Fen and Mara - Open Novella Contest 2019 Short List

Chapter 6

It's wednesday afternoon and Mara has already discovered that this is the best part of the week. Together with some classmates she walks to the hangar next to the school for her Tech Ed. class. She's the only girl of her class that chose this, all the other girls have chosen other classes like Theater or Environmental Science. There are some girls in Tech Ed. from other classes, but Mara doesn't know them yet.

Harry and Fen are walking in front of her, shoulder to shoulder, each with one earbud in their ear. Fen has adapted his walk to Harrison's limping gait, making the boy's cane seem like just another accessory. He has decorated the walking cane in a way similar to what he does with his clothes: the whole thing is covered in stickers from bands.
They are always sitting together in the back of the class, forming one silent front. They look a lot tougher than they really are, Mara suspects; Fen is looking especially edgy with his dark eyes and his dark head of hair with the shaved sides.

The boys don't really interfere with what happens in class, which means they also haven't sought out Mara that much outside of their classes. Mara doesn't mind, because even though the attention of her classmates comes from a good heart, it can also be annoying. She underestimated how much influence her father's fame would have. It's like no one really wants to get to know her, they all see her as 'the inventor's daughter'. Almera and her friends may not ask that much about the professor, they sure are curious about the butler and the big house; they're practically lining up to come home with her to study.

That's why Mara has tried to go sit near Harry and Fen during classes, if possible. They're always talking about music, Harry can go on and on about his favourite bands and new releases. They also talk to her, about school and other mundane stuff; it's a breath of fresh air after all those questions about her home situation.

Mr. Muller, the Tech Ed. teacher, doesn't need to assign jobs anymore; every student knows what he or she has to do. There's a group making backdrops and props for the theater club, there are old bicycles to fix so they can be sold and there are mechanical appliances to be repaired. And if you think of a good project yourself, you can do that too. Mara loves the amount of freedom they're getting.

Last week, when it was her first Tech Ed. class, she mainly walked around and watched what the others were doing. A group of boys from one of the other classes is working on a classic motorcycle. They have taken it completely apart and Mara observed how they organised all the parts in different boxes.

Today she wants to pick up a project for herself; Mara is standing in front of the low shelving unit with broken down appliances, looking for a fun repair job. On the other side of the shelf are Harry and Fen searching for their paint supplies; they're working on a backdrop for the new school play.
Mara hears them talking about their English assignment, Fen is grousing. "There is not a shred of Shakespeare left in the library, every book is signed out."

"Have you tried searching online?" Harry asks, stowing paint cans in Fen's waiting arms.

"I did. Either there are parts missing or it's not the right version. I don't have shit!"

"Which play do you need?" Mara asks curiously.

Fen looks surprised, like he had not seen Mara standing there. "A Midsummer Night's Dream," he says slowly. "Why?"

"My dad has a book with a collection of Shakespeare's plays. You can use it, if you want?" Mara offers him. "I'm already done with the assignment."

"Oh! That would be great! Thanks, Mara!" Fen perks right up. "Can I pick it up this afternoon? If I don't start tonight I won't be able to get it done before friday."

"Sure, no problem." Professor Prince has a large library, Mara has used his books more often for school. Surely she can lend one to her classmate.