Beauty and the Geek (I will eventually edit this)

Chapter 4: The Geek Shines Through.

When Aurora and Adam finished eating their lunches, they decided to get an early start on getting to class.  They had science now, which was in room 157 on the other side of the building.  They stopped at Aurora's locker first, which was located by room 412.  Adam's locker was apparently the one beside hers, that had always been empty.

They'd gotten their books and roamed down the halls until they reached room 157.  The door was open so they just went inside and took seats near the front. The bell rang a few moments later, and other students flooded into the room.

After everyone was seated, Mr. Moore closed the door, and wrote a question on the board.

Under which conditions do aerobic cells carry out fermentation?

"If you can answer this question, please raise your hand."

No one moved, but Adam raised his hand hesitantly.

"You, there."

Adam took a deep breath, "Some cells that usually obtain energy from aerobic cellular respiration can carry out fermentation when oxygen is not available.  There are bacteria and fungi that under absence of oxygen use their anaerobic metabolic capability for energetic supply. Muscle cells carry out fermentation too when oxygen is scarce."

The teacher just blinked at him.  He cleared his throat and said, "Correct.  At least someone in this class understands aerobic cells."

The students stared at Adam disbelievingly.  Had that really just happened?  No one in their entire class even knew what an aerobic cells was, let alone how it carried our fermentation.

Aurora glanced at Adam, and she could tell that he felt uncomfortable.  But she didn't really understand why.  What was wrong with being smarter than the rest of the class?  She didn't see anything wrong with that.

"What a geek," she heard someone whisper.

"I know.  Who even understands this crap?"

"A geek does."

Aurora turned around and glared at the people around her.  Who were they to label him?  They didn't even know him!

Mr. Moore, who didn't notice the whispers, continued his lecture on aerobic cells.

Adam seemed like he was in a daze, so Aurora decided to get his attention by passing him a note.

You okay?

She threw it onto his desk.  He picked it up, read it, and replied.

Yeah, just bored.

Aurora looked up at him once more.  She really didn't believe him, but she'd just ask about it after school.