xp_logs | Nick and Callie: Nerds Unite

Two students find themselves meeting their other nerdy half and talk about school.

School was fast approaching, and Callie couldn't have been more excited. New classes meant new school supplies, fresh notebooks and pens; it was better than Christmas in some ways. There was paper just begging to be written on, binders ready to hold handouts, and new pens to write with. She could barely contain her excitement, and had to exercise the utmost restraint to prevent herself from using these new educational accoutrements. But then she figured, why should she wait? She could get some review work in before classes began, just so she could be on top of everything.

It was in that mindset that she set off for the library, her cousin's old calculus book and a scrap notebook clenched under her arm. She hadn't expected to find anyone else there given that classes hadn't started yet, so she was surprised to find a relatively unknown (to her at least) member of the Xavier's student body sharing the space. As she passed, she caught the title of the book that Nick was reading. "For Mister Beaubier's Lit Class," she asked, pausing to speak with him. "Nick, right?"

Nick nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of someone else's voice. He nearly threw the book he was holding across the room. It took him a few more seconds for his mental capacity to shake off symbolism and focus on the question. "Um... yeah... I thought I'd get a head start on it if I could." The boy forced his hand up, a half smirk being forced across his face in the process. "Yup, I'm Nick. And you're..." His mind quickly shot through the names and faces that Johnny had shot through rapidly during his first few weeks at the Mansion. "Callie?"

"Yeah me too." She motioned to the heavy book under her arm. "Sorry to scare you. I already read all the books for it. They were good. And yeah. Sorry. I'm Callie. I think you arrived when I was all in intense study mode, but I've seen you about. Mind if I sit here?"

"Sure, go right ahead." Nick picked a stack of books he had placed on the chair next to him up to the table in front of him. "I figured I need to get cracking. Especially if I'm going to try and convince the staff to let me take AP Bio and BC Calc on top of Mr. Beaubier's class."

She had barely opened up the textbook when she found herself staring at Nick, her jaw open in surprise. "Shut up," she exclaimed in an excited whisper. Callie held up the book for Nick to see it's title, but then realized that he probably didn't speak Italian. "My cousin gave me his calculus book. I mean I'm taking it anyways, but I was just planning on studying and working my butt off to get to the BC level in time for the exam. And yeah, AP Bio. With Dr. Grey. I didn't know anyone else was interested."

"You have to be kidding me! I was about to go try to find one of the college biology books in the back so I could see if I would be able to pass the test." A small smirk rose on his face. "I didn't know that anyone was crazy, or as masochistic as I was in terms of scheduling for next year."

Callie laughed at that. "Last year I took three APs. I think this year I might manage to top that. I mean they say senior year is supposed to be easier than junior year, but I don't know who these people are." She gave him a knowing smile. "And it's not a big secret that I'm a huge nerd. But what can I say? I'm one of those kids who loves school."

Nick leaned in, and motioning for Callie to lean in closer to him as he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Just between you and me, I'm trying to keep the whole nerd thing a secret for right now." With a wink he leaned back in his chair, pulling open the nearest book and beginning to flip through it. "So how rough is it to get into the AP classes here?" Nick had little frame of reference when comparing Xavier's institute to his schools in the Midwest.

"There's like twenty students in this school, it'll come out very soon," she said with a shake of the head. She was a firm believer of owning and accepting who you are. "And trust me, no one will mock you or anything for being a nerd. Well not mean-spiritedly. But for now your secret is safe with me."

The other part of his question would have to wait until she finished setting up a sample derivative. Exercises she already knew how to do (thanks in small part to teaching herself them for Physics), just to keep her brain active. "And not at all. I mean last year I went to Mister Guthrie about getting extra work to help prep me for the exam. The Italian was Independent Study. I got Nathan to let me watch movies for an entire semester, that was amazing. And the Physics was with Doctor McCoy from Muir, so that was independent study. I mean the teachers here are really good at making sure the work is at your level, so if you want something more you just have to ask for it."

"I was actually going to run down to the med bay later and talk to Dr. Grey-Summers about AP Bio, but I'm more nervous about Mr. Beaubier. He seems intimidating to me." Swallowing deeply, he began to run down the insertion points of the tendons of the upper arm. "And I don't even know who the math teacher is around here." The boy shrugged. "I guess as long as I don't annoy them too much, they'll eventually let me in."

"Her name's Adrienne, Adrienne Frost," explained Callie not looking up from the equation she was working on. "She's pretty good. I had her last year. And let me tell you a secret about Mister Beaubier." She paused and leaned in, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't tell him I told you this, but he's really a push-over. I mean not to the point where his class is easy, no. His class is tough. But he's actually a great guy. Not intimidating at all." She sat back up. "Though you know I could see where you get that with the accent."

"I just picture him in a Napoleon coat every time I hear about him ya know." As he moved from tendons down to joint names, he began to mindlessly began began to swirl a pencil in his off hand. "And even if he is a push-over, I'd appreciate someone being there to talk to him with me all the same."

"Dude, he's like totally French Canadian, so like picture him in some beaver hat or something. That should help the intimidation factor." She paused to concentrate on the quotient rule. She always forgot that one. It was a little confusing. D top times bottom, minus d bottom times top, divided by bottom squared, she reminded herself as she neatly wrote out the derivative. "But if he still gives you the willy nillies I will totally go with you to talk to him. I need to do that anyways. I'm sure he won't say no."

"I would greatly appreciate it." Slowly closing his book, Nick let out a deep breath, he was never the biggest fan of meeting a new people. He was even a lesser fan of meeting people and then asking them for a favor. "I'm happy that regardless of what happens I'll have someone that'll at least be there to help me muddle through this stuff when the year starts."

She give a flick of her hand. "It's no problem," she looked up and smiled. "Seriously. As long as you don't wimp out when we have to dissect something and try to feign illness to get out of lab I'm sure we'll be fine."

"You talking to the same guy who helped one of the teachers gut a deer a few weeks ago. I doubt I'll be wimping out on this." With another smirk, Nick picked up the stack of books and began to slowly shuffle away from the table. "Nice meeting you, and I may be going for your help with Mr. Beaubier sooner rather than later."

"Excellent. I will see you later then."