"Where is the classroom, by the way?" Kevin asked as they walked toward Sprout Well.
"First floor, but at the other end to the Computer Science class, inside Sprout Well," Caroline answered.
"Do you even check your mails?" Daisy asked.
"I do if I'm waiting for something," Kevin said, as if checking mails for this was a waste of time. "But for this, we have Marcus and Caroline."
"They already know more than me," Kevin added. "So why bother?"
Daisy nodded as they walked forward.
"I just remembered—we have selections this week for the football club," Marcus said, informing the girls. "Haven't fixed the date yet."
"Is it only football? Did you guys apply for any other clubs?" Caroline asked.
"Nah. It would be difficult to manage if we got into the student council too, so we skipped it for now," Marcus said. "What about you girls?"
"I joined ballet, and Cheez joined the media club," Daisy answered.
"Oh." Marcus said, feeling slightly odd. After a second, he added, "Cheez, are you sure you don't want to get into music?"
"I want to try something new this time," Caroline answered after pausing for a second. "And the media club sounds fun."
Marcus didn't say much after that.
"When do your activities start?" Kevin asked.
"You mean media club?" Caroline asked.
"Both," Kevin replied plainly.
"Applications are still ongoing for ballet, so right now I don't have anything in particular," Daisy explained, noticing Caroline was thinking. "Cheez's media club had interviews, but the results haven't been announced yet."
"Does that mean you got selected for ballet?" Kevin asked.
"Excuse me. I'm the Prima Donna who won our school an award," Daisy said, boasting slightly. "Of course I got selected."
Caroline smiled. "Her ballet is really good. The seniors wanted to take her directly, but she did a few steps and impressed everyone."
"That's great. Can we watch your performance next time?" Marcus said appreciatively.
Marcus and Kevin looked at her expectantly as they climbed the stairs to the first floor.
"I don't know. I'm still new. If it isn't restricted, I don't mind," Daisy said honestly.
"It's fixed then. Ring us up when you're going to the club next time," Kevin said.
"Sure," Daisy replied, unable to refuse.
"This is our class today," Caroline interrupted.
They entered the classroom. It was already filled with a few students, and all that remained vacant were the front-row seats.
"Not again," Marcus said.
"I don't want to sit on the first bench," Kevin said at the same time.
Caroline moved forward, checking for vacant seats at the back. She spotted two and whispered something into Daisy's ear.
Seeing them whisper, Kevin asked, "What are you—?"
Marcus dashed toward the last two seats but was late by a few seconds. Caroline and Daisy beat him to them.
Kevin, still standing at the entrance, noticed this and frowned before taking a seat in the front row with no other option.
Marcus closed his eyes, digesting his defeat. With his lips pressed together, he raised a finger. "It's your luck today," he said, then turned and took a seat beside Kevin.
Caroline sat facing the board, pretending Marcus didn't exist.
Other students who noticed this exchange giggled among themselves, including Daisy.
"Looks like we're the only girls in this class," Daisy said after scanning the room.
Caroline glanced around as well. "Cons of being a Mechanical student. Can't help it."
"Hi, I'm Matt," a guy from the front seats introduced himself to Caroline and Daisy.
"Caroline," she answered blankly, with no intention of making friends.
"I'm Daisy," Daisy introduced herself politely.
Before the guy could say anything else, Caroline spoke. "You should face ahead. I'd like to sleep in peace before class starts."
She then turned to Daisy. "Do you want to play a mobile game?"
Matt shook his head, eyebrows raised, and turned back to face the board. The other guys who had been thinking of talking to them dropped the idea after seeing Caroline's attitude.
"Sure," Daisy nodded, opening her phone, understanding the situation.
Kevin turned back to check on the girls and then looked at Marcus. "Do you think they're going to be okay?"
Marcus, sitting with a slight frown, glanced at the girls and then at Kevin. "Ah, don't worry. Cheez is good at blowing away flies. Daisy is safe with her."
"Caution is good," Kevin said plainly, "but it's going to be difficult to make friends if she's like that with everyone."
Marcus's frown shifted into a blank, serious look for a few seconds. Then he returned to his usual expression. "Yeah, but she'll be fine. She's just picky."
Kevin noticed the slight change in Marcus's expression but didn't comment.
A lecturer entered, and the class began. Unlike Mr. Benson, he didn't ask for self-introductions. He introduced himself briefly and started teaching.
He explained a few drawings, asked the students to draw some of them, and assigned homework.
The class went by so quickly that Caroline didn't even realize how much time had passed.
The next class was a bit boring. Sitting on the last bench, Caroline took a nap, hiding behind Matt.
The guy next to Matt whispered that Caroline was sleeping. Matt instinctively leaned forward, as if to let the lecturer notice her, but when he glanced back at her, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he sat straight, shielding her, and asked the guy beside him to move closer so the lecturer wouldn't notice the girl behind.
The bell rang, signaling lunchtime.
Matt relaxed his posture as he saw the lecturer leave the classroom.
Daisy nudged Caroline awake. "It's lunch."
"I had a good nap. Thanks, Matt," Caroline said. Then she turned and added, "Thanks, Daisy," hugging her over the shoulders and grinning like a child.
Matt didn't expect her to notice—much less appreciate him—and was taken aback. He turned back slightly. "Didn't know you could appreciate," he said. "You're welcome," leaning against his desk with one hand on his shoulder bag strap.
"I don't like bees, but I know how to thank people when they help," Caroline replied as she picked up her bag.
"Hey, I was just trying to be friendly. I'm not interested in you," Matt said, turning to leave.
Daisy, Marcus, and Kevin watched silently, holding back their smiles.
"Neither am I," Caroline said, also leaving.
Matt felt annoyed, but before he could say anything, Caroline joined the other three and left the class.
"Forget it, bro. Girls are mean creatures by nature," the guy beside Matt said, patting his shoulder.