Project 1940S

Chapter 20

"Elizabeth!" 

"Go away." I called over my shoulder, striding towards my Biology class. 

"No, c'mon, Elizabeth!" Donavan dodged through students, trying to get to my side. "I just want to talk-" 

I turned down a hallway to hopefully lose him as the students streamed past us. But Donavan managed to catch a break in the flow, quickly catching up to my side. 

"Leave me alone Donavan." I grouched. 

"Elizabeth, please, it's not about me." Donavan said, sounding desperate. He reached for my arm and I jerked away, before coming to a stop. He paused, looking thankful. 

"What?" I asked harshly. 

"My mom wants to know if you are joining Clem on coming home for Thanksgiving." He said in a rushed breath. 

It took me a second to digest his words and then asked, "Clementine is going home for Thanksgiving break?" 

"Yes." Donavan answered, seeming pleased that we were having a civil conversation. "I thought she would talk to you about it, but then mom called and said that she hadn't heard if you were coming and asked me to ask you or Clem if you were coming. I haven't seen Clem all day so when I saw you-" 

"I don't think so. I had only planned on coming home for Christmas." I answered. 

"Miss Silvertongue?" Professor Banner's voice said. I turned to see the biology Professor standing there, holding a textbook under his arm. "You're going to be late for class if you don't hurry up." 

"Of course, Professor." I said quickly, looking at Donavan once more. "No, I'm not. Tell your mom I said sorry." 

I turned and walked away, heading into the classroom to sit down. I was fuming with Clementine. Why would she keep putting herself in such a position to get hurt? Why go back home for Thanksgiving- without telling me- where she would just be around her brother more? 

I hesitated before pulling out my phone. 

: Can we talk? 

Clementine texted back fairly quickly. 

: When? Sort've busy

I stared at the text message. Clementine had never been to busy to talk to me. I felt my stomach turn uncomfortably just as Professor Banner came into the room. He glanced at me, but didn't say or do anything. I wondered if he had texted Bucky or Steve to let them know Donavan was around or if he had minded his own business. 

I didn't answer Clementine, putting my phone away as we started on chapter twelve: Diversity of Life. 

Dr. Banner pulled up a picture of a bee on a flower and started to speak, "This bee and the Echinacea flower could no look more different, yet they are related, as are all living organisms on Earth and the planets beyond. All life on Earth evolved from a common ancestor. Other planets, while we don't have the exact specifics, are most likely the same, though we may learn differently in time." 

He went onto the next slide, which showed a diagram of some sort with three main categories: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya in different colours. Words and lines connected the three of them together in many different ways. 

"Notice that from a single point, the three domains of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya diverge and then branch repeatedly." He pointed along the diagram. "The small branch that plants and animals occupy in this diagram shows how recently these groups had their origin compared with other groups." 

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, reminding me of how I hadn't turned my phone off before class. Dr. Banner had continued onto the next slide so I pulled my phone out, seeing that it was from an unknown number.