Chapter Text
You weren't really that new to Bullworth Academy, in fact you were there for half a year already,
but it was the first time you had your mother as a teacher. You were always at the schools she taught at, but it just never aligned that she was your teacher, as of until now.
You didn't mind your mother teaching you, but what you did mind was her teaching the sex Ed.
It was just your luck to get the bees and the flowers talk from your mother to the whole class, but on the bright side,
your class was a new constellation so you didn't even know half of them.
You watched the clock tick, resting your chin on your hands, the period was almost over, you sighted, 30 minutes left.
“Before you all pack your stuff I want to propose an idea Dr. Crabblesnitch had." Mom smiled warmly and brought out a doll from under her desk.
“Playing with dolls, isn't that more for girls?” chimed Tad in, of course he couldn't shut up.
You rolled your eyes in annoyance. Those stupid Preppies couldn't hold their snobby breath for a whole minute.
His clique laughed and Pinky slapped Tad playfully. “Come on Taddy it's so cuteeeee.”
“Indeed Pinky, but if you let me explain Mr. Spencer, this is a flour baby. Dr. Crabblesnitch thought it would be a great idea to teach you all about responsibility. I think you heard about that whole spiel at least once.
Taking care of and not hurting the baby, etc. I will assign the Partners, starting with you Mr. Spencer.” Your mother started assigned the partners,
a lot of sights and sound of displeasure.
No wonder, with the whole clique thing Bullworth had going on, no one liked anyone that wasn't insider their clique.
As for you, you didn't really fit in with any fraction, to be fair you were only for half a year at that school and you talked with anyone that was nice to you regardless of their clique.
“L,N, you will partner up with Mr. Harrington.”
You mentally did a double-take, did your own mother just partner you with that Preppie ass? Well, not any Preppie, no, Derby was the leader of the Preppies, he was on a whole nother level of stupid.
“Excuse me, Miss L,N, can we like maybe change our partners?” Pinky’s voice was so damn annoying, but for once you agreed with her, still your mother shook her head.
“No, Pinky, I don't want you to get all comfortable and feel like you don't have to do anything.”
Pinky tried again to intervene, but your mother shot her attempt down by listing up the other teams.
You glanced to the Preppie group in the back.
Pinky talked rather upset with Bif.
Derby, on the other hand, looked at you with an unreadable gaze.
“Okay, after recess, I will give you the papers and your new Baby.” said your mother as the bell rang and the students stormed outside.
You followed suit and went straight to your locker to grab your lunch. As you fiddled with your lock, you heard a clunk behind you,
Derby lazily leaned against the lockers.
“How much do you want?” he asked nonchalantly as if you were acquaintances.
“Excuse me? You can't just pay me to do your project?” you scoffed at him.
“Well, usually, people don't mind if I pay them well enough.”
“Just so you know I usually care about good grades, but now I am stuck with you, so we both loose, apparently.”
“What do you mean by that?” His smug facade wavered.
“Oh come on, I know you aren't the brightest, but even you have to figure out that working with, no, excuse me, for you isn't that much fun.”
Now you were the one looking all smug.
Derby wrinkled his nose in confusion and pique, but before he could say anything you huffed and stomped off.
You didn't need to waste another minute of recess on that snobby dunce.
Maybe you could handle the project all on your own? Did you really need nor want his help?
But on the other hand, you didn't want him to have his way, doing nothing as always and weaseling his way trough to get a good grade.
Also, your mother would find out eventually, she would definitely notice if you didn't meet up with Derby.
You inevitably would have to work with him one way or another.
The bell rang, recess was over and you hadn't even eaten anything. Luckily, you had lost your appetite beforehand.
You went to sit back at your table, ignoring Derby’s gaze.
“Okay, if everyone is back, I will ask you to go to your partner and I will assign each group their papers and Baby.” exclaimed your mother.
You didn't even think about moving, but to your surprise Derby walked over to you.
He turned the chair, in front of you around and straddled it, with his arms crossed above his chest he looked at you.
There was nowhere else to look, and you felt uncomfortable, still you looked him directly into his hazel brown eyes and cocked an eyebrow.
“So you thought about it?” you said coldly.
“Guess so, maybe bribing you wasn't very smart of me, mostly because the teacher is your mother.” he admitted.
Of course, he didn't put two and two together, or he just didn't care about anyone outside his clique. You guessed the second.
As your mother reached your table, she placed a flour filled doll in front of you both.
“I expect you will take good care of them.” she said, patting the head of the doll softly.
She handed the papers to you both and moved on.
You both flew over the assignment and looked at each other again.
Derby flashed his pearly white teeth “So what do you want it to be, boy or girl? Also, it needs a name don't you think.”
You hummed, well what could you call a flour baby. You could call it Derby,
it wouldn't make a difference anyway.
You chuckled at your own joke.
“What you got something?” asked the real Derby leaning forward.
You instinctively leaned back and said “Nah, not really, don't you have like five middle names to spare?”
“Well, yeah, but they are mine for a reason, that would be a disgrace to my family.” He said a little offended.
“Whatever… how about Mehli?” You distracted.
“Mehli? What does that even mean?”
“Well, it's a cutesy form of flour in German.”
“I didn't know you could speak German?” He said impressed.
“Hah, there is a lot you don't know Derby.” You looked at him with a smile.
“Hey listen, I know very well you don't like me. Yes, not even I am that stupid to miss that but you said it yourself. I have to do that stupid project with you.
So either we work together or not, I don't care.” He scoffed in annoyance.
Maybe you were a little too harsh with him, at least his attention span was long enough for a normal conversation, and he wasn't really that awful to talk to.
After all, he never did anything specifically to you.
“Yeah you are right sorry.” You began filling the blanks for gender, name, etc.
After you had finished filling in the first page the bell rung, school was over for today.
You started to pack your things and noticed Derby was still sitting with you.
“Aren't you going to go home? I will take it for the first day.” You said holding the flour Baby.
“Yeah I will, have you ever been to my residence? If you want to bring Mehli to me, you should know where I live.”
He stood up and walked over to grab his bag.
You also stood up shouldering your backpack.
“Derby, do you want to go home with me?” Pinky squeaked from outside the classroom.
“You can head home without me, I will take some time.” Derby answered.
You could see Pinky sticking her head in and looking at you in disgust, still she didn't say anything and walked away.
What a pleasant person, must run in the family.
“Come on now. I don't have all day.” Commanded Derby.
You didn't like his tone but ignored it for the time being.
The walk with Derby was awkward to say the least, some students looked at you weirdly as you walked off campus with Derby.
He had an intimidating presence, if you could you would also get out of his way but there you were, stuck with the leader of the Preppies as your partner.
Thank you Mom, you made a mental note to complain to her during dinner later.
You couldn't stand the silence anymore and asked,
“You would rather have Pinky as a partner?”
He glanced down at you but kept walking with his confident stride.
“Yes.” is all he said.
“What’s the deal with you two anyway? Isn't she like your cousin?”
You scolded yourself for being so bold, but you had already said it.
He was silent for a second and then answered.
“Yes indeed, we are, it's… well I know it is weird, but our parents arranged the whole thing.
I like her, somehow, but to be honest maybe just as my cousin.”
Wow, you didn't expect such an honest answer from him.
“What is it to you?” he asked, now he sounded a bit more defensive.
You stumbled a bit over your words.
“Well you know school talk, Derby and his cousin are dating. Just stuff the students talk about, and I assumed you would rather have her as a partner.”
“We aren't dating, but yes I would rather have her as a partner.”
His statement hurt you a bit, but why?
It's not like you wanted him to be your partner either.
You tough about it and then bumped against his back.
“Ah, watch it! We are there. Did you even pay attention on the way?”
He scolded. Derby scolding you, that was something new.
“Yeah I did, and I am fine thank you.” You scoffed, checking out the flour baby in your arms, it was fine.
“I am at home on the weekends, otherwise just as you, I am in the campus dorms.
I assume you know where the boy's dorms are, so I don't have to walk you there too.”
There he was again, the snobby Derby.
“Uhu, I will head home then.” You said beginning to walk away from that pompous mansion.
You were stopped and turned around, Derby held you by your shoulders.
He was not as tall as the Jocks but definitely taller than you, also his lean physique made him looks even bigger.
“Don't you like want my phone number?” He asked with a cocked eyebrow.
You shimmied your way out of his grasp and felt your cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Why the hell did he have to remind you, you were the responsible one not him dammit.
“Ah yeah, I forgot.” You apologized.
You exchanged numbers so you could finally leave.
Man, that was embarrassing, awkward and really straining.
Thanks, Mom!