly because I chose English 12 instead. Sorry if I got the course name wrong.

2) A Purple Hyacinth means I'm sorry, please forgive me, sorrow.

3) A White Tulip means Forgiveness, lost love.

I hope you like this chapter and will continue reading, see you next Monday.