Fen and Mara - Open Novella Contest 2019 Short List

Chapter 5

The new girl is the talk of the class, the whole week long. She's even the talk of the school the first couple of days, with her father being one of the few national celebrities Howemont has besides the superheroes.

Fen hasn't talked that much to her yet, besides some meaningless chit chat about their lessons when they were in class. She's in the seat in front of him for English and she's sitting next to him at the large workbench for their lab period. Their science teacher likes to have even numbers at every table and his table was the only one with an odd number. For most of the other classes she has found a spot with Almera and her friends, sometimes close to his seat, sometimes on the other end of the classroom. Not that Fen would tell anyone he knows exactly where the new girl sits in every class he shares with her.

Harrison catches him staring during History, though he doesn't say anything. His friend just raises one eyebrow pointily, silently letting him know what he thinks of paying attention to someone who isn't in a rock band. Fen only shrugs; it is more pleasant watching Mara than watching Mr. Humrick, their History teacher. The guy looks like he could keel over any second, with his sickly yellow skin and boney limbs. He sports one of the worst comb overs Fen has ever seen, the long hairs coming from just above his ears in a failed attempt to cover his bald skull.

While Mr. Humrick discusses the answers of their homework, Fen's eyes wander across the room, catching on Mara's profile shortly before moving on. He does that a couple of times, until he suddenly stares into her green eyes. She has turned in her seat to grab something from her bag and now she caught him looking at her. Fen flashes her a smile and focuses his attention back on the front of the class, hoping his reaction was casual enough.

Fen ignores Harry's stare again when he helps Mara set up her Bunsen burner during their lab period on friday. It's a ratty old thing, but it still works if you know how to tweak it; which the new girl obviously doesn't know. Her lab partner Monica is no help - the girl is practically failing the class -, so Fen doesn't think he's going out of his way to help set up the equipment. Mara is skilled enough to do the assignment without any help after they get the Bunsen burner going; Monica is visibly perking up when she sees how good her new lab partner is.
"You must do this kind of stuff all the time with your dad!" the girl says as she watches Mara measure off the right amounts for the solution.

The annoyed sigh that precedes Mara's answer doesn't escape Fen, though Mara's words sound friendly enough. "My father is more of an engineer than a chemist."

"I bet you never have to vacuum your room," Monica chats on, leaning her elbows on the table while Mara does all the work. "I can totally imagine a whole army of vacuum bots in your house!"

Mara doesn't answer to that, focussing on the assignment instead. "Can you hand me the Erlenmeyer?"

Her labpartner blinks non-comprehensively. "That flask in front of you, Monica."

"Oh, right!" The girl hands Mara the glass flask. "Is the butler in charge of the bots?"

Now it's Mara's turn to look puzzled, before she understands that Monica is still going on about the vacuum bots. "No, there was a rebellion," she says with a heavy sigh. "The vacuum bots have taken over the house. I've lost all my socks and now I'm afraid to go home."

Her joke is clearly lost on Monica, yet Fen can't help but chuckle. Harry can also appreciate the dry sarcasm. "Don't you hate it when they do that," he comments stonily, filling up their own Erlenmeyer flask.

"I know, right?" Mara says, keeping her eyes on her work. "Now I have to negotiate with the rebel leader for the release of my socks. That is gonna be such a drag!"

"Maybe you can offer them some dust bunnies in return," Fen offers, taking part in the supposedly serious conversation.

"That could work," Harry agrees. "If you're short on those you can always check Mr. Humrick's classroom."