Days Of High School

Chapter Two: Chemistry Poster

" Akai! What the hell are you wearing? "

" I know! I know! " Akai had already begun pulling at the hair tie holding her hair in its bun.

The dress code required all Shades of which there were only one and a half to have their long hair in ponytails, cover their claws which were more like acrylic nails than anything else with gloves, and wear sunglasses to hide their unique eyes. And Tyrann hated it. From the day he started at a brand new student teacher program, he'd always defied that dress code. Akai hated it as well, especially because she had to follow the rules for Shades so others wouldn't be " scared " of her.

So the two had agreed that at least in the chemistry class where he was the student teacher they would defy the dress code and be who they really were.

" What are we working on today? "

" You remember last week when we discussed a bunch of problems in the world that could be solved with chemistry? "

" Yeah. "

" My guess is a project where you make a poster on one of those issues and what you would do to solve it. It's the only explanation for the goddamn poster board on my desk. "

Akai laughed before taking her seat at the front of the classroom. She took out a golden notebook labeled Chemistry, crammed with notes. She could sense Tyrann standing over her as she flipped through the notebook to get to her notes from last week.

" You ever think you should take a break? "

" From what? "

" From studying. I know you want to get good grades so you can go to a top college but this is ridiculous. "

" It's my last year. I have to get good grades or I won't be able to graduate. "

" That doesn't mean go overboard! And that means a lot, coming from me. Tell you what, I'm taking you to that brand new salad based restaurant after school and you're going to relax for once. "

Akai only nodded as the bell rang knowing there was no point in arguing with him, especially in front of the class.

One of her best friends, Ivy Thornton, walked into the class and sat in her seat next to Akai. Then the teacher walked in, obviously displeased, to find that Akai and Ivy were the only ones in their seats while everyone else was standing in the center aisles between the tables talking to their friends.

" The bell has rung! Get to your seats! " Tyrann yelled before the teacher needed to.

Akai couldn't help but smirk as the students ran to their seats, scared of their student teacher who was half concealed in the shadows at the front of the room.

The teacher nodded in appreciation to the Shade before walking to his desk and pulling up the assignment on his computer. The projector turned on showing what was on the screen and nearly blinded Akai with the bright light.

" Today, we will be doing a group project. Each of you are going to choose a group and then be randomly assigned one of the issues we talked about in class last week. You are expected to make a poster on the issue and on how your group would solve it using chemistry. "

Ivy suddenly raised her hand.

" When is this project due? "

" Almost forget about that! " The teacher laughed. " Your poster is due by this Friday. Then next Monday we will present these posters to the class. "

At that several of the students groaned.

Can't they shut up and learn to deal with it? Akai heard Tyrann say in her mind. Most Shades had the ability to communicate with their minds which only added to the list of reasons to hate them. Yet neither of them really cared despite what people said about them.

I know, right?

The two were shaken out of their conversation by Ivy's words.

" No. I'm going to work with Akai. "

" Why work with a Shade? They're nothing but evil. Come work with us where you'll be safe from it. "

Before Ivy could protest, a girl with bright orange hair kept in double buns pulled Ivy out of her seat and towards the back of the classroom, giving Akai a hateful glare.

Guess I'm working alone.

She glanced at the poster board Tyrann placed on her table then at her notes.

My guess is that ' Climate Change ' is going to be the popular one so maybe....' Testing for Harmful Chemicals in Water? ' Yeah. I'll do that.

Refusing to glance at anyone, Akai turned to a blank page in her notebook and began to write.