The most boring class I ever had was over. Never in my life had I felt so tired during classes. If it weren't for my text group consisting of my two friends in school, I would be dead right now. Once I gave my sheet with my forgery of a work to Cranky, I left the room.
“I need to eat some sugar, chocolate will do” I mumbled to myself.
There was a dispenser nearby and sugar would help me in improving my bad mood. Once I found what I was looking for in the halfway, I bought the chocolate and quickly ate it while going to the second floor of the school to my next class: Informatics. Thanks to Lightbulb, I corrected the mistake in my schedule were it said that the class was in the library instead of the computer lab. I knew there was a mistake in there, the library is where desperate people go to do their homework and study in groups in vain. I proceeded to my destination, but a guy was blocking my way.
“Eh, excuse me but you are blocking the way and I need to get inside!”
“Oh! Sorry, man!”
I recognized the student; it was the guy who gave me directions of where was my next classroom a while ago. He gave the aura of someone social and popular. Since there were some students there already and knowing how unpopular the last row is in the computer labs, I sat in the last row in the corner. It was the perfect place. Everyone started to arrive to here. Twilight and Sunset were already here with the other girls. I wonder who will be my next teacher. He finally-
“Oh god, I can't believe it.”
“Good afternoon, students, I am pleased to say we have two new students joining our class. Could both you come here and introduce yourselves?”
It was Gizmo, a friend of Captain Armor and a cool dude. I met him in a expo comics last winter, we tried to fight over the last edition of Musculus the Barbarian, but we ended getting the same comic because there were five copies available, we chat a while and since then, we have been good acquaintances. We are not friends and we know it, but it was good to know that sincerity is the bridge to good relationships… at least that’s what I think of it. I hate the usual introduction ritual, but I will make an exception for him.
“Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle! It’s good to be your new classmate! I hope we can be friends given the time, and let’s hope you can teach me how to improve my programing skills this time, Professor Gizmo!”
I wasn't surprised Twilight would be talking to him like that, as I said, he was one of the Captain's best friends. Even she must know about her brother's circles.
“You know you can ask me anything, Twilight, Shining Armor would never forgive me if I didn't help you!”
An expected answer from a cool dude.
“Well, Nitpick, it’s your turn, you can do it!”
Shut up, Twilight.
“My name is Nitpick Bittersweet. Like Twilight here, we came from Crystal Prep Academy and I hope we can coexist peacefully.”
Musculus the Barbarian said the last part of the sentence before killing his step-father in the kingdom of eternity. A fitting end for a mad warrior. What this has to do with the introduction, you ask? Absolutely nothing, it was just a cool scene and quote.
“You haven't changed one bit, Nitpick!”
He got the message. Only comic fans would understand this pointless exchange of quoting people.
“Well, you didn’t have change either, ‘Professor’ Gizmo!”
We chuckled for a moment in agreement.
“Indeed. Very good, let’s update you in the mechanic of our class. I will grade you with an ongoing project for all the semester. It can be anything you like as long its purpose it’s meaningful. For example, you can develop an application that facilitates accountability calculation if you have knowledge of the subject, or a book editor to make more appealing digital books with image and word style editor. As you can see, your classmates are working in pairs, and since you are new here, you will temporally work individually with an existent team. They will show you an example of their works to help you inspire your minds in what do you want to do for a project!”
“The work is in pairs… Can I just work alone, Professor? I would be just dead weight for my partner.”
He knows pretty well I can do my work alone. We shared the same ideology of not doing things in teamwork. There are exceptions of course, but I don’t feel working in pairs in this class... as a matter of fact, I hope to not work in teams frequently.
“Well, this task is meant to be in pairs to improve team work, but let’s see. Twilight, ladies should be asked first in the subject. There is a classmate over there, Flash, who is currently working alone and Nitpick here. With whom you want to team up?”
Ah, the guy from earlier, he looks like those cool high school guys from TV and movies. With him as an option, my solitude in class will be fulfilled.
“Are you sure you want to work alone, Nitpick? It could be fun working together again!”
‘What!?´ I thought dumbfounded. Did my words specifying to work alone weren't clear enough for you, Twilight?
“Are you sure you want to work with me, Twilight Sparkle? I wasn't of much help during our physics project last year. As a matter of fact, you practically did everything yourself.”
I indeed helped her, but it was too much effort to keep her pace. It would have been easier back then if the moron of Trenderhoof and the rest helped in doing the job. Worse of all, they took part of the credit, those assholes.
“Nonsense, you were truly helpful in doing the mockup to show the gravitational effects in a theoretical solar system affected by a dying sun and a black hole in it. It was really fun working with you, unlike Trenderhoof and his friends who always were making silly excuses to not assist us in the assignment!”
“But I…”
I want to be alone.
“…Please.”
“But…”
Then, Twilight unknowingly unleashed the ultimate technique in convincing a man to do what a cute girl wants: Puppy moist-eyes and a hopeful expression. This technique has a probability of instant death of ninety-nine percent to the adversary. A fearsome technique.
“Fine!”
Twilight was happy with the outcome… damn her.
“Now that our team problem has been solved, you still need to be with another team for today. You can choose whoever you like, Twilight. Nitpick, since you were chosen for a team, why don’t you work with Flash for today? Flash, help Nitpick get used to our pace, please.”
“Yes, Professor!”
Uh, I think he wanted Twilight and not me as a partner. Your expression told me everything, Flash. I am sorry it was me instead of her, cool guy.
“Hey Nitpick, welcome to CHS! I am Flash Sentry; believe me when I say you will like this place”
Ah, surprisingly friendly all of the sudden. He spoke with a low tone. I will respond in kind.
“Yes, I know, everyone in school has told me the same damn thing since I arrived.” It was the first day and I was growing tired of everyone telling me this was a better school. “Flash, aren't we supposed to work in your project?”
“Right, let’s start!”
Flash uploaded his work from the USB and opened Windowed Visual Projects.
“Well, my project consist of making an interactive tutorial to teac people how to play an electric guitar. I already have the code to make the application work in chapter-like lessons. My goal is to make people confident in their skills, but I am finding difficult to transmit the basics in words or where to begin with.”
Uh, he is the rocker type. Well, let’s see if I can help.
“If I wanted to play a guitar, the first thing I would like to learn is what I have in my disposal.”
“What do you mean?”
“Electric guitars have various components, right? The first thing I would want to learn would be how to tune the guitar, how to put cords, the purpose of the stick below the cords and so on. You can't use an instrument if you don't know how to use all its tools…at least that’s what a beginner like me would like to know if I were interested.”
“You make a good point. And the stick you mention is called a Tremolo Bar, not all electric guitars have one.”
“You can make a small chapter explaining the different types of guitar, and the first few chapters can be about of how you learned to play.”
“Good idea, but the way I learned is somewhat weird. I just played mimicking the sounds until it sounded right. I don’t think that would help anyone.”
“But you know how to read the musical notes, right?”
“That’s right. I learned that later on during middle school.”
“Then you can start with that.”
“Sounds good to me!”
Wow, he is unexpectedly agreeable. Most people would be offended for the fact of just receiving an opinion from an amateur.
“I am sure you will make friends here!”
“Why do you say that?” Really, why? Do I look like a plain and unfriendly guy? “And I already have friends; Lightbulb and Dancer are here in this school so I don’t need anyone else.”
“Well, you seem pretty honest, and I know those two, they are good guys. But you don't consider Twilight your friend?”
“Well, she is a good acquaintance at most but I don’t know her well enough to call her a friend. She is a good girl, though.”
“It seems Twilight and you know the professor.”
“I was surprised to see him here. He is a friend of Twilight's older brother, Captain Shining Armor. The professor and I met during an expo comic during Christmas. We are not friends either but I consider him a cool guy.”
“Do you know if Twilight is dating someone? I know you said you didn't know her well but…”
“I see…” I see your real intention now, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt “To tell you the truth, I don't know. Honest. Why you don’t ask her out if you are interested in her? You look like a popular guy, maybe she will agree going out with you.”
“You think so?”
Flash was suddenly filled with hope. He was a hopeless romantic after all, just like me.
“Well…yeah.”
“Thanks, man!”
“Anytime…hey, could I ask you a question?”
“Sure, man, go ahead!”
Still doubting him, I tried to make another approach. He was brave enough to openly confess he liked Twilight…I don’t know why, I mean, she is gorgeous, but is extremely nerdy, even for me. Anyway, he could help me about getting close to Sunset, he must be the popular type, and he must know something. What I am trying to prove with what I was going to do? See if he isn´t a dick.
“Well… I wasn´t completely honest about wanting friends…since you opened about your love interest…well, this is embarrassing, talking about this.” It really is. ”Normally, the only people I trust telling this kind of things are my friends, and making friends is really hard, you know, especially in Crystal Prep.”
That was a hard truth, I didn’t enjoy much my old school, I had very few friends there, but social life was harsh, it made me the bitter and wary man I am now.
“Come on, you can tell me”
“I liked someone at first sight, maybe it’s foolish of me, but I really liked this girl.”
“Most of the girls here are good people. I don´t know if you noticed but this school is full of pretty girls, who is the lucky one?”
“You talk like if it’s already granted that I would date her in the near future.”
Maybe if it was you it would be true, but in my case, I would end up rejected… fuck.
“You never know if you don't try! You said that yourself earlier.”
“Well, she is here in this classroom.”
“Let me guess, it’s that girl with the fashionable purple hair, Rarity.”
“No.”
Too refined for my liking.
“Then the pink haired girl, Fluttershy”
“No”
Too shy for my liking.
“Then the black haired girl, Octavia”
“No, too classy."
“Normally I get the right answer in this kind of things in the second try… although with Twilight is a special case for me.”
I don’t doubt that, Casanova.
“Sorry if I sound like an unbearable bastard with my short answers.”
“Don’t worry… and I give up, at this pace I will name all the girls in class”
“Well, she is sitting beside Twilight.”
“WHAT!?”
Flash made a loud noise; everyone turned their attention to us. Here it comes, the moment where he mocks me.
“It's something wrong, Flash?”
“No! No, Professor! It’s just that… Nitpick gave me an awesome idea and it really worked in my application, making chapter-like tutorial for my guitar teaching program”
“Good to know, Kiddo, but try to be more quiet next time.”
“Uh, yep, of course.”
The awkward moment quickly died off and everything went back to normal.
“For a moment I thought you were going to expose me and everybody would laugh at me.”
Seriously, I thought that.
“Is this how Crystal Prep was back then?”
“You could say so…thanks for not meeting my expectations of how this could have ended.”
No, really, thank you. And then, a moment of silence.
“You know, I know Sunset well…too well in fact.”
“Meaning?”
“Well, She is… she is my ex-girlfriend.”
“Oh….OH! I see.”
Crap, this is the part where he says he still loves her and he will be my rival.
“Don’t take it wrong, it was sudden, that’s all. Besides, it’s more than a year since we broke up. But I assure you, she is a nice girl, and before you ask, we have a disagreement of sorts but nothing serious.”
“Tell me the truth, do I have a change?”
“Well…”
“I need to know, so don’t bullshit me…please.”
Don’t give me false hope, dude. I will notice right away. You are even sweating.
“I am sorry but you don’t have any change, Nitpick. You appear to be very wary of people and I don´t think she would like that. I don’t mean to say you are bad, I just met you and I think you are a good guy. There are girls as nice as she in the school, but please forget about her, not as her ex, but I worry about the outcome with her. She is simple too much for you…she was too much for me, too, believe me.”
“Somehow I knew you would say that” Really I did, she was something else… “She must be an awesome girl if you say it like that.”
“That she is… I am sorry”
“Don’t be. Thank you for your sincerity, Flash.”
No, really, thank you. It was unexpected. Class was over. It was time to finally going home. My crush for her has been weakened; perhaps tomorrow things will be back as usual with me.