Class, today we’ll be ending this weeks chapter. I hope everyone read over last nights assignment because if you didn’t, you’re going to have an extremely hard time completing today’s and next few days assignment.

A series of groans filled the room, including one from Xio and she pouted. If you’re thinking that she was going to fail because she didn’t do her homework, then you’re wrong. Actually, she read it all and that was the problem. Dissecting frogs was not list of things to do before she died and she felt no urge to add it anytime soon. There had to some kind of makeup project she could do instead. Hell, she was down for writing a ten page essay over the chapter rather this assignment.

“Jeremy,” The professor gave him a sharp look and he sat back down next to Xio. “I wouldn’t get to excited, because you don’t get to choose your partners.” More loud groans. “When I call your name, come up here and get your instructions and equipment. Once everyone is at their stations I will bring you your frog.”

The anxiety in her chest kept building up. She did not, I repeat, she did not want to do this. In fact. She refused! Yeah! She was going to get up from this desk and she was going to march up to Professor Johnson and tell him to shove that frog up his a---

“Xio Beckett, you will be paired with Daileh Few.”

Wait, what? Xio stared up at from her seat and the look on her face signaled she was not thrilled at all. “Heh…joy,” she muttered to herself and stood up. The entire time she was walking up to the professor’s desk she was trying not to picture having to cut up a frog. EwEwEw. She was handed a packet, a tray, and a zip lock with two sets of tools. She had a feeling this was not going to turn out good.

Dai.

Dai. Dai. Dai. It was safe to say that Dai scared Xio just a little bit. Well, just about anyone with a lot of confidence intimidated her but there was something about Dai that made it even worse. She was edgy, she looked older, (even though Xio knew she wasn't,) and she could probably take Xio down. This wasn’t good at all, how the hell was she supposed to be partners with Dai? She didn’t even know her. One glance at them from a stranger prospective would automatically take on the impression that they would never be friends. They didn’t even look it.

Morning, Xio?

Seriously? She had to fight the urge just to raise an eyebrow and stare up at her. However, from this she quickly recovered and smiled shyly. “Hi, Daileh, nice to meet you too.” She shook Dai’s hand. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad? She seemed really sincere and she sounded really nice. Maybe Xio just needed to not be so afraid and be a little more open. She always had trouble with making conversation. Especially with people she didn’t know.

“I like your name,” Xio smiled up at Dai awkwardly then turned to the stuff in front of her. Anyone with eyes--hell, even a blind person could see that Xio was not looking forward to this. And when she glanced up Mr. Johnson was passing out frogs and she just happened to catch sight of one. The image made her stomach flip and she spun the other one way to face the wall so she wouldn’t have to think about it.

An advanced biology class. So? It could be advanced all it wanted, that made no difference when it came to cutting up innocent little green frogs. Besides, she had an A in the class, one project could not fail her. This stupid class was a breeze as long as it didn’t involve opening things with a knife. Give her tests, give her essays, give her tons of thesis. Xio was good to go until it came to these kinds of things. She had not signed up for mini surgery so there. “Nervous?” She laughed but there was no amusement in her voice. “Sure, I did this…back when I was six and hung out with the boy down the street.” Things change twelve years.

Fear of boys. Fear of bugs. Fear of cutting things up…fear of people. She was glad Dai couldn’t read her mind because Xio was not only terrified of the frog, but now she was a tiny bit afraid of Dai and her little outfit she had going. Those rubber gloves were doing a great job of making her look a little evil and Xio just didn’t do evil. The farthest she went was watching scary movies and even then, she had to be with someone else.

Why the hell did this girl care anyway. She wasn’t in the mood to work with someone for the rest of the week if the person was going to be using this little I’m better than you-superior-tone the entire time. Some people just didn’t like cutting up animals and frogs and stuff, okay? “Yeah, I noticed,” Xio covered her nose and her mouth with one hand and glared at the dead frog. “Its not so much the smell I’m worried about thou--” Her eyes went wide. A pig’s fetus?! That was so disgusting! “Heh, You know, I think I can get by without the details,” She went on before Dai could say anything about the dead pig whatever, “Thanks.”

Knock on wood that she didn’t throw up once they started.

Yes, she really did need to quit because Xio was kind of on the queasy side right now it didn’t help that there was a dead frog in front of her that looked like it had just been crucified against the metal pan. Xio had named a frog once. Of course, it was completely alive when she had named it. Her neighbor Lily and her had named it Henry after catching it by the pond one day. (Of course, Lily did all the catchy and Xio was more of the photographer but they let it go afterwards.) But this…this was nothing like getting a close up view of Henry. This was more like kidnapping Henry and murdering him. Kind of.

Ew.Ew.Ew. She really didn’t care at all if it looked plastic or 3D or animated or what the fuck ever, she just didn’t want to know. And oh, god, the smell. She could imagine it now and it was doing things to her stomach. Really, had she not asked the girl to spare her the details. One simple favor, that was all she had asked for. I mean, hello, the look on her face was pretty damn obvious in her opinion. She really didn’t need both images in her mind right now. There was absolutely nothing humane about killing an animal just to dissect it. Okay, so there was probably something good that could be gained from it but she was not the person to do it, nor to gain it; someone else who actually enjoyed these kinds of things could have fun with that. “Really,” She turned away from Dai a little more, “I’m good, you don’t have to go on.” She was not going to let herself run away from this project. No matter how much she didn’t want to believe it, it was a pretty big part of grade and she was not going to skip out on it because of this stupid frog or Dai’s stories.

“Heh…hehe..” Xio forced a laugh. “I’m highly doubt they lethally inject frogs…” They didn’t, right? She gulped at the professor neared their lab table to give them their final instructions. “That’s silly.” Oh, please let this be over with fast. The professor nodded to some question and continued toward her and Daileh and Xio nearly shook from anxiety. It was just a frog. Its just a frog, its just a frog. Think about Henry…no, don’t think about Henry! It won’t be bad at all. She averted her eyes away from Henry--I mean the frog and focused on the Teacher’s clipboard. She would not allow herself to run from this.