FPE Impetus AU: Grading

*Miss Thavel's class is the last one for the day. It's a normal assignment and the bell rings without anyone failing. As everyone leaves - * RUBY: Miss Thavel? Miss Thavel: *uggggh* What? RUBY: Is it okay if I can have my test paper? I'd like to see what questions I got wrong so I can improve. Miss Thavel: ... Sure. Here. *Miss Thavel hands over RUBY's test paper. * RUBY: Thank you. *RUBY leaves the school. She and Riley study for math and science. When Riley leaves, RUBY looks at the test score she received. * *She checks the handwriting. * *It's not hers. * *She was sabotaged. * *And ... Robby might not have failed. * *But who? There are only three options. Those bullies. They did this, it has to be them. No one else would be willing to do this. Riley ... Riley might do this if Oliver/K told them to. But ... RUBY isn't willing to assume that's the truth. Not after seeing her. * *We pivot to what happened with Engel and Cubbie after school ends. *Engel walks towards his locker, but a black cat stands beside it. * Cubbie (Whispering): Hi, Engel. Me and RUBY have been working to study with the other students to improve their grades. Would you like to join us? Engel: No. Cubbie (Whispering): Why? Engel: I ... I'm leaving. You'd be better off focusing on the others. Cubbie (Whispering): Why are you leaving? Engel: ... I can't save anyone. I couldn't save anyone. I don't have any friends ... I think. There's no reason for me to stay. If anything, ... you and RUBY have saved more people than I did. *Engel walks away. * Cubbie (Using his real voice): Wait! Engel: W- Cubbie (Using his real voice): I ... what about ... what about everyone who d*ed? If you leave, they'll have d*ed for nothing. Engel: ... ... Their d*aths would be for nothing whether I stayed or not. Why do you want me to stay so badly? Cubbie: ... I got some encouragement from a friend of Kevin. I - Engel: One of his parents. Cubbie: How d- Engel: ... We both know he didn't have other friends. Cubbie: ... his mom told me. ... If you're going to leave, can we at least talk to the other parents? They deserve to know. Engel: ... okay ... but ... I already talked to Abbie and Lana's parents. Cubbie (Whispering): RUBY talked to Robby's family. Engel: All that's left is Bubble and Skell then. Cubbie (Whispering): Skell's parent is off the table. What about Claire? Engel: I'll work on that on my own, okay? Cubbie (Whispering): Okay. That just leaves Bubble's family. Could you come with me? Engel: ... Alright. *Engel and Cubbie exit the school. * Engel: so ... which person do we visit first? Cubbie (Whispering): I want to visit Bubble's family first? Engel: okay. Wait, how do we ... Cubbie (Whispering): I have something. *Cubbie pulls out a phone. * ???: ??? Cubbie: hi ... it's ... Cubbie. ... Bubble talked about me... ???: ??? Cubbie: o - oh. I'm sorry. ???: ??? Cubbie: I ... I wanted to tell you something important in person though. ???: ??? Cubbie: ... she's gone. She - *The phone hangs up. * Engel: So ... Cubbie (Using His Real Voice): ... ... I ... I don't think we can go to her house. I managed to tell ... I'm not sure. Whoever they were, they know what happened. Engel: I'm sorry. Cubbie (Whispering): It's okay. Engel: I guess that means that we're done. Cubbie (Whispering): No. You mentioned meeting Lana and Abbie's parents. I'd like to meet them. Mrs. Amina wanted to be in contact with them to support them. Engel: ... I'll take you to visit Lana's mom. Abbie's dad wouldn't be interested. *Engel and Cubbie make their way towards Lana's home. * *Engel knocks on the door. * *The door opens. Miss Curcire has bags under her eyes.* Miss Curcire: ... h- hi Engel. ... where's Bubble? Engel: She's ... she's not available. I just wanted to check on you before I left. Miss Curcire: ... I - I'm f-ine. Engel: ... If you need to talk, I'll be available to call. *Engel gives Miss Curcire his phone number. * Cubbie (Whispering): I'd also like to give you this. *Cubbie gives Miss Curcire a notecard. * Cubbie (Whispering): Please call it. Engel: bye, Miss Curcire. *The two students leave. * *Around halfway before Engel gets home, - * Cubbie (Whispering): I'm sorry things turned out this way. Engel: It's ... Cubbie (Using his real voice): It's not okay. This was never okay. I ... I'm ... Engel: ... Goodbye, Cubbie. I hope you get through this. *Cubbie nods. * *Cubbie and Engel leave. * *As Engel walks towards his home, he looks at Bubble's pet duck. It looks back at him with a Solemn expression. * Engel: Don't look at me like that. It's going to be- ???: *meow* Engel: ... huh. *A black cat stands next to Engel. * Engel: ... Hi MoeMoe. MoeMoe: *Meow.* *MoeMoe bites Engel's shoe and pulls toward a specific direction. * Engel: ... I can't right now, I need to go home. MoeMoe: *Hiss* Engel: ... I'll go later. I Promise. *MoeMoe calms down. * *Engel arrives at his house. He tells MoeMoe to stay outside. He can't hide two animals at once. * *He enters his house. His mother doesn't even notice. He goes to his room. It's a mess. Trash litters the floor. Dust litters every surface. * *He pours out everything in his bag. He packs clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. What else? * *...* *He goes to his drawer and grabs something from under it. It's two pictures. A picture of him, Claire, Biscuit, and Anova standing together. Claire and Engel. Back when they were kids And ... Oliver/K ... and ... ∆lice.* *A part of him wants to keep it while another wants to tear it apart. * *"It's the one of the earliest good memories I have. I need this. * Engel thinks. * *He puts both pictures into his backpack and walks to the front door. * *He considers telling his mom that he cares about her. ... But ... she'd never respond. She never cared. * *He leaves the home. * *MoeMoe is still there. * Engel: Alright MoeMoe. I'll follow. Just - *MoeMoe walks in front of Engel. They bump their head against Engel's shoe in an attempt to make him move backwards. MoeMoe moves backwards. * Engel: ... MoeMoe, wh- *MoeMoe's holds Claire's bow in their mouth. * Engel: ... wh - *... * Engel (Internally): MoeMoe must've gotten Claire's body. Engel: I'm sorry, MoeMoe. I. *MoeMoe puts their head on Engel's shoe. Engel picks them up and hugs them as tightly as he can. Engel puts MoeMoe down and makes his way onto the bus. *