Unexpected Expectations

Chapter 2: There is an "I" in Chemistry

I don't mean to brag, but I have a gift in chemistry. Ever since my father, Michael Brycass, got me a chemistry set for my 9th birthday. I was hooked on chemicals, bases, reactions and atoms! I haven't applied myself fully in the field, but was determined to change that this year.

As the day drags on, I tried to make a perfect first impression on teachers (The primacy effect, duh!). The 7th period bell rings, signalling the end of 6th period.  AP Chemistry, what a way to end the day.

I walk into the class. The poorly-decorated, slate and grey atmospheric classroom gave me a headache the moment I came in. 

I sit in the front of the bleak classroom. Prepare my stationary and ecstatic for my new chemistry classroom.


The tardy bell rings. I clear out my throat with a cough to signal everyone that this class has started. The classroom's closet opens and out with it a man.

My eyes grew wide, I felt blood escaping my skin. My eyes dilated at the sight of this man. 

It was him.

It was that man I thought I hallucinated at the beginning of school. I looked at him, but he never looked at me. "Playing cool, touche." I said to myself.

He stood at the front of the class, clearing his throat and yelling out, "Alright everyone, take a seat. I'll be taking roll, then we'll start talking about this class."

"Anna Byre?" "Here"

"Mike Forrester?" "Present!"

"Gavin Froste?" "Yo!"

He called everyone's name except mine. I, then, raised my hand. "Excuse me sir! But you haven't called my name during roll call."

He stared into my eyes. His gaze had creepy spelled all over it., "I know you're here, Alaska Caitlin Brycass." He said it with no friendliness but more solemn than expected.

I choked my curiosity. How does he know me? I haven't met this person at all!. Ideas were gushing in and out of my head as fast as you can say 'Creepy.'

He then spoke up again, obviously avoiding my gaze at him.

"Welcome, to AP Chemistry. This class will be a grueling class. Slack off equals kicked off. I expect respect, participation and dignity with all of you. And you should call me Professor. Not teacher, not mister. Only professor! Do I make myself clear?"

Everyone noded in unison  

A girl raises her hand, "What exactly is your name?"

Professor looks at her in apparent anger, "Does it matter to you? They call me many things. But 'They' isn't a class of sophomores. Did I not make myself clear when I said class my professor?"

The girl was as white as a smock. "S-sorry" she stutters.

I raise my eyebrow, questioning his sanity.

"Anyways, don't expect me to be 'chill' with all of you on the first day. Grab a piece of paper! We're doing a pretest."

Groans rang all around the classroom.

I took out a crisp piece of paper and a mechanical pencil. The projector emitted the words "Write what do you think Chemistry means to you, 250 words minimum."

"No contractions, no slang, no nothing! I expect the best work from my classes."

Everyone starts muttering 

"What's wrong with him?" "Haha, he's on his period." "Is he sane?"

A girl nudged on my and raised her eyebrow, I just shrugged in response.

25 minutes pass, and everyone has finished. He collects all out papers. He, then, moves over to his desk and shreds all our papers with an old-styled shredder.

We were all screaming at him. "Why?" "I worked hard for this!" "That's my paper! my property!" "I'm telling the principal, I can't believe this maniac."

He walks over to the front and says "I can tell none of you are ecstatic about this class. All but one has proven themselves."

Everyone looks around, looking for that 'special' person.

"Alaska Brycass, mind standing infront of the classroom?"

I raise my eyebrow, ready to question his logic (and sanity). But I just do what he says without hast, afraid of his intemperate anger.

He goes to his cupboard and grabs a flask with an odd-looking liquid. It was reddish-green and had an apparent foul smell.

He hands it to me, and screams out "Listen here! This is one of the most hallucinogenic components ever deviced. People who start failing my class will  get a drop, people who pass get none. I'll chose a person each week. And just to make sure none of you start getting ideas of telling you mommy or daddy." He says mockingly. "I'll know." 

He then grabs the flask, "You may sit down."

I quickly sit down, not knowing why he picked me or why does he have a hallucinogenic drug in his cupboard. I was genuinely afraid, I wanted to tell someone. But couldn't. I say to a girl sitting beside me "What should we do?" 

Her reply was "We should deal with him the best way we can, I don't want to get hurt." She said with a strain in her voice

I stood up and marched to his desk, I take a deep breath and opened my mouth-