So you said Calcium and Arsenic, right? [open]

[jinkyung]

Dun-dun-duh... Bobbing off into a light sleep and jerking his head back up again, Jin tried desperately to stay awake. Was it his fault that he'd been sleepless for the past five nights? He ddin't think so. How could it? What had he done to himself to end up this way? All he knew was that he missed his sister, but would something like that keep him from sleeping?

Unfortunately, today was a lab day in Chemistry. Yes, he remembered to bring his goggles, as un-sexy as they made him look, but had neglected to finish his homework for today. It was half done, did that count at all? Was it his fault that Chemistry sucked? Obviously not. Could he blame it on the professor? Maybe, but that wouldn't be fair to them. In fact, it was just that Jin had no interest in this class whatsoever. Zilch. Nada. 아무도. You got the point. It really wasn't anyone's fault in that aspect. Just a ruddy class he was stuck in and needed to pass in order to graduate...or at least he thought that's how it was. His mind raced with excitement at the idea of not having to take this class, or math or Spanish to get a degree..but then, now that he thought about it, did they actually get degrees here? Not like many people actually knew about Hammel as is, would they consider it a viable school, or just some made up shit a punk teenager would do? Probably the latter, considering his social status (disregarding that he's from some very blue-blood relations.)

All of these thoughts clouded his mind, so much so that when he came out of it, he noticed that people were up and getting out of their seats to form their given lab groups, and he was left sitting there with no partner. Trying to look alive, he picked up his notebook and headed over to the lab table in the back, waiting for a lab partner to come his way. And even if they didn't, he had a good vantage point, and could just peek at what the other students were doing in front of him, without looking too obvious. It was pure genius.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat walked into the classroom. Unfortunately she had gotten lost and was just then getting to class. She looked around to see everyone in back in the lab. Chemistry wasn’t her favorite subject by far but it was at least interesting. Silently Cat handed in her homework. She was new here and really didn’t want to get behind in anything. The teacher took her homework and looked it over. Finding no fault with her homework the teacher let her off the hook.

“You’ll be working with Jin Kyung. He is at table nine.” Cat looked around. Maybe he was new like her? Cat hoped that this Jinn Kyung was the type of person who did his share of the work. At her old school she was always the one doing the work. Frankly she would have preferred to work alone, but she was in no mood to argue. Cat looked around the room. She assumed it was the Korean dude as per his name. Silently as not to attract too much attention Cat moved back towards the dude. When Cat walked up to him she saw that he wasn’t actually doing his experiment but was looking on another person‘s experiment.

Cat silently shook her head. This was not going to help him any in the long run. Cat moved into the dude’s line of view and sat down opposite the lab table from him. Well if he wasn’t going to do any work neither was she. Cat pulled out a book on break dancing and began to read. She found it fascinating. Cat had already done this lab before. It was no big deal if she didn’t do it. And besides it was more fun to read about break dancing. The next book she was planning on reading was about ballet. This had started a while ago.

[jinkyung]

Really? He had to work with her? The girl walked quietly back towards him, a book already in hand, although he seriously doubted she was reading about Chemistry. Not that the girl wasn't studious our smart or any of those lovely similes, it was that she's was always reading. Would she have time to put down her book and actually work with him on this. Well...maybe he was thinking more along the lines of do it for him, or at least show him how to do it and how to get the answers so that he could actually score somewhat well on it, but he'd take what he could get.

Unfortunately, when she saw him, the lucky guy of whom she had to work with, she was to say in the least, not a bit interested, so she sat down and continued reading her book. Really? Was that how it was going to go. Well not according to JinJoo. He cocked his head to read the book's title, just out of mere curiosity. If it was about Chemistry, maybe he'd let her have a few minutes at it before he took it from her and ripped it from her hands, but she didn't have that luxury.

From what he could make out, hardly daring to believe she'd have the audacity to read about such a thing, the book was called, "Breakdancing". What the heck did she think she was doing? Was she really thinking she could gain all the knowledge in the world from that book on such a skill? It was reading a book on how to swim and expecting that you'd be an Olympic champion when you initially got into the world, if she'd ever go that far, he seriously doubted it, unless they made waterproof books.

He waited for her to take a break, or show signs of her noticing that his eyes were attempting to pierce hers, but as nothing ever came across her face as recognition, he figured it would be best if he just plain said something. "Really? I'd say your best bet would to actually learn how to do it. Don't be afraid to fall on your but or head a few times. Or better yet, stop reading the damn book before I throw it across the room and do what we're supposed to be doing."

He might actually sound like an ass, yeah he knew, but if he had to do this stupid lab, then so did she, no matter how smart she claimed to be or how unintelligent she thought he was. He was going to try, and look, since she arrived he had stopped looking to others for hints. Instead, it was more of a chore to try to get his partner to actually participate than it was to cheat. Wouldn't the teacher notice that she wasn't doing anything? He needed his grade to be passing this semester, whether she liked it or not. He waited to see if the girl would put down the book and cooperate. If she didn't none should doubt that he could get a bit riled.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat was reading about the different types of break dancing and how it was used in many ways. She found it fascinating and although she noticed the dudes stare she continued to read, ignoring him. Cat turned page after page until she got to the part about how it was used to battle. She sighed and looked at the dude. He was staring at her. Entirely uncomfortable Cat took her book and started to read, only this time she couldn’t concentrate. Every now and again she would look out of the corner of her eye o see if the boy needed any help or if he had even started the lab.

Cat watched the boy’s reaction as he read the title of the book. He looked almost pained and completely shocked. Cat wondered what was wrong. So she was reading about break dancing what was wrong with that. She herself had no rhythm or ability so she admired those who did. The thing that came out of the mouth of Jin was really annoying Cat. "Really? I'd say your best bet would to actually learn how to do it. Don't be afraid to fall on your but or head a few times. Or better yet, stop reading the damn book before I throw it across the room and do what we're supposed to be doing."

“For your information, I have no desire to ever Break-dance I just enjoy reading about it. It fascinates me. If you would like to commence with the lab I’m all for it, but I won’t tolerate cheaters. That is something I hate the most.” Cat sat down and started to read again. As for the last part of the statement… about throwing her book, Cat wasn’t too worried. If he threw it she would just go pick it up and retrieve it. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to make her stop reading. “Now if you too politely as me to start the lab and help you I would. But I don’t take kindly to having being threatened to have my book thrown across the room.”

With that Cat set her book down and stared at the Korean dude. “I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Catherine. Friends call me Cat but I don’t know you so you call me Catherine.”

[jinkyung]

Trying to play the motherly role was certainly a bad idea. Jin knew in fact how to ask for something if he wanted it bad enough, but the fact that this Cat-girl was so rude and indignant about it, demanding the highest respect in an area of which, according to him, she deserved none, JJ wasn't about to show her any. If anything, he'd just take some ammonium chloride to her book and see what it did to it. Despite the fact that he didn't pay attention in class didn't make him a complete fool. For some reason, he had a sharp memory, and could do well with remembering words and brief strains of numbers. In chemistry, it was all about that. The NH4+ could show to be actually useful.

And if she didn't take well to throwing her book, maybe she wouldn't mind it if her grabbed it from her and 'accidentally' set it on fire. Thank you, chem lab, for having all the important utensils to give that pain in the ass a hard time. If she was going to play this way, he'd do the lab himself, step by step. It might take forever, but he had about an hour and a half before his next class, so staying after wouldn't be too bad. It would be better than having this nut job lecture him about what to do and what not to do, how to say things to people, and how not to. He had a mother, alright? She was a bit more passive, but she did teach him his manners (whether those few were deemed important enough to use them on, that surely fluctuated.)

"I think you've forgotten your place, Cat. If you haven't noticed, you're may be the same age as I am, but that doesn't mean you're smarter, or wiser, despite the fact that you always have your head in a book. Welcome to the real world." With that, he swiped up her book in one quick motion and started the fire on the chem set, dangling the book over the flame. He kept it at a distance where it wouldn't yet have the ability to catch on fire, but he could change that. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give two shits if you want to do this or not, but I'd advise you to think before you talk to me next time. Do you know why people stay out of my business and don't boss me around? Because I can take things from them that are very important, say this book of yours, or a man's pride and confidence. Do you read me loud and clear?" After getting his message across, he turned off the flame and threw the book back at her. "Now if you wouldn't mind, either leave or do this lab with me. I couldn't care either way."

[Catherine Novella]

Cat watched the dude’s reactions. He was almost fuming. Cat found it quite fun to see him squirm. This was weird. Normally Cat would have nothing to do with him and would have just started the lab already. She found herself smiling. Cat Put her book down and looked down at the lab sheet in front of her. She started to answer the questions, thinking aloud. “So if this is this then that is that.” “Wouldn’t this react with that to form that?” Cat was unaware of the boy next to her when he snatched her book from her. Then he started jabbering on about place and how she had forgotten it. Cat rolled her eyes. “I never said I was any of those things. I just don’t like cheaters and I don’t like being threatened. I am perfectly capable of living in the real world I just choose not to.”

Cat stared the boy down when he took her book and put it over the open flame. She was Mortified but by seeing where it was she sighed. Did he have to resort to violence? If he had asked she would have started. Cat glared at him. Her impression was getting worse and worse. Sure she could see how some people would be fed up with her attitude, but frankly after wandering around looking for the stupid building cat was not in the mood. She was always getting lost but, she was really pissed at herself because it was lab day. When she first walked into the lab she had no opinions about Jin Kyung. HE was just another person, whom apparently she was going to have to work with. Cat put on a smile and counted to ten. There that’s better.

Cat couldn’t blame Jin for feeling as if she was just blowing him off, but that was no way to speak to her. “I’m sorry if I offended you. It was not my intentions. And if you wanted to borrow the book you just had to say so. I would have lent it too you.” CAt smiled at the person. She was not backing down just trying a different approach. “You know it would have helped if you had just asked. And frankly, if you did just ask I would have started already. Now what do you think question two is?”

[jinkyung]

Baffled by the mere thought of what she was requesting, JJ found it hard not to laugh, and stifled it in response. "Really? You think I want to read your book about something I've spent nearly my entire life doing? No thanks, toots, I've got it handled. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to light some chemicals on fire and make things sizzle and bubble. That's what these labs are all about anyways." He pulled his goggles onto his face, letting them smack tight to the grooves of his face, his eyes, his nose, everything that needed covering. Time to get down to business.

JJ closed his eyes and tried to remember the formulas for certain combinations of chemicals. He remembered that this was rudimentary stuff, but it needed to be memorized. I don't know if you could call what he could do memorizing, as he didn't always understand what his mind remembered, but still, it happened, and as it had been apparent in his earlier life, this skill not only came in great handy, it also could be a very dangerous ability to have. But enough of those thoughts, time to get started on this.

JinJoo looked up at the clock for a brief moment. Squirming under the pressure of only having twenty-five minutes to finish this lab he'd hardly started, part of his mind chastised him for even giving a damn about this weird, nerdy girl. He just figured that even though he hated this class immensely, that she would be able to help out, even if she too, hated the course. At least they could have been neutral towards each other and ground the lab out of the dust of the classroom. Instead, they had a trifle, and she was officially on his Shit-List, if there ever was one. He didn't want to hurt her, but he certainly would avoid her in the future. This Cat girl was certainly trouble, and their personalities didn't match in the least bit.

After spotting the desired chemical in the list of instructions, JJ carefully poured the correct amount into the beaker, set it in its holder, and looked to measure out the other chemicals as carefully as he could. Yes, time was ticking, but no need to burn the table or his hand or blow something up. He was doing this by himself, after all. There was no real use for her to ask the questions to the lab assignment if they had yet to see the results to the lab, was it?

For once, he might actually be the kid that did all the work as the other tried to wean from it what they could. Ironic how that would work, eh?

[Catherine Novella]

Cat was a bit put off. If he didn’t want the book he should have just told him. Why was he being “such a brat…” oops? Did Cat say that out loud? Whoops. “Don’t call me toots. Cat or Catherine.” Cat really hated that name. Toots, it stunk of a big ego. It was nice that he had something he enjoyed. Cat wondered if he felt the same way about break dancing as she did about reading. Cat just rolled her eyes at the pop fizzle buzz comment. “You know the formula’s, (P1V1)/ (T1) = (P2V2)/ (T2). IF we plug in the components we should get the right reaction seeing as how the pressure is going to affect everything. If we raise the pressure and the temperature the volume should raise too.” Cat pulled her hair back. Time to get to work. “If we add more hot water too it, the temperature will rise, thus giving us the pressure we want. Is that what’s next?” Cat suddenly had a thought. There wasn’t going to be enough time to finish this. “One moment Jin I’ll go get us some extended time.”

Cat walked up to the teacher and bargained for more time. After a few minutes of haggling Cat got what she wanted. “We have more time to finish this if needed. The teacher said that we would get more time and he also said that we were to report on our findings specifically to them. He doesn’t even care if we do it right, he would prefer it but, as long as we are working the entire time he doesn’t’ care how long it takes us.” Cat hoped that Jin was at least going to try to be civil. They may have gotten off on bad terms but Cat didn’t want any enemies, whether they were annoying brats or not.