Smartass Jocks and Nerdy Misfits

03 - Over Advanced Chemistry

///Over Advanced Chemistry ///

THREE

GAVIN CARTER

“s**t,” I exclaimed as I fell back to the ground face first and my head throbbing from impact with a ball.

“f**k. s**t. Damn. Crap, I am so sorry!” A husky voice cursed.

I felt slightly disoriented, but regardless I looked around and got a few of my discarded things.

“You okay there, Gav?” Benjamin Tyler my friend and teammate in Basketball looked at me with slight worry and amusement.

I chuckled as I soothed the back of my head, “I think I can make a few rounds here and there, you’re lucky it was just me.” I stated which he nodded grimly.

“Sorry… I got caught up with the game.”

I shrugged in reply, “I could tell from the cursing.”

I looked at the person beside Ben and see a guy holding my remaining things and the ball that injured me, they suddenly ignored me as they continued their argument on how the incident occurred and blaming the other for the source of my accident.

I waved them off, “It’s cool. I wasn’t harmed, but I do have to get to class early today because I don’t want to piss anyone else than I already have,” I commented stiffly.

Ben stopped and nodded, “Oh, yeah! Yeah, of course. No problem.”

My eyes landed on Finn Bryton holding my bag and the book I borrowed in the library a few hours ago.

Finn Bryton… From what I know of him is that he is an okay guy, he is the type who’d help if he could, doesn’t want to burden people, and stays out of trouble to the point that it’s as if he doesn’t exist at all. In all honesty he is a REALLY quiet (in all sense of the word) type of person, so hearing him curse is a big first for me as well as seeing and interacting with him right now.

He and I share the same English and General Math together, but I have heard stories about him from when he first got here… He was a previous top athlete in Soccer and Baseball, but it died instantly for unknown reasons.

Ben’s phone suddenly buzzed making his eyes go wide, “s**t! I have to go. You can walk properly right?” He said and ran off before I could reply.

I wonder if he was seriously asking me if I could still walk in two legs, or is he trying to make the situation funny. But then he already left.

I looked at Finn and saw that he was looking intently at me, “Can you walk?”

“Yeah, like a new born deer,” I smiled as I spoke sarcastically.

He chuckled as he examined my head, his height just in par with my own if not maybe even more, “Sarcastic… Did not expect that from you,” I couldn’t help but wonder why his tone seemed to sound as if he wasn’t sure of it himself.

I shrugged as I grabbed my bag to my back, “I get that, but I am me… Nothing I can change right now,”

He nodded, “Agreed. Say maybe hanging out with you might make me get to know you… What do you think?” he suggested.

He smiled at me with a challenge evident in his eyes.

I didn’t miss a beat, “It won’t just ‘might’ it definitely will make you know me better. Why not? I don’t mind it, but you are paying if you’re inviting,” I smiled.

He suddenly looked down, his eyes fixated on the books I carried on my hand with a deep thought before looking back at me, “Cool... I don’t necessarily mind, See you then.” He said as he continued and walked away back to his table before I could refuse.

He left just the same way Ben did... No wonder he and Ben are friends, they enjoy those dramatic leaving scenarios.

I walked to my class my thoughts in a mess…

Did I just get myself a date?

“Nuclear Reaction is the change of in the identity or characteristics of an atomic nucleus, induced by bombarding it with an energetic particle,” I said smartly.

My teacher, Ms. Sherey gave me an amused look and smiled, “Great, Mr. Carter. Someone’s been doing their assignment today,” She commented making my classmates laugh.

I bowed deeply and smiled at her, “Of course, Miss. I aim to please,” I said in reply as I waved to my classmate dramatically throwing a kiss here and here before I sat as everybody in class erupted in laughter and giggles.

This is my favorite class. Advance Chemistry with Miss Sherey, she’s not uptight even though we’re in an advance class and always tries to help us out with things we don’t get and lets us understand the lesson perfectly that all of us manages to score perfectly in every one of her tests.

A knock echoed throughout the class which made my teacher raise her hand to silence. We all behaved and had our attention immediately go to the door.

Our principal peeked out from the door scanning the room before letting herself inside the room, “Sherey, Hey… Sorry to disturb your class.”

She shook her head with a smile, “It’s not a problem. Is there a problem?” she said her voice turning a little stern and looked at everyone stopping at me.

I stand up with hands raised as if I was told I was going to be arrested, “Whatever it is, I can prove it wasn’t me. I swear!”

The principal laughed at me, “I’m afraid you aren’t arrested for anything yet, Mr. Carter,” she turned her attention to opened door and beckoned.

I saw Finn Bryton go inside, our eyes meet in an instant and I saw him smile.

“I am here to transfer Mr. Bryton to your Advance Chemistry class; would that be okay with you?”

It was obviously obvious that our teacher had no say, but for formality sake she nodded as if she had a choice.

“It’s fine, Gwen. Finn, why don’t you sit at the available seats?” She said gesturing to the available seats around… Which to be honest was a lot since Advanced Chemistry is only taken by students who have skipped a grade or that they were asked by their current teacher to move to the advance classes.

I have been in the advance class since I was a freshman in high school, probably one of the laziest in the advance chemistry class…

His eyes suddenly scanned and searched throughout the room till his eyes landed on me, “May sit there, Ms. Sherey?”

Ms. Sherey looked between Finn and I suspiciously making me give out a dramatic sigh, “Miss come on! I am noisy but I am not that bad, I feel like a criminal who doesn’t know the crime they committed.”

She noticed that I pouted and she rolled her eyes, “You were drunk and completely out of it, Mr. Carter. That is why you didn’t know you committed a crime,” she replied.

I gasped, “Ms. Gwen! Look at what your sister said to me!” I faked cry.

Our principal crossed her arms and chuckled, “Don’t be overdramatic, Mr. Carter. I’ll let you handle this, Gwen,” she ignored and smiled waving good bye to all of us.

Miss Sherey looked at Finn, “Are you sure you want him to be your seatmate? There are other students and spare seats here…” she trailed.

He shook his head, “I don’t know much people and I have Gavin as a classmate in some classes, so I know him more than the rest. I trust his intelligence too,” he replied with a gentle smile that melted Ms. Sherey’s stern expression.

He’s seriously good at this whole sweet talking thing. I must give this guy respect, he knows what he’s doing.

She sighed and turned to look at me, “You’re lucky you have that brain of yours and you’re not as stubborn... Do you mind that Finn will be your seatmate?”

I shook my head, “I don’t. Feel free and be my seatmate, Bryton,” I answered.

He nodded and sat to my side and class continued to where it stopped my attention completely drawn in again.

“…–I guess were seatmates,” I turned to Finn in question.

I turned and nodded absently before going back to the lesson, “Mhmm.”

Hydrogen and Helium are the leading element in the perio–

A paper came flying on my table, ‘Open me’ neatly and legibly written, I followed as it was said and read its contents.

‘I know what you saw’, making my eyes widen in shock... I don’t remember doing anything that would make me receive this…

The incident in the library… the people doing it in the library during the morning break…

I glanced around to look at anyone suspicious only to see none but Finn, who waved discreetly trying to catch my attention.

“What?” I whispered as I straightened my back.

He opened his notebook, a missing piece of his page on his notebook fitting perfectly on the paper on my hand.

He smiled with a plain smile, “Can we talk for a bit after class?” He whispered when I remained silent.

I don’t say anything but shake my head in reply, I don’t trust my voice to say the necessary words.

He looked at me with a displeased look, “You have practice… How about after school? Are you free then?”

I nod.

I have trust issues with myself.

Shit I am in deep trouble! Why does he know about that?

I only saw two people getting it on… neither of them looking familiar to me especially when there wasn’t much light from where they were, but then again when I think back… One of them did strike familiar to me… Bethany White.

One of Finn’s friends… No wonder why he’s calling me out.

Now….I’m scared shitless.

I may be in the varsity team, but that doesn’t mean I can handle threats of geniuses like Finn.

He might hack my s**t and push me to God only knows what… Maybe Satan would know too.

Miss Sherey’s voice suddenly hit my ears and my attention was diverted once again, “You guys know that I am not much of a pop quiz type of teacher… And I can’t basically give you grades just by breathing…”

I chuckled and got her attention, “You could try, Miss. It could count as attendance too,” I answered innocently my classmates joining as they agreed with one another.

She gave me a dead glare, “As I was saying… Because of this I am going to assign you to a project to be passed two weeks from now. I already assigned each and every one of you a different task, depending on which of you needed the raise the most,” And from there, she started calling out names at random.

“Carter and Bryton will be on Forensic and Biochemistry,” She said, making me drop my jaw in shock.

She saw my reaction and gave me a quizzical look, “Why do I have the new kid as my partner? No offense or anything, Finn.” Finn shook his head, “You think quick, Ms. Sherey.”

She nodded and glanced at her notebook, “I initially planned for you to do this project by yourself, Mr. Carter. But since we have a fresh meat –I want the top of the class to show the newbie the ropes.” She smiled sweetly.

“He’s the top of this class?” I pretended not to hear the shock on his tone so that I wouldn’t be insulted, but I fail miserably.

“Shocking I know, secret is hooking up with the teacher, Finn.” Ms. Sherey cleared her throat loudly while giving me a death glare.

I leaned back on my chair raising my hands in surrender, “Okay, you win.”

“I am your teacher, so yeah… I do win this one,” she smiled.

--------------------------------------------------------

I panted as I reached the entrance door of the school gym passing by my always yelling coach, “What took you so long, Carter?!” Coach asked, as soon as he spots me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he brushed me off before I could reply, “I honestly don’t care, Carter. Just move your ass and get changed!” He ordered a loud his voice echoing the whole room making a few of the team look at me in a shocked yet amused look.

“What are you guys standing there for? Christmas? MOVE! ONE, TWO, THRE- MOVE THOSE HIPS, LADIES! My sister can move her legs faster than you!” Coach shouted.

I groaned as I pushed away my thoughts only seemed to want to think about exchange I had with Finn during my Advanced Chemistry…

“How about after school? Are you free then?”

“Gavin! Keep doing what you’re doing, son!” I heard coach’s voice in the faint waters, “You’re suddenly slowing down. MOVE IT LADIES!” he yelled.

As I finished my laps, I got out of the pool swiftly and was immediately bombarded by my coach.

“Son, are you okay? You were slow today, take a rest tonight… You seem out of it,” he looked at me with concern and I shook my head in dismissal.

“Coach, I am fine. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about,” I urged.

He stayed silent as he stared at me hard before he sighed in defeat, “If you believe it, then I need you to practice a little more. I told the maintenance that you will be practicing this following week, so the pool is yours after school hours…”

“GAVIN!!” Andrea shouted loudly coach giving her a glare as she ran to us.

“Andrea, you know running isn’t allowed you could slip yourself and get injured.” He glared.

She shrugged and ignored him, “Uncle, please… You know I can take of myself.”

Coach opened his mouth and closed it again then turned to me, “I expect you to improve yourself for this coming swim meet, Carter.”

I nodded and he turned to Andrea, “I expect you to eat your vegetables tonight….I heard they’re your favorites…” he left with a pleased look leaving Andrea with sour face.

“That old geezer…”

I chuckled, “guess you’ll have carrots, celery, and spinach tonight…” I sang and Andrea grumbled.

“CARTER!” coach shouted again making me turn to him in question, “only use it for practice purposes. Nothing more than that,” He said as he gave Andrea the look.

“Sure. Thanks, Coach.” I said as I walked to the locker rooms.

“Nope! No can do,” I replied all without looking behind me, knowing that Andrea continued to follow me here.

She ran in front of me and pouted, “Pretty please?”

I shook my head, “Andrea, I really can’t. I don’t want any trouble right now...”

She gave me a look and sighed in defeat, “Fine,” she grumbled.

I hugged her hard, “I love you, Andrea.”

She turned red and waved me dismissively, “Shut up, Gav. You’re making me blush.” She laughed and shook my head as I told her to go back to the bleachers for me to change unbothered.