[IC] Aʀʀᴏᴡsᴍɪᴛʜ: Fʀᴇsʜᴍᴀɴ Yᴇᴀʀ

[MechonRaptor]

Location: Homeroom
Interacting wth: Poetry @LovelyAnastasia, Lily @smarty0114, Nicoletta @Fabricant451, Ezera @King Tai
Outfit

After discussing with Conan for a bit about plans on going to his house after school, Nathaniel reluctantly gave Conan his number so that Conan could text him the address. Right now, as Nathan glanced around the room, he noticed a majority of his team had begun to gather, causing him to wince slightly. They were already starting without him, and he was generally the one who had to make the group start. It was a twist he was not expecting, so much so that he turned to Conan with an apologetic look upon his face with a hint of worry.
“I, uh, I should go to my group.” He told Conan, immediately getting up and fast walking to the others. Luckily though, it did spare him from having to be in an awkward conversation, at least, that was how Nathaniel perceived it.

As he drew near his group, he could hear the start of the conversation, that which was coming from Poetry. "Group Five, get hip to this jive. On this project you'd think you flew. Keep up with me and maybe your grades will stay alive." There was a few moments pause, but she continued her speech. "Catch it, I already pulled books from the library on two of the most slammin' lava-shooters."
He even got a paper, a bit mesmerized that he was in a group that had people who willingly wanted to work. It was like a dream come true, but at the same time, it also made him feel more like an outcast than he already thought he was. To the others, he must of looked like a slacker, seeing as he didn’t seem prepared for so much effort the others have already put in. Once Poetry finished and as Nathan was reading the paper she had handed out, the other girl in the group decided to share what she would do.

"I'll help build the volcano! Make it look all pretty! We can totally use my place as a home base too," The others too spoke…
"Sounds like a plan to me. Since Poetry already has quite a bit of the research done already, I'll hop in on construction too, if that's cool? I researched how to build these things. I've actually got a lot of the materials at home. I could bring them to Jake and Caleb's house tonight so you could take it home with you, Lily, so you have it at your place, if you'd like?"
"Anything y'all need me to do. I'm down. Need commentary, project security, theme music and sound effects for the volcano, little lego people, snacks and shit, I got you..."

Something inside Nathan made an ever so slight smile grace itself across his face as he was happy, happy that they all were going to put in some sort of effort so far. It made the almost worried feeling he had earlier disperse into relief as this would be the first group project in forever that he wouldn't have to do all by himself. It filled him with enough confidence to speak momentarily to them.

"Whatever you guys need, I'll get it or do it. I want us to get a good grade on this, so whatever you require, don't hesitate to ask me." This almost took him by surprise that he had even spoke for that long, his confidence to succeed immediately falling back down as his eyes shifted to the ground from embarrassment. He hoped he didn't make himself look like a fool by talking so much.

[Fabricant451]

Had the school week really gone by so suddenly? Nicoletta had hardly noticed; and she figured everyone else around her hadn't noticed her either. Not that she was interested in standing out, but after the carnival on the first day and the subsequent school year starting, Nicoletta started at a high and had dropped back down to a low. She had been quiet for the week. Quiet to the point where she had to explain to her parents why the school called home to comment on her absences. It wasn't her fault some teachers couldn't hear her. She was seated near the back and her voice just...didn't carry.

A week of staying quiet, being studious, and making no friends. One down. How many more to go? Nicoletta was worried, internally, that this would be the cycle for the rest of the year. For the remaining four years even. All around her people were getting to know each other. Had made friends. Had made weekend plans. Nicoletta's weekend plan was to not leave her room and tell herself that it'll get better. Easier. Which was making her sad even thinking about it.

Even now, when she was placed in a group for a project, she felt like the outsider. Here her groupmates were discussing plans and methods to complete the project and all she did was sit there, quietly, and wonder who would say anything if she just got up and walked away. Of course she wouldn't, that would be rude, but the thought had crossed her mind.

One of the group members spoke funnily, Nicoletta thought. Who used the word jive anymore? Maybe it was some new thing that she didn't understand, Nicoletta didn't comment on it and kept her thoughts to herself. Something she had become increasingly good at. Two others were excited about building it while one exclaimed that they had supplies and another had a location to use.

And then there was Nicoletta. What did she bring to the project? Her charming and winning personality? Her meekness? Her crippling insecurities? Wonderful things to bring to a group project, things that would really help earn a passing grade.

"Um...." Nicoletta spoke up for what seemed like the first time in days, though she kept her gaze pointed downwards all the same, "I don't...um...have supplies or anything...but if we're working on this thing....um...together...I can...um....m...maybe get my dad to...cater something for us? Can't...can't work on...on just snacks and soda...right? I mean...I...I'll help with anything...I just...I can't offer much."

Nicoletta spoke fast, and she spoke gently, and when she was through she looked as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Baby steps.

~

People probably assumed that Cass had managed to get herself expelled. When last people even saw her, she was shouting at staff members at the carnival, hiding behind such threats as "YOU CAN'T GIVE ME DETENTION, BUCKTOOTHED ASS, SCHOOL ISN'T EVEN STARTED YET" and other, far more colorful words. Some students were spreading rumors. Cass got suspended. Cass got expelled. Cass this and Cass that. While it was true that Cass hadn't been seen on school grounds the first week, it wasn't due to suspension, expulsion, or even, as many assumed was the truth, Cass just saying "fuck it" and not showing up.

"You worry too much," Cass spoke in a lighter tone as she rolled her eyes. "What happened at the carnival wasn't because of this."

At the carnival, Cass ducked out, away from the crowds and the students; most assumed it was to go have a smoke, and while she DID, she didn't get more than a few drags before she found herself on the ground, face down in the dirt, discovered by a janitor who got in touch with the proper experts.

The proper experts, in this case, being Cass' mother.

"I hadn't eaten. Didn't have time to cook and your shitass food is not fit for any human." Cass was playing it off, but this was the fifth day that her mother had had Cass stay home. Cass hated it. She hated school, yes, but at least school let you walk around and talk to people; being forced to stay at home was like being incarcerated. A prison sentence.

She didn't even want to think about all the homework that she'd be missing. And that she, of course, wouldn't do anyway.

"I should pull you out, Cassandra. You don't want another-"

"I'm FINE, Mom. You're just a doctor. I know my body better than you. I wanna go to school."

Jane Rowley looked at her daughter with a look that silently called Cass on the bullshit of that statement. "What? It's more fun than whatever the fuck this is."

"Language."

"Really? Of all the things going on? Look, just let me go next week, okay? It'll be fine. The teachers and students probably think it's going to be quiet. I need to change that."

"Fine....fine. But if it happens again, you're out."

"Come on, ma....live a little."

Cass smirked at her words and rolled onto her side. Another day stuck inside four walls. At least she had her fish to keep her company. What was going on at Arrowsmith, she wondered. It might've been the one and only time she genuinely cared about school. Anything to keep her mind off of the present situation.