4. i found him in my trash

I FOUND HIM IN MY TRASH

✧･ﾟ: * Eleanor is surprised when the bell rings and Dustin still isn't in the seat beside her. She doesn't have to time to think about it, because soon Max walks through the door and all her energy was put into making sure the small smile she gives isn't too weird, or creepy, or awkward, or mean, or- you get the point.

Mr. Clarke switches on the projector to show a picture of a human skull and starts teaching the lesson. "The case of Phineas Gage is one of the greatest medical curiosities of all time. Phineas was a railroad worker in 1848 who had a nightmarish accident. A large iron rod was driven through his head." Nora winces as Mr. Clarke draws a line through the skull with a dry erase marker. "Phineas miraculously survived. He seemed fine, and physically, yes, he was. But his injury resulted in a complete change in his personality. So much so, that his friends started referring to him as 'No Longer Gage.' At the time, this was considered the 'American Crowbar Case.' Although it wasn't a-"

Most of the class jump up as the classroom door slams open, coming in a heavily breathing Dustin. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Clarke," he pants. "Really, I'm so sorry. Please, continue with the class. Don't mind me. Really, continue, please."

Mr. Clarke just gives him a look as he keeps talking, "Although, it wasn't a crowbar, it was a rod, as I said."

Dustin turns to the group and they lean forward collectively, "We have to meet. All of us. At lunch, AV Club."

"Why?" Mike asks.

"I have something you won't believe."

The group just nods slowly and turn back to the front. Dustin stays turned around and mouths to Max the plan.

"Dustin," Mr. Clarke says loudly, making Dustin spin in his seat.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Would you care to join the class now?" Mr. Clarke questions.

"Please, yes!" He pulls his books out of his bag.

"The Case of Phineas Gage."

"Phineas Gage."

"Page 104."

"104? 104."

"Focus."

"Focusing. Focusing," Dustin mumbles and Nora just rolls her eyes (she's been doing that a lot recently) and leans back in her chair.

—

✧･ﾟ: * Nora is walking into the AV Room with Max instead of going to lunch. The walk is quiet, probably awkward for Max, but Nora is to busy thinking to worry. Thinking about Dustin, thinking about Will, thinking about Phineas Gage. . . thinking about Max.

"Finally!" Dustin exclaims as the girls walk in slowly. "What took you so long? Lock the door." Nora does as he says and goes over to the table, in between Max and Lucas.

"Okay so," Dustin begins, adjusting his Ghostbusters costume box contraption thing. "The thing that is in this box was found by me, in my trash, and could possibly be a new scientific discovery." Dustin clicks a button and everyone peers over the table to see a lizard-like creature.

Ew. Ew. Ew.

"His name d'Artagnan," Dustin says, smiling slightly. "Cute, right?"

"No," Nora says quietly.

Dustin glares at her.

"D'Artagnan?" Mike repeats, confused.

"Dart for short," Dustin states.

"And he was in your trash?" Max asks, also confused.

Dustin nods, "Foraging for food. . . you wanna hold him?" he turns to Max.

"No, no," she takes a step back.

"C'mon, he doesn't bite.'

"No. No-" Max groans as Dustin forces it into her hands. "Oh, God, he's slimy," she pushes it to Nora.

"Oh, ew, gross, stop," Nora immediately drops into Lucas' hands.

"Ugh, he's like a living booger," Lucas cringes and gives it to Will.

"Ugh, oh, God," Will passes it to Mike who just brings the creature up to his face to get a better look.

"What is he?" He asks, curious.

"My question exactly," Dustin reaches into his backpack and brings out stacks of books on different reptiles. "At first, I thought it was some type of Pollywog."

"Pollywog?" Max repeats.

"It's another word for tadpole," Dustin explains. Nora moves to lean her elbow on Max's shoulder, still confused by the whole scenario. "A tadpole is the larval stage of a toad-"

"She knows what a tadpole is," Nora sighs, just wanting to actually understand what was going on.

"Alright, alright. Well, y'know how tadpoles are aquatic?" The group nod their heads. "Well, Dart, he isn't. He doesn't need water."

"Yeah, but aren't there non-aquatic Pollywogs?" Lucas counters.

"Yes," Dustin responds, prepared. "Two to be exact. Indirana Semipalmata, and the Adenomera Andreae. One's from India, and one's from South America. So, how did one end up in my trash?"

"Maybe some scientists brought it here, and it escaped?" Max suggests.

"Do you guys see that," Mike asks as the group leans forward to see it better, Nora moving her arm from Max. "It looks like something's. . . moving inside it." Mike moves the light to angle on Dart, but he just screeches loudly.

Everyone jumps back, and Max and Nora find each others hands, nervously.

Nora's eyes widen, but neither girl make an effort to move away, only stepping forward as Dustin grabs the creature and tries comforting it. "And there's another thing," He says.

Is my hand sweaty?

"Reptiles," he continues. "They're cold-blooded. Ectothermic, right? They love heat, the sun. Dart hates it. It hurts him."

"So, if he's not a Pollywog or a reptile," Lucas starts slowly.

"Then, I've discovered a new species," Dustin grins.

Nora snaps out of her trance as the bell rings, signaling lunch is over. Max slowly removes her hand as the six exit the room to head their next period.

Nora tried to ignore the cold feeling she's left with.

"We gotta show him to Mr, Clarke," Lucas states, shutting the door behind him.

"No!" Dustin panics. "What if he steals my discovery?"

Nora comes back to the conversation with a roll of her eyes, "He's not going to steal your discovery."

"I'm thinking about calling it Dustonious Pollywogous," Dustin turns to Max. "What d'you think?"

"I think you're an idiot," Max laughs.

"Y'know when I get rich and famous for this one day, don't come crawling back to saying, 'Oh, my God, Dustin. I'm so sorry for being mean to you back in eighth grade. Oh, my God.'" Dustin mocks in a weird voice making most of the group laugh.

Nora is still thinking.

a/n:

they held hands.