M.F.E.O Chapter 2: Science Experiment

“Hmph” Yue was couldn’t believe what just happened. Who did that guy think he was? Did having a flock of girls give him the confidence to say or do what he wanted? Sure he did give off the cool bad boy vibe that most girls fall for, and an extremely charming smile, but c’mon.

“Uh…” Kai spoke up because Yue was unconsciously tightening her grip around his harm. He observed as her face went from internal debates to shock as she too noticed her arms were linked with his, and rather tightly.

“Sorry Kai! I didn’t mean to grab you like that, I was honestly trying to escape from that weird guy, and I saw an opportunity to get out and I took it, I didn’t mean to pull you around! I must be checking off all the weirdo boxes aren’t I? You must think I am crazy or something I mean-” Yue rambled, her nervous talking habit getting the better of her. Kai raised his hands to interrupt her.

“Yue it’s ok, I get it. I forgot that the café has that open mic there and those guys are kind of regulars there. Things tend to get crazy when they are there.” Kai said recalling many a times where he would avoid the café if they happened to be putting on a “show”.

“I must say though…you’ve got a good grip. Don’t skip arm day do you?” Kai said teasingly trying to lighten the mood and pretending to stretch a sore arm. Yue immediately smiled and flexed an arm at him.

“Well just between us…I can bench press like 250…no biggie” Yue said shrugging.

“Impressive.” Kai said raising eyes eyebrows, acting surprised.

“So do we have a plan b? Where else can we go to start our work?” Yue asked and looked down at her watch noticing they weren’t going to have much time left.

“We can use the study rooms in the library. We just need to put in our names to rent one out.” Kai said pointing off towards a large building in the distance.

“Actually…my next class is going to start pretty soon here. When is your next break?” Kai asked. Yue dug in her bag for her handy dandy schedule card.

“My next open spot is…12:00pm. After that I am pretty busy until my last class that ends at 3:30.” Yue said studying her card and then flipping it around so Kai could see it. Kai looked at her scheduled and was surprised to see that there were actually 2 other classes they shared.

I guess she is taking her basics right now too. Kai thought looking at her card and then back at her.

“I also have a break at 12:00 so we can reserve a time then. That’s actually my lunch break but I don’t mind working and eating If you are ok with that. Maybe we can grab something together?” Kai suggested not noticing the faint blush creeping up on Yue’s face.

“That sounds perfect!” Yue said agreeing to the lunch date-

HOLD ON it’s just a study group. Calm yourself you idiot. Yue internally fought.

“I don’t mean to be nosey but I noticed on your schedule card that I have the same math and philosophy class as you.” Kai said. Yue felt excitement swell within her when he let her in on that fact.

“It will be nice to have a familiar face in some of my classes.” Yue admitted to him.

“Definitely. I’ll see you at 10:45 then for math?” Kai said getting ready to set off for his next class.

“Yes! Can’t wait! I mean…it’s math and that’s kinda bleh but I don’t think it will be as bad since you’re there.” Yue said with a smile and then mentally put a foot in her mouth before she embarrassed herself further.

Kai gave a slight chuckle, very amused by this new student who was so bizarre but also…enchanting? Was the the word? He waved at her and then set off to his class.

Yue watched him as he left and then looked down at her schedule card. Science was her next class. Introductory Biology 1 seemed like it would be the easiest of the science basics to take. Yue looked around and saw that the science and engineering building was actually within sight. For the first time today she was going to be on time and not mess anything up. Entering the building she saw different artistic takes on common science things. There were framed images on the walls of atoms and science equipment. There were even science sculptures that replicated DNA and science molecules. The building really let people know that it was in fact the science building. Studying the numbers of classrooms she passed, eventually she greeted the door that was her Biology class. It was large classroom with a small auditorium feel. There were plenty seats to choose from as students were just starting to come in. Yue quickly picked a seat and started getting things out of her bag.

More and more students started coming into the class and then voices started to fill the room.

“You can sit by me!”

“I would love to help you take notes!”

“Why don’t you sit with me? I am the T.A. for this class!”

Yue looked up to see some girls walking into the classroom backwards addressing someone they were basically escorting into the room. Then she saw the VIP that was being escorted.

“Oh no…”Yue groaned to herself.

Tre made it through the door and removed his dark sunglasses he was wearing. He smiled at all the generous ladies before him and took a moment to look at the seating in the room. His eyes were immediately drawn to the pink in the room. He couldn’t hold back his smile and he parted the sea of girls that were around him to make it to her row. She was very interested by her blank notebook that was in front of her and she pretended not to notice him.

How cute. Tre thought as he saw Yue looking at her barren notebook. He stepped into her row and sat in the seat that was empty right beside her. This aggravated his followers but no one was brave enough to verbally interject about his seat choice. There were some girls that decided to sit in the same vicinity but they didn’t dare to speak up. Tre sighed as he saw the rigid girl beside him who was now staring deep at her notebook as if she were trying to make notes appear. Yue wanted to make it seem like she was really busy studying…even though this was her first day of class.

“Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot.” Tre offered a start to the conversation folding his shades onto his shirt. She was still really quiet.

“I apologize if I came off a little strong when we first met. Sometimes after we perform I feel like I’m somebody else. I get a surge of confidence that I normally don’t have which in some situations is great but…I guess I just came off as a prick.” Tre said scratching the back of his head. This confirmed Yue’s thoughts of him.

“A huge prick.” Yue agreed turning to look at him still remembering that ridiculous kiss to her hand. I guess the fangirls would have eaten that up, but Yue didn’t even know who he was.

“Pfft! Ok, ok, ok message received.” Tre laughed. Yue was still a bit on the defensive side but had to give the guy some credit for coming to fess up to how much of a butt he was earlier. Even with that apology though, it was weird being around him as she felt other girls stealing glances their way. The professor walked in and the class did quiet down. All attention went towards the teacher as he started going over the lesson.

“Hey can I borrow a highlighter.” Yue could feel the popstar in her space as he had leaned in towards her to ask this question that felt more personal than it actually was. Yue quickly fished around in her pencil pouch for a highlighter and handed him a random color.

“Thanks!” Tre said with a whisper and took it from her hand. He then started making streaks on his own notebook. Every now and then Yue could feel his eyes on her, as if he wanted to talk more with her. Yue worked hard to be absorbed into the lesson that was being given.

Jeeze …note to self…it is weird being on the receiving end of stares. Yue thought as she remembered basically doing the same thing to Kai earlier in the morning. It was just so hard not to stare at Kai though. He had been nothing but nice to her all morning, and there was something about him that made her want to befriend him. She was drawn to him.

“-how about it? Do you wanna be my lab partner? I think we have good…chemistry.” Tre said with a wink, breaking Yue from her thoughts. She noticed there were hums of conversations going on all around her as people were apparently picking their lab partners for the class.

“I am not sure about that.” Yue said slowly, as she noticed some of his admirers were looking on from a distance, to see how their conversation would unfold.

“You might not believe it by the looks of me… but I am actually really smart when it comes to science. I promise to be nothing but an honorable lab partner.” Tre said crossing his heart and putting up a hand to swear.

Yue on the other hand was extremely bad when it came to science. Her strength was in writing and reading, not science stuff. What was she to do? Pick one of these neighboring girls that looked like they were going to pounce her at any moment? He had to have some truth to his words since they didn’t let just any random people into this school. You had to be smart at something to get in. Maybe his whole popstar rocker self was just a cover up for how nerdy he actually was?

“OK…but if you end up just trying to push all the work on me then I will ask to switch partners.” Yue said firmly, deciding her escape route if things got bad. Tre had a huge smile on his face as if someone just told him he just won the lotto.

“You’ve got it partner! I won’t let you down!” Tre said. He then jotted something down at the bottom of his notebook and tore it off. He handed the ripped paper to Yue. Yue looked at it and it was his number and email…with a heart encircling the writing.

“Really…”Yue said looking at the heart. Tre shrugged.

“You might really start to fall for me when you find out I have good looks and a good brain.” Tre said tapping his head with a finger.

“Man are you really going to make me regret this decision THIS early.” Yue said not amused by his antics.

“No, no, no, no please! I am just joking with you! C’mon!” Tre laughed and pressed his hands together in prayer for forgiveness. Yue sighed and then wrote down her contact information for a second time on a sheet of paper. She handed it to Tre who eagerly took it.

“Thanks! Can’t wait to work with you. I can tell we are really going to get along!” Tre said smiling at her. Yue was a bit impressed by his persistence and couldn’t help to let out a small smile.

“I hope your knowledge in science is better than your lame pickup lines.” she said poking a finger at his direction. She started packing her things and Tre got up from his seat to look at her.

“Psh…what do you think protons and I have in common? We both know how to stay positive.” Tre said whipping out his sunglasses from his shirt.

“Oh dear God…You are a science nerd.” Yue muttered standing up to face him. Yue now had a new impression of this guy that was no longer some kind of popstar heart throb. Tre was just a closet science dork that had dad jokes and lame pick-up lines for days. She actually laughed and no longer felt pressure from the surrounding girls. They could worship this silly popstar weirdo all they wanted.

“Well I am off to my next class now.” Yue said still smiling and laughing to herself.

Tre was so proud of himself that he was able to finally make this girl smile. She was so different than most girls he had met and he enjoyed her fire.

“See you later partner.” Tre said as he watched the girl leave the room and his fans instantly flooded him.

Yue felt like she was buzzing with anticipation as she set off for her next class that was going to have Kai in it. She had a goofy grin on her face as she thought about how she would greet him when she saw him.

Do I give him a high five? No that’s weird…Maybe just a cool ‘whats up’? Ugh no… Yue rehearsed the different ways she could say hello all the way to the math building. Then behind her came a familiar deep voice.

“Hey Yue, you made it.” It was Kai walking up from behind her.

“Yes! I am here!” Yue blurted awkwardly. Kai gave a little smile.

“Let’s go and get a seat.” Kai said leading the way to their classroom. Yue followed him and felt at ease.

“Wait! HOLD UP!” There were some running steps that came to a halt behind her. Yet another familiar voice…it wasn’t…it couldn’t be…

And there he was. Tre catching his breath he lifted his glasses and had them perch on his head.

Well this is akward…Yue looked between the two boys.