Chapter Text
I entered Mrs. Howard's class was the usual sight of kids standing around talking with their friends before they had to sit down, they seemed more energetic that day though. I was always one of the last students to arrive to class because my previous class is farther from the science hall. My table partner, Rosalie, her long, blonde hair in a ponytail going down to her upper-back is already sitting there. She seems to be writing down what seemed to be a recipe.
Mrs. Howard spoke over the last remaining conversations, "Good afternoon class, I hope all of you have had a good day so far. If you haven't read the board already, today we are disecting mice. If only one of you is making the cuts that's fine, what's important is that you can identify which part is which, that will be what you are graded on for this test. You will work with the other person at your table, instructions will be at each of your lab stations. Call me over if you have any questions."
I looked over at Rosalie, her smile was as unreadable as ever, she seemed to be one of the few in the class who didn't show discomfort. Whether she actually felt any, I couldn't tell, she just had the same calm smile on her face as always. I've never been too comfortable with this sort of thing, but when Rosalie and I approached our lab area she seemed to be doing fine, even when she looked straight at the mouse lying dead on the table.
As people were sitting down at their stations there were vocalizations of all kinds expressing discomfort from people around us, I managed to keep my composure as long as I didn't look at the dead mouse in front of me. I looked above the mouse and towards Rosalie besides me. She was visably more excited than before, I found it a bit weird but just hoped it was maybe just that she likes anatomy or some biology thing.
Rosalie started following the instructions put at each lab area and started to assign my task, "Jasmine, start identifying everything, I'll help you once I'm done cutting." I am fine to do that job, while still very uncomfortable I could at least avoid looking at the mouse actively being cut apart.
Eventually Rosalie finished cutting and helped me identify the rest of the parts. After other people started calming down and became comfortable again, Rosalie seemed to be less excited and returned to her normal calm. I left the classroom realizing how much it probably cost for the whole day of the activity in that classroom alone, the school had some very rich donors.