Chapter 14: Biology

We get back to school a few minutes before class starts. I can't remember the last time I ate out, at a restaurant- the steak sandwich was fantastic. I actually enjoyed the outing a lot, and shockingly forgot about both the threat of being late, and his small monologue about how irrational he is, once the food came.

It's third period now. As soon as I realize which class I have, I tense up. I still don't know why he acted the way he did when I mentioned that I was taking biology on Friday- the whole conversation seemed weird for so many reasons.

He seems to remember too, because he's put his arm around my shoulder, basically letting me know that I won't be going to class without him. I sigh and start heading towards the classroom, definitely not willing to let him cause me to be late twice in one day (the school day after I didn't go straight home after school, especially). He grins widely as soon as he realizes where we're going.

"You have biology now, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm coming with."

"It won't make any sense if you haven't taken 20." That's not totally true.

"I don't care. I'm a fast learner."

"Alright, whatever you want." His parents said not to try and stop him from making stupid decisions. This doesn't particularly strike me as a stupid decision, but I'm nearly 100% sure that I don't have all the context.

"Can I sit on your desk?"

"No. Why do you like sitting on desks? It can't be that comfortable."

"I have a very nice, plump-"

"NO, THANK YOU."

He cackles like a hyena. "You're hilarious. And very easy to get a rise out of."

"I do not need details on that subject, thank you very much."

"You sure? Because according to you, we just went on a date."

"I asked if that's what it was. Because you took me to a fancy restaurant and paid for me."

"I hate fast food, and cafeteria food, and I didn't bring anything from home. And of course I paid, I am a gentleman."

I roll my eyes and shrug his arm off my shoulder as I enter the biology classroom. He follows me, and I don't have to look at him to know he's smirking.

A moment later, though, the biology teacher sees him and her eyes go wide. She points to the door. "Out!"

I look at him, and he's pouting a little. "I have a spare. So what if I want to drop in on another class during it?"

Ms. Lawrence shakes her head. "Nope. Out, now. I will call your parents."

I don't think that the threat will mean much, since his parents aren't known for caring about what he does at school. However, he glares and storms out of the classroom. I stare after him for a second, then realize I'm standing right in the middle of where that whole commotion just occurred and quickly go to my seat. Everyone else in the classroom is either staring at me, the doorway where he just left, or Ms. Lawrence.

She closes the door (which is a bit unusual for just a lecture, especially since she usually leaves it open for the first five or ten minutes of class, just for any stragglers) and starts talking.

When the bell rings, signalling the end of class, she passes out a page of diagrams to label for homework. "Fully labelled ear and eye diagrams are due tomorrow. Other than that, make sure you're working on the presentation, because it's probably closer than you think. Alright, dismissed." Everyone starts to pack up their stuff. She comes around to my desk, passing me a diagram sheet. "Todd, could you please stay back for a moment?"

I nod, my heart already jumping into my throat. I wasn't late, was I? No, I wasn't. Maybe she doesn't want me hanging around him- but teachers usually don't get involved in students' social lives.

The class empties quickly, and I'm getting more nervous by the second. When Ms. Lawrence finally comes back to talk to me, I can feel my heart pounding through my chest.

"Todd, have you taught that boy you came into class with anything about biology?"

"N-no, ma'am."

"Good. Don't. His parents have requested that the school deny him any information on the subject."

What? Why? That doesn't make any sense. Why would his parents try to prevent him from learning biology? I don't ask though, because then she might think I was lying about not having taught him, or that I'm planning to if the reason isn't good enough. So instead, I just say, "Okay."

"Thank you very much, Todd. That's all. I'll let your fourth block teacher know that you may be late."

"Thank you."

I leave the classroom, not really sure what to think of that. So, he isn't allowed to learn biology? Why not? Despite him telling me at lunch that he's not rational, he's rich, this was an order from his parents. Why? And they don't seem to care much about his school, or his dangerous driving habits, or basically anything that he does, so why this? It's so obscure- it's just so confusing.

"How was biology?"

I turn to see him standing outside the physics classroom. I'm immediately suspicious. Is he going to try and make me skip again, by cutting me off where he knows I'll be? Or is he going to try and force me to teach him biology, since that's apparently something he wants that he's not allowed to have?

"It was... good."

"What'd you learn about?"

This is dangerous territory. I pick my words carefully. "Mostly just diagrams and stuff. We're not learning a whole ton in class right now, because we have this big project due pretty soon."

"Oh? What's the project on?"

Nope, nope, nope. Change the subject. "Can we talk about this once we're inside the classroom, so we don't get marked late?"

He smirks a little. "Trying to get me to come to class on time?"

Good. Subject = changed. "Something like that."

"Wanna skip, instead?"

My eyes go wide, my pulse immediately increases by a rate of at least 25%, and I completely freeze. He flaps his hand dismissively before I can say anything, though. "Fine. Not today, because you just narrowly avoided getting brutally murdered by your parents on Friday- you're welcome for that- so you probably want to stay on the safe side for a little while now."

I can't tell if he's saying 'you're welcome' to getting me into that situation in the first place, or for getting me out of it. I decide it doesn't matter and let out a shaky breath, nodding. "Yes. Definitely." Though, staying on the safe side seems to kind of contradict being anywhere near him.

He grins a little. "I'll come to class on time if you let me sit on your desk. I've been told it provides a very nice view." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

I close my eyes briefly to try and stay calm (mostly to prove him wrong about how easy he thinks it is to get a rise out of me). "No, thank you. I don't think I'm that motivated to get you to come to class on time. Though, I'd definitely like to be on time myself, so I'm going to get inside the classroom before the late bell rings."

"Fine. I'll see you, then."

I'm tempted to ask where he's going to go, or if he's going to come to class later, but decide that I should just go to class, so I give him a little wave. "See you."

I get into class and drop into my seat about at the exact same time that the bell rings. Ms. Jenson gives me a bit of a look, since I'm usually early, rather than just making it, but I hope that the email she gets from Ms. Lawrence helps.

He doesn't come to class late. He doesn't come at all. I half expect him to be waiting outside of the classroom when the dismissal bell rings, but he's not there either. And then, as I'm walking home, the streets in front of the school are shockingly silent, rather than filled with the sounds of his unnecessarily loud car.

Only two weeks ago- or honestly, even just last Friday, I would have considered the absence of his engine's excessive roaring to be a miracle, a blessing. Now, I'm confused, and there's a feeling of disappointment somewhere in my chest. I swallow and walk home, trying to ignore it.

Was that it, then? Is he done with me now? Is he mad, or bored with me because I wouldn't let him sit on my desk, or tell him about biology? Or is this just his natural order of things- act like best friends, then disappear?

All I know is- I don't like it.

Dedicated to @andrewjammin for all of the support! Your votes and thoughtful comments always make my day :)

Thoughts on the millionaire's eagerness to learn biology? How about his reaction when the biology teacher threatened to call his parents? And then Ms. Lawrence's conversation with Todd? What did you think of the millionaire's absence afterwards?

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