Hunger Point | Phan

Chapter Twenty-two: Completing our semester

[ Phil ] 

        Dan moved in the day after we found out he could, in my Dad's old "medication study" down the hall from my room. It took ages to clean it out! And I swear my mum almost fainted due to all the traces of drugs or alcohol in the most obvious places in there. She felt pretty stupid and wouldn't listen when I told her she wasn't. 

But we cleaned it up pretty nicely and Dan was ecstatic! So was Keaton, though he didn't understand why Dan happened to be moving in. We just told him Dan was taking his "daddy"'s place in the house for a bit. Let's hope Keat doesn't start calling Dan "daddy". That was my job.

        Also, two days after Dan moved in, his mother was found hiding out near Manchester just as she was about to relocate to Wales and, according to the news, she has information on my father under her belt that the police are working on verifying. 

Now, here we were: Our last week of the semester before Christmas break, and before we're homeschooled. 

        "Phil, help me," Dan whined on a Tuesday night, pouting at me. We were in the library, studying for our EOCs that took place Thursday and Friday and basically decide whether or not we ever have to step foot in that school again until graduation in May. "What subject?" I asked with a sigh, glancing up from my French. I hate studying. "Biology." Dan replied, grinning sheepishly as he pushed his binder towards me. He knows I hate Biology. I'm no good at it. I still ponder how I passed Biology to make it to Physical Science (which is basically a bit advanced biology.) "So, why does Photosystem II need to be re-energized? Why isn't it automatically energized? They have tons of energy being tossed around in there. Plus, how does it steal energy from water? Water doesn't even have energy, it has zero calories. Obviously." Dan began his stream of questions and concerns, resulting in me uttering a laugh. 

"Okay. It needs to be re-energized because it used all it's energy transporting electrons. Kinda like how people need food when they're low on energy, though we don't all utilize our energy supply. It can't get energy from anywhere else in the cell because they all need it, and besides, water has energy stored up for situations like this. It doesn't matter how many calories water has, cells don't rely on calories, that's irrelevant. The only calories it needs are the units of heat." I try my best to explain, giggling at his puzzled expression. "Repeat that maybe three hundred and thirty seven more times and I'll be good." He said, taking his notes back. "I'm gonna fail," He uttered, tone hopeless, whining low in his throat. 

        "Hey, no you won't. And to guarantee you won't...if you make an overall grade of a C or higher, I'll..reward you." I told him, smirking at the stunned look on his face. "Reward? What kind of reward?" He asked, closing his binder, placing his attention solely on me. "I dunno..." I drawled out the 'know', tone mock-clueless. "We'll have to get your C to see." I said, making him frown. "Your pun's not funny." He said, pretending to be angry. But I knew he wasn't, he was anxious. He'd be even more anxious if he knew what his 'reward' was... 

-   -   - 

        I filled in the bubble next to 'B', breathing a sigh of relief. I'm done...I finished! Standing up, I turn it into the aide, heading out of the library. Thank God that we were allowed to leave for break when we finished the exams. Heading to the East campus door, I pushed it open, absolutely loving the cool December air. But I didn't have time to bask in it for suddenly I felt arms wrap around me and I smiled. "I finished before you." Dan teased, kissing the spot underneath my earlobe. "Oh, shush. Let's get out of here, overachiever." I taunted back, turning and gripping his hands, walking backwards, pulling him with me, towards my new car (A really freaking awesome black Lexus SUV (Thanks Mom) given to me as an early Christmas present.)