Leading a Double Life

[AutumnRaven]

With low Threatening Grumbles of thunder that Attempted to shake the building beneath his feet, Katch Williams Turned his excited gaze Skywards, the swollen clouds reflected in his hazel eyes. He Hastily, but carefully, began to adjust The different mechanical instruments laid out in front of him. Thin Hands Impatiently shoving His long lab coat sleeves up to his elbows, The young man thrilled At the different readings his inventions were calculating. "This is a good storm..." He Mumbled out loud to himself, snatching up a plastic clip board and scratching out several notes in slightly illegible letters. He Barely noticed it when another man approached him on the roof, coming to a stop just to his left. Didn't notice, that was, until the man sharply bumped his elbow, sending the pencil chittering across the page. Breath Coming out in a sharp huff, Katch Looked sharply towards the man, Dark eyebrows angled inward. "Hank, I don't have time right now for Any of your-"

Hank Waved his hand Quickly to fend off The inpatients, holding out a glass in his other hand. "It's not like that," he Said, giving his head a Shake that made his curly brown hair bounce, "Believe me. I noticed you had forgotten to eat your dinner and got you something to drink."

Katch eyed The cup doubtfully, setting down his clipboard onto the folding table he had brought with him. "Not again. I told you, I wasn't going to test your steroid Concoctions anymore. You tricked me one too many times and thinking it was something else."

Again, Hank waived his free hand. "And I told you, I wasn't going to try pulling that on you anymore. It's just some Coke."Again, he held out the glass cup in his hand.

Hazel eyes flickering towards it, Katch had To admit that it looked rather legitimate. The dark brown liquid bubbling with carbonation. Against his better judgment, he took the cup. "... Thanks." Carefully, he took a moment to give an experimental sniff To the drink, the carbonation tickling his nose. It even smelled legitimate, just like his favorite drink. "Well, thanks Hank." He said sincerely, looking up in time to see the other man smile brilliantly. He sipped a little of the drink at first, the sweet liquid washing over his tongue. But then he really took a good gulp of it, finally realizing how dry his throat felt and how much his body was craving a liquid. He finished it quickly, grateful to have something cold in his system and offered the empty cup Back to the other scientist, who quickly reached out to take it. It was at the exact moment that his fingers touch the glass That a few things happened Simultaneously.

The sour taste of chemicals flooded over Katch's Taste buds Just as a triumphant expression lit up Hank's face. But before any other reaction could be had, the world was suddenly awash with the light of a striking lightning bolt. In the sound of screaming, Katch Suddenly, and rather violently, jerked awake. Breath Coming out in ragged gasps, the young man sat up straight in bed, blankets falling from his bare Chest. Sandy blond hair sticking to his face with sweat, he looked around owlishly As he tried to control his breathing. Groaning Loudly, he collapsed back onto the bed, placing his hand against his forehead And grimaced slightly.

"It's been a while since I've had that dream...."He mumbled, placing his hand over his eyes as the memories flooded through him. Hank had died that day, directly struck by the lightning, whereas he... "Changed."

[carsgovroom]

Sally Hart was used to early mornings by this point in her life. She remembered how she used to stay in bed for as long as possible when she was a teenager, but now every week day she was up at five to get ready for work and be in the classroom preparing herself for the day before any of her students arrived. It was her third year teaching children at Grove Elementary School in the city, and thankfully she found that she had adapted rather quickly from the questionable sleeping schedule she had developed during her university years to rising at the crack of dawn every morning. It helped that she really did love her job. She loved teaching and she loved her students. Her father had disapproved of her career choice, saying teaching wasn't a secure or sturdy enough job, and she only felt so enthusiastic because she was still young, only twenty six. "You'll get older and you'll hate it," he had told her, "Major in business instead. Be an accountant or something. Pay's better and you'll be happier in the long run." Sally didn't think so though. Three years of teaching three different classes of kids made her more happy than she ever could have been working in an office building.

Her shoulder bag was filled with her sixth grade class's math tests tat she had finished grading the night before as she went up the steps of the school building and in through the front door. She walked and took the subway to work everyday, in fact she walked and took the subway just about everywhere. Her apartment building was in the heart of the city and it was nice to not have to battle with city parking or traffic. She smiled and greeted her fellow staff members as she passed them on the way to the office to pick up her mail. Sally's long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail that day and she wore a tan blazer over her blue dress. "Hey, Pat," she said to one of the office's desk ladies as she went in, and Pat greeted her back before she disappeared into the teacher's lounge to pick up her mail. Some notices and flyers about fundraisers were on her mail shelf and some envelopes.

"Morning, Sally," a third grade teacher, Madison, greeted her. She was in her forties and quite content with her job, further proof that Sally's father was wrong. "Are your kids excited?"

"Hm?" Sally asked, her mind on her mail and the tests in her bag. The overall scores were improving fantastically, although Jeremy was still struggling a bit in Math.

"Isn't today some fancy scientist is coming to your class to give a demonstration to your students?" Madison asked, smiling a bit as Sally looked up and her large green eyes widened a bit as she remembered.

"Oh yes. Yes, that's today, isn't it? God, how'd that slip my mind this morning? That took me ages to arrange and set up... Yeah, they're pretty excited about it. All they could talk about this week." Sally smiled fondly. She really loved her students and she thought that it might be exciting to try something new and bring in a professional to do a demonstration for them. "Did you ask for the number of the guy who helped me set it all up?" When Madison nodded, Sally smiled. "If it all goes well, I'll have to give it to you after school today. Well, I'd better go."

She made her way though the halls until she got to room eleven, then unlocked the door to her classroom and went inside. The chairs were on the desks, the projects, posters, and decorations hung on the wall, the white board was wiped clean, everything was in its place just as she had left it the previous day. Still smiling, Sally moved over to where her desk was at the side of the room, where she hung her blazer on the back of the chair and set her bag down on the desk. After sticking the lunch she had packed in her small fridge and pulling everything she needed out of the bag, she went over to the white board where she wrote the date and the day's inspirational quote along the top. Then she began to write the day's schedule along the side. The demonstration was scheduled for after lunch and second recess, and the man who she spoke to on the phone said that the scientist who was coming would arrive to set up when the students were out at lunch. All Sally could think was that she hoped he didn't get lost on his way.

[AutumnRaven]

The shower had been nice and relaxing, The hot water able to soothe the tense knots Out of his shoulders and neck as Katch Let it beat over his head and erase the residue of the nightmare. He had Then proceeded to scrub From head to toe, Removing sweat and dirt before shaving his face, leaving him Smoove and smelling fresh. It had been a matter of falling into habit after that, applying Deodorant and aftershave, dressing in a pair of slacks and a cerulean blue button up long sleeve shirt, putting On his well loved Brown dress shoes, and picking up his briefcase as his eyes instinctively glanced towards the clock.

"... I won't be needing this today., actually." He Commented to himself as he checked the calendar on his fridge, bright Red marker reminding him that he was doing a presentation at an Elementary school. Glancing down at his briefcase, he returned it to its usual spot next to his loveseat And grabbed himself a Couple of breakfast bars before grabbing his keys and heading out the door. He Still had a few hours, so he would swing by work and pick up a few things that he wanted for his presentation. Waving To the older woman who's Basement he rented, Katch got Into his car And headed out towards the laboratory.

After collecting the plastic container and roller suitcase with his materials, there was just enough time for Katch To get some lunch before he was supposed to be at the school. Stowing His things in the backseat, he managed to swing through a drive-through and eight on his way over. As he pulled into the parking lot, through his trash away, locked his car, and began to make his way into the school, the bell rang to signal that it was time for lunch and afternoon recess. Dodging a couple of kids who weren't looking where they were going, Katch Found his way quickly through the halls, locating His destination after only asking directions once. Stepping in through the open door, he not to announce his presence and smiled at the woman inside. "Ms. Hart, I believe you were expecting a scientist today?"

[carsgovroom]

Sally loved sixth graders. They had been in school long enough to know how to act in a classroom and to teachers and their fellow students. Although there were always those few kids who liked to act out, she found that her classes were filled with a bunch of good kids. And at this point into a year with her they were all excited about learning. Sally liked to think it was her influence that attributed to it, her method of teaching. She hated talking at them, she loved talking with them and learning together. She wanted them to want to be at school in her class, and from what she could tell she was doing a pretty good job these past few years since she had gotten this job.

The desire for them to want to be there was why she tried to make lessons as interesting for them as possible, which was why she had decided to have this demonstration. She loved it when they got excited about class because it made her feel like she was doing her job correctly, and when the day started she could tell that what day it was hadn't slipped her mind. But they didn't let the excitement for the demonstration distract them from their morning work. Sally loved that. They started the morning routine, familiar at this point in the school year but not in a boring way. More like a comfortable sort of way. She started everyday with a few minutes of free writing in journals she had provided before they moved on to math, with language arts after. To her the day seemed to fly on by, and before she knew it first recess had come and gone and it was time for lunch. "Everyone form a single file line out of the door, please," she called as she held it open for the twenty or so eleven year olds. She watched them as they all headed off towards the cafeteria, some of them holding lunch bags while others had money. Usually she had lunch in the teacher's lounge, but today she had to wait for the presenter.

Sally didn't have to wait very long. She was part way through the salad she had brought when she heard someone step in through the open door and she looked up from the worksheets on her desk to see a smiling young man standing there. He clarified that she had been expecting a scientist and her lips spread into a surprised smile. He was younger than she thought he would be. Maybe that was only because when she thought of scientists she thought of Back to the Future, which was a bit silly now that she realized it. She rose from the desk, still smiling as she smoothed the skirt of her dress and made her way around the desks to him. Her hand was held out in greeting. "Yes! Hello, I'm Sally Hart. Are you...Mr. Williams? Or is it Dr. Williams? I'm not sure how it works." Her smile was a bit apologetic that she didn't know his title. "I'll probably say this many times today but thank you for coming today. The kids haven't been able to talk about anything else all week." Her looked into his eyes for a moment, still smiling, then looked around at the classroom. "I made some space for you at the front table." She gestured towards it before looking back at him. "Do you need help setting up?"

[AutumnRaven]

Bringing the roller Suitcase to rest in an upright position, Katch Found himself returning the smile with a bright Version of his own . Reaching out his now freehand, he took the slender Hand of the young woman and gave it a firm shake. "Thank you for inviting me Ms. Hart, I enjoy opportunities to help children learn and grow. And its Doctor,but Feel free to call me what you Would like." He Said brightly, Glancing to the area she had cleared at the front of the classroom. As he Did so, he spotted the half finished salad On her desk. "And I don't mind if you go back to finishing your lunch. I'll let you know if there is anything I need help with."

Tipping The bag once again, Katch Made his way to the front of the room and set down the plastic bin On the table and unzipped the suitcase. As he Took out a rather large glass ball on a black Stand, he glanced towards the teacher and found himself smiling again. "I hope I didn't make for two big of a distraction that they ended up not doing their work." Positioning the sphere in a central location on the table, he began to Produce several small boxes of various items and arrange them next to it..