The F-boy Project

Chapter 6: Romans aren't nude... Right?

Romans aren't nude... Right?

"Alright class," Mr. Danales called out. "Today we will be learning a new concept."

"What kind of concept?" someone asked curiously.

Mr. Danales leapt up onto his desk. "Great question, Lola! What we're learning today is Roman Numerals!"

"Shouldn't we have learned that last year?" I asked, looking at Mr. Danales in confusion.

"Well, yes," he said, rolling his eyes. "But central office is stupid and the curriculum sucks... So we're learning them this year!"

"Yay," everyone mumbled, but my classmate next to me sighed and asked loudly, "What are Roman Numerals?"

"Another great question, Cassie. Well, Roman Numerals are what the old-"

"Wait!" Riley, one of the cheerleaders, screeched. "The romans aren't nude... Are they?"

How she's even in Latin II Pre-AP is beyond me.

The whole class groaned and a few slumped in their seats. Of course, Riley would make a huge deal out of everything she knew nothing about.

"No," Mr. Danales said firmly and I saw him subsequently roll his eyes. "Roman Numerals are what the ancient romans used to count. It was their version of our numbers today but some people still use them. For example- some clocks use the numerals. But there's something odd about them... Can anyone guess?"

"There's no... Four?" Walter, who was sitting in Tyler's seat, asked.

"Correct Tyler!" Mr. Danales said then paused. "Wait, you're not Tyler. Walter why are you in Tyler's seat?"

"Uh... He's not here sir..." Walter said softly.

"Then where the hell is Tyler?" Mr. Danales asked.

The class was silent, but I hesitantly, and slightly, raised my hand. Mr. Danales looked at me, which made the rest of the class stare. I glanced around, suddenly getting uncomfortable, and Mr. Danales nodded at me.

"Come outside with me, Mercedes," he said and I got up from my desk, following him out to the hall.

"Now," my teacher said quietly. "Where is Tyler?"

"I.S.S," I mumbled. "He, uh, punched someone in the face because-"

"I don't need the details," he interrupted. "But thank you. We're doing a worksheet on Roman Numerals today, so I could give you his and you can give it to him after school."

"Yeah..." I said softly. "I could do that."

Mr. Danales smiled warmly at me. "Great. You'll need to guide him on it though, because for some its hard to grasp at first."

I nodded reluctantly. No way was I going to help him, not after today.

Instead, I smiled, saying, "Will do."

Mr. Danales nodded and gestured for us to go back inside. I followed his instructions and sat down at my desk, listening to his lesson. He passed out our worksheets moments later, and we began working on them.

However, I was broken out of my concentration by Riley crouching by my desk.

"I gotta say," she whispered so Mr. Danales wouldn't hear. "Congratulations. You and Tyler are great parents."

I pursed my lips and shot her a poisonous death glare. "I. Am. Not. Pregnant."

Riley smiled at me, as if she didn't believe me. "No need to hide it now. It's no longer a secret, honey."

"If you don't leave my desk in three seconds, your death won't be a secret," I snapped a little too loudly.

A few heads popped up to look at me, and Riley retreated back to her desk, giving me a reassuring smile. I narrowed my eyes, clutching my pencil tightly in my hand and trying to concentrate again.

I was only on question twenty-six out of two hundred when the bell rang.

I heaved a sigh, putting Tyler and I's worksheets in my binder and picking up Tyshaeisha before exiting the classroom. The hallways were as crowded as a small school like this could be, but a person weaved through the crowd towards me. I walked slower until they were next to me.

"Well," I asked. "What do you have?"

I was handed a piece of paper, scrawled on it was third period and sixth period as well as the name Antoni.

I smiled, "Thanks Carly. Do you mind asking Victorie if she can watch him this period?"

Carly nodded, "Sure thing. How long until your project is finished?"

I shrugged, "Eh... It depends. Now run along."

"Bye Mercedes," she said as she went to her class.

I murmured a small goodbye, and headed to my locker to get my english notebook. The other three people I needed to talk to were in my Chemistry class, so when Ethan came up behind me, let's just say I had a mini heart attack.

"Ethan!" I gasped, "You scared me."

"Sorry Mercedes," he apologized. "But I have to say that Oliver left early."

"Oliver left early?" I echoed, closing my locker.

"Yeah," Ethan nodded. "I've no idea why though... Anyway, I'll see you later."

"Yeah..." I said slowly, beginning to walk to my English class.

This wasn't good.