Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

3 - First Day

The morning bell echoed through Baxter Academy, a jarring note against the frantic scramble of students rushing to class. Varian, however, was far from ready. He'd overslept, caught up in a late-night conversation with his dorm mate over a game of Exploding Snap (a decidedly less explosive version than the Xylos card game Lashanie was familiar with).

The morning sun slanted through the dorm window, painting a warm stripe across Varian's face. He jolted awake, a groan escaping his lips. Blinking at the clock on his nightstand, his eyes widened in horror. 8:12 AM?!  His first class, Potions 101, started at 8:00. He was ten minutes late!

Scrambling out of bed, Varian threw on his uniform – a stiff blazer and uncomfortable slacks – cursing under his breath. He hadn't anticipated navigating the labyrinthine dorm halls, let alone finding the right classroom.  He dashed through the deserted hallways, his backpack bouncing rhythmically against his shoulder.

He threw on his uniform, a wrinkled mess of blue and gold, and practically sprinted down the hallway, his hair sticking out at odd angles. Bursting through the classroom door, he skidded to a halt, panting, just as the stern-faced Professor Chang slammed a textbook shut with a loud thud.

The class, a mix of nervous freshmen and bored sophomores, swiveled to stare at him. Varian felt a familiar blush creep up his neck. 

"Mr. Vaillant," Professor Chang boomed, his voice like gravel crunching underfoot, "perhaps you could enlighten us on the concept of punctuality."

Varian squared his shoulders, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Actually, Professor," he said, "time is relative. So maybe I'm not late. Maybe all of you are early?"

A ripple of laughter swept through the class, quickly stifled by Professor Chang's withering glare. Lashanie, seated near the back next to a girl with fiery red hair, smothered a giggle behind her hand. She couldn't help but be intrigued by this newcomer, with his odd sense of humor and unorthodox ideas.

Professor Chang, however, was not amused.  "Mr. Vaillant," he growled, "perhaps a detention after school will help you grasp the concept of relativity in a more...practical setting."

Varian's smile faltered slightly. Detention wasn't exactly how he'd envisioned starting his first day. "Right, detention," he mumbled, shuffling towards the only empty seat, which, by some cosmic coincidence, happened to be right next to Lashanie.

As he settled in, Varian caught another one of her amused glances. He winked, hoping to lighten the mood. Lashanie, unable to resist, offered a small smile in return. Maybe this Baxter Academy wouldn't be so bad after all. There might even be some unexpected allies amidst the chaos. 

As Professor Chang droned on about the history of spell-casting, Varian cast a surreptitious glance at Lashanie. Her brow was furrowed, but a faint smile played on her lips, betraying her amusement at his earlier comment.

Mustering his courage, Varian leaned in slightly, whispering, "That relative time thing was pretty funny, don't you think?"

Lashanie jumped slightly, startled by his sudden proximity.  Meeting his gaze, she couldn't help but grin. "It definitely wasn't boring," she admitted, her voice soft yet melodic.  "Professor Chang seems like the type who wouldn't appreciate it much."

Varian chuckled, relieved that she hadn't taken offense. "He certainly doesn't have a funny bone in his body," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.  "Maybe detention won't be so bad if we get to commiserate over his lack of a sense of humor."

Lashanie's smile widened. "Maybe," she agreed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.  "But before we worry about detention, shouldn't we introduce ourselves properly? We are classmates, after all."