Sinclair Burton-Lake's Story

Kitty

Kitty had fallen asleep at her desk, again. She'd been reading, determined to finish one more chapter before bed, and had just nodded off; using page 329 as a pillow.

She glances at herself in the glass of the picture hung above her desk. Her strange sleeping spot certainly hadn't done her appearance any favours. Her hair is all awry and there's a smudge of blue ink across her cheek from where she'd leant against a pen. Her clothes are crumpled, and she has that stale sweat/yesterday's perfume smell that's distinctive of someone who's had a rough night's sleep.

The grandfather clock in the corner of her office strikes 11pm, and she's confused for a moment until she remembers that it's been broken for weeks. She'd meant to fix it, but kept forgetting.

She figures that she probably has about enough time to go back to her bedroom and shower before she has to start preparing her first lesson of the day, if she forgoes her usual trip to the canteen for her morning coffee.

She rubs at the smudge of ink one last time to no avail before placing the book back on the shelf with it's peers and heading out.

She spies Nova and the others up ahead a little way, in the courtyard, and frowns at the way he's holding his book, "Nova, you'll crack the spine like that!" she worries.

"Morning Clover. Lukas." she wonders whether she should remind them that they should be on their way to class, but can't bring herself to impose on their moment with school, so she gives the trio a wave and makes to move off, but she's struck by a sudden inspiration.

"Oh, Nova, Lukas? Now that I have you here, can I ask a favour?" she asks the boys, "Could you have a look at the grandfather clock in my office? It's broken."

She continues on her way, until she's stopped by the smell of brewing coffee. She'd been going to sacrifice her morning brew, but she can't resist the temptation when it's right in front of her, so she sticks her head round the door. "Morning, Boone - " she spots Rhea, "I mean, Mr. Keating...I could smell coffee...?"


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Sinclair

Sinclair groans when Clover bangs on his bedroom door, rousing him. He'd had a particularly fitful night, and does not feel like going to class today. "Yeah, I'm up, whatever." he mumbles, burying his head under the pillow until she's gone. He knows that Clover doesn't really expect him to get out of bed; she'd probably have a heart attack if he did!

No; Keating will come and drag him to class if his absence is noticed.

He turns over, adjusts his duvet, and promptly goes back to sleep.

Rhea Xior

"Oh!..I probably didn't.... you know I really can't read your handwriting." She sighed for a second, playing with her fingers while Keating drank his caffine. Again a slight pass of boredom seemed to cover her face. She hears Ms.Caspray before actually seeing her, it was strange how she switched between Keating's last to first name. "Wasn't it normal for teachers to be formal with each other" she had no idea what Ms. Caspray had actually come in for, but Rhea guessed it was for some sort of teacher buisness, something Rhea shouldn't be around to hear. She grasped her bookbag, which sunk below her desk, and with a short little bow she adressed Mr.Keating. "Don't worry, I'll probably pass the assessment anyways, I'll be around, and back when class starts." she walked out, smiling politely at Ms.Caspray, who seemed to look rather jovial, despite nearly everyone being groggy from the early morning. She nodded her head in a greeting at Ms.Caspray. Often her and she would be locked into debate over subjects ranging from existence to the School banner replacement. She had respect for Ms.Caspray. "Good Morning" she said to her before walking out of the classroom.

She walked out, the feeling of futility close to her, she was serious when she mentioned that Keating's class had been a haven, there were few other places that Rhea could have relaxed herself. Even though she was only steps away from his door, Rhea had no desire to enter. Most of the students would either be outside, or sleeping, even though Academy rules required students to be up at a specified time, who was she to enforce them? "I know one person who definitely wouldn't be up...." she began ti mutter to herself, as she walked farther from Keating's room. She looked up at the greish ceiling. "Sinclair..." Why had that thought suddenly occurred in her head she hadn't known, but she was quick to dispose of it. Compared to when she was outside before, more students seemed to pile into the hallway, making the school feel a little less comfortable than it did a few minutes ago. She tended to ignore some stares and whispers, they could've been talking about anyone.

She admitted that the only person she could talk to, was Sinclair, maybe it was his induced sleepiness in the morning and afternoon that had made it easy to talk about her problems to him. She hoped that he hadn't remembered half the thoughts she had sputtered to him. Sometimes she would have to lean by his door and whisper things. Gods know he probably wouldn't have heard her, but it was worth spilling forth those thoughts. If Sinclair was perhaps concious most of the time when she spoke with him, he had already known that Rhea was a fountain of thoughts. He was almost like a diary, except she would never tell him anything idiotic, like teenage girls tend to do, mostly anything emotional or from her past. She began to tread up the stairs towards the dormitories, the door still had that familliar silence to it. She leaned in slightly, on her tippy toes, and looked around. In a quick hushed, half-whisper she spoke.

"Hey....Sinclair....you awake?..."

she knocked ever so slightly. If he hadn't been in the mood to talk he would most likely find her back here at night, when he was lucid. She was happy that Sinclair hadn't judged her,that much was comforting. She could at least manage to get a conversation before class had officially started.

Kitty

Kitty laughs along with Boone, but runs a hand though her messy hair awkwardly; is he laughing at her? Does she really look that tragic, right now? She shakes her head a little, and tries to brush the thought away. She'd never bothered about looking like a dope in the name of literature before, it's silly to start fussing over herself just for Boone.

He asks why she's come to visit him so early, and she's about to say that she'd come about something that's hot and wet and far more interesting than paperwork, but then realises that it sounds...extremely inappropriate, and before she can think of something else to say in reply, Chloe rushes into the room, spraying her with water as she passes. Kitty raises her hand to her, now damp, face. Now she looks even more ridiculous in front of Boone. Fabulous. Chloe speaks so fast that the whole speech becomes one long word, and Kitty's eyebrow raises of it's own accord; at eighteen, Chloe's maybe a little old to appreciate being called 'cute', but she certainly looks it right now, while she's dripping wet and clinging to Boone like a long-lost sibling. Chloe splashes her with water again on her way out, and leaves a puddle on the classroom floor where she'd been standing.

She grins back at him when he insists that he's not as popular as he seems, "Don't worry. I know it's all political." she gestures at the notice scrawled on his board, "They're probably just trying to sweeten you up for good marks." she quips. She considers asking him, if a hug buys you a passing mark, what will a kiss get? But quickly disregards the idea; he might think she's trying to imply something...Gods, why is she so tangled right now?!

She takes the mug from him gratefully, "Mmmm..." she breathes it in; Boone's private stash of coffee smells much better than the crappy, school canteen variety, "You're a lifesaver, Boone." She glances down at his shirt at almost snorts into her coffee - there's a Chloe-shaped patch of damp. "Here." she takes the roll of paper from him, "Let me." She dabs at his shirt with a wad of tissue. "So...how are you? it's a little awkward to converse with him while she's so close, basically groping him in the name of tidiness.

Sinclair

Sinclair is woken for the second time that morning by someone outside his bedroom door. He can hear them shuffling about outside before they speak. It's Rhea. He curses under his breath; he can't just ignore her and go back to sleep. "Hang on a sec." he calls out loud enough for her to hear him from the other side of the door as he heaves himself out of his nice, warm bed. Yesterday's jeans and shirt are lying in a crumpled pile at the foot of his bed, so he pulls them on quickly to cover his modesty before he answers the door. "Sorry. I was sleeping...obviously." he leans against the door frame, his arms folded across his chest, "Did Keating send you to get me? Or is this just a social call? Because you know I need by beauty sleep." he raises a questioning eyebrow at Rhea.

"While I should just drag you to class, like Keating would want me to, I know you wouldn't like. After all, I really don;t have the heart for it. I just needed to find an escape from the hallway. I really don't like being around most of the students..." she began to confide in him. "You could at least go to Keating's class, he'll roast your ass if you don't...' She looked at her watch for a moment, class had probably already begun. but she had no reason to hurry. "C'mon at least try to escape the confines of your room for one class." she put her hand on her hip, suddenly feeling like Arissa but, stopped, the bell had suddenly rung, Rhea was rarely late to class, and whne she was she tended to become a little uncomfortable with whatever might have been restricting her. "Well...I'll see you....maybe..." a bit of nervousness in her voice. She looked at her watch and started to run toward the stairwell instead of going down the first few steps she jumped over the rail, and into the second flight with no incident, and then hurried down as quickly as she could, she neared Keating's class as more students left to their respective classrooms. She ran into Mr.Keating's door, stopping suddenly as a locket skittered on to his classroom floor and broke, a picture flapping on the outside of her younger brother. It had fallen out her bookbag, in front of everyone in the class.

The locket had been destroyed due to her reckless running, she stood in the class doorway unsure of how to react, but her mouth lay open slightly in shock.

Kitty looks away pointedly when Boone makes to change his shirt - under shirt or no under shirt - and pretends to examine a painting hung on the wall. A schoolgirl blush burns on her cheeks, but she lowers her face so that her hair hides it. When he's re-dressed, she turns back to him; it's a bit warm for a sweater, but the kids would have teased him mercilessly for his damp shirt...or maybe they'd have been to scared to mention it in front of him. She's overheard some of her students talking about him as though he's a wild animal that might attack at any sudden movement, but she;s never seen any indication of that. "You've never been student -friendly, Boone. she teases, taking her coffee back from him. "thanks, again..." she gestures the mug in her hands, "...and I'll...see you later."

When she opens the door to leave, the kids pass by her to get in. She hadn't realised that they'd been waiting outside, already. She must have been in there for longer than she'd thought.

Her bedroom is two floors up, and is every bit as disorganised as her office. There are books and papers covering every available surface. She places Boone's now empty mug down atop a tower of Mills & Boons and makes a mental note to pay him a visit later, to return it.

After her shower, there's just enough time to read a couple more chapters of her book before her first lesson of the day.





Sinclair rolls his eyes when Rhea mentions Keating's class, and smirks, "Keating loves me, deep down, Rhea." He ponders as to whether or not to go to class, but before he can make up his mind, Rhea's blabbering about seeing him later and sprinting off down the corridor. He watches her go, stunned...how can anyone be so eager to get to class? He looks back at his bed longingly, but he's already up and dressed; might as well go to class. He puts on socks and a pair of battered old converse, and then follows Rhea's route - at a much, much slower pace - to Keating's classroom.

When he arrives, some of the class are already in their seats, but Rhea is standing paralysed in the doorway. He has to edge round her to get in, "What're you standing there for? What's wrong?" he follows her line of vision over to the shattered necklace, "Oh. Fuck, Rhea." he whistles softly under his breath. He's about to say something comforting, but he spots Clover across the classroom, so instead he gives her a hopeless shrug.

He walks up the aisle behind Clover's seat, and as he gets closer he realises that she's sitting by Lukas of course. He wraps an arm around her neck from behind in a gruff, one-armed hug, and places a chaste kiss on the top of her head, "Mornin', Clo...Hi, Lukas." From his vantage point above her, the bracelet on her wrist catches his eye, and he stares at it - confused because Clover doesn't wear a bracelet - for a long moment before he realises it's significance. "Oh, yeah, happy anniversary." he has to fight to keep the disdain out of his voice, "Pretty bracelet, you make it, Lukas?"

He'd almost managed to forget about their anniversary. If he had remembered, he would have just stayed in bed all day. He realises that he hasn't said anything in a while, and so tries to make a joke, "I hope you don't expect such lavish gifts when we're married, Clo." The 'when we're married' thing is an old joke they'd started years ago and had carried on.

Rhea Xior

Rhea stopped for a second, then sighed acting as if everything was normal, when Sinclair became distracted with Clover, she was just showing her 'normal' frustration at the situation, so she wouldn't alert any unwanted attention. She levitated the discarded pieces of the locket, a portion of it was missing and had probably rolled under Keating's desk, she moved the metal portions into her small satchel hoping that she might find someone to fix it. She left the small photo there, there was no way she would be stepping back into her past again. She had left that picture in that locket for a reason, to keep it away from the rest of her possessions, and then one night she had thought she lost it, apparently it must have been in some small loophole in her bookbag. She hesistated for a moment, and then remembered almost knocking over someone as she rushed to class. "Lennon!...I-I'm sorry...just me almost being late..." she nodded at him, before walking past the door, with her telekinesis she lifted the small photo, and held it in her hand. A picture of a blonde haired, hazel eyed boy, his two front teeth missing, he was obviously a toddler, yet the picture seemed prehistoric, it was yellowing and in the corner a burnt charred mark was on it. Rhea suddenly had a flashback, one of those dealers and his pistol, which laid close to the family picture in the living room, the barrel of his gun was so arid that it burned some of the photograph. It was a family photo too, which she ripped a piece from after the incident. She flipped it over, the back just as prehistoric as the front, This would definitely effect her, but not in a positive way.

Her face became serious as she palmed the photo, her hand creasing as the photo folded. She realizes that she is blocking the door, and takes her usual seat next to window, although she does so quietly and without a snarky remark for Keating. She definitely hadn't thought of one yet, her eyes gazed into the window. "Now I know I'm not passing that assessment" She thought to herself.

There's a weird smell lingering in the air...burning? He opens his mouth to ask if anyone else can smell it, but suddenly realises that it's him. "Fucking hell!" he jumps out of his chair, knocking it over in the progress. His jaw and fists clench when Lukas makes him lame excuse about a fly, but doesn't say anything; he's not convinced that there had been any fly, but he doesn't have any evidence to the contrary.

He runs a hand though his long-ish hair, and most of it still seems to be intact. "Don't worry about it...I could do with a trim" he tries to make a joke out of it, but his voice is tight and irritated.

He and Lukas had been friends, once. The three of them - Clover, Lukas and he - used to hang out together quite happily; up until Sinclair had started noticing the looks that passed between the other two, the goofy, lovelorn smile permenantly fixed to Lukas's face, the way he'd touch her arm or brush against her at every oppurtunity. He'd brushed it off as an over-active imagination, or paranoia, but when Lukas had told him - all anxious and overly-excited - that he planned on asking Clover out, he hadn't been able to pretend any longer. He'd tried to talk Lukas out of the idea ("But...I always thought you and Nina made a cute couple! You two should get back together!", "How about Ava? She's hot! I think Ava likes you, man!", "Y'know, Clover snores. Loudly. Really."), but to no avail. The last year had been the worst of his life.

Sinclair had always thought that he and Clover would end up together; that he had all the time in the world to gather up enough courage to tell Clover how he feels...that everything else fades to grey in comparison to her, that his heart beat is erratic and breathing seems difficult when he thinks about her, that he feels sick with a mixture of nerves, excitement, and hope whenever she touches him. The truth is, he'd marry Clover today, if she asked him. But, whatever...

He hadn't even noticed Ava's arrival, and his head snaps up when she speaks. He rolls his eyes - he seems to be doing that a lot, this morning - when the blonde mentions the anniversary, "Yeah, we're all just waiting for our wedding invites with baited breath, aren't we Ava?" he drawls, "What colour were you thinking for my bridesmaid's dress, Clo?"

He leans back in his chair, putting his feet up on the back of Clover's chair lazily, resting his head in his palm and looking past the others to stare blankly forward; he's sure that he'll be in a foul mood for the rest of the day.

Kitty's oh-so-true proclamation of "You've never been student -friendly, Boone." served as an cue of her dismissal and the young pupil's arrival. Boone gave an amused yet somehow disappointed grumble of agreement, wishing she could stay and chat but knowing that work called for other such things. His students poured into the room, all taking their usual seats, and he ran a hand through his hair before wiping his left eye . My, they were rambunctious this morning. He just sat silently at his desk, waiting for everyone to arrive, watching each one of them trickle in with his tired stare. Clover, Lukas, Lennon, Rhea, Sinclair, Ava... that was it? Where the bloody hell were his students? Well, Chloe and Everlie should be off saying farewell to their fish friends, that he knew, but other than those two... He sighed, deciding that while he could be peeved at the students for coming late and wasting class time, he could also just not give a damn and cherish the down time. Less work and all the same pay, really. Just for good measure, he rolled over and scribbled, "No... seriously" underneath the original scrawling of "ASSESSMENT TODAY" but made no other move as an educator.

They were rather content yakking away. Apparently it was Clover and Lukas' anniversary and being that he had both of them in his class, lucky him, it was the hottest topic of the morning. Oh, teen love! He was sure this one was going to last a lifetime! He sighed again. Rhea came spilling in and dropped her locket onto the floor. The thing was busted - clearly - and a piece had slid under his desk. At first, he remained in his perpetual state of boredom but when he glanced up to see if she planned on picking the thing up, he faltered, a bothered frown tugging on his lips as he winced. Uh oh. Apparently the jewelry meant something to the girl. He was half afraid she'd broken down and would start to malfunction - pulling out a katana or something and going on a mass murder rampage. Instead, she just kind of deflated into her seat. He felt bad for the thing, especially so after Sinclair (weren't they supposed to be good friends or something? He'd always assumed so.) just kind of brushed her off. He picked up the piece and tried to make eye contact with her as he wiggled it in his fingers but, ah, she'd become too distracted with looking outside the window. Bad day for the girl. He pocketed it, vowing to simply return it after class.

Next thing he knew, Lukas and Sinclair were spatting off, flexing and unflexing their possessive ultra-macho masculine powers in front of Clover. He rolled his eyes at the dominance charade (he half expected the two of them to leap atop the desk, pull down their drawers, and reveal baboon buttocks to settle the dispute like true wild animals) and wondered if they'd even begun to think about whether it'd make the very lucky girl feel uncomfortable being bartered over like she was some object to be won. Again, he didn't have much of a desire to voice these opinions and would have gladly just tucked his opinions into his pocket, but he was pretty sure it was his job as teacher to keep his kids from spitting literal fire at one another. For the first time since everyone'd streamed in, he spoke.

"Ehem, Mr. Tricon," he began, fluttering his downcast eyes up to level with the kid, "while I'm very glad your big anniversary day has been apparently very hot so far, I would be much obliged if you were to... erm, simmer down a tad." he said. He finished it with passive shrug, as if his interjection was merely an idea to consider before he'd thought of another valid point to add to his argument. "Damaging Mr. Burton-Lake's luxurious locks on a day he'd actually dragged himself to class seems like a crime, after all." he drawled. To add to the point, he gave a feigned smile, a couple short claps, and a simple "Bravo, Sinclair." After he'd spoken, there was a bit of an awkward silence in the class and he chuckled. "Class, carry on, by all means. We're waiting on a couple of your peers to begin today. There's a group-evaluation to be done which means we can't do it without the whole class present. I'm sure you'll all pass with flying colors considering how well you all get along, though."

He grinned again. "Coffee, anyone? No? Okay." and then he continued to scribble nonsense onto paperwork he had to get done by the end of the day.

---

MEANWHILE: The young boy had been sitting in the empty class room for entirely too long, reading in the relative dark. Suddenly, he perked his head up as if he were having a psychic vision. "Aw crud, Ms. Molly's history class isn't for a couple hours!"

Face palm ensued.

Clover falls silent, along with the rest of the class, when Rhea's necklace smashes. She's not really sure what to say or do, so she's grateful when Lukas speaks up, offerring to try his hand at fixing it. There's a familiar warmth in her; when he does things like that - selfless things, thoughtful things - she's reminded of why she loves him quite so much.

Clover pats Sinclair's arm in greeting when he's wraps it around her neck, but she's shocked to see him awake and in class so early. "I don't think I've ever said this before, but good morning, Clair." She twists the bracelet round on her wrist when Sinlair mentions it, glancing across at it's maker affectionately.

She snorts, loudly, when Sinclair advises her not to expect any tokens of fondness to come from their fictional marriage, "I've come to learn not to expect a single thing from you over the years, Clair." She knows that he won't take it the wrong way. Their friendship is built on sterner stuff than that, and they can exchange jokey insults and banter.

Her head whips around when Sinclair swears and chair clatters to the ground. "Lukas!" she chastises him, but her tone is laced with amusement; she's never seen Sinclair move so fast before. Keating intervenes, drawing everyone's attention over to them, and she gives the teacher a weak, half-smile. "That was almost a 'happy anniversary, Sir. Almost."

When Keating's finished with his first telling-off of the day, she turns back to Sinclair and gives him an apologetic look - swallowing back a grin - on her boyfriend's behalf, "Should have just stayed in bed, eh? It's safer."

Ava's arrival into the conversation is welcome. Clover holds out her arm for Ava to cast an appraising eye over her new bracelet. "Lukas made it." he voice is a mixture of pride and endearment, "Isn't it perfect?". She grabs Lukas' hand and holds it out to Ava, "He has magic hands, y'know."

She bats Sinclair away when he makes a sarky remark about wedding invites and bridesmaids dresses, "I'll force you into a fuschia bridemaids dress for the rest of your life if you don't shut up" she warns, turning her back to him. When he puts his feet up on the back of her chair, she just ignores him; she can't be bothered with the affronted look he'll give her if she pushes his feet away.

Lukas has been quiet. His eyes fixed forwards. It's unlike him, and it's making her uneasy. She takes his hand under the desk, out of sight of the others, and pulls it in to rest on her lap. She plays with it for a moment, tracing the lines and callouses with her fingertips, before she's struck by inspiration. She uses her index finger to draw a circle on his palm, an 'O'. Then a 'K', followed by a question mark. Then a heart, just for good measure.

Rhea Xior

She looked up when Keating shook the piece of her locket, but she hadn't cared, it wasn't the locket, that could easily been repaired. It seemed he was ready for Rhea to break any moment but it would take much more than what happened today. She looked once more at the photo that was nearly crumpled in her hand. Her eyes showed a certain sadness, she became a little teary eyed, but was able to shake off the emotions.

Lennon didn't hesitate to sit next to her, and its not like she hadn't wanted it, or simply wanted him to leave, she was happy that he was there to talk to her about it, or at least do as much talking as he could."You want some company, over here?" She began use her finger to make invisible little circles in her desk. "I don't mind...." she mumbled. She looked over at Sinclair, who seemed to be much more awake than before. "The fuck's that about?

"Sinclair just tends to get a little rush when he sees Clover, don't worry about it..." She began to wonder if she should tell Lennon about the picture, she was boring holes right through her principles, no one was allowed any farther past knowing where she came from, her past had been locked up in an eternal sleep, what was changing now? Being at the academy for 4 years? Still she had barely gotten to know enough people to at least remember their first or last names. She began to mark the desk with her finger, which was now heated at the tip, the circles became burnt linings in the wood. Her body was struggling with anxiety, she burnt her index finger for a second but merely looked at it, and stopped the hobby. She took the photo from the desk and handed it to Lennon. "That's my little brother...." she smiled, something she rarely did, though it would put anyone under the impression that she was actually depressed. Lennon had yet to find out about Rhea and her past, she had only told a handful of people. She told bits of it to Sinclair, but nothing that was substantial.

Chloe Huntington

"I needed to wake up, and dive-bombing into the lake seemed like a good enough idea." Chloe smirked back to her friend, her hair already naturally drying in the sunlight. In a few minutes, she would be completely dry and wouldn't even need to change. "You know me, Evie," the brunette laughed, as they walked in unison towards the other girl's room, "I'm a daughter of Poseidon. We kinda' need the water to function properly." Her answer was pretty serious; she felt as if she did need the water to function properly, it was her life, and the only thing that really ever made her truly happy. Without the water... Chloe didn't know what she would be, but "happy" wasn't it.

"An extra towel could be helpful, I suppose." She smiled, sitting herself down on Everlie's floor as the blonde went to get changed in the bathroom. She looked around, taking in the quaint room, looking along the bookshelf that was sitting in the corner of the room. Her eyes glazed over all of the books - there were books that she had never even heard of before, by writers that she couldn't pronounce the name of up there, along with the minimal amount that she did know. "We best get a move on, Ev. Keating can't wait forever. He may just explode."

---

William Hawk

Will was quite shocked at Nina's reply. She wasn't one for skipping lessons, that was for sure, and he had to hold back a gawp in awe as she agreed to his proposition of missing out on ol' Cadwell's lesson and spending some quality time together. "You're seriously going to skip class, just to spend some time with little old me? Why Miss Collins, I'm shocked. I didn't think I meant that much to you, that you'd risk getting in trouble." He smiled at her, a hint of playfulness glinting in his eyes. He leaned over and took her hand in his momentarily, brushing his fingers over her soft, porcelain colored palms. "This is going to go well." He said, tracing one of the lines that ran down her palm, from the bottom of her middle finger, down to the bottom of her hand. Not many actually knew that he could read palms, and that was what he was doing now, staring intently at Nina's hand.

"Love is also in your future too, my dear. With... someone close to you. Possibly a friend. A friend turned lover. You'll be a perfect couple. Have three children, two girls and a boy. You'll be married too, until death." He looked up, at her and put her hand back down, gently onto her lap. "Well, that's what your palm say anyway. Who knows if it's true or not. I believe it's true though." He smiled.

However, his smile feel quickly as Miss Summers rounded the corner killing the romantic mood that he had tried to hard to create. "Oh Miss Summers..." For once, William Hawk was speechless., his brain being focused on the romance that he was trying to force, instead of coming up with quick excuses as to why they weren't in class. However, he was saved by Zeke, the son of Ares, and wasn't shown up in front of the woman that he was trying to woo.

Soon, he was following the blonde male, nodding discretely as he told them to keep their mouths shut and just follow. He walked quietly behind him, slowly reaching out to the left however, and he took the hand of Nina.

---

Lukas Tricon

Lukas turned to Clover and smiled innocently. "I didn't do anything, my dear. Like I said, all I did was knock a fly away. Didn't want a little old fly annoying your best friend Sinclair now, did I? Couldn't have that." He placed a soft kiss on Clover's cheek, making sure that Sinclair could obviously see it, before his attention was taken by the teacher in front of him. He didn't like Mr Keating very much, the man was a scary human being, and it didn't help with him being the child of the god of war, Ares. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably as the teacher scolded him for trying to set Sinclair on fire, and he nodded his hair apologetically. "I was only trying to get a fly, sir." He smiled, before Clover saved him, taking the attention of Mr Keating away from him. He let out a soft sigh as he sat there, holding his girlfriend's hand. The incident with Sinclair had bothered him more than it should have done, and he didn't like it. "I wish we could have stayed in bed today," he said quietly, stroking her hand with his thumb, "as it would have been a better way to spend the day."

Boys and girls weren't allowed to sleep in each others dorms, but that didn't stop most of the kids from jumping from bedroom to bedroom. Portia was obviously one for doing it, Will was another, and Lukas and Clover were just the same. They liked to spend the night together, even if it was just to curl up and sleep. Lukas never slept better than when his arms were wrapped around Clover. And contrary to belief, she didn't snore.

Luke nodded a brief hello to Ava as she arrived, but he was literally pulled into the conversation by his girlfriend, as she displayed his palms to the blonde. He made an effort to get more involved, and turned in his seat to face her. "What can I say? I'm a magician." he laughed playfully, before then turning back into his seat. He was a little more pleased by Sinclair's next comment about being a bridesmaid. That was much better - Sinclair standing behind them in the wedding procession, wearing the ugliest fuchsia coloured dress that Clover could find. "Oh Sin, I think you'd look lovely in a pink bridesmaid's dress. It'd set off the singes in your hair." He didn't turn around to speak to the male, only kept his eyes forward, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Yes, it annoyed him to the core that Sinclair wanted his Clover. But he couldn't stop himself from playing on it from time to time, annoying the other in return by kissing Clover in front of him, and making jibes like his previous one. He was a jealous soul, but was proud of it. Anyone who had Clove on their arm had to watch out for intruders trying to steal her, and he was just being overcautious.

Lukas looked over to Clover as she wrote on his hand, asking if he was okay, and then adding a heart. He smiled softly in her direction and lent forward, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm fine. Just being myself, you know? Over protectiveness coming though. Don't want anyone coming between us, babe." He smiled, turning back ever so slightly to catch the eye of Sinclair.

If he was going to hit on Clover when her boyfriend was sitting next to her, and make little snipes at their relationship - this meant war.

Rhea Xior

As he hands the picture back, Rhea lays it back on her desk and puts laments on the situation between Sinclair and Lukas dor a second, in all honestly the whole was pure teenage drama, though who knows who would ened up with who, and Sinclair seemed more determined than Rhea had ever seen him. "Hey, Rhea? She turns her attention back to Lennon who seemed quite out of place all of sudden. "Something wrong?.." she asked him. "I know this is lame, and feel free to tell me to fuck off, but if we've both got to go to this stupid dance thing anyway, would you mind going...with me?" She pulled back a little in surprise, she to had forgotten about the little dance party the school had planned for the students, she grimaced for a moment, then smiled. "My pleasure..." she said mimicking Lennon's volume of voice. Suddenly thoughts started to whizz by in her head. "DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO FUCKING DANCE?!!!" She began to tap a bit at her desk and sigh. "DON'T TAKE THIS AS A SIGN OF AFFECTION, AFTER ALL ISN'T LIKE THE WHOLE FUCKING SCHOOL AFTER HIM?" She clenched her jeans trying to supress her thoughts, but her face was calm. "OH GOD I CAN SEE YOUR ASS SLIPPING IN THOSE PATHETIC HEELS YOU BOUGHT 3 YEARS AGO..."

"What do you think I should wear, and where do you wanna meet?..." she asked her voice smooth and low. " WHAT ARE YOU DAFT? ARE YOU AN IDIOT? A DUMBASS? A MORON? WHY'D YOU EVEN ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL????" She blushed a bit, her tan skin hiding most of it, she slumped her head in her hands. "I'm surprised you asked me Lennon...actually maybe I'm glad..." she smiled. Her mind tried to flip the situation, whenever she acted out of her norm this is what she thought, her bod was still, but her mind was rampant and judging. It delivered some harsh judgement, but it allowed her to think carefully before acting, this time she had all but lost it.

She stuffed the picture of her brother inside her backpack, and crossed her fingers. "Man when are we gonna start this lesson?..." She looked out the door when Everlie walked in, and noticed Sinclair asking Ava out right in front of Lukas and Claire.

Clover bumps her knee against Lukas', letting her bare leg - it had been too warm for jeans for the past few days, so she'd ripped an old pair into shorts - linger against his for a moment longer than neccessary when he says that he'd have prefered to spend the day in bed. "Remember what I said? After class, I'm all yours." She's inclined to agree with him, though; the morning had been chaotic, even by demi-god standards, and it would have been much more pleasant to waste the day curled around him.

The school rules forbid male-female cohabitation, but it's one of those rules which Portia always says are 'made to be broken', and Clover can't find it in herself to feel bad about doing it. She looks up at Keating, to make sure that he hadn't over-heard their wistful conversatsation; she's sure that he wouldn't get them into trouble - that's just not Keating's style - but he'd tease them mercilessly if he heard them speaking about anything even remotely romantic.

She frowns when he says that he's protecting her, and the frown deepens when he frets that something will 'come between' them. She's not sure where that particular outburst had come from. What's he talking about? Sinclair's joke? Clair's just...still adjusting to being a third wheel when it had always been Clover-and-Sinclair. It's not as though she'd ever dated Sinclair, the subject had never even been touched. Anyway, Lukas had stayed close friends with Nina after they dated, and she'd never questioned Nina's intent (OK, so them being best friends is not her favourite thing in the world, but she trusts him). Now's not the time to say anything though; not today of all days. So, instead, she just keeps toying with his hand.

When Sinclair - totally out of the blue - asks Ava to the dance, her head snaps up. She's sure that none of that none of them had expected that. She gives Lukas a 'what the fuck?' look. She throws a curious glance at Sinclair over her shoulder. He hadn't mentioned anything to her about asking Ava to the dance.

"Must be so nice to have someone ask you, Ava." she says, prodding Lukas in the ribs, jokingly. He hadn't asked her, yet, although she'd assumed that it was implied. When he'd asked her to go with him last year, she'd thought that they were just going as friends, until he'd kissed her. That had been a shock; albeit a nice one. "It's kind of weird to spend our anniversary on seperate dates, huh Lukas?" she teases.

Chloe Huntington

"I kinda' like him. Wouldn't want to be cleaning him off of the windows with a squeedgie." Chloe laughed, pushing herself up with her hands and feet, so that she was in a standing position. She picked up her bag off of the floor and followed Everlie out of her room, closing the door behind her with a quiet click. He flip flops smacked against the floor as they walked, creating an annoying sound as they walked. She hated the sound of flip flops against linoleum, but they were the easiest shoes to slip onto wet feet - converse didn't work, flats got stuck, boots were extremely uncomfortable, so flip flops it was. She had practice with these sort of things. "When I dashed into his class quickly to say that we were going to be late, it said something about an assessment on the board. We're obviously gonna' be using our powers on something. Hopefully each other!" She laughed, as they trundled along the corridor.

Soon, they were coming to the open door of Boone's classroom, and they walked in. It looked as if the class was waiting for them. "Oh Mr Keating, you didn't have to wait for us! We were on our way slowly, you could have started." She smiled childishly, walking over to him and nudging him in the arm softly. "Changed, have you? Hope I didn't ruin your moment with the blonde English teacher." She poked her tongue out at the teacher she saw as an older brother and then walked over to her usual seat, alongside Everlie, near Lukas and Clover. Ava, however, was sitting near the couple too, dampening the happy mood of the teenager instantly. She plopped down into her seat with a huff, making her disdain to the blonde highly obvious. "So, what are we doing today then? Do I finally get to drown someone? Oh, I'd really like that." There was a menacing tone in her voice as she spoke, and her head tilted to the side a little, so she could see Ava's reaction. Oh the joyful thoughts of drowning that blonde, over-confident, bitchy child of Aphrodite.

---

William Hawk

Okay, Will couldn't stop the laugh this time. "Virgin Mary's tits?" He chortled, nearly having to wipe his eyes from the tears that were growing in them from hilarity. Zeke was one of those people that came out with the most random things at the most random times, and this was one of them. And most of those things were fucking hilarious. "Oh Zeke. You do make me laugh." He smiled, calming down after a few moment of raving laughter. Comments like that were funnier to him than programmes where people hurt themselves jumping off of things being stupid. Little comments - the laughter pockets of life. He stopped as the dog tackled his friend and turned to look at Nina, a sad look replacing the happiness that had just drowned his eyes. "Nina, I have something to talk to you about." He sighed, and let go of her hand slowly, but only after giving it one last squeeze.

"Nina, I want to ask you to the dance," he began, looking at her with soft eyes, "but I'm not going to." He waiting for the reaction on her face, but didn't take too much notice. He didn't want to let anyone know that it hurt him not to ask her, to see her going with someone else and not with him, but it was for her own good. "I'm not... associated the best way - I don't have the best reputation, is what I'm trying to get through here. Coming to the dance with me... it would make people believe that you're my next "conquest" or whatever, and you're not. You're more than that." He kept his voice hushed. Even though Ezekiel had left, he didn't want anyone to over hear him. "I like you, but I don't want you associated with me as my next "lay", okay? So, I'm going to ask someone else. I'm sorry." He said, looking down to the ground.

Phase one, completed. Look like the good guy. Of course, Nina meant more to him than his usual comings-and-goings, but he still had his plan of getting the ladies to like him. The first step, was getting them to like you, and see you as someone noble, and doing things for other people - A selfless do-gooder. He just hoped it didn't back fire, and she wasn't left alone or something.

"Save me a dance though? As many as you can?"

---

Lukas Tricon

"You better be mine later." Lukas winked at her, playfully squeezing her knee as it rested gently against his, a romantic gesture of sorts to cheer him up.
"Thanks Ava." Lukas smiled as she complimented his handiwork on the bracelet. Even if he wasn't in the best of moods, or didn't feel right, a compliment was something that the eldest Tricon brother always adored. He never disregarded one easily, and he savoured each and everyone of them with a smile, taking them in his stride. He didn't like to brag, but he did love getting the compliments, and would fish for them slyly out of anyone that he could find. He felt his face wrinkle up into a contorted mess when Sinclair said that he was beginning to sound as if he had a crush on the long haired male. He turned around fully this time, and looked his "friend" in the face. "Now Sin, we've gone though this. I'm straight remember. I know how much you want me, but it's not gonna' happen, buddy." He smiled sarcastically, and then turned back around to face the front of the classroom. It was strange how they had all been friends at one point, and now they weren't. They had been a threesome, the closer of the two regrettably being Sinclair and Clover, but soon Luke has taken over Sin's space, and now the dynamics had changed; Lukas wasn't going to be the one going to the dance on his own, and watching Sinclair walk in with Clover on his arm - this time, the roles were reversed, and Lukas had her. And he was god-damn proud of it.

He couldn't stop the little "o" shape forming on his lips as Sinclair asked Ava to the dance - he didn't actually expect the male to ask anyone else. Maybe he was naive and stupid like that, but that was just him. He shared Clover's expression as she looked at him with surprise. He joked along with her as she elbowed him in the ribs, and then he turned to her, his face serious once more.

"Clover Alice Thurston. Will you do me the great honour of accompanying me to the formal dance?" He smiled, taking both of her hands into his, stroking them softly with his thumb. His hands were rougher than hers, because of his extensive work with them, but she liked them none the less, and that was good for him.

"Well?"

Sinclair gives Ava a relieved smile, "Thanks, Ava. You're a life-saver." If Ava had said no, he would have had to go around begging and bribing the other girls. "You know that the dance is the highlight of my year." he drawls, his voice thick with sarcasm.

When Chloe and Everlie sit nearby and Chloe makes a quip about drowning people - staring daggers at Ava as she says it - he kicks the back of her chair. "You bloody well will not!" he scolds, only half-joking, "Ava's going with me to the dance tonight...You can kill each other in the morning, if you must." He's not entirely certain that Chloe wouldn't drown Ava, given an opportunity.

Zeke's dramatic enterance makes him start; doesn't that boy ever just walk anywhere quietly? "God's Zeke! Shut the door a bit louder, please? I don't think that they quite heard that, up on Olympus." When Zeke buries his face in his arms and starts to shake, Sinclair feels bad, for a moment. Is Zeke crying?...No, he's laughing! He balls up a piece of paper and throws it acros at Zeke to get his attention, "Wondeful performance." he hisses, so that Keating won't hear, "Bravo!"

He inwardly applauds Keating when he mocks the happy couple. The guy had his moments, you had to give him that, at least. "Well, looks like Keating wants to take you to the dance, Lukas. What was that you said about being straight?" He'd say something else, but he's distracted when the teacher produces a cage, "You think he's going to put one of us in that?" he asks nobody in particular.

Clover raises an eyebrow, amused and surprised, when Keating does his terrible impression of her. She knows that it's not a personal vendetta, and in a strange way, she's quite glad that Keating is comfortable enough to take the piss out of her without fear. Some of the other teacher skirt around her, coddling her like she's made of porcelain and might crack in half if they say the wrong thing."Well, Lukas, it looks like you already have a date..."she gestures their teacher, and wonders, for a moment, what he'd look like in a dress, before she shakes the haunting thought away, "but, yeah, if you want to risk leaving Keating dateless, then I'd love to go with you, sure." She smiles at him, to show that, despite the joke, she's happy. Sinclair's final jibe at Lukas makes her roll her eyes, "Very clever, Clair. Not at all over-done or infantile. she counters, sarcastically, "Your wit is positively Wildean."

"Hey, Chloe, Ev, you just missed Sinclair's attempt at a seduction. It was quite a show." she grins, nodding at Ava. "But, speaking of seduction, what was that about a 'moment' with Ms. Caspary?" She can't imagine Keating hitting on anyone - the mere thought is enough to make her grin. "Poor Caspary!"she jokes.

Ezekiel makes his unexpected entrance, like a blond whirlwind, and she turns to look along with the rest of the class. She watches him for a moment, and is about to suggest that somebody go and comfort him, but then Sinclair throws a ball of crumpled paper at Zeke and she realises that he's just putting on an act; it's common knowledge that Zeke has a blatant disregard for rules.

None of them know for certain what Keating's assessment will entail - he likes to employ the element of surprise - but she hopes that it won't be anything like his last one. She'd ended up with splinters and cuts all over, and she doesn't want to look like that at the dance tonight. When Keating brings out the cage, she eyes it with interest. She laughs at Clair's suggestion that Keating might put one of the students in it, but it's a nervous laugh; she'd been thinking the same thing. "Well, he's not exactly the sort of person who'd buy us a puppy, is he?" she mutters back. She turns to Lukas again, "Definitely should have stayed in bed today."

Ezekiel Row

Zeke unsheilded his face from his hands when Sinclair threw the paper ball at him, an obvious smile was plastered on his face, he couldn't hide his amusement any longer. He turned to Chole, who at the moment had a slight annoyance with Ava. 'No need to get feisty.." he added. "I think Boone will have pleanty of feist to give us during the assessment..." He leaned back in his chair for a moment, as the class had started to entice itself with conversation, at this rate Boone would never start the assessment. " Why am I excited for this damn test?" he asked himself, he never applied himself much in the academic field. He had heard Everlie's voice while trying to relax on his chair. "Aren't you supposed to be in Cadwell's class?"

"Yeah, but I figured I could spend one day with my good old buddy Keat..." he responded back. "By the way you look quite lovely today..." he smiled back at her. The morning had already progressed well, and nothing so far had made him angry. "so far so good.." He looked back over at the group who seemed intent on discussing the whole 'dance' phenomenon, he realized he had no date, but the truth was that he was too shy to just ask anybody, of course the ideal person would be Ava, but considering how much she disliked him, he doubted that she would so much as glance his way as soon as he said it. " I can just forget about asking her, I'd be way too much of a chicken to do it...." He closed his eyes for a second. "Maybe Jules?...Nah...she attracts guys like flies on shit, she probably already has a date..."He ruffled a firm hand into his curly locks. "Then who?.." He began to look around the room, almost feeling a bit self-conscious, half the girls already had dates by the looks of things. He sighed for a moment. "Let me just think about this after class, I've got better things to do..."

"So....this assessment....what exactly are we doing?" Zeke started to share the same opinion. 'Yeah what are you planning Keat?..."

Boone practically began to rear back like a feisty stallion when Clover had caught onto Chloe's prodding at this morning's, ehem, "moment" with Ms. Caspray. "Damn that girl and her big mouth." he thought in his head, giving Chloe a signature pointed stare. Next thing he knew, Sinclair had joked about an affair between himself and Lukas and he'd suddenly decided that his romantic life (or lack thereof) should be a nonexistent conversation. "Hey, hey! This is completely unprofessional." he chided, bringing both of his hands together in a cross as if to say "time out". "Ha, as if you've had a single professional day in your life." he contemplated. Truthfully, these were just the sort of things he didn't like to talk about, be it with pupils or not.

Luckily, his cage served as a damn good distraction. A knowing, somewhat sinister smirk found a neat little place on his face and it only broadened with each of the comments made about it. "You think he's going to put one of us in that?" - "So....this assessment....what exactly are we doing?" - "Well, he's not exactly the sort of person who'd buy us a puppy, is he?" - 'Yeah what are you planning Keat?..." -"I know I've said this already this morning, but the fuck is that?" - "Whatever you plan to do just spill it, they don't pay you to sit around and threaten students." With the class roaring their objections to the mysterious cage, he realized it was high time that he get the show on the road, a chuckle beginning the test for his class this morning.

He opened the cage, reached an arm inside, and pulled out a snow white fur ball that kicked and thrashed violently in his hands. He set it down on the stool and it instantly stilled, pink nose sniffing and long ears twitching before it finally sat up on its hind legs and cocked a head at the class. It appeared to be a rabbit - a cute, fluffy bunny rabbit. Boone clapped his hands together and walked away from the creature before turning to his class and giving a malcious smile. "Alright, class. This test calls for power control beyond simply conjuring a flame or spitting a bit of electricity. I'm testing you on practical application of your skills and an ability to diplomatically come to a reasonable decision. What you see before you," he made a gesture towards the rabbit, "is a 'cerberbunny'. It's a highly deadly creature that will be growing exponentially more dangerous and violent as time goes by. Its fangs are filled with lethal poison and its tempermant becomes increasingly more brash. We don't have much time before it begins to attack. It is, despite its appearance, a monster. I offer you a simple assignment: make a decision." he said, stroking his chin. "The only real problem comes in this: more than half of the class must agree on the choice to act out on or nothing can be done. Furthermore, if you're on the incorrect side, you will get a zero for this assessment." he explained, "This is not to say that the popular side is the correct side, though. If you play your cards particularly foolishly, the whole class could fail. Furthermore, you have to carry through with whatever your solution to the problem is."

He scratched his head and scrunched his face making sure that he'd remembered all of the aspects to the test. Somewhat confident that he'd covered it all, he nodded. "Well, I'll leave you to it. I'll be silent from here on out until a choice has been made and carried out." And then he sat in his chair and stared expectantly at his class.

---

Arissa had very cooly asked the boy if he had grass stains on his pants followed by telling him he could use some excercise. His response? To chuckle sheepishly, a shy shrug rising from the blonde male. "Yeah, I guess a run or two might be beneficial for my cause." he agreed shamelessly, acknowledging his midly scrawny stature. He then took the time to check his pants for said staining and, indeed, found them. He smiled down at the girl. "Yes, it appears I have indeed managed to destroy yet another article of clothing." he said, not really sweating it. This sort of thing was routine by now for him, as klutzy as he was. He liked Arissa. She was wildly organized and a very active member of Olympus Academy, something that he could really appreciate considering the helter skelter that was his existence. She took charge and was incredibly passionate about what she believed in. She was refreshing, basically.

"I think I'm just peachy. How about you?" she had asked and he gave out a contemplative mew as he thought about it. "Ah, I guess I'm pretty peachy keen, too." he decided, answering honestly. He was nervous for class, but other than that, he didn't have anything to bother him. "Bet you're gonna kill this lesson today, huh?"

Chloe Huntington

Chloe kinda' zoned out for a while, looking at the cage that Boone had produced. She wondered what was inside, and she inclined her head to the left, furrowed her brow and squinted her eyes - in short, her concentration face. There was something oddly menacing with the cage, and with it being Mr Keating's class as well, menacing was expected. Her concentration was broken however by Sinclair's reply to her drowning comment. Ah, at least someone knew who she was directing that statement at. "Oh, all right Sinclair. Just for you. I'll only maim for now." She joked, smiling mischievously. Chloe didn't know why she hated Ava. Nothing had happened between the two, but for some reason, she really disliked the blonde haired girl. Then, Zeke appeared, and she didn't have to stay in that awkward situation any more, with Ava's eyes burning into the back of her head. Now that was a horrible feeling. He made an entrance, that was true, but honestly, she didn't really care. They were friendly to each other, but they weren't "friends." She couldn't help but giggle a little at his comment though. "But I like feisty. Feisty is good." Everlie's little comment about "dousing enough people for now," brought her back to their side of the classroom, and she smiled at the girl. "But please? Just one more wouldn't hurt!"

"The moment with Caspray?" Chloe turned around to Clover and nodded her hair. "Yeah, he was looking all sweet-eyed at her. Almost tripped over his own words too! It was a sight to behold." She laughed, looking back at the guy she treated as a brother, poking her tongue out at him playfully. Soon, he had began the lesson, and her attention was taken by him; this class was her favourite out of them all; it wasn't just the teacher, it was the whole concept of the class. When he revealed the bunny, she laughed slightly with confusion. "Erm... right. A bunny?" However, then, when the teacher when into detail about this creature, her smile dropped. "Oh. Not a bunny. Gotcha'." She turned to face her group of friends, plus Ava, and conferred with them. "Kill it? Ev, have you thought that he might be lying? Keating is that sort of person you know? He'd get us to kill an innocent rabbit to fail us, trust me. It seems too... passive, to be aggressive. I mean, it's barely moving." Her expression was puzzled. Now what?

---

[font=georgia][center]William Hawk

Soon, dear William was being escorted to class by Mr Vincent, the woman-trapped-in-a-man's-body in his eyes. He took a step to the left, away from the two others that he was with as the teacher slung his arm around Nina's shoulders. He still felt terrible about the whole letting her down idea. Maybe it would have been better if he had asked her along to the dance. He dragged his hand through his hair and sighed gently, the hair thing being his little tell that he was upset. Sure, he had decided only to do it for an act, but underneath, it was more than that. Why had he been so stupid? She'd never agree to go with him now! William Hawk, you fucking idiot. He gave himself a mental slap, and closed his eyes for a moment, thinking about the other girls that he could ask.

Chloe? Nah, she's too interested in someone else. Danni? Nope, too masculine. Portia? That could ruin everything. Jackie? Ooh... Jackie... She's my best fri--

Thud!

His train of thought was cut off by something hitting him square in the face, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the open door of a locker. "Fuck... that hurt..." he spoke to himself, clenching his nose as they arrived at Cadwell's class. His hand stayed pressed against his already bruising nose as he stood there, not interacting with anyone. He now felt shit, was in pain, and was embarrassed. Brilliant day. He didn't join a specific group when told to by the teacher, or react to the compliment that he gave to every one of his students. He just stood there. No-one would want him in their group now.

---

[font=georgia][center]Lukas Tricon

Lukas' eyes snapped over to Mr Keating as he mocked Clover's answer, and he glared at him. It would probably be bad to set his hair on fire too; two people in the space of fifteen minutes really wasn't the best idea. The thought did cross his mind though, but he just shrugged it off when the teacher apologized, letting Clover have her romantic reply. However, again the mood was ruined by Sinclair opening his annoying mouth, and spilling out words that threw his mood deeper into the deep end. "Well Sin, I could go with Mr Keating, but then I'd be leaving Clover all alone, seeing as you're going with Ava now, and all. But I think Clover will be better company, don't you?" He grinned, the maliciousness of his words lacing the air with cruelness. Okay, so, Lukas Tricon wasn't someone that you should put in the same sentence as the word "malicious" or "cruel," but in this case, where Clover was involved, he was incredibly protective. He knew that Sinclair liked his girlfriend, and that annoyed him. And being the man that he was, he would let this annoyance be known to everyone. He kissed Clover gently on the lips, letting his love flow through him to her, thought their touch. "Thank you." He whispered softly, pecking her nose before he pulled back. "You'll definitely be a better date that Keating, honey, believe me."

He then looked at the cage that was produced by Keating, and looked shocked as he revealed the white creature inside. He listen to the story that came along with the rabbit, something about a "cerberbunny", something he had never heard of before, and he looked at it in fascination. Anything new to him was awe-striking, and he wanted to figure out everything he could about it; and this creature wasn't any different. He looked around to Clover and leant in to her ear - "Bed probably would have been safer. Don't want you being mauled by the vicious bunny." He spoke quietly, a small laugh accompanying his voice. The bunny didn't look scary at all, but you could never be sure. One moment, you could be watching a television, and the next, it could burst into flames. Maybe the rabbit wasn't going to spontaneously combust, but in theory, it could grow and turn into some sort of vicious monster. He took into consideration to what Chloe said, shaking his head though as he did. "Yes Clo, he could. However, it could also be a vicious killing machine. I agree with Evie. We should kill the infernal thing before it goes all postal on us."

Lukas wasn't one for killing innocent things, but if Clover was in danger from being bitten by a rabbid rabbit, then he was certainly going to protect her. Even if it meant causing the rabbit to spontaneously combust himself.

Ruby had overslept. Severely overslept. She must have forgotten to wind her alarm, last night. She runs around her bedroom; one leg in her jeans and the other out, her hair wild and tangled from sleep, her teeth stained with lipstick from trying to apply it quickly. She glances at her reflection in the mirror above her dresser, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" she drawls sarcastically, rubbing the stray smears of scarlet off of her teeth. She rolls up the sleeves of her shirt - it's been warm for days - and balances on one foot at a time to tie the laces of the other boot. Her backpack is adorned with dozens of pins and badges, and one of them falls of when she picks the bag up, but she just clips it on to her shirt pocket and leaves, heading in the direction of class.

She's sure that Keating must have heard every excuse in the book for lateness, by now, and is trying to think of something original...'I got lost in the forest'? 'I couldn't find my shoes'? 'My bedroom door wouldn't open'? Nah, he'd never, ever believe them. She'll just have to apologise profusely and hope he's in a good mood. Jeffrey is up ahead of her, going in the same direction, and she's glad that she's not the only one running late. She slips in the door behind him before he closes it. She lingers a little behind him, waiting her turn to make her excuses to Keating, but she stops worrying about it when Jeffrey gives his; compared to that, anything which Ruby could have come up with would have seemed positively plausible! "Uh, yeah, same thing." she gestures to Jeffrey, when Keating looks at her expectantly.

She slides into the seat beside Sinclair, "Morning, ev-" she's distracted by the rabbit on Keating's desk, and actually rubs at her eyes a couple of times to make certain that she's not seeing things. She's glad when Jeffrey mentions it; at least the others can see it, too.

_______________________________________



Rhea's reply stuns him into silence, for a long moment. "Wow...sorry. he mutters, examining her face to try to gauge how she's feeling, but the girl is a firmly closed book, "I didn't mean to...y'know..." He trails off lamely, averting his eyes awkwardly so she doesn't feel like he's staring at her like a freak show.


He shakes his head disbelievingly when Keating spins them the story about a deadly rabbit, "I don't buy it" he shrugs, "I think he's messing with us." he's not really bothered about the decision the others will take, though. If they kill it, he might get extra credit for bringing it back to life...he realises that he's not a sickened by the thought as he perhaps should be, but shakes it off.