Physics

After popping into homeroom and leading the class in saying the pledge, something she'd always previously turned down when asked, Tanya heads to Physics. During the first week of school, she always tries to be one of the first to class so she has more choice of where to sit. This year, Physics is more important than most because it's one of the few classes she has with Chad that Whitney isn't also in. It's her twice-weekly chance to get close to him and win that heart he keeps underneath all of those football captain muscles. And, if she plays her cards right, she'll be able to convince him to be lab partners.

"Are you going to ask Boner to be your lab partner?" Tanya hears McKenzie ask as she quickly walks up to her side.

"What? Ew, gross! No! I'm going to ask Chad, of course," she replies scrunching up her face.

"Okay, but yesterday you said you were only being nice so he'd help you with Physics. If that's really so important to you, being his partner would almost guarantee a high grade." McKenzie nudges Tanya with her elbow.

She was right, of course, but partnering with Chad would significantly increase her chances of unseating Whitney as the most popular girl in school and wasn't that really all the mattered? The two girls enter the room and Tanya whispers to McKenzie as both of their eyes fall on Chad and two of his football buddies laughing about something in the corner of the room. "No way, Mac, I've spent all summer thinking about doing experiments with that sexy beast."

"I bet you have," McKenzie says as the two girls walk to the back of the room.

"Hey boys," Tanya says slinking up, "are these seats taken?"

Chad grins and nods his head at the empty seats. "Those aren't but you should take this one." He says patting his lap. All of his buddies laugh at his joke. Apparently, all the summer break did was make the football player more arrogant and horny.

"Ugh," McKenzie says, "you're still an absolute pig." Tanya, on the other hand, smiles and takes a seat on Chad's lap.

Everyone is equally floored by Tanya. Although she'd always been flirty she typically drew the line on physical contact. Chad knew it all too well. His hands had been slapped dozens of times over the year as the tried to feel a piece of the girl's...assets.

Chad's shock slowly turns back to his devilish grin, "oh, well, is this how the school year's going to go?" His arms snake around her waist and she can feel his breath on her neck. She wants to jump off but her body won't move.

"Chad and Tanya!" Mr. McDonald, the physics teacher enters the room, slamming a book on his desk. "Have you forgotten you're in an educational setting? I'm not going to put up with your out of control hormones. Tanya, please take a seat on the other side of the room."

Tanya stands up and grabs her book bag as she obediently crosses the room, "but Mr. McDonald, I want to sit with my friends." Mr. McDonald ignores her plea and simply puts a 'shush' finger up to his lips. She slumps in the only available seat all the way on the other side of the room from McKenzie and Chad. She wonders who's sitting at the three desks near her. They have books and bags on them but the students aren't in the room.

Suddenly, the room's door slams open as Kyle and his two guy friends enter the room pushing a cart filled with lab equipment. "Sorry, Mr. McDonald, it was tough getting this stuff safely through the halls."

"That's fine, Kyle, you can leave it there. Please take your seats so we can get started."

Kyle and his friends start heading toward their seats. His smile turns into a bright grin when he sees Tanya sitting right next to his desk. "Oh my gosh," he whispers sitting next to her. "You, you wanted to sit next to me?"

Tanya can hear McKenzie across the room laughing at her. She tries to come up with a mean-spirited retort but, like with Maggie earlier, her malice is replaced with a strong need to kiss Kyle right here in the room. "We should, uh, we should focus. On class. Now." She says back to him but mostly in an effort to command herself to look away from his mouth. She pushes her nails into her thigh hoping the pain will be a distraction. First, Maggie. Then sitting on Chad's lap. Now, Kyle. It doesn't help. She wants to kiss him.

Kyle is unused to the look on Tanya's face. It plaintive and needy, like she desperately wants to ask him a question but can't say it. After three years of being ignored by her, this sudden change makes him feel a bit uncomfortable. "Yeah, I agree, let's focus on Mr. McDonald. We can talk at lunch."

Tanya is relieved to feel the increasing desire to kiss Boner turn itself down to a low simmer. She turns her attention to Mr. McDonald. Meanwhile, Kyle can't concentrate. All he wants to do is keep Tanya's face etched in his brain. Her look made him feel desired and wanted. Maybe she likes him? Like, like-likes? That can't be it. Why would the prettiest girl in school like-like him? Maybe she's in trouble at home and needs help? No, that's silly, her parents are pillars of the community.

Oh, maybe she wants to be lab partners but is too shy to ask. That must be it. It makes the most sense. Hm, she definitely isn't the most studious student. As thrilled as he would be to spend every lab working in close contact with Tanya it could be a drag on his grade. Plus, he usually partners with Minh, so it might create some tension in their friend circle. Josh, on the other hand, is just as smart but is usually the odd man out in partner selection. Maybe she could partner with him? Oh, but what if she really only wants to be his partner and it hurts her feelings? She might go back to being cold, mean Tanya again. Then again, he might not be putting Josh in a great situation. He's definitely the most awkward of his friends, which is saying a lot, and being partnered with a sexy, cool girl could blow his mind. Shouldn't she just stick with one of her friends like Chad or McKenzie?

Kyle decides he should help Tanya out by slipping her a note with his opinion but what is the best decision? He hasn't been this flustered since he had to choose between Coding Summer Camp and Wizarding Summer Camp. One was the practical choice for his future but the other was the fun camp all of his friends were going to. He pulls on his earlobe as he writes his decision on a little piece of paper and prepares, for the first time in his life, to pass a note to a girl in class.