Chapter Text
Blackwell Academy, 5th period.
Warren sat at his assigned lab table. He was slouched, his head leaning on the palm of his hand while his elbow sat on the table. With the other hand, he was sketching in the margin of his notebook while Ms. Grant welcomed the class. He sighed.
“...and that brings us to what we will begin today. A partner project!” Ms. Grant said. That made Warren snap back to attention. The rest of the class began murmuring, probably discussing with their friends that they’re gonna work together. Ms. Grant quickly shut it down.
“..A partner project with partners I will be assigning. I’ve learned enough about all of you that you will not reach your full potential working with your friends. You will just goof off.” Ms. Grant smiled unapologetically as the class collectively groaned.
Warren didn’t really mind. He doesn’t have any friends in this class or anyone he really wanted to work with. He preferred this, honestly. It’s better than just standing around like an idiot until it’s just him and some smelly kid that doesn’t do any work. He looked around and viewed the people he might be partnered with.
He saw one kid he knew was pretty smart. Not as smart as Warren... but it’s fine. There was a very shy girl; she rarely spoke. He remembers he had to work with her once, and she said one thing: No. She said “no” because Warren asked her to write her name on the paper. There was another girl he hated, who chewed her gum too loudly. He kept scanning the room, no one truly repulsed him until...
Prescott.
Wow, he’s actually in class today. Typically, he is never here. He rarely doesn’t do any work when he is present. Warren laughed a little when he remembered how Ms. Grant got on his ass because he drew all over his first exam. Then, he cussed at her. It became a whole thing, resulting in a ripped exam, a chair on the floor, and Nathan getting sent to his regular visit to the Principal’s office. God, Warren did not want to have to work with him. He will take anyone but Nathan Prescott. He’s fucking psycho.
Ms. Grant then gestured to the projection screen, which displayed a spreadsheet. “This is the partners each of you will be assigned. Take a look, and whoever’s name is listed directly next to yours is your lucky partner!” She smiled and then took a seat in her desk chair, getting back to work on her laptop as students began moving to their assigned teammates.
Warren squinted as his eyes moved down the list, praying for someone tolerable. As he searched, he saw those he didn’t want were with others. He almost let out a sigh of relief- until he saw it. Warren Graham... and Nathan Prescott. Nathan fucking Prescott. Of course, it has to work this way.
He groaned and put his face in his hands, sighing as he lifted back up and looked back over at Nathan, who was giving him a deathly glare.
“God damnit.” He complained, turning back to the front of the classroom. Ms. Grant reminded everyone to sit with their partner, and Warren refused. He is not moving back there for Prescott. He can do it himself- and that’s what he did.
He saw a figure in the corner of his eye throw his bag that probably only contained one notebook that wasn’t ever touched on the floor, pull the seat out, sit down, and slouch. Warren didn’t say hi, he didn’t even look over.
“Alright, today we’ll begin by discussing what you want your project to be on. Examples include the common volcano model, a robot, or, last year, a student of mine did one involving aerodynamics. The possibilities are endless, so...” Ms. Grant's spiel got drowned out when a certain blue-eyed devil spoke.
“Just so you know, I’m not doing any of this bullshit,” he muttered through clenched teeth. Warren rolled his eyes at that.
“I’m not letting you do any of it, you’re probably gonna make it explode or something,” he scoffed back.
“No, I’m not.... actually- I’m gonna. I’m gonna make sure it explodes on you, and makes you fail this damn project.”
“If I fail, it means you fail,” Warren shot back.
“I’ll just have my dad pass me.”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
“It in fact does fucking work-”
“Boys? Do I already have to separate you?” Ms. Grant intervened, and the rest of the class looked back at them, concerned.
Warren turned red in embarrassment, “...No, Ms. Grant... sorry.”
He sighed, putting his elbow on the table and resting his chin on his palm. Nathan scoffed and seemed to slouch even more than he already was, and used his phone under the desk. Warren glanced over and rolled his eyes.
How can one not care about his class so much? In fact, how was this guy even in AP Chemistry? Jesus, it’s crazy what daddy’s money can get you.
After a few more minutes of the two basically pouting, Ms. Grant let the class go on to discuss with their partners as to what their plans are for the project.
Warren sat up, fixed his hair, and turned towards Nathan, who hadn’t moved. He just stared, waiting for Nathan to do something- anything. To show any sign he’s ready to do this project.
“Holy crap, ok. What do you want to do for the project?” Warren finally said, in defeat.
Nathan continued to tap his thumb on his phone; it looked like he was playing some stupid mobile game.
“I said, what do you want to do for the project?!” Warren repeated.
“...Dude, can you-”
Nathan let out a loud groan, throwing his head back, then glaring at Warren, “Fuck, do you ever shut up? Do you ever listen? I said, I’m not doing this shit. You’re the science nerd, just do everything. You’ll have fun.”
He immediately went back to being occupied on his phone.
“That’s not how this works. It’s a partner project, Prescott. We both do the ‘bullshit’. So, what do you want to do?” He slid the paper in front of Nathan closer to the boy.
Nathan grumbled, “Okay. Just do a stupid volcano, or some shit. I don’t care.”
“We’re not doing a volcano. That’s too basic. We’ve gotta do something with like... ‘wow-factor.”
“Wow-factor? You’re such a fuckin’ loser,” Nathan sneered, an evil smirk on his lips, “if you want something different, then you decide. I literally could care less.”
Warren let out a harsh breath. There was a moment of silence, until, “...You couldn’t care less.”
“...What?”
“It’s you couldn’t care less. You said you could care less, which means you care a little, so you should’ve said I couldn’t care less ‘cause that would mean you don’t-”
“Holy shit! Shut up! I just don’t care! I. Don't. Care," Nathan seemed to be at his final straw, and then he muttered something under his breath, “...fucking faggot.”
Warren just scoffed. “Excuse me? Now that’s just rude.”
“Yeah, no shit! Why do you think I said it?”
“Because you’re rude! You’re a piece of shit, you know that? You walk around like you own the place, acting like you’re better than everyone when really, you’re a low-life, careless, psycho-”
“Psycho?! You think I’m fuckin’ psycho? I can show you psycho, fucking bitch. Don’t try me.”
“Who do you think you are? Dumbass-”
SMACK!
The class erupted- half of them gasping, a couple of kids stifling laughter behind their hands.
Someone muttered, “Holy shit,” and others exchanged nervous glances.
Ms. Grant's eyes widened, but she recovered quickly, her voice cutting through the stunned silence.
“Warren Graham and Nathan Prescott, this is absolutely unacceptable. Both of you go to the principal’s office. Now.”
Warren held his hand over his reddening cheek, his jaw slightly dropped in a stunned silence.
Nathan just simply rolled his eyes like he’s done many times before, and muttered, “Fucking bullshit.”
He stood up and picked up his bag, putting it on his shoulder with a sigh. Warren did the same, rubbing his cheek and putting each strap on his shoulders.
“...Just know, you’re a really sucky project partner.” Warren hissed.
Nathan spat in his face.
Warren flinched back, frantically wiping the saliva off his other cheek, “Ew! That’s disgusting!”
“Y’deserve it, bitch-”
“Boys!! Go, now!” Ms. Grant spoke firmer, pointing to the door with fury.
“Yes, Ms. Grant,” Warren started moving hurriedly. He felt humiliated. Ms. Grant was his favorite teacher. Chemistry was his favorite class. Of course, he had to let Nathan Prescott successfully pull his strings.
Nathan, on the other hand, seemed not to have a care in the world. He just took his phone out and followed behind the taller one.
This is just great.