EPISODE THREE
the pollywog.

LUCAS SINCLAIR had absolutely traumatised nova hargrove the next morning when he tapped her shoulder and appeared out of nowhere as she got a book out from her locker, that book immediately falling to the floor as she jumped in a fright.

"oh, jesus! don't do that." she huffed as she reached down to pick her book up, however, he did the same, and nova froze when their hands touched, lucas widened his eyes and nova slowly pulled her hand away. "oh, uh sorry. for that, and scaring you."

nova fought off a grimace. she had read way too many romance books that started with the love interest's hands touching and then all of a sudden fireworks would explode—nova swore she would never be that cringey...

however, a chuckle escaped her lips at his panicq. "don't worry about it... hey, i have a question." she began and he nodded, "anything." he grinned as she eyed him.

"uh, well. why do people call will zombie boy? i mean, i get it. he got lost in the woods for a week or something, but why is he a zombie? because everyone thought he was dead?" she asked and lucas immediately looked down as they walked through the halls.

"yeah. we had a funeral for him and everything."
lucas nodded, nova stopped in shock, but continued to walk with him after a moment. "after a week?"

"well...some other kid drowned at the quarry. we thought it was will because his body was super decomposed." lucas explained briefly as nova scoffed and turned to face him.

"what? that's not funny."

"it's not a joke." lucas shook his head as they stopped in the hallway and she frowned. "it's public knowledge. you can ask anyone. but not will, because he is really sensitive about it, all right?"

nova frowned at him, and nodded slowly, "okay, sure..." they continued to walk as lucas let out a breath.

the boy felt guilty that he was lying to nova, but he knew he couldn't tell her or max anything. not yet, anyway. dustin had suggested it, since he wanted the two girls to join their party, but mike had refused and shut the conversation down immediately.

lucas wasn't sure why—after all, whenever lucas was unsure of eleven mike would completely turn on him! why could mike introduce a new girl, but lucas couldn't?

the two teenagers walked to mr. clarke's class and sat down as nova explained everything to max in a hushed tone as max still seemed sceptical about it. nova knew it was kinda snakey to go and tell max everything lucas had just told her—but if it was public knowledge, then surely max had a right to know.

"the case of phineas gage is one of the great medical curiosities of all time. phineas was a railroad worker in 1848 who had a nightmarish accident. a large iron rod was driven completely through his head. phineas had miraculously survived. he seemed fine." mr. clarke began as max couldn't help but stare into the back of will's head, as nova kept glancing at lucas every so often.

she didn't understand why their hands touching had such a big affect on her. after all, she swore to never be that cringey teenage girl who fell for the first bit she saw after moving into town. she brushed it off and continued to listen to mr. clarke, who was slowly becoming her favourite teacher.

"and physically, yes. phineas was fine. but his injury resulted in a complete change to his personality." as he spoke, will looked back at max, obviously sensing she was staring as max turned away and faced nova who was glancing at lucas, and then quickly away when she saw max look at her.

max raised an eyebrow at her sister, her eyes slowly glancing at lucas and then back to nova who was avoiding her gaze.

"—so much so that friends that knew him started referring to him as 'no longer gage.' at the time, this was known at the american crowbar case. although it wasn't—" mr. clarke was cut off by dustin storming into the room as everyone jumped at the sudden noise.

"i am so sorry, mr. clarke!" he said, breathless as if he had just ran a marathon. "really, i'm so sorry. please continue with the class. don't mind me."

he sat down and whispered something to his friends, and then turning to nova and max, and mouthing, "AV club. lunch!" he whispered.

they frowned, sitting up to try and hear him better as mr. clarke spoke, "dustin!" dustin jumped and faced the man who was staring down at him with a raised brow.

"yes, my lord?" dustin spoke, mr. clarke huffed. "would you care to join the class now?"

"please, yes." he nodded, pulling his textbook out with a loud breath for air. "the case of phineas gage." mr. clarke reminded him. "phineas gage."
dustin repeated, nodding.

"page 104."
"page 104. got it."

"focus." mr. clarke sighed, dustin nodded, "focusing. focusing." before turning back to nova and max.

"AV club!" he whispered and both max and nova gave him a thumbs up as he grinned widely, returning the gesture.

NOVA WAS excited to be included in whatever the boys were doing at lunch. she felt as if she was finally making friends and she knew max was the same even though the red head wouldn't show it.

they found the boys waiting outside the AV club room and dustin and lucas smiled widely at them, will was more of a polite smile, and mike just glared at them which nova found rather amusing.

dustin put his trap and opened it, nova let out a quiet gasp as she saw some weird lizard like creature in there. "his name is d'artagnan." dustin smiled excitedly.

"what the fuck?" nova whispered calmly, although she was freaking out inside. dustin picked it up, "cute, right?"

"cute?" nova echoed in disbelief, staring at dustin in concern.

"d'artagnan?" mike questioned with a frown, "dart for short." dustin smiled.

"and he was in your trash?" nova spoke up, eyeing the creature in suspicion.

"foraging for food." he nodded, looking up at her. "you wanna hold him?" she immediately shook her head, but dustin had already placed the creature into her hands as she grimaced.

"gross...he's all slimy." she complained as she threw the lizard thing at lucas who shrieked loudly and chucked it at max as dustin yelled at them for throwing him around.

"don't throw him, he's not a ball!"

"ugh, oh god!" will complained as he handed it to mike who lifted him up to his face and inspected him. "...what is he?"

"my question exactly." dustin grinned as if the creature was his son or something.

i'm so sick bye

also what's lucas & novas ship name pls 💀