Blue Lake Academy discussion

Be it Algebra, Geometry, Pre-calculus, or an interest class like Technology, come here to learn math!

Alina walked into the classroom and sat in her usual seat in the back corner of the class. She was quite good at math, so she didn't need to be front and center in the classroom. She had also found that teachers didn't usually like to call on the kids who looked like they were skulking in a corner.
Alina opened up her backpack and pulled out her math notebook. She was excited to see what fun new thing they would learn in class that day. I'm probably one of the only students in the world actually excited to do math, she thought.

Damon walked into math class and sat in the back of the class next to a girl he didn't know. He usually liked math but he started to struggle with the homework last night and had to quit. He smiled at some people he made awkward eye-contact with and then took out his notes.

While taking notes, Alina happened to turn and see what the boy next to her was writing down. He had a slightly puzzled look on his face and he had written down the formula that they had learned the previous day completely wrong. Normally Alina would've shrugged and moved on with her life, but it was really going to mess with the boy's grade to have this formula incorrect. Alina leaned toward him and whispered in his general direction. "Hey, the x on that equation is supposed to be subtracting, not adding."

Damon heard the girl next to him and looked at his formula. "Oh," he said, realizing his mistake. "Thanks." He erased the plus and added a minus and smiled at the girl. "That would have been the death of my grade," he said. Putting out his hand, he said, "I"m Damon by the way. What's your name?"

Alina smiled slightly at Damon's thank you, and awkwardly shook his hand. She wasn't really one to shake hands, but she didn't want to be rude to someone she just initiated a conversation with. "Alina," she responded. "Sometimes it's tricky to get these things written correctly. Half of the time the teacher blocks the board, and it's difficult for me to get the information into my notes before it's erased." She didn't know why she was continuing a conversation that could have easily been ended, but she felt like talking to this boy. Maybe she was bored.

Damon chuckled at her comment on the teacher, "Yeah, I've noticed that." He liked this girl. She seemed nice and that was all he really looked for in a friend. "So, Alina, what grade are you in?" Damon felt the need to start a conversation other than the homework.

“I’m in 11th grade.” she responded while pushing stray hairs out of her face. She hadn’t done the best job with her braid that morning. “What about you?” Damon looked like he was younger than her, but she was never positive about the ages of teenagers. Sometimes looks can be deceiving.

"I'm in 7th grade," he said. Sometimes Damon hated how young he was compared to everyone else in his classes, but that's what happens when one excels in mathematics. He is good at his other subjects, it's just that math is his strong suit. Damon is also great at persuading people.

Alina raised her eyebrows in surprise. She hadn't expected Damon to be that young. She wasn't even sure that 7th graders were supposed to have classes with 11th graders. "Wow, you must be some math prodigy or something." she told him, thoroughly impressed. "How is it being around so many upperclassmen all of the time? I feel like I would be intimidated."

Damon smiled, "I've just got put in a higher math class in elementary by accident and actually did well, despite what people thought." He shrugged at her question. "I am sorta used to the upperclassmen now, but, at first, it was very intimidating," he admitted.

Alina nodded in agreement. “I can imagine. Sometimes I’m intimidated and they’re in my grade.” She didn’t really like a vast majority of her peers. She knew just how cruel teenagers could be and chose not to associate with them too often. She was practically friendless but didn’t mind it most of the time. She liked to keep to herself and people watch. Alina also didn’t quite know why she was being so nice to Damon. Maybe it was because he was just a kid and there was no need to be so harsh.

“Well I hope I’m making a good impression for my class. We can be jerks to younger kids sometimes. Hey, also, if you ever need any help with this or any of your other classes, just ask. I may not look like it, but I’m a bit of a nerd. A nerd who boxes, but still a nerd.”

Damon listened to Alina and wondered why she was being so nice since most older kids are rude to him. "Thank you, Alina," he said smiling. "It is nice to see that there are nice older kids in this school." Maybe things will be different this year, he thought. Last year was not Damon's year for he was homeschooled and didn't really find any friends. "Wait," he said. "You box?"

Damon's interest in the last part of Alina's statement startled her. She hadn't even meant to say anything about her life outside of the classroom, but it had slipped out. She didn't really want to tell the younger boy that the upperclassman he had labeled as nice first started boxing because she wanted to get better at winning fights. She didn't handle bullies or mean behavior very well, which resulted in her picking a lot of fights. She'd been fighting and boxing for so long that she had gotten really good at it.

"Yeah, it's kind of an interest of mine. Gotta release some of that stress some way, and normal sports aren't for me." Alina decided that the best plan of action was to lie to Damon. It wasn't some huge, masterful lie, but lying by omission is still lying. Thankfully, Alina was an astoundingly good liar. "What, is that something you're into?"

"Well, not really," he said. "I might get into it later in life but right now I am focussed on Debate, Track, and Football." Damon was a little different from Alina. He liked to play "normal" sports but he does like to release stress through activity. "I kinda feel the same way about releasing stress through activity," he said. "While I'm running on the track, I feel like I am leaving all of my stress and issues behind me. Kind of like I am running away from my problems but it is healthier than it sounds."

Alina truly understood the desire to escape her problems. Her early childhood had been a complete disaster, so she needed a way to just forget about everything. When she was hitting a punching bag, she could focus more on the pain in her hands and the strain on her arms than her personal issues. She was lucky to find a release in boxing before she graduated to being desperate enough to try illegal substances. "Wow, sounds like you're involved in a lot here." she replied. This kid was more than she expected. "I bet you have some hardcore stress from all of these activities. And this is never too much to handle?" Alina had never really had much of an interest in extracurricular activities. She was usually too busy living her life. She was curious to find out what it was actually like.

"Well," Damon thought for a minute. "I never really had too much stress, but I guess we'll see." Since he doesn't have many friends here, Damon isn't really stressed with his life. He has always done somewhat well in his classes and in sports to not really stress about much. "I get that it would seem like it, but nothing too big has happened in my life just yet."

Damon's response left Alina feeling like maybe her life was more abnormal than she had originally thought. This kid was a part of so much but he wasn't stressed at all. It was just unimaginable to her. "You know what, good for you." she replied. "It sounds like your life is going well, and let's hope nothing horrible happens to change that." She really was happy for him. She wished that she could live a life like his that was so calm and uneventful and stress-free. She was left wondering if his life was the norm and she was an odd outlier or if the opposite was true.

"Yeah, well I have my sister to keep me sane," he said. Damon's sister was the whole reason he was not stressed. "Ever since I could remember, she would make sure I had fun and never got too stressed. Val has always looked out for me." He smiled at the thought of his twin for they loved each other very much.

In that moment, Alina's thoughts turned to her own brother. He had helped her get through the tragedy that was her life, so she could see what Damon meant. Siblings became your biggest support system when there's no one else around to do it. "I totally get what you mean," she said, nodding slightly. "My own brother is the same way. He keeps me happy in a world of sadness and disappointment." Alina shook her head to shake off the intense thoughts. Math class wasn't the place for a deep and meaningful conversation. "I'm glad you have her. She sounds amazing."

((sorry that took so long! i got busy))

((We're good!))

Aria wandered into the classroom, bubbly as usual. All of the seats were filled up, except for one. There was a boy studying a paper hard and looking quite exhausted. Aria jogged over and plopped down next to him, extending her hand. "Hi! 'm Aria. Nice to meet you!"

Aria beamed at his shyness. He was adorable! "So what's your name? Do you like math a lot? Why do you look so stressed?" Aria went on rambling.

Aria smiled. He really was a shy one. She nodded her head and turned back towards the desk. "Cool." She smiled again not wanting to say too much.

Aria looked down at her work. This was all easy to her. She knew that she could get this done before class even started. She leaned down over her paper and got to work, doing her problems at a crazy speed.

Aria turned to the next page. These problems were so easy! Aria finished two more problems, always making sure to check over them. They were all correct of course.

Aria looked over feeling slight tension. She saw his paper basically blank, and the problems weren't exactly correct either. Aria have him a small smile. "Need some help?"

Aria smiled. She reached over and grabbed his paper. She started to explain the problem as simply as possible.

Aria smiled when she saw he was getting the hang of it. She went over a few more though just in case.

Aria smiled. "No problem." She turned back to her paper, finishing the last of her problems. The teacher walked in shortly after, greeting the class.

As the teacher started, Aria quickly zoned out. She lay her head on the desk hoping for a nap. Honestly, she never paid attention in class. All of her information came naturally, from siri, or from one of her friends.

Aria jumped up feeling the impact. Her hand flew to her forehead. "What the hell!" Aria looked around. She instantly caught sight of Liao Yin looking guilty. She raised her eyebrows. "What happened?"

Aria narrowed her eyes. Guessing he wasn't gonna answer. Aria gathered her stuff and walked to the back of the classroom. Maybe her presence was too much for the shy boy.

Aria sighed. She hoped she wasn't being too harsh but she was tired. And lack of sleep caused lack of emotion in her book.

Aria looked behind her hearing footsteps. It wan Liao Yin. She turned and continued to walk away.

Aria stopped and turned around. "Yes Liao?"

Aria sighed. She looked back over to him and gave him her bright smile. "You're fine! I just hate waking up."

Aria laughed at his silent confusion. "You good over there?"

Aria sighed. "Yeah we better. Don't want to make any teacher angry today." She adjusted her bag and made her way back to the classroom.

Aria stepped into the classroom with Liao Yin close behind. They were immediately greeted my "ooh" and "goals!" She stopped in her tracks glaring at the class. She gave them a middle finger and continued to her seat.

Aria looked over at him. Obviously something was bothering him. "What's wrong?" She asked, starting another set of problems.