Out of Time

Chapter 10: Jello & Tea

The most annoying thing from your past is the flashbacks.

Thinking about the possibilities that may happen later drives her crazy. Why did I accept it in the first place? She asked herself and kept walking down the corridors. From that moment you can't take a step back unless you want to lose your opportunity over Lerriane. Azriella battled herself. Yes, that was the right call, no one can stop me from great opportunities, even if it's Max. She gulped.

"Look at your face!" Zach teased around and wrapped her from his arms, "What did you do?" Zach frowned and wiped her face with his bare hands.

"Get off of me or I'll kick your head off of your body." Azriella taunted.

"God! It's early in the morning chill Grumpy, see you later!" Zach messed her hair—her hair that she made for an hour.

"I hate you!" She screamed.

"Hey pretty." Eli walked beside her. "Look at you! Hmm, making impressions for your love of your life hmm?" Eli poked her from the side.

A familiar scent passed through her nose together with Max and his bandmates passed through them. Azriella took a glance, his gig bag swayed behind him while his hands are in his pocket.

"Oops, speaking of which." Eli giggled and wrapped herself on Azriella's arm. "Can you stop calling him that?" Azriella rolled her eyes. "What that?" She acted innocent. "The "love of my life"." She quoted on air. "But he is." Eli said in a very annoying tone.

"Whatever."

As they stepped inside the classroom. Zach is already sitting on his seat, taking a sip on his orange juice while wasting his ink on a piece of paper from drawing asymmetrical lines and circles on it.

"Hey asshole, what are you doing?" Azriella uttered and dropped her bag to her seat.

"Nothing." He responded and continued circling his ballpoint on a paper. "So, what's with the liner and hair?" He asked.

"Nothing." She imitated Zach.

"First rehearsal?" Zach submitted.

She nodded. "You look funny." Zach laughed.

"You are just fascinated." She bragged and grabbed her books under the table. "Tss, liner." He pointed.

"You're just jealous because I get to talk to your abandoned best friend." Azriella laughed.

**

"Good morning students, Exchange seats. Boys, move backward girls move forward. Boys in the back get your butts in front and girls in front move in the back." Adi declared.

"See you." Zach spoke and went to his assigned seat.

Everyone moved around, and she realized that Max was just two seats away from her original seat. Great! She sarcastically said to her mind. He takes one look at her face and sat at their table. 

Azriella saw the papers, a blank one, and the reference. As they both grabbed the paper at the same time, they also leaned at each other. They looked at each other briefly, then their gaze repelled like equal polarities. They both retreated themselves causing the paper to fall back in place.

A man was found murdered inside his laboratory. The police found a note written by the chemist which read – '26-3-58/28-27-57-16'. Max read with his eyes.

"Here." He pushed the paper to Azriella and brought his arms to the table using it as his pillow.

What the? She rolled her eyes and took the paper to analyze it.

Everyone was quietly chirping around.

"Time is almost up, does anyone have the answer?" Adi proposed. "Come on students gather your cells." He said.

"I can use some help." Azriella whispered but got no response. She grunted and looked at the clock, 10 minutes left.

"Do you have a table of elements with you?" Max asked. "No." She responded.

"I can't recall what element has an atomic number of 57 and 58." He whispered harshly and held his head.

"57, Lanthanum. And 58, Cerium. Why?" She asked, "Oh shit. Yes!" She whispered. Out of excitement, they raised their hands for a quick high five but immediately retreated their hands and look away.

Max smirked and started writing on the blank paper. 'Fe-Li-Ce/Ni-Co-La-S' On the piece of paper and raised his hand.

And from the back, a noise echoed. It was Zach, he was raising his hand too.

"Seems we have 2 answers. Pass your papers, finish or not finish." Adi declared and made everyone groan. "You may now go back to your seat." Adi declared.

"See you later." His voice was as cold as liquid nitrogen and it was enough to send a shiver down to her spine.

"You look good together but you're too ugly for him." Zach laughed. "I was about to like you, but I guess I should take that back." She rolled her eyes, "Maybe that's why you're not friends anymore."

"Why?" Zach interrogated.

"Because you're too ugly for him."

"Mean!"

**

While walking down the hallway, Marshall was already a couple of meters away from her. Max stepped inside and slammed the door right on her face. "Wow." She sniggers.

"Good afternoon my golds." She said.

They were about to take their seats but their coach raised her hands up in the air making them stop.

"We are your coach, I am Coach Christine, and this is James. This competition is themed as Disney. So, the obvious song we can pick from is Disney Songs. Based on your voices, beauty and the beast Is the perfect song. Agree?" She asked.

Max looked at her and crossed his arms. "It's not like we have other choices," Azriella uttered. "Great then, have your short break I know you haven't eaten. Then we'll see you after 20 minutes."

"Get us hot water I'll get us food to eat." He said and took off.

Who does he think he is? She said to herself but she still took what he said.

They went to their table; the cafeteria was so quiet it was deafening. He unwrapped the tea box he was holding and gave it to her. He grabbed the paper bag beside him and brought out two jellos.

"It is unsweetened, we can't have sweetened foods nor a heavy one so eat up. It's enough to make you full." He coldly said without looking at her.