Chapter 3: Pop Quizzes and Newcomers

"Aww shoot!" Scott complained as he got another wrong answer. Isa rolled her eyes and said nothing.

"Ugh," she muttered under her breath, putting another X on her paper. Scott glanced at her as she started tapping her pencil on the desk.

"Oh." Cole said slowly. "I got it wrong."

He glanced at Rina's paper, with only one wrong answer-the one he did. "Aww," Isa said, leaning towards Rina's paper. "That really sucks."

"Yeah. But it's not really a big deal," Rina said quietly.

"Why, who did it?" Nichola asked.

"Um." Rina said slowly. "I did."

"Really, poor Cole," Ian teased. "I was kidding, Rina. But it's okay."

Rina nodded silently and Cole's eyes widened.

At the end of the class, Cole suddenly grabbed Rina's arm. "Why'd you tell your friends it was your fault?" he asked.

"Doesn't matter," was Rina's short reply before waiting until he released his hand. He released. "Thank you."

She followed her friends. "Isa, wait up!" Scott called, trying to catch up with her. Isa whipped around, her green eyes stunning him again. "I-I."

"What?"

"I'm sorry about Arithmancy."

"What about it?" Isa answered coldly. "I've got much more and much better stuff to think about rather than that 80."

"Like what?" he asked. Isa smiled sweetly.

"Trying to get rid of your ugly face." Her frown returned, turning back to her friends. Meanwhile, Nikka bumped into a girl with layered brown hair and icy blue eyes.

"I'm not the only one who bumps into people," Mandy said, chuckling. Nikka stuck her tongue out and pulled the girl up.

"Sorry, I'm Nikka Foreman."

"No worries, I'm Sarah Andrews," the girl answered, dusting the dirt off her skirt.

"This is Mandy Brighton, Ellie Krüger, Isa Daniels, Nichola Callaway, Michelle Dawson and Rina Hall," Nikka said, smiling.

"Hey, wanna join us for lunch?" Ellie said cheerfully.

"Sure, why not?!" Sarah smiled, brushing strands of her hair away from her eyes.

"Well, let's go!" Nichola said, smiling as well.

"Michelle!" a voice called. Michelle turned around, her eyes ablaze.

"What do you want, Xavier?" she asked icily.

"Can you, um, tutor me in Math?" He blushed.

"Trust me; you need all the help, but. I flunk math." Michelle smirked. "But if I didn't... I still won't."

"Please?" Harry pouted. Michelle paused.

"Um. maybe." Michelle smiled. "NO."

"Drats," he muttered. Sarah laughed with the others as they left for the lunch tables.

"I think Harry likes you," Ellie said, putting ketchup on her burger. Michelle rolled her eyes. "It can happen."

"No it cannot," Michelle said flatly. Sarah laughed, biting into her tuna sandwich. "We hate each other, and it will stay that way."

"How are you so sure?" Sarah asked, swallowing her bit of sandwich. Michelle shrugged.

"Well, we DID have a truce," Michelle said thoughtfully, accidentally putting ketchup on her hand. "Ack!"

"You're spacing out, it's obvious you are starting to like him," Ellie pointed out.

"I-I don't."

"Hello?!" Scott asked, waving in front of Ian and Cole's face. They were spacing out, the both of them. "Is Cole and Ian in there?!"

Cole shook his head. "Huh? What?" he asked suddenly. "Is the school on fire?! Negative zero!"

"Cole, the school is fine and there's no such thing as negative zero!" Damian said, rolling his eyes.

"Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About?"

"None of your business, Chris!"

"IAN!" Alfonso yelled in Ian's ear.

"Gack! Negative zero!" Ian said suddenly. "Ahh, earthquake!"

"Ian, there is NO such thing as negative zero," Alfonso muttered patiently, "and there is no earthquake."

"Oh." Ian sighed. "I was just thinking."

"That's it! Quit it!" Scott screeched.

"I think I like her," Ian said out of the blue.

"What?" Scott asked flatly.

"N-nothing!" Ian said quickly. Cole sighed.

"Excuse me, I'm not hungry."

"Dude, it's your favorite food for lunch!" Chris said, confused.

"Um. it's okay, I don't mind." Cole distractedly walked out somewhere.

"Same here." Ian followed Cole but in a different direction.

"Okay."

Nichola suddenly bumped into Ian. "Ian!" she said happily. "Hey!"

"Huh? Oh, hey!" Ian smiled. Her grey eyes sparkled.

"I was on my way to Chemistry. How about you?"

"Oh, I was on my way to Geography. But the Chemistry lab's on the way there so. Can I walk you there?"

"Sure, why not?" Nichola answered, propping her bag over her shoulder, binder in hand. "So. How are your friends?"

"Same, wacky and weird." They laughed.

"You've changed." She smiled. "Did you get a haircut?"

"Why'd you say that?" Ian said, laughing.

"When people change, it's right after they got a haircut." Ian rubbed the nape of his neck, blushing.

"No, I didn't."

"Oh." Nichola blushed. "Then it's a great thing." This is so weird, my first conversation, a CIVIL one, with Ian Dean, she thought.

"Um. Nichola? The Chemistry lab's this way," Ian said, pointing at the door to her left. Nichola blushed.

"Sorry. Well, thanks, Ian," she said and entered the classroom.

"Nichola!" Isa said, relieved as she saw Nichola pass through the Chemistry doors. "Where have you been?"

"I ran into Ian and we sort of chatted until we reached here," Nichola said, smiling and blushing. Isa eyed her face.

"You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"Hate to say it, but you ARE blushing," Rina pointed out. "Ellie and Mandy are at Geography."

Cole distractedly crashed into the doors of the Chemistry lab. Rina, shocked, stood up and walked towards him without thinking. "Ow." he muttered.

"You okay, Cole?" she asked, helping him up. He blushed.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Are you sure?" she asked, smiling slightly.

"Yeah. Is Scott here?" he asked. Rina's smile slowly faded. "Oh yeah." He blushed again. "Thanks."

She smiled now. "Welcome, he's by Isa, trying to flirt with her." Cole laughed.

"Yeah, it's really amusing."

"Now I'm starting to think they hate us," Harry said before being smacked on the head by Scott.

# Previews of future chapters:

"I like you."

"Ow!"

"Oh no, not again!"

"I'm here without you, baby."

"Sorry."