My Redhead Redneck

The Rat Learns His ABC's

Chapter 5: The Rat Learns His ABC's

Monday. The dreaded seven period day, meaning we have all seven of our classes in one day. It's terrible for most people but I kind of like it. I get to see people I wouldn't have normally seen. Another plus is all the classes are in order so I can't screw up and walk into my math class instead of my biology one. That is a mistake I will never make again.

I can't help but notice Finn fidgeting beside me, wringing his hands together nervously. Pretty soon he won't have any skin left.

"Would you stop it? You'll be sitting with the popular kids before you even step out of the car," I inform him.

He turns to me. "Do you really think that?"

"Pretty much."

"In that case, can I stay with you? I really don't want to be in that crowd," he says as we pull up to the school.

"Sure if you want to, but just for warning I can be pretty boring," I warn as I step out of the car.

"Fine by me," he says as he follows me into the building.

~0~

"So what did you get for number four?" Ana asks Anya.

"I got TAN..." I tune them out for the umpteenth time as they continue to talk about school work. It gets old hearing about calculus for forty minutes every lunch. I direct my attention to Finn who is sitting next to me fiddling with his empty sandwich bag. A sandwich that I made for him. Didn't want the poor kid to starve, all he had originally was an apple and an avocado.

"So regretting that decision to stick it out with me yet?" I ask eyeing him. I woke up and he was working out again and let's just say I didn't pass up the opportunity.

"Nope. I'm getting an education sitting with you guys."

I smirk, certain that he's just being sarcastic, but when he doesn't smile back I get the sense that he being serious. At least about the hanging out part, I can't imagine he's learning much from them. I can't even keep up with all the terms they talk about.

"You can't be serious," I say. "I sit with them everyday and I'm bored as snot right now."

"You know from all the time I've spent with you I've never heard you cuss, yet you've had many opportunities. You always just use a substitute. It's kind of funny," he points out.

"I don't like to cuss. It's unnecessary. God gave us so many words to express ourselves and I prefer to use my head than have a potty mouth if I'm mad or upset. To me cussing screams stupidity."

Finn's expression turns to one of thought before he responds. "Your dad cusses all the time though."

I laugh, "Nobody ever said he was smart."

We both look at each other before bursting out in laughter. Ana and Anya look at us before shaking their heads and returning to what I'm sure is a riveting conversation.

"So what is your next class?" I ask him.

"Let me look," he says bending down to grab his schedule out of his backpack.

"I have engineering next." He informs me.

"Wait a minute, as in the Principles of Engineering class?" I ask dumbfounded.

"Yes? Why are you so shocked?"

"Well...uh...I didn't think you would take that class seeing as...uh. You know what never mind," I fumble out.

"No what were you going to say?" He asks with a smirk on his face. "That I'm not smart enough."

"No! It's just that class is harder than the other electives that you could have taken."

The bell rings and Finn grabs his backpack. The strap is about to tear off and there are holes in the bottom and sides. I can see his books move back and forth through the holes that threaten to tear open farther with every jostle.

"So your saying I'm not smart enough for it," he says laughing as he walks slowly away.

"Hey wait up!" I yell getting up and grabbing my belongings.

He stops and turns around with an expectant look on his face.

"We're heading to the same place," I say with an air of arrogance as I walk past him.

He watches me pass him with his mouth open. He walks to catch up to me.

"So your saying I'm not as smart as you," he says once he catches up to me.

"I guess we'll just have to find out," I retort before entering the classroom.

I hear Finn chuckle behind me as he enters the room.

~0~

Turns out Finn is smarter than me. I am currently looking at the problem in front of me and not remembering a thing that was on the PowerPoint Mr. Ringer presented to us before the weekend. He gave us an assignment on simple machines before the weekend telling us that we would do it in class on Monday. Well Monday is here and I have no clue what I'm doing.

I turn to look at where Finn is, his pencil flying over the paper in precise strokes, a characteristic of someone who knows what their doing. We are allowed to work in groups and I am in one. Anya takes this class and I am in her group but she is too fast for me to keep up. I feel bad about asking her to explain so I just sit there and nod my head like an idiot.

In a moment of complete idiocy, I stand up and grab my supplies. It's only when I start walking to Finn that I start to chicken out. Sadly he's already noticed me and is smiling widely.

I sit down and arrange my things in front of me, not looking in his direction.

"So..." I start not exactly ready to surrender my dignity just yet.

"So..." He copies and I can tell he's going to make me suffer.

I sigh. "I was wondering if maybe you could help me?"

He breaks out into a full out smirk and I groan.

"You're going to make this as difficult as possible aren't you?"

"Oh yeah. This is golden," he says while I put my head on the desk trying to hide my smile.

"Well what do I have to do to win your oh-so-wonderful assistance," I ask lifting my head not even bothering to hide the amused expression on my face.

"Well I was thinking you could go on a date with me. I've already asked your father," he says, his confidence dwindling as he gets to the end. A shy and hopeful smile replaces the cocky one and I melt.

Before I can stop myself to think it through I say,"Sure. You know but only if you want to. I mean I don't think I'd be a very good date. Well not that I'm a slob but... well... I'll just stop talking now."

My face is on fire as he lights up at my answer.

"I'm sure you'll be a fine date, now let's get to work."

Just like that the topic is changed and we start working. At times we argue and they always end up with me in a fit of laughter, Finn looking on, holding in his own laughter so we don't get in trouble. He had already finished so while I work through the problems he checks my work. We finish and with no time to spare.

As we exit the classroom Finn leans in saying,"Friday at seven be ready."

I stop and without thinking yell to his retreating back,"You better not be late or I might just leave you for another guy!"

I see his shoulders shake as I jog to catch up.