Chapter Three: A Project Projects Problems

 

            * The teacher had been droning on for at least an hour. She had to be the worst teacher ever. Instead of teaching anything pertinent to the Literature of Witness, all of the students were listening to the teacher’s wedding plans. Scanning the room, Hiiro’s eyes landed on Serena. Still with her hood up, she was sitting and taking notes. Notes? On what? The color of the bouquet flowers? Getting a clearer view when she shifted her arm, he saw it was math problems she was solving on the paper. He inwardly smirked. So even the little straight A honor student wasn’t paying attention to this class.

            “Serena, which color do you think?” Asked the teacher suddenly. Hiiro snorted inwardly. There was no way…

            “Well, because Ann has red hair, but Karen brown, I say go with the forest green you’re hiding in your grade book. That is the best color for them, and it will be perfect for a winter wedding.” If Hiiro had allowed his jaw to drop, it would have. She had seen it from across the room, while she was doing her math homework and had that hood covering her head. Even his eyes hadn’t spotted the fabric piece until she said something.

            “Thank you Serena! I was just about to bring that one out! Is that your math homework or chemistry?”

            “Math Ms. Watcon.”

            “How’s it going?”

            “Pretty well so far. I’m nearly done.”

            “Wonderful. When you’re done with that, would you mind making a few calculations for numbers of guests, you know, as long as you have that calculator out and ready…”

            “Sure, no problem, I would love to help you out.” Serena beamed from under her hood.

            “Splendid. So what do you all think of the green?” Asked the flighty teacher, resuming her ‘lecture’ with the rest of the class.

            The minute the teacher stopped concentrating on Serena, she went back to her algebra homework. It seemed algebra and chemistry were her two ruts. Every day she did either one of the other in this class, and if she didn’t understand it, she asked for help after school. Today it actually appeared as if she understood the material. She was glad Ms. Watcon was such an easy teacher. As long as Serena kept an ear open to listen to what was going on, Ms. Watcon allowed her to work in class.  Especially after she had received the highest grade in the class on her last final exam and three tests since. There! She was done! Now she didn’t have to think about her horrid math dragging her down during squad practice today. Sighing lightly, she put away all but her calculator.

            “Did you finish?” She heard a quiet deep voice mutter to her from behind. Slightly turning her head, she came to face Hiiro. While she was working, he had moved to sit behind her.

            “Yeah. How do you like Ms. Watcon?”

            “Hnn.” Hiiro had the urge to snort loudly, then pull a gun and shoot the woman out the window to get rid of her annoying high pitched and constantly chattering voice.

            “I know what you mean. Sorry, but even if she wasn’t planning her wedding she would still be like this. You’re poor ears must be getting quite a mouthful.” She tried to sound cheerful as quietly as possible.

            “Hnn.” He grunted again.

            “You don’t talk much, do you?” She slightly giggled. “That’s alright. Neither does Ami. And from the looks of it, neither does Trowa. What do you think about setting those two up? They would make a cute couple, huh? And Duo and Lita too. But I think those two can take care of themselves. If I know Ami, she’d be way too scared to ever even talk to Trowa first. Any input?”

            “…” Hiiro would have responded, but just them the bell rang.

            “Well, what do you have next?” She asked him, dropping the last subject.

            “ Chem.” He said. Why had he even bothered telling her? Why had he bothered to say anything to her in the first place? Or to move to sit closer to her? Or why did he feel so… mixed up…about having to leave her for his next class?

            “Hey! What do you have, a carbon copy of my schedule? I have chem. next too! Come on, I’ll walk with you there! But I’m warning you: the teacher is a little… different than the others. He actually expects work to be done.” She added a slightly more serious tone to her voice. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled it along with her. The hall was beginning to clear, and if they didn’t hurry they would be late. Then he saw something. He stopped dead in his tracks.

            Serena kept going, but when she was jerked back suddenly, she took notice that he had stopped. Looking around for what could have stopped this stoic boy so abruptly, she couldn’t place it. Now the halls were almost cleared. The chem. lab was only another door down, and they had two minutes before they would be late. What was wrong? She felt him lifting her hand to his face. What was he… oh no! This was not good!

            “Where did you get these bruises?” It was a gentle and quiet inquiry, not harsh like she had expected.

            “Oh.” She let out a small guilty giggle. “I got them from the squad. I fell wrong yesterday during practice and landed on a backpack. That’s all.”

            “The squad?”

            “Yeah. The squad. I told you I was on it earlier. Remember? Right before lunch?”

            “Hnn. We’ll be late. Where is this chem. lab?” He changed the subject quickly. She briefly prayed to any saint that was listening for thanks, then pulled him along again.

            “Right here!” And with that, they entered just as the bell rang.

            “Ms. Tsukino, Mr…. Yui, isn’t it? So glad you decided to join us. Can you please give me a reason for your tardiness?”

            “I’m sorry sir. I stopped to answer a question of Hiiro’s about something, and with my long answer, I put us a little behind schedule. It won’t happen again sir.” She tipped her head slightly as a sign of deep respect. Hiiro just watched, almost amused. Serena had seemed so confident in the halls. With the other teachers she acted as if she were the educator. Now, for the first time, he was seeing a much more submissive side of her. It was almost strange; like she wasn’t even the same person.

            “Take your seats. Mr. Yui, for future reference please refer to me as Mr. Hughes. You will be sitting next to Ms. Tsukino from now on. You will not switch seats every class, I require you stay in your assigned seat. I accept no late work, and if you fail a test, there are no retakes.”

            “Understood sir.” Hiiro answered him, dropping back into his monotone Perfect Soldier personality. Serena was right: this class would be different.

            “Very well. Now, as I was saying before you’re classmates decided to interrupt and make fools of themselves for not being on time,” He glared at Serena and Hiiro. “We will be beginning a lab today. This lab will include a long, formal lab report when it has been finished. Your instructions are simple: After I draw your names from a hat, you and your partner will work together to construct a hypothesis, test it over a long period of time, and then turn in a lab report at the end of the semester. Today is the only class time you will have with your partner. Any questions?” Not a hand went up. “Fine then. I will begin drawing names now. Steve and Sarah. Will and Caroline. Serena and Hiiro. Harriet and Herb…” Both student’s eyes flew open. They were going to be long-term chemistry partners? Well, one thing was for certain: this would make for an interesting project indeed.*