Aug 21, 09: Edited

Feb 8, 09: Thanks to Judevanderhall for editing!

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Main characters are featured here. More will be in the next. BTW, this story isn't so chick-lit. The most prominent genre is romance. And err, review!...please? :)

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Chapter 1 – Except for Nadia

No one told her that Chemistry would be this awful.

Nadia Isabel Scarlett's wide, blue eyes stared at the blackboard as white scribbles ran into each other on the green background. She was distracted. The teacher might as well have been doing a monologue at the front of the room since no one in class was paying attention to what he was saying. And that was just because of one thing:

Ethan Sinclair was sitting next to her. And everybody was talking about it.

“We should be having a fun school year, considering the fact that the Chemistry lab was newly renovated over the summer, and that we have a new, honored addition to our class. Ethan Sinclair, care to introduce yourself?” Mr. Rodge made attempts to get the class to listen. So far, it hadn’t worked.

The boy on Nadia's left smirked. Usually, introductions were never a good experience in Waydegener High School if you had pre-considered yourself a downright loser. But if you were someone like the Sinclairs, whose identities had been clearly known before they stepped foot on the academy, then any introduction was not necessary anymore. “I'm Ethan Lawrence Sinclair.” He stopped short.

A few girls laughed at the blunt introduction. He grinned a bit too widely in amusement.

The professor scratched his wrinkly face and frowned. “Would you care to tell us something about where you came from?”

“I came from New York and it's a beautiful place,” he paused then added with a straight face, “It’s full of buildings.”

The class laughed in chorus, and even Nadia let out a hidden chuckle. It looked as though the Sinclairs weren’t so true to their straight faces all the time when they appeared in televisions. And that happened rarely, as they were so cooped up in their offices.

“Very well, you may sit, Mr. Sinclair.” Mr. Rodge probably knew that no matter how many attempts he would try, nothing would straighten up Mr. Sinclair's speech. It was either that or he did not intend to waste the whole period listening to Ethan while the whole class hung onto his every word and look.

“I hope we will treat Ethan Sinclair as we would any other newcomer.” By that, he meant no more and no less special than any other new student. “Any report of misbehavior and Principal Hunt will be expecting you.” He paused.

The room was quiet for a while. Only Ethan was bold enough to whisper to his seatmate while Mr. Rodge shuffled around on his desk, locating something through the mess of papers on his table. “Hello, I want you to tell me what time dismissal would be.” He leaned to the girl beside him.

“Three.” She reluctantly whispered back.

“All right,” Mr. Rodge sighed, holding up pieces of paper close to his eyes. “The partnering this year will be alphabetical. So, Abe, Julia and Afman, George to Lab table one...” He went on with the list. The class' noise was intensifying once again, and Nadia was sure it had something to do with who would be Ethan's partner.

Nadia stirred on her seat uncomfortably. She had already attracted too much attention – something she never tried to get from people – by just being seated next to Ethan Sinclair.

She was a Scarlett and he was a Sinclair. It was a rare chance they wouldn’t be partnered up. If only there was a Sbibo or a Sbuba, then the attention she avoided would just stay away from her and she could still be inconspicuous Nadia.

“Saber, Zack... Scarlett, Nadia.”

Phew.

“Shells, Annie...Sinclair, Ethan...”

Some girls sighed and protested inwardly, while the boys wolf-whistled.

Mr. Rodge slammed his list on the table. Instant silence landed on them. “I will not tolerate this kind of behavior for a year. And this partnering is temporary, since I'll have to make adjustments, especially if the ones who need help are also with…the ones who need help. To lab table fifteen.” He whispered the last part to Ethan, who yawned, and also to an overwhelmed Annie. “David Spencer and...Cal Sole.”

Nadia exhaled greatly.

The moment the partnering was done, they had all moved to the laboratory part of the large room. Mr. Rodge inspected the class for a few seconds while girls and boys whispered, their eyes all directed to Ethan Sinclair and his lucky partner. Annie seemed to shrug confidently, pleased with herself, while Ethan snorted the whole time, unfazed with all the attention.

“Hmm...Keera? You might as well be with John.”

“I'm not John.” A boy with thin-rimmed glasses said, bored.

“Oh,” Mr. Rodge tried to recall the boy's name. “I mean, Kevin.”

“I'm Dean.” The boy replied, annoyed.

Mr. Rodge grunted and sharply signalled Keera to move with his finger.

Nadia felt like her body was beginning to freeze even though it was a hundred degrees outside. Zack tapped her shoulder and asked if she was okay. She nodded feebly, unsure of her own answer. Ethan Sinclair mustn’t be dumb enough for me to be with him, was the thought circling her mind. It wasn’t that Nadia was a braggart of any sort, it was just the fact that Mr. Rodge considered her one of the best students he had in the past science classes.

“Oh, Ethan Sinclair! May I speak with you for a moment?”

The class broke into a whisper again, but Mr. Rodge's glare silenced them. The professor pulled the student's elbow out of the class' hearing range, right out of the classroom. A hall monitor passed and even he could not stand taking a little peek.

“I understand how the pressure has been, what with your father being a bit…dictatorial…and I know the connection it has with your grades.” Mr. Rodge began perspiring, unable to find the appropriate words. Even him? “I sincerely apologize but I'll have to switch your partner.”

“No, it's perfectly okay, Sir. I appreciate the consideration.”

“Thank you. Anyway, as I was saying, you ought to be partnered with someone who could help you in Chemistry and still be, well, normal.” He said this as though acting normal and making someone better in Chemistry would be a hard thing to do for anyone involved with Ethan Sinclair. Perhaps, it was. “And I've got Nadia Scarlett.”

Ethan smirked knowingly about the twitchy girl who had been sitting next to him just minutes ago.

.:.

What was so great about Ethan Sinclair that simply sitting down next to him meant she had to endure eyes pinning her whichever direction she looked at? Ethan hadn't started Sinclair Automobile Corporations. His grandfather did! All he did was pose half-naked for bathroom tile commercials. Actually it could have been for clothes or for bath towels, but...who cared?

Well, everybody; everybody except for Nadia Scarlett. And she thought it was normal not to, but considering the reaction of the majority of the other students, Nadia questioned whether she was as perfect and normal as she thought she was.

“Hi, I'm Ethan Sinclair.” He sat on the chair next to her and almost knocked a dirty beaker off their lab table.

As if Nadia did not know what his name was.

“And I know you're Nadia Scarlett. I hope we'll have a fun time together.” He smiled, offering his hand for her to shake.

Ethan Sinclair seemed genuine enough. And this was just Chemistry. It was better to be with a good, world-wide-known seatmate than a brat. Even if you had to constantly dodge those heated, envious stares.

“Great.” Nadia spoke for the first time since she had attempted to protest to Mr. Rodge about the changing of partners, which he had disregarded immediately. She glanced to the side just before she shook his hand, only to see Annie shooting the first of many glares Nadia knew she would receive. She grabbed her hand back, and ran it through her dark, tangled hair which she hadn't had time to comb, and which showed no sign of improvement in de-frizzing.

“Mr. Rodge thought you'd be best as my partner because he thinks you won't spend his subject just staring at me.”

That was quite a straightforward thing to say.

“I hope what he said is true.” Ethan remarked in a sing-song voice.

Nadia almost snorted aloud.

“What I'm handing you is a syllabus for the whole year. Consider yourselves lucky to have the opportunity for advanced studies. I’d suggest you take this into consideration if you all don't want to be bums.” Mr. Rodge handed each row with stacks of papers which the students took one from and passed to the next student.

“Is he always this sarcastic?” Ethan asked. “It would be a shame for Waydegener to produce bums.”

Once again, Nadia kept her trap shut.

“Are you a mute?” Ethan asked, his intonation reflecting his frustration. Nadia knew perfectly well how many heads were turned to them.

“I talk when necessary.” She hoped that could be another way to say 'shut up.'

“Oh,” Ethan chuckled, clearly amused. “That's great. But I'm a chatterbox and you're perfectly what I need—someone to take in the nonsense I say. It's like that, isn't it?”

“I wasn't talking.” She rolled her eyes, giving him one of the sheets of paper.

“Well, then...” He cleared his throat. Nadia didn't budge. He did it again, louder.

“What?” Nadia snapped, and irritably she turned to him.

“Jeez! Mr. Rodge must've overdone the discipline thing with you.” Ethan leaned away, stunned.

.:.

The whole time Nadia walked around the school to get to her locker, she couldn’t avoid the sound of her name whispered by students. Once in a while, 'Nadia' would pop up in a hallway conversation, and she didn’t miss the stares they threw her, hostile or curious they might be. Why couldn’t she just reach her damn locker in peace?

“Hi, Nadia.” Leonardo Wendell came up behind her a few seconds later, a little too cheerful.

“Oh, Leo,” She put her hand over her chest, too shocked to speak. “Hi.” She said, regaining her composure.

“What's up?” Leo cocked an eyebrow. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. Just,” Nadia tilted her head, unsure, “surprised to see you.”

“Surprised...?” Leo didn't put down the eyebrow. “You look like you just met me. What's up?”

“I guess...” Nadia pulled Leo in a farther part of the hallway when a girl passed. Fortunately, this one didn't turn her head towards Nadia. She grinned and Leo was getting more puzzled by the second. “You've heard about Ethan Sinclair.”

“Yeah, and I heard you were in his Chem. Class and that you were—”

“Shh!” Nadia hissed then gritted her teeth.

“Everybody’s known since recess.” Leo chuckled at her reaction. “Is that why you're so weird today?”

Nadia stole a glance at the big clock on the wall on top of a door, indicating nine forty-eight. News surely travelled fast. “No! I just don't like being stared at like I'm fish from the market!” She hissed.

Leo snorted, and looked at her as though she was overreacting. “He's just your Chemistry partner, Nadia. Don't worry, he'll have more partners.”

As far as they were concerned, Chemistry was the only class they were ever arranged to partners, apart from P.E..

“And why are you taking it so heavily? It'll only last today. I promise.” Leo rolled his eyes, then slammed Nadia's locker shut, before he proceeded to tow her towards the cafeteria.

.:.

This was the first time Leo had ever promised Nadia anything and broke it.

The first week had almost ended but the pairs of eyes which stalked Nadia hadn’t abated.

“Maybe they all want to know if you're going to get cocky.” Leo suggested one afternoon, as they walked to their classroom just before Chemistry started that Friday. Science had been Nadia’s favorite subject for years, and never in her seventeen years did she think she would actually abhor it.

“I don't understand. Ethan Sinclair's not the only Sinclair-like person in school.”

“Then that proves that Ethan is the greatest of the Sinclair-likes.”

Nadia laughed sarcastically. “Just because he did commercials and his father sold cars?”

“And he owns malls.” Leo gave her a pointed look.

Nadia's lips formed a pout. “Joe McRed owns—”

“A convenience shop, Nadia.”

“All right! All right. Little Missouri is so honored to have Ethan Sinclair fly here from New York. Just great.” She said in that sarcastic tone again. “Is he the only one we’re so honored to have here? We have, I don't know, David Cook.”

“Tom Sawyer, too.” Leo grinned, mocking her.

“You suck.” Nadia grunted back, ruffling his dark brown hair, which knocked his eyeglasses askew.

“Darn! It took me half an hour to fix that without any gel!”

“I don't comb my hair at all. You’re such a nerd.”

“Oh, really?” Leo nudged her arm.

Nadia knew she only had five minutes before Chemistry started. It was the last class she had for the day. Before she could stop their childish arguments though, they bumped into a teacher known for doing what Nadia expected she would do after class, “Nadia, Leo, do you mind helping me with these books? Up in the library?”

Nadia's eyebrows reluctantly rose. It was Mrs. Lo carrying several books against her chest, their librarian, also Nadia's favorite teacher, who color-coded her skirts based on the day. Today was green, a Friday. The colors often helped Nadia when she was mentally sick. Like now.

Before Nadia could think of a polite excuse, Leo had already said, “Sure!” as he grabbed Mrs. Lo's books from her arms, and gave some to Nadia without her consent.

.:.

“What's happening to you, Nadia Scarlett?” Mr. Rodge frowned, apparently disappointed at her for her consecutive late appearances to class. “You were late two times this week. You had never been late before.”

The class burst out in a bubble of whispers as Nadia tried to explain the library incident, wondering how and why, of all the students, he remembered how many times Nadia had been late this week.

Mr. Rodge completely ignored her. “I hope I can believe your excuse.” He ushered her with his hand to the chair beside Ethan. It seemed like lecture day today. “You weren't like this in ninth grade.”

Nadia slumped down on her chair.

“Hey, what's up?” Ethan gleefully greeted.

She turned to him, shocked that he even had the nerve to ask such question when Mr. Rodge was busy humiliating her in front of the whole class seconds ago. Discreetly surveying her surroundings had become her forte, and when she did it then, just as she had expected, all the students’ eyes were glued to her.

“It's... great.” She forced a lame smile, which only made her look constipated.

“Nadia!” Mr. Rodge interrupted their tiny conversation. “A Pascal is equal to how many Atmospheres?”

.:.

The Waydegener garden was another tourist spot for this Friday afternoon. It had always been the most populated area when the week ended, but it never had the whole school to itself before.

“Look! There's James Carlton!” Christie Belkin pointed to a tall, straight-bodied, blonde boy who was practically more than fifty meters across the field with people Nadia assumed to be his friends.

Christie usually hung out with Nadia and Leo. However, she was different from them – she was simply extroverted. Not to mention she was blonde, too. Boys didn't stop messing with her, and Nadia could probably total a whole month of her life dedicated to listening to Christie's gross stories of dating and kissing. Leo never understood why Christie kept on 'enduring their company' when she could be with the 'ones of her kind'.

Unfortunately, she was one of the Ethan idolizers, too, but not one of the ones who glared at Nadia. Because of this, she had convinced Nadia and Leo to be a part of the audience in the Waydegener garden.

The reason a part of Waydegener garden was so bare was to allow enough space to let Ethan and two unidentified boys, the ones Christie was trying to impossibly reach out to, breathe without being suffocated by the constant throng of Sinclair admirers. Nadia recognized one of the boys as belonging to her Chemistry class, and who was part of other students who wanted to do advanced studying.

“I haven't seen you in ages!” Ethan grabbed the other boy’s shoulder into a death hug from the other side of the garden. They only pulled back when he realized he had other company on his side. “James,” Ethan faced the blond boy. “This is David.” He then turned to the boy with a stone-like face and dark hair.

“Hey.” James extended a hand to David, who shook it with a friendly grin.

“So, have you gotten any from Tennessee?” Ethan started to walk in the direction of the other building, which happened to be the male dormitories. The crowd on the other side of the lawn who had given them their space began to disperse.

James looked questioningly at David and Ethan.

“He means girls.” David said in a low voice.

“You have a new code now, huh?” James smirked at Ethan, who began jogging towards the building.

From the other side of the lawn, where the hopeless stood, however, Leo couldn't stop rolling his eyes at the frenzied blonde girl beside him. “Are you happy now?” Leo asked Christie with a sharp edge to his voice.

Christie, who appeared lost in a wonderland, sighed. “I wish I hadn't freaked him out last year. I didn't know that he didn't like girls who made the first move.”

“You did that?” Nadia blurted out in disgust.

“Well, I didn't have a choice.” Christie shrugged hopelessly. “That's the only way James would ever notice me.”

Leo rolled his eyes again and strode off to the other direction. Nadia followed him.

“Hey, wait!” Christie whined, as she jogged to catch up with them.

.:.

“How's Missouri so far, Ethan?” James inquired as he bent down to grab three cans of soda from a mini refrigerator standing in a corner of the room. He popped his open and sat on the readied bed, tossing the other two to Ethan and David. “Nice and peaceful, isn't it?”

“Honestly, I haven't had my tour yet. Father made me arrange things in my bedroom. I know, quite disgusting. I felt like a girl.”

James laughed, sipping his soda. “That's a pity. So, we won't live together for the year, then? Can't you ask him to just let you board here?”

Ethan shrugged hopelessly.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a male dormitory here; or at least, a first-rate one.” David commented out of the blue.

“Yeah,” James laughed again. “Dad had someone fix this up, figuring I might be too tired to do it myself. They treat you like a servant, huh, Ethan?”

Ethan snorted, helping himself beside David on the couch. “Yeah, he thinks I've been taking advantage of the Sinclair's name to be out all the time since I turned seventeen.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s why I’m here – to be trained as his maid.”

“Pity.” James clucked his tongue. Ethan shook his own can of soda towards James and David's direction.

“Hey! The carpet was newly cleaned!”

“You sound like a girl when you say that!” Ethan laughed raucously.

“Speaking of girls...” James hinted, grinning wickedly.

“Hey, think I've got to go. Mother's expecting me at the building now.” David said as he stood up suddenly and checked his watch. “Thanks for this.” He raised the can of soda.

James nodded at him with a smile. “I wish you could stay longer.”

“Soon, I guess.” He shrugged and left them with a last smile of his own.

“Now, what about girls?” Ethan recalled.

“Yeah. What's with you? I don't have any, and that part in me hasn't changed.” James started before Ethan could ask. “Don’t try to lie, Ethan. Your nose is already big. Girls are like air to you.”

“I just got here, idiot.” Ethan snorted, throwing the empty, crushed can to him. James caught it effortlessly. “Anyway, this room's magnificent.” He scanned the way the floor and ceiling borders were wooden, carved into unidentifiable waves. The bed James was sitting on was easily seen as king-sized, with all green pillows and layers of thick blankets. There was a wooden dresser on one side, and carved, swirly, line designs identical to the borders. The curtains were dark, green velvet and so was the carpet. Even the refrigerator on the side was black. “It's nice, don't you think?”

“I think you're changing the topic.” James snootily reminded.

“You're still a smart ass.”

“I told you, I never changed.”

“Well, since you're asking, the only girl I could tell you about is my mute partner from Chemistry class.”

“Wow, that's nice. The first picture that came up in my head was a girl with oversized glasses.”

Ethan let out one of his loud, annoying laughs. “No. She doesn't wear glasses. Well, she does, but only when she has to read books. I think she's farsighted.”

“Okay, you're telling me about a farsighted, Chemistry geek.” James said in a bored voice.

“No. She's not completely a geek because she's...” Ethan snorted before he smirked, “Cute.”

“What the hell –all girls you meet are cute.”

“No! She's really –”

“Looks like I'm not the only one who didn't change after all.”

“Shut up and listen.” Ethan chuckled softly.

“I knew you were one to talk about girls.”

“Yeah, well, that's because she's very unique.” Ethan didn’t give James a chance to interrupt. “She's the only girl I know who hasn't talked to me.”

“You're used to girls talking to you?”

“Well, let’s face it.” Ethan's arrogance overtook his attempt to be humble. “It’s true.”

“Okay.” James, left with no choice, succumbed to him.

“Oh yeah, I know a 'Jessie' and she's really cute –”

“I knew it.”

“Of course, you do. And I met a 'Jennifer' but I heard she's a senior, which is too bad, because she's probably the cutest girl here. She's a redhead, which is a change because blondes are my favorite. But there's this blonde, yeah, and her name is Christie.”

“But how about your Chemistry partner?”

“Oh, that. She's Nadia and she's the cutest girl if she –”

“I thought Jennifer was the cutest one?”

“No. Let me finish. You see, this mute brunette, she doesn't speak to me except when I ask questions. She's so silent, and I can't even bear it. I tell her a lot of nonsense stories and I know she's listening but she doesn't bother to comment. The only times I’ve heard her speak were when she was reciting and answering my stupid questions. I do hope she'll talk more because she's –”

“Cute.” James finished the sentence.

Ethan chuckled. “Right. But I think she likes blond guys because I caught her looking at her supposed-to-be partner, Zack Star-Wars-Something.”

“It's a good thing I'm blonde.” James grinned diabolically.

Ethan shook his head. “She'll never look at you even if you were the last thing on earth.”

“Why?”

“Because she'll have me, of course.” Ethan lifted his chin in superiority.

“I thought you like Jen or Jessie or something.” James groaned, and rolled his eyes.

“I'll have to wrestle you if you grab the ones I mentioned.” Ethan stuck his tongue out, before he added, “Okay, except for maybe Nadia."

“Man, you’re out of your hella mind.” James thought his best friend wasn’t so coherent anymore. Was that what girls did to him?