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[turnthebadinme]

Serena had resisted taking classes at first, when the whole ordeal had seemed like a vacation, temporary. After almost ten months and having moved into a house, life on the island was, if not permanent, then clearly still a long-term situation. It was, she reasoned, a way to fill her time (and besides, a part of her said, if she ever found herself

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[renegade_reaper]

Beat'd been messin' with his hoverboard for a while. He figured he oughta keep the bottom part of it clean since somethin' on it was keepin' it up. Problem was, that wasn't as easy as replacin' parts or keepin' things oiled up like he'd done with his old board. He was startin' to consider maybe talkin' to someone who knew 'bout this kinda stuff. Last thing he wanted to be doin' was wreckin' his stuff.

He'd been tryin' to think of people he knew that might know 'bout that kinda stuff when he noticed Serena headin' over. The problem was put aside real quick. He could deal with it later.

"Somethin' like that," he replied, squintin' a little against the bit of sun comin' through the trees. "What're you doin' 'round here?"

[turnthebadinme]

Legs folding under her as she sat, Serena slid her purse from her shoulder and shrugged. "Signing up for classes," she said, holding up the scrap paper schedule for a moment before sticking it haphazard into the handbag, one of the ones that had turned up in her wardrobe, oversized black leather. She smiled, lopsided, a little sheepish, nose wrinkling up. "It can't be summer vacation forever, right? I mean, I guess it could, but..."

[renegade_reaper]

Beat put aside his board, takin' the paper in his hand instead to read it over. He'd gone an' signed up for a couple of things himself, earlier on. He was still keepin' away from all the kinda classes he woulda been forced to take, but he found one that looked aight.

He actually spotted the class on her list, too, but the one under it distracted him from pointin' it out jus' yet.

"Japanese?" he asked, liftin' his head up to grin at her.

[turnthebadinme]

Serena laughed, despite her best attempts to look annoyed as she tugged at the slip of paper. "Japanese," she said, her pout creeping even into her tone. "I couldn't get into French without giving up Italian." She didn't really need the practice anyway, when she could just go bug Enjolras or Henri, but it seemed silly to schedule those at the same time even so.

"And it was time to learn something not Latin-based." She had a few phrases, but nothing more, so that was true, but the fact that it was his language hadn't exactly gone unconsidered either.

[renegade_reaper]

"Well, you got me if you ever need help," he said, with an easy shrug. Ain't like it'd be hard for him to help her with that kinda stuff. "An' hey, you're takin' that film class, too. Figured it looked kinda cool."

He knew he could watch movies, at least. He didn't know nothin' beyond that, but it ain't like any of these grades would do anythin'.

[turnthebadinme]

"Good," she said, leaning against him with a little sigh. "I'll probably need the help - you're taking it, too? It should be fun." She was pretty good at languages, at least, one subject she was sure in, but she'd never really tackled something like Japanese before. Having outside assistance would make it so much simpler. "And easy, at least, just watching films as a class."

She paused then, bending a knee toward her, thoughtful. "I've never actually had classes with boys before. Huh."

[renegade_reaper]

"That's what I was thinkin'. 'Sides that, I jus' took some physical education stuff. Surfin', martial arts, things like that," he explained with a shrug. It'd keep him busy, anyway. What she said after made him look over at her. "Never? Don't think I've ever been in a class with jus' guys."

[turnthebadinme]

"Well, I mean, at summer camp it was all mixed," she said, shaking her head, "but not at school - which is kind of silly, since we were all on the same campus anyway, but it was two schools: St Jude's for the boys and Constance Billard for us. It's supposed to be a 'better learning environment' or something." She rolled her eyes, doubtful it had done all that much for her education. It wasn't like single sex classes had prevented boys from distracting her all through freshman and sophomore year.

[renegade_reaper]

Beat never really thought 'bout if it woulda been different or not if he'd jus' learned with guys. He skipped out on a whole lotta school, too, so maybe that mighta done it.

"Sounds like you went to a real fancy place for school, too," he mused, leanin' back 'gainst the wall of his hut. "It's kinda weird, man. I didn't even like school back home. Now I'm usin' it jus' to do somethin'."

[turnthebadinme]

"At least the grades don't count," Serena pointed out. "It's just... learning to learn. It's different." She grinned. "I might even actually go to class." She'd been so much better about that junior year, of course, but still, there was a vast difference between picking what she wanted to learn and taking things because she had to. At least she didn't have to get up early for them either. It was a far cry from the rigorous standards at Constance. "I don't know how I'll know when to go without a watch, but... it'll be fun, right? What else did you say you're taking?"

[renegade_reaper]

"Lotta stuff under the Physical Education stuff," he replied. He was always real good at those at school, too. "Surfin', since I always wanted to learn anyway. Martial arts an' some kinda conditionin' one, too. Figured they all looked aight enough for me to try out."

An' it was jus' as she said. It ain't like he could fail the class or nothin'.

[turnthebadinme]

"And the film one," Serena added, waving a finger at him. It didn't hurt that Mark was teaching the class. As strange as it sometimes still was, hanging out with people whose lives she knew for works of fiction, she was getting used to it, which was almost weirder still.

"Those should be fun. If I took any of that, I'd probably just end up hurting myself." She rolled her eyes, cheerful. While she was pretty good at various sports, they had never been a passion, and being good at soccer or dance didn't mean she'd ever be decent at something like martial arts. "But then, I might still, taking a cooking class. I apologize in advance to the community at large for burning down the kitchen."

[renegade_reaper]

"And the film one," he corrected. He jus' knew she knew 'bout that one already. It was the only real class he was takin', an' it was suddenly lookin' even better. He glanced over at her, grinnin'. "Gonna let me try anythin' you make?"

Even if it was real bad, Beat did know he hadda strong stomach.

[turnthebadinme]

"If it survives the flames," Serena deadpanned, nudging him with her shoulder, "or I don't cut a finger off in the process, then yes. Maybe. I don't know if I want to be responsible for putting you in the clinic." In truth, she figured it couldn't be that hard. It seemed easy enough when Ellie showed her what to do or there were instructions to follow, and she'd helped Zozie with her chocolates without destroying anything. All the same, she doubted van der Woodsens were cut out for a culinary life.

[renegade_reaper]

"I'd take the hit for you," he said, lookin' over at her to grin. He mighta been teasin', but that didn't mean he was jokin' that he'd try it either way. "Pretty sure it's gotta be anythin' I can make, man."

[turnthebadinme]

"I wouldn't count on it," she said with a laugh, "but thank you for the vote of confidence." Turning her head, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, leaning her head on his shoulder. It seemed important to learn something of some use here, some kind of a skill. Maybe it was just an old insecurity flaring up again, the same poor little rich girl routine Dan had loved and despaired of all at once. Even so, life on the island looked more and more like a permanent thing these days (not that she would think about that; not that she could). The days of five star restaurants and chefs and catering were far behind her now.