"Actually, it is kinda funny," Gerard said.
"Okay, you're almost so stupid that it's not even funny," Frank said.
"It's one of the forbidden questions," Ray said, �There�s things that you never ask women, and that's one of them."
"I'm not the only one who was wondering," Bob said.
"I know, but that's worse then asking her how old she is."
"So what did she say anyway?" Gerard asked.
"She glared at me for a minute and looked like she was about to say yes, but couldn't get the word out so she just gave me a detention slip."
"So that basically means they aren't real."
"Maybe."
"Dude, tell me that it's not true," Josie said as she, Tracy, and Charlotte walked over.
"What's not true?"
"You asking if they were real!" She said to Bob.
"I did."
"Why'd you ask? It's really obvious that they aren't," Tracy said.
"Yeah, it is," Charlotte agreed. "Gerard are we studying at your place or mine today?"
"Mine."
"Alright."
"What goes on at those study sessions?" Ray said in a mock-accusing tone, raising an eyebrow to them.
"Yes, you both say that all you do is <i>study</i>, but there's more going on between you to isn't there?" Frank said.
"Alright, we admit it," Gerard said, putting his arms around Charlotte's waist dramatically, �We�re not studying at all!"
"We can't help it!" Charlotte said running her fingers through his hair, �We can't keep our hands off each other!"
"I knew it!" Tracy said triumphantly.
They laughed at themselves and Gerard let go of Charlotte. "Right, then the Easter Bunny comes over shortly after that and has tea with us," Gerard said.
"He has very poor table manners," Charlotte commented.
"I knew nothing was going on," Ray said.
"Yeah, Charlotte's way to good for you Gerard," Frank said.
"Right.... she doesn't even know basic multiplication."
"I do so!" She said, punching his shoulder.
"Fine, but it takes you a little while."
"Shut up, at least I know the element that's the basis of life."
"I know that one... it's hydrogen right?"
"Carbon," they all said.
"Okay, how about this, we're both morons," Gerard said.
"Alright, but you're a bigger moron then I am."
"Fine."
"I found out when the next lacross game is," Josie said, �Next Friday. Can you give us a ride Charlotte?"
"Why do I have to give you a ride?"
"Because my sister's an idiot who needs the car that night," Josie said.
"And my brother's the idiot who flattened our tires again," Tracy said.
"Fine, but the next time your brother flattens my tires you're paying for them."
"Deal."
".... and so that would make the answer what?" Gerard said after explaining a problem to Charlotte.
"56?"
"No."
"57?"
"No."
"58?"
"No."
"Um...."
"The answer is 32."
"How is it 32?"
"I just got through explaining that," He said with a sigh before starting to explain it again. "Does it make sense now?"
"Kind of."
"Do you see what you did wrong?"
"Yes."
"Good, let's move on."
"Don't you guys have a dog?
"Yeah why?"
"Because I haven't seen him at all the past three times I've been here."
"We have the laziest beagle you've ever known, he sleeps 20 hours a day in my parent's room."
"Is that an exaggeration?"
"Not really."
A chubby beagle walked down the stairs and yawned as it walked into the kitchen and drank from it's water bowl.
"He must have known we were talking about him and came to investigate," Charlotte said.
"Hey Skip," Gerard said as the dog walked over to him and sat. He scratched behind Skippy's ears.
Skippy jumped on Gerard's lap wagged his tail. Charlotte smiled,"How cute. Why'd you name him Skippy?"
"Because my parents wouldn't let me name him Lucifer."
"Tracy and I have a teddy bear that we named Lucifer," Charlotte said,"She came up with the name and explained it all to me..."
"You both have the teddy bear?"
"We have joint custody." Gerard smiled and rose an eyebrow to her. "That's what happens when you're fourteen, bored, and looking at stuffed animals," Charlotte said simply.
"I see...."
"Um....." he said, scanning his notes, Mr. Marcus rose an eyebrow at him, he'd expected Gerard to glance at Charlotte's notes or just say he didn't know,"... Helium?"
"... Very good," Mr. Marcus said, a bit surprised that he'd not only taken notes, he'd taken accurate ones, before going back to explain more of the lesson.
"See, I told you that you'd use that," Charlotte whispered.
"You did. Hey do you think he still thinks I'm a moron?" Gerard said.
"Yeah, just not as big a moron."
"Alright," Mr. Marcus said, �Tomorrow we'll be working with the lab equipment and performing experiments for the first time this semester. Just a reminder, we don't randomly mix chemicals, we read all directions first," he shot Frank a glance, �We do not wear oven mitts," another glance at Frank, �and we do not drink any mixtures we make in this class. Is that clear Mr. Iero?"
"Huh?," Frank said, he hadn't been paying attention.
Mr. Marcus glared at him for a minute until the bell rang and they left the classroom.
When they were walking towards the courtyard they walked past the nurses office and saw Tracy sitting on one of the cots closest to the door.
"What happened?" Charlotte said from the doorway as the others looked in over her shoulder.
"These people who are too much into Manga were convinced that if you jump out of a window you'll land and walk away completely unharmed and paid me fifty dollars to test it out."
"And you did?"
"Jumped out he second floor, broke my foot," She said. There was black streaks on her cheeks from tears that had escaped after the fall.
"Hope it gets better."
"My dad said it would, he did the same thing when he was my age. Only it was the third floor and he broke both his feet."
"Good luck with that I'll get you the notes you miss," Charlotte said before they started walking away.
"How does Manga have to do with what happened?"
"In nearly every manga book I've read, they always jump out the window and land without harm. Well, in a few of them they kinda stumbled and said,'Ow!' but that's about it."
"Oh."
"Trust Me"