Chem was different from all my classes. We didn't each have individual desks and we couldn't just choose our seats. We were in tables of eight, but next to us was our lab partner. We were assigned a new lab partner every half a semester.

I wet into room 401 and saw we were all circled around the room. I knew what that meant, it was time to get a new partner. Ms. Artie started calling out names, Karen was partnered with Ava. Jake was partnered with Melody, etc.

"Justin," Ms. Artie paused she looked around the room and said, "Calypso. Sit at table 4," Yes! The one person in this class that I actually liked. Like I said, I didn't have friends. I had acquaintances and peers. So me and Calypso went to the table in the farthest corner from Ms. Artie. She introduced the next project, Nuclear technology. That's exactly what we need, to learn how nukes work. It's bad enough we're being shot at now we could be blown up. I mean it's not our fault, adults just need to listen. That's why I don't talk too much. As Democritus once said, "It is greed to do all the talking but not want to listen at all."

I turned to look at Calypso to ask her what she thought about the project when I saw her coloring the cuffs of her jacket sleeves. It looked like she was drawing her own little universe on them. She was so focused she didn't notice me just watching over her shoulder, or she just didn't care.

I was so enthralled watching Calypso's world that I didn't notice Ms. Artie walking towards us, "Well?" She said impatiently I didn't know what she was talking about.

"Um," I didn't know what to say. I didn't even know what she was asking me.

Calypso raised her head and looked at me, tilting her head. Ms. Artie didn't appreciate this, "Ms. Bellen, do you have something to add to the class discussion?"

"I think the concept of using nuclear technology as weapons of war is absolutely disgusting. More than a hundred and twenty thousand have been slaughtered by these harbingers of death. Bringing with them cancers and slow painful deaths. We waste time by fixating our future on these weapons when we could be spending our time finding cures to cancer. Ending climate change. Cutting our power supply from the giant that is the oil industry that is practically holding the world by the balls."

Calypso slammed back down to her chair. I was shocked, I didn't know what to do or say. But, that speech deserved applause. I started clapping loudly because I was blown away. I expected everyone to join in but because this isn't some lame high school movie I looked like a dork clapping by myself.

Ms. Artie grumbled thank you to Calypso and walked away. And then Calypso went back to drawing on her sleeves, this time I wasn't going to be as transfixed on her though. I made sure to pay attention to Ms. Artie for the rest of the class.

So the main gist of the project was to study the ways nuclear technology is used and then debate about how it impacts humanity, positively or negatively.

The bell rang, everyone stood up and started leaving. This infuriated Ms. Artie who yelled, "Remember to choose what type of technology you're going to be studying."

I turned towards Calypso, "So what-"

"I say we either do how it's used in chemotherapy or nuclear warfare. It's up to you though."

"Which one do you feel more passionately about?"

She practically snorted, "Justin sweetie, that's not going to help you."

"How about we go with warfare, you definitely already have an argument against it."

"Okay, I'll make a chat so we can talk about the project."

"But you don't know my email?"

"Justin please, you can't have your password for your phone be your birthday and not expect me to steal it."

"But wh-"

"Your birthday is August 15th, they said it in the morning announcements in August."

"You will never cease to surprise me Calypso."

"Alright, [email protected]."

I ran off laughing, I was slightly concerned about how much Calypso knew about me though. I kept on running until I got tired. I took a second and just relaxed. Then I heard a soft voice behind me, "Hey."

I knew that voice, that soft-spoken voice. It was Danny. I smiled, I didn't know what it was about him but he just always managed to make me so happy. I would feel a warm fuzzy kind of feeling in my chest. "Hi."

"Would you m-mind if I walked with you?"

I didn't think it was possible to feel any happier but Danny kept surprising me. I had to act cool, he couldn't know how giddy I was, "You don't even have to ask."

We started walking, but we didn't seem to say that much. Even though Danny is really one of my closest friends but I didn't really know him. Oh, that's a sad sentence. I'd had a couple of conversations with him before but never really interacted with. I had to make start a conversation with him. I had to try to learn about him, "What's your favorite color?"

He looked startled, "Hmm," he looked like he was really thinking about it, "Seafoam green. How about you?"

"Swear you won't laugh?"

He nodded his head and went, "Mhmm."

"Pink, Fandango pink."

"Why would I laugh? Pink is a great color."

I almost fell over in disbelief, "Really?"

"Why is that such a surprise?"

"Most people I tell would make fun of me. I never lived that down in second grade through fourth grade. At one point I just started to lie and say something like blue."

"Wow, I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's fine, it doesn't matter anymore."

We walked in silence for a bit before Danny spoke up, "Continuing on with wanting to learn about each other. What do you want to be?"

"I don't know actually. I always figured I would figure out once I finished high school. My main goal has just been to be alive, so I guess my answer is alive and happy."

"Oh.

"What do you want to be?"

"I want to be a Kindergarten teacher. I've always thought it'd be great to shape the minds of our future. Embarking so much knowledge into their tiny little heads."

"Wow, my answer must seem pretty lame after that."

"Not at all, I respect you for not constantly worrying about your future and what you're going to do. This is my house, bye."

"H-hey Danny, can I have your phone number?"

"Are you- are you sure?"

"Um, y-yeah."

So we exchanged phone numbers. I was feeling absolutely euphoric. I was out of my mind happy. Happy couldn't even bring to describe the way I was feeling.

We parted ways and I made my way home.