Anonymous

15

"You know, I don't see why German has all of these cases. And genders for words. Like, what's the point? They're words. It just makes everything so much more complicated." Keila let out a loud huff as she dropped her notebook back into her backpack. "And don't even get me started on all of the different strong verbs and the past tenses and stuff. How am I supposed to remember all of them?"

Bonnie laughed at Keila's rant as she slid her arms through the straps of her pink backpack. "English has strong verbs. I know that the cases can be a little tricky, but eventually they'll click."

"English has strong verbs that make sense, though." Keila argued with her. Bonnie had to hold back her laugh when she struggled with her backpack's zipper and scowled down at it. "English makes so much more sense than this weird, gendered, case-ridden language. I should've just taken sign language or something."

"Yeah, because 'I am' sounds a whole lot like 'to be'." Bonnibel pointed out. She watched as Keila's scowl was completely wiped off her face, and continued to list examples. "I went to the store doesn't sound at all like 'to go'. And-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, Mrs I'm so good at grammar." Keila stuck her tongue out and sent her a mocking smile. "If I don't understand what we need to do, you'll help me, right?"

Bonnibel beamed, grateful as Keila opened the classroom door for her. "Of course. We could meet up in the library and-"

"If I were you, I wouldn't take her up on that." Bonnie blinked in surprise when she heard the familiar monotone and spun on her heels to face Marceline, her sudden eye roll an automated response. "It's torturous. This girl doesn't fuck around when it comes to studying."

"It's not my fault that I'm responsible." Bonnie casually shrugged and sent Marceline a half smile. "Maybe you should follow my example. You never know, working with me in science might change your mind on school and education."

Marceline rolled her eyes, but her mouth curled upwards on one side and made her look more amused than irritated. "Or working with you might drive me over the edge and I'll go insane and end up running away to live in the mountains."

"Wouldn't be much of a loss, then." Bonnie teased. "I'm sure that defeating the scary Marceline Abadeer and her infamous death glare would be an honour. Maybe I'd get a medal."

Keila watched their exchange with an amused and oddly knowing grin, and casually threw an arm around Marceline's shoulders. "Looks like you've met your match, Marce. I don't think you're going to out-sarcasm this one."

Bonnibel flashed a proud smile when Keila jerked her head in her direction. "Thanks, Keila."

Naturally, Marceline soured at her friend's statement, her face twisting into one of her usual scowls. "Shut up. She's too... smart. I don't like it."

"Wow, Marceline," Bonnie snorted with laughter, "you actually managed a compliment. I'm surprised. We were almost there last week, but you finally did it. I'm both proud and surprised that you're turning over a new leaf of kindness and empathy towards others."

Keila laughed as Bonnie put the cherry on top of that batch of sarcasm with a slow clap. "See, this is why I like her. She's funny."

Marceline let out a sigh that was dragged out for far too long to be genuine. Bonnie's head jerked backwards in surprise and felt an odd pang in her chest when Marceline looked back to Keila with an actual smile on her face. "Yeah, whatever. I have to admit that it's refreshing to have a challenge. But I'm still going to beat her in an argument."

"One day," Bonnie concurred, allowing Marceline a false victory, "maybe in your dreams."

Again, Marceline's face crumpled into a frown and she shook her head. "You're too much. I don't know why my brother likes you."