#GOD at least my calc professors homework actually asks about shit we learn in the lectures

[zapsoda]

i wish the online homework for all of my classes wasnt such stupid fucking bullshit

[michaels-blackhat]

study buddies

day 12/32 of my massive holiday project

for @seeaddywrite, a wonderful writer, person, and my educational (study) buddy. Congrats on the end of your semester and the end of mine. Please enjoy study buddies Michael and Liz, with a little bit of bonus at high school romances

Liz sat her books down on the long library table and looked over at its sole occupant. Michael Guerin was bent over a notebook, pen moving quickly as he powered through whatever assignment he was working on. Liz watched his for a moment, waiting for his pen to lift.

“Hey Ortecho,” Michael said when he finally looked up from his paper. “You don’t normally study here.”

He was right, she didn’t. She normally took over a booth in the back corner of the Crashdown before her shift started.

“I know,” she said as she sat across from him. “I’m just having problems with the pre-calc assignment and Mrs. D is the worst at explaining things.”

Michael snorted, that was an understatement. “I don’t think she’s updated her notes since the 80s,” Michael complained as he set aside his physics homework and opened his pre-calc book. “Seriously, I have to go home and teach myself the concepts, or else I’d be failing her class like…” He trailed up and looked at Liz.

“Like almost everyone else,” Liz said with a grin. “I’m normally pretty good at picking these things up, but the textbook just doesn’t make any sense to me. I don’t understand how they go from…” Liz also trailed off as she pulled Michael’s textbook towards her and pointed at the example. “See here? It doesn’t even connect to the previous example and the chapter doesn’t even mention it!”

Michael scowled at the textbook. It was definitely directed at the textbook and not at Liz. “I know, it’s another thing Mrs. D didn’t actually teach us. Here, let me show you.”

He bookmarked the page and then turned to a page chapters earlier. Liz pulled out her notebook, ready to learn.

-

“I can’t do this,” Michael said as he threw his pen down, his head following slightly after, hitting his book with a slight thump.

“It’s an essay,” Liz started, but Michael cut her off.

“It’s an essay for a novel I could barely stay away through,” he said, voice still muffled. He turned his head so that Liz could hear him properly. “I know we’re meant to study chemistry together, but I’m seriously screwed if I don’t finish this.”

Liz looked up from her chemistry notes to look at Michael fully. His hair hid most of his face, but what she could see was exhausted. He had bags under his eyes, larger than were usually there, and his entire appearance was more unkempt than it usually was. Liz knew he took great care to look as put together as he could. She knew the rumors about him, knew what rumors in a town like theirs could do. Their town was big enough for rumors about everyone, but small enough that you knew which ones were true.

“Ok,” Liz said, still watching Michael’s tired face. “We still have a few days until the AP test. And honestly, I’m pretty sure we’re both going to ace it.” Michael nodded his head in agreement. They two of them were the top of their class, and they had been preparing for weeks. Both understood the importance of grades on scholarships. And how much those AP credits could help. “So, let’s see what this essay is about.”

-

“Hey Guerin, want the rest of my fries?” Liz asked when she was full. They had been sitting there all evening, trying to finish their group project for their sociology class. Liz still wasn’t sure why either of them took it, besides how a varied curriculum would look on their transcripts.

Michael barely looked up as he reached for a fry. It was the first time Liz had convinced him to eat with her when they worked together. Maybe it was because they were sharing. Or maybe because he was too tired and annoyed at their sociological experiment and how it had not gone the way their professor had thought it would.

Michael took another fry. “Thanks Liz,” he said, head still trying to make sense of their survey data. He quickly flashed her a grin before he looked back down. “So,” he said as he copied the data onto their worksheet. “You were getting all cozy with Max after prom.”

Liz stopped what she was doing to look at Michael.

“Are you trying to gossip with me Michael Guerin?” Liz asked in a shocked tone. It wasn’t feigned. She and Michael never really talked about anything beyond school. It was their main point of connection, for all that they at least had Max in common.

“No gossiping,” Michael mumbled into a fry. “Just asking a question.”

Liz gave him a suspicious glare.

“Is Max trying to get you to get me to tell you anything?”

This time Michael did raise his eyes and his eyebrows at her.

“Liz,” Michael said seriously, too seriously, “he’s had a crush on you forever and everyone knows it. If he was trying to get me to do anything, I’d laugh in his face because it would be so obvious. No, this is just me asking a question.” He ended his sentence with a shrug.

“He’s sweet,” Liz said after a few moments of silence. “And he’s caring. And he’s my friend and has been for years.” She shrugged and went back to her own data sheet. “He was just trying to make me feel better, you know? I mean, I knew Kyle and Alex weren’t exactly friends anymore, but I didn’t think it was that bad, you know?”

Michael breathed out of his nose loudly before he put his pencil down and looked directly at Liz.

“I think both of them tried really hard for you not to know. Kyle because he’s a dick who thought he could have you and still be a shithead, and Alex because he’s your friend and he didn’t want to make you choose.”

Liz smiled a little but her eyes were sad. “Way to be honest Guerin. God, how did I not notice?”

“Did you notice that Alex wasn’t the only person he was a dick to?”

Liz shook her head. “He was never like that around me. I didn’t like hanging around his friends though. I probably should have thought about why that was.”

“You liked him, and he was always sweet to you. He made sure you never saw him as anything else. You can’t beat yourself up about it, just gotta be a better friend.”

Liz smiled at him, this time without the lingering sadness. “How’d you get so wise Guerin?”

“I’m a genius Ortecho,” he said with a wink. “No, enough feelings. Let’s finish this shit.”

-

Michael looked down at the note left for him at the Crashdown counter.

Ditching the chemistry project. I have a date instead.

It was signed with a smiley face. Michael crushed it in his hand as he made his way toward the UFO museum. Hopefully he’d have his own date too.