Without Flaws | Fyodor Academy 1

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

        My mom has been calling me the past couple days, but I haven't been answering. Part of me knew that I should because I was supposed to help with the research her lab was doing, but I really didn't want to see her after she didn't wish me a happy birthday.

       Like always.

       The school was having an assembly right now, but I wasn't paying attention. I never paid attention during assemblies. I either tried getting Jules to focus on me or I tried falling asleep. However, Jules would just ignore me. Or wake me up.

       He was a mean boyfriend.

       There wasn't anything special going on in the assembly right now, anyway. They were just talking about a school event that happened every year; the science fair. Since this school was for the gifted or whatever, the science fairs always got competitive.

       Extremely competitive. 

       Nobody ever did those basic experiments like volcanoes and potato clocks. There were experiments nobody else in the school could think of; whatever people chose really reflected on their personality.

       Not only that, but the science fair was completely optional yet a lot of people still chose to participate. I mean, it could be because anyone who participated got an extra five percent in their science class, whichever science they chose. For me, I always participated simply because I enjoyed science.

       And the extra five percent always broke the system because I never got lower than ninety-six in my classes, meaning that five percent made my grade over one hundred. Mr. McCabe had to just keep it at one hundred, saying it 'wasn't possible to have over one hundred percent in a class'.

       "There are going to be a few rules to this science fair," Mr. McCabe said. "Anyone who wished to sign up will get a list of rules, but there are some I need to go over here due to last year's incident. Please don't bring any live animals to the science fair. Especially a horde of them."

       I felt called out. Mr. McCabe could have at least told me in private that I wasn't allowed to bring any farm animals to the science fair. He didn't have to call me out in front of the entire school.

       So I did what anyone else in my situation would do; I pretended that Mr. McCabe wasn't talking about me. I just shifted my attention elsewhere.

       Unfortunately, Mr. McCabe noticed and decided to use that opportunity to call me out even more. "I'm talking about you, Parry. Don't act like I'm not."

       Busted.

       Thankfully, I didn't know what I was going to do for the science fair quite yet, so not being allowed to bring live animals didn't ruin any of my plans. Besides, the animals were never part of my experiment. I just brought them because I was bored and wanted to spice things up.

       I didn't actually think that the animals would try to eat other people's experiments.

       Mr. McCabe started talking about the science fair again, so Landry leaned forward from where they were sitting behind me, resting their arms on the back of my seat. "What's this incident that he's talking about?" they asked in a whisper.

       "Nothing too bad," I said. "I just brought some animals to the science fair because I felt like it, and they kind of destroyed a few science experiments. One was set on fire."

       "Yours was set on fire," Jules said, his voice low as well. "And you set it on fire on purpose."

       "Is he a pyromaniac?" Landry asked Jules.

       "Nope. Just a troublemaker. You haven't even heard half of the stuff that Paz has done."

       "I am not a troublemaker," I said, feeling offended that my boyfriend would even think something like that. "I'm an angel. See?" I gave him my most innocent smile.

       Jules ignored me and just turned his attention back to the assembly.

       It took a while but the assembly finally ended. Everyone slowly made their way out of the auditorium, heading off to wherever it was they wanted to go. My friends and I decided to all hang out in my and Jules' dorm before dinner.

       "I kind of want to enter the science fair this year," Maple said. "Only because I want the extra five percent."

       "I definitely need the extra five percent," Jules said.

       "Ooh, since we're allowed to partner up, want to do it with me?" I asked. "I know you don't like science, and you working with me will also help keep me grounded and, you know, not make a mess."

       "You sure?" Jules asked. "I don't want you to feel like you're doing all the work because I'm definitely nowhere near being as smart as you."

       "It has nothing to do with smarts," I said. "Why else would you think that Maple wants to enter this year?"

       Maple glared at me, reaching for a pillow from where she sat on Jules's bed. She threw it at me, but I just hugged the pillow since it smelled like my boyfriend. 

       "I think you should join Parry for the science fair, Jules," Mack said. "Someone really does need to keep him under control and make sure his experiment isn't one that can catch on fire. Or explode. Or, you know, anything that will end up making a mess."

       "I would still like to know everything that Parry has done," Landry said. "Is it really that bad?"

       "No," I said.

       However, everyone else seemed to disagree with me because they all said, "Yes."

       "He is constantly bringing animals to the school," Evelyn said. "He attached paint to the sprinklers and pulled the fire alarm so it rained colours on everyone. He made a ball pit in the hallways more than one."

       "Don't forget about the car show he hosted," Mateus said. "And covered the hallways in bubble wrap."

       "My personal favourite was when he replaced the statue of the school's founder to one of Bob Ross," Mack said. "I mean, not that I have a favourite and I certainly don't encourage this behaviour."

      Landry laughed. "Seriously, how are you not expelled? Were you actually serious when you said that Mr. McCabe doesn't expel people often?"

       "Yep," I said. "My pranks never actually hurt anyone, and the only people who have actually gotten expelled were bullies. Mr. McCabe doesn't tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, or any discrimination, really. Oh, and he's my grandfather so I'm kind of exempt from getting in trouble."

       "He isn't," Jules said. "He still gets detention and other punishments. He just won't get expelled since, like he said, he doesn't actually hurt anyone. And if he left the school, the grading curve will go down a lot."

       "Oh, stop it," I said. "You know, all this talk about my pranks makes me want to pull a prank." Mostly for revenge because Mr. McCabe wouldn't give me S.T.E.V.E. back quite yet.

       "Ooh, can I help?" Landry asked.

       I smiled at them, completely ignoring the disappointed look from Jules. Of course!"

       "No," Jules said. "No more pranks."

       "Fine..." I said, though when no one was looking, I winked at Landry to let them know we would still pull a prank together. Besides, Jules probably already expected I was going to pull one no matter what.

       All I had to do now was plan what prank I would pull with my new friend.

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parry and landry are going to be such a chaotic duo omg. 

and i already love landry with all my heart. well i actually loved them as soon as they appeared BUT I STILL LOVE THEM AND WILL FIGHT ANYONE WHO IS MEAN TO THEM >:( (i say as if i'm not the one who decides if someone is mean to any of my characters lol)