~Marie~

"Ahh freshman year, what a wonderful year that was." I say quietly to myself as I look at my ninth grade science fair trophy in the display case of my school. I was so young and different then, but now I'm a sophomore and I have more advanced ideas that I want to show to this world. My planet Algar is not as technologically improved as other planets such as Earth, ugh. I hate that planet they think they're so grate because they don't know that we're out here. We are so much better than Earth and its little humans.

Anyway, I better get to class, Mrs. Areto does not like it when we're late. I walk in to the class room and take my seat behind one of my best friends in the whole universe, J. J. Thomson. We've been best friends for as long as I can remember, actually we met in first grade. I was on the playground getting made fun of for being a nerd and liking science when BOOM in comes this super tough looking kid telling everyone to leave me alone. After they scurried off he pulled out a remote and hit a button. All of a sudden his muscles deflated, turns out he was a science nerd too and he used his inventions to face his fears. Right away we became the best of friends.

"Good morning class." Mrs. Areto said to us as she walked over to her desk in the front of the room. "Good morning Mrs. Areto." We all reply in union. "Today we will be taking a break from the textbook and our work in chapter 4 because the science fair is in season. I am giving you the entire class set to work on your projects, and if your not in the science fair I suggest you find other work to do before I find some for you." With that JJ and I were off.

He was actually working alone this year, but I had a partner and despite his name he was the most manly, most gorgeous, and all around best guy on the planet. Yes, I had a small crush on him, but when it came to work I was always serious. His name is Pierre Curie. He's a real sweet heart and he's also pretty smart which is why I asked him to work with me; after JJ told me he wanted to work alone of course. I mean I always put friends first. The only problem I'm having with Pierre is that we haven't decided what we are doing yet and we only have a week left!

     "Hey Marie, you ready to work on our project?" Pierre asks as he walks up to me. "Sounds great!" Maybe I should tone it down a bit I think that sounded a little too happy. "Um...so I was thinking that maybe we could look into something with radioactivity. It's just really fascinating to me." I quickly blurt this out and then look away blushing. He probably hates the idea, I mean radioactivity! Really? What was I thinking? 

     "Yeah, that's a great idea. We'll most likely be the only ones to do our project on that subject and it will give us a better chance at winning with less common opponents. Also radioactivity is one of my favorite topics." Pierre replies so elegantly and it takes me a second to realize exactly what he said. Oh my gosh he likes my idea! This is so great I can't believe he likes radioactivity just as much as me.

     We spend the entire class set studying radioactivity and all of the compounds containing the known radioactive elements. I look up at the clock and see that we've only got five minutes left. Wow, time really does fly by when you're having fun. "So Marie do you want to meet up at lunch and then maybe after school to work on this some more?" Pierre asks anxious for my response.

"Definitely after school, you can come by place if you want, but as for lunch I have to do some things for the school news so I'll be busy."

"That's okay, so after school then? What time should I be at your house?"

"Is three o'clock okay?"

"Yeah that's perfect."

"Okay see you then!"

     I would be lying if I said I wasn't the happiest person on Algar right now. As soon as the bell rang I ran out of class and into a bathroom stall where I did a small victory dance. Oh my gosh oh my gosh! Pierre Curie is coming to my house!

     The first have of the day went by really fast and before I knew it, it was lunch time. I grabbed my lunchbox from my locker and walked down the hallway to the news room. All I had for lunch was a sandwich, a bag of chips, and a small bottle of water so it didn't take me long to finish eating.

     "Good afternoon Mr. Turnip. So what information am I collecting today!" I ask super excited for my next assignment. "Today I want you to walk around the school and ask people what they are doing for the science fair coming up. Do you think you can handle that?" I nod, grab a camera, and head to the lunchroom.

     I look for JJ first since I know he's doing the fair. It doesn't take me long to find him because we sit together sometimes and he never moves from that one seat. "Hey JJ do you mind answering a few questions for the news? It's about the science fair." I ask him politely hoping he'll say yes.

     "Sure, why not. Do I just talk about what I'm doing?" I nod my head yes, "Alright and 3...2...1... Action!" He's really good about helping me with these assignments so I knew he'd have no problem with this, especially since it's about something that interests him too.

     "This year for the science fair I am working on something big. I am trying to find the effects of a magnetic field on a cathode-ray beam with an electric field! I want to show that cathode-rays are composed of particles, and I will through my experiment which I call the Plum  Pudding Model." I pause the video and think about what he said.

     "Your project is going to be a hit! It sounds even better than mine." I tell JJ who is beaming from the admiration. "Well I have to go talk to more people so I'll see you in math. Bye!" I wave goodbye to my best friend and head over to the next table. Right away one person stands out to me. Niles Bohr. He's got big brain alright, but he only uses it in class and around adults. They think he's a perfect angel, but he's not. I loath him with a passion, but I also know that he's doing the science fair and I need video of him for my assignment. So I take a long deep breath and walk towards him.

     "H-hey Niels." I stutter out. "What do you want Slow-Doe-SkA." Ernest Rutherford replies from the left of Niels, making fun of my last name. I hadn't even noticed he was here too. Great the two meanest nerds of the school in one, I couldn't have planned this out better myself. "I'm here to ask you two about the science fair for my news class; and for the one hundredth time Ernest my name is Sklodowska!" I say with a slight temper.

"Geez Maggie, calm down he was only joking. Now I heard something about an interview for the news on my favorite topic." Niels cuts in and I cringe as he purposely says my name wrong. "Your favorite subject is science?" A kid named James asks from two seats down. "No, it's me. Duh. Now Margret-" "Marie." "Whatever lets just get this thing started okay?" Finally, I can't wait to get this over with so that I can go back to ignoring them the rest of the day. "Okay and in 5...4...3...2...1...Action!"

"My project this year's science fair is going to be one to remember. I promise you that. I am currently working on making a model of a hydrogen atom and how to show the flow energy of an electron. Now I'm going to pass it off to my best pal Ernest here who is also contributing in this year's science fair. Tell us Ernest what are you making?"

"Well Niels this year I've actually been looking into radioactivity, but I'm still not quite sure where I'm headed with it so you'll all just have to wait and see." My jaw drops. No, no, no no no no no! This isn't fair, he can't be working on radioactivity, I'm working on radioactivity. "Um...okay. Thanks for your time." I quickly and quietly say before rushing off to find someone else.

     Again it doesn't take me long to find someone else that is entered in the science fair. A few tables over from Niels and Ernest sits non other than Max Planck. Okay so there are smart kids in our school and then there's Planck. He would be a Junior this year but he skipped eight grade so he's actually a Senior. Already he's got twenty seven college acceptance letters to the best schools in our world. I am just hoping that he isn't doing his project on radioactivity. Who am I kidding he's probably far more advanced than a silly old project on radioactivity.

     "Hey Max!" I wave as I walk over to him. "Well, if it isn't my favorite female scientist." He's always saying that to me. We're actually pretty good friends, not as close as JJ and I, but still close. "Ha ha very funny, but you know I'm not a real scientist yet. Not until I do something great." I stare off in the distance for a second, but my attention is refocused when Max speaks. "Oh Marie, you know that no matter what you'll always be a scientist to me. So what can do for you this time. Homework help, tell you my opinion on one the schools sports teams, or something else?" I smile at his complement and then answer him. "Actually today I'm here to ask you what it is you are doing for the science fair. So I'll give you a count down and then you're on. Ready? 5...4...3...2...1...Action!"

     "Hi I'm Max Planck and for the science fair this year I will be working on an experiment which I call Quanta. Basically it consists of me measuring wavelengths and creating a new theory for science. Wish me luck!" I pause the camera again and give Max s hug. "Thanks pale, I'm pretty sure you just got me another A. I'll see you around later." I wave goodbye to Max and begin searching the lunchroom for Pierre.

     It takes me longer than I would have thought, but eventually I spot him in the back of the lunchroom chowing down on a hot dog. As soon as he sees me he calls me over. "Hey Marie, I thought you had to do that thing for the news, what happened?" I nod and reply "I'm still doing it, actually that's why I'm here I have to ask people what they are doing for the science fair so I figured I'd come get some footage of you for on project." He nods while taking another bite of food. I give him a few seconds to swallow and then start the countdown. "Okay and in 5...4...3...2...1...Action!"

     "For this year's science fair my partner Marie and I have been studying radioactivity and radioactive elements. Our final product is still to be determined." After he finishes I shut the camera off. "Thanks Pierre that was great. I have to go now but I'll see you later." "Okay, see ya." He says as I take off to the news room.

     I hand my footage to Mr. Turnip who looks it over quickly before giving me feedback. "As usual Marie you've done a wonderful job. Thank you for getting that for me, you're done for the day so when you have my class again later it will be a free period for you." I smile at his words and add "Thank you Mr. Turnip." before packing up my bag.