Science
Undeserved Ascendance
chapter 5
by
copier
· original author:
an188
The algebra classroom at Havenridge High was a monotonous prison of fluorescent lights and droning lectures, the kind of place where time stretched like stale gum. Sharon Strong and her squad claimed the back row as their throne, slouched in their seats with the effortless arrogance of girls who knew they were above it all. The teacher, Mr. Hargrove—a balding man in his fifties with a voice like grinding gravel—droned on endlessly about quadratic equations scribbled across the whiteboard in messy blue marker. "Now, if we factor this polynomial here, x squared minus 5x plus 6, we get (x-2)(x-3), and solving for the roots..."
Sharon yawned dramatically, her long, manicured nails drumming on her desk. She leaned over to Lily, her voice a conspiratorial whisper that cut through the boredom like a knife. "Lil, spill it. What's the deal with those college classes you're taking? Gifted program perks, right? Must be way better than this snoozefest."
Lily, ever the poised beauty with her long dark hair tucked behind one ear, glanced at the teacher to make sure he was still lost in his own world before whispering back. She adjusted her delicate silver necklace, her feminine grace making even a simple gesture look elegant. "Oh, they're actually pretty interesting. I'm in Intro to Psychology and a sociology elective at Havenridge College—twice a week after school. We talk about human behavior, social dynamics, stuff like that. But honestly?" She paused, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she leaned in closer to the group. "The best part is the boys. College guys are on another level. Tall, built, with that confident swagger. No more of these pimply high school losers tripping over their own feet."
The girls stifled giggles, hands over mouths to avoid drawing attention. Tammy, popping her gum quietly, leaned in from Sharon's other side, her thin frame vibrating with excitement. "Like, totally? Tell us more, chica. Are they hot-hot or just meh?"
Lily's wit kicked in, her voice a hushed melody of sarcasm and humor. "Hot-hot. There's this one guy, Alex, in psych—dark hair, sharp jaw, always wearing those fitted tees that show off his arms. He keeps trying to impress me, asking questions after class like he's so deep. 'What do you think about Freud's theories?' Please, as if I care. But yesterday? He 'accidentally' bumped into me in the hall and offered to buy me coffee. Pathetic, but cute. And don't get me started on the engineering majors—smart, sexy, and they know it."
Megan, fiddling with her thick glasses and trying not to stare too obviously at Sharon, chimed in with a soft giggle. "Sounds way better than the idiots here."
Sharon's blue eyes lit up, her smug smile widening as she pictured it. "Mmm, college boys do sound superior. Our guys are like... training wheels. These dudes are the real deal—sexier, smarter, probably richer too."
The group nodded in quiet agreement, their giggles bubbling just under the surface. Tammy sighed theatrically, her Valley-girl lilt laced with a hint of Spanglish regret. "Ugh, like, I totally regret not hitting the books harder. ¿Por qué no estudié más? I could be surrounded by those hotties right now instead of staring at Mr. Hargrove's bald spot."
Sharon smirked and nodded. "Totally. We'd all be ruling college already."
The whispers died down for a moment as Mr. Hargrove turned, eyeing the class suspiciously, but he soon resumed his monologue on factoring. That's when Lily's expression shifted to one of sly excitement. She leaned in again, her voice dropping even lower. "You know what else is great about college? Easy money. Like, seriously easy."
The words hit like a spark. Sharon's head snapped up, her interest piqued instantly—anything involving money and minimal effort was her jam. Tammy raised an eyebrow, and even Megan perked up, her gym-honed arms crossing as she listened. "Easy money? Spill, Lil," Sharon whispered urgently.
Lily grinned, her humorous edge shining through. "Okay, so the campus is full of these research labs and departments always running experiments. Psych studies, social sciences, even some bio stuff. They need volunteers constantly, and they *pay* you to participate. Like, twenty bucks for an hour, sometimes more. It's basically free cash for showing up."
Tammy's eyes narrowed suspiciously, her fiery Latina temper flickering just beneath the surface. "Whoa, hold up. Like, they shove syringes in you or what? I ain't turning into a lab rat for a few bucks, no way, José."
Lily giggled softly, covering her mouth as the teacher glanced their way again. "No, no—not like that! Sure, some might involve blood draws or whatever, but most are super chill. Filling out questionnaires about your mood, watching videos and rating them, or even just talking in group discussions. I did one last week on decision-making—sat in a room, answered questions on a computer, and walked out with thirty dollars. No syringes, I promise."
Sharon's mind raced, her narcissistic brain already envisioning stacks of cash funding her next shopping spree or influencer gear. "That sounds perfect. Easy money for doing basically nothing? Sign me up. We should totally swing by Havenridge College after school today. Scout out some gigs, make bank, and maybe scope out those sexy college boys while we're at it."
The girls exchanged excited glances, giggling in hushed tones. "I'm in," Tammy whispered with a grin. "Like, beats flipping burgers or whatever."
Megan nodded eagerly, her secret crush on Sharon making her jump at any chance to tag along. "Yeah, sounds fun."
Lily sealed it with a wink. "Deal. I'll show you the bulletin board where they post the ads."
The rest of class dragged on in a blur of whispers and suppressed laughter, the algebra equations forgotten as soon as the bell rang. By afternoon, the squad had ditched their backpacks in lockers and piled into Tammy's beat-up Honda, blasting pop music as they cruised from the suburbs into the heart of Havenridge's bustling city campus. The college sprawled across manicured lawns dotted with palm trees, modern buildings gleaming under the sun, and throngs of students milling about—backpacks slung over shoulders, coffee cups in hand.
"Oh my gawd, look at him," Tammy squealed as they strolled the quad, pointing discreetly at a tall guy in a hoodie jogging by. "Total ten. Muscles for days, and that smile? ¡Delicioso!"
Sharon flipped her hair, her crop top riding up just enough to flash her navel piercing. "Mmm, agreed. And that group over there? The one with the backpack—cute, but too nerdy. But the blond? I'd let him buy me dinner. College boys are next-level sexy. I can't wait till we're here full-time, ruling this place too."
Lily laughed, her wit on point. "Tell me about it. High school feels like kiddie pool now. These guys actually have cars that aren't their mom's minivan."
Megan, walking close to Sharon, added with a shy smile, "Yeah, and they seem... nicer? More mature."
The girls giggled delightedly, their voices a chorus of excited chatter as they weaved through the crowds, tossing flirty glances and snide comments. "That one's trying too hard with the beanie," Sharon whispered. "But points for the abs peeking out."
Eventually, Lily led them to a massive bulletin board tacked to the side of the student union building, covered in colorful flyers and printed ads. "Here it is—the goldmine. Experiments from every department: social studies, psych, computer science, you name it."
They crowded around, reading aloud in hushed, dramatic voices, their comments flying fast and furious.
Sharon pointed to one. " 'Volunteers needed for social media usage survey—$15 for 30 minutes.' Easy peasy, but fifteen bucks? Cheapskates. Next."
Tammy snorted at another. " 'Eye-tracking study on advertising—$25/hour.' Hmm, not bad, but staring at screens? My eyes are too pretty for that strain, *¿entiendes?*"
Lily pulled one forward. "This one's fun: 'Group discussion on pop culture trends—$40 for an hour.' We could totally dominate that. Positive: good pay. Negative: might have to talk to randos."
Megan scanned quietly, her tanned arms crossed. "What about this? 'Cognitive test on memory—$20.' Sounds boring, but quick money."
They laughed and critiqued each one, zeroing in on the payouts like sharks smelling blood. "Too low," Sharon dismissed one. "Ooh, fifty bucks? Tempting, but it's two hours—pass."
Then, Sharon's eyes locked on a bright green flyer. "Wait, this one: 'Seeking volunteers for a diet and nutrition experiment. Test new meal plans for weight management. High pay: $100 per session, plus guaranteed flatter stomach results with adherence.' Hello? Flat stomach and cash? I'm already toned, but imagine the bikini pics."
The girls murmured approvingly, but before they could discuss, Tammy spotted another, her voice rising in excitement. "¡Mira esto! 'Nanobotics Department seeks participants for groundbreaking tech trial. Non-invasive, cutting-edge experiment. Exceptionally high pay: $500 for initial session.' Five hundred? That's insane! What's nanobotics anyway—tiny robots or something? Count me in if it's easy."
What do they choose?
Sharon yawned dramatically, her long, manicured nails drumming on her desk. She leaned over to Lily, her voice a conspiratorial whisper that cut through the boredom like a knife. "Lil, spill it. What's the deal with those college classes you're taking? Gifted program perks, right? Must be way better than this snoozefest."
Lily, ever the poised beauty with her long dark hair tucked behind one ear, glanced at the teacher to make sure he was still lost in his own world before whispering back. She adjusted her delicate silver necklace, her feminine grace making even a simple gesture look elegant. "Oh, they're actually pretty interesting. I'm in Intro to Psychology and a sociology elective at Havenridge College—twice a week after school. We talk about human behavior, social dynamics, stuff like that. But honestly?" She paused, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she leaned in closer to the group. "The best part is the boys. College guys are on another level. Tall, built, with that confident swagger. No more of these pimply high school losers tripping over their own feet."
The girls stifled giggles, hands over mouths to avoid drawing attention. Tammy, popping her gum quietly, leaned in from Sharon's other side, her thin frame vibrating with excitement. "Like, totally? Tell us more, chica. Are they hot-hot or just meh?"
Lily's wit kicked in, her voice a hushed melody of sarcasm and humor. "Hot-hot. There's this one guy, Alex, in psych—dark hair, sharp jaw, always wearing those fitted tees that show off his arms. He keeps trying to impress me, asking questions after class like he's so deep. 'What do you think about Freud's theories?' Please, as if I care. But yesterday? He 'accidentally' bumped into me in the hall and offered to buy me coffee. Pathetic, but cute. And don't get me started on the engineering majors—smart, sexy, and they know it."
Megan, fiddling with her thick glasses and trying not to stare too obviously at Sharon, chimed in with a soft giggle. "Sounds way better than the idiots here."
Sharon's blue eyes lit up, her smug smile widening as she pictured it. "Mmm, college boys do sound superior. Our guys are like... training wheels. These dudes are the real deal—sexier, smarter, probably richer too."
The group nodded in quiet agreement, their giggles bubbling just under the surface. Tammy sighed theatrically, her Valley-girl lilt laced with a hint of Spanglish regret. "Ugh, like, I totally regret not hitting the books harder. ¿Por qué no estudié más? I could be surrounded by those hotties right now instead of staring at Mr. Hargrove's bald spot."
Sharon smirked and nodded. "Totally. We'd all be ruling college already."
The whispers died down for a moment as Mr. Hargrove turned, eyeing the class suspiciously, but he soon resumed his monologue on factoring. That's when Lily's expression shifted to one of sly excitement. She leaned in again, her voice dropping even lower. "You know what else is great about college? Easy money. Like, seriously easy."
The words hit like a spark. Sharon's head snapped up, her interest piqued instantly—anything involving money and minimal effort was her jam. Tammy raised an eyebrow, and even Megan perked up, her gym-honed arms crossing as she listened. "Easy money? Spill, Lil," Sharon whispered urgently.
Lily grinned, her humorous edge shining through. "Okay, so the campus is full of these research labs and departments always running experiments. Psych studies, social sciences, even some bio stuff. They need volunteers constantly, and they *pay* you to participate. Like, twenty bucks for an hour, sometimes more. It's basically free cash for showing up."
Tammy's eyes narrowed suspiciously, her fiery Latina temper flickering just beneath the surface. "Whoa, hold up. Like, they shove syringes in you or what? I ain't turning into a lab rat for a few bucks, no way, José."
Lily giggled softly, covering her mouth as the teacher glanced their way again. "No, no—not like that! Sure, some might involve blood draws or whatever, but most are super chill. Filling out questionnaires about your mood, watching videos and rating them, or even just talking in group discussions. I did one last week on decision-making—sat in a room, answered questions on a computer, and walked out with thirty dollars. No syringes, I promise."
Sharon's mind raced, her narcissistic brain already envisioning stacks of cash funding her next shopping spree or influencer gear. "That sounds perfect. Easy money for doing basically nothing? Sign me up. We should totally swing by Havenridge College after school today. Scout out some gigs, make bank, and maybe scope out those sexy college boys while we're at it."
The girls exchanged excited glances, giggling in hushed tones. "I'm in," Tammy whispered with a grin. "Like, beats flipping burgers or whatever."
Megan nodded eagerly, her secret crush on Sharon making her jump at any chance to tag along. "Yeah, sounds fun."
Lily sealed it with a wink. "Deal. I'll show you the bulletin board where they post the ads."
The rest of class dragged on in a blur of whispers and suppressed laughter, the algebra equations forgotten as soon as the bell rang. By afternoon, the squad had ditched their backpacks in lockers and piled into Tammy's beat-up Honda, blasting pop music as they cruised from the suburbs into the heart of Havenridge's bustling city campus. The college sprawled across manicured lawns dotted with palm trees, modern buildings gleaming under the sun, and throngs of students milling about—backpacks slung over shoulders, coffee cups in hand.
"Oh my gawd, look at him," Tammy squealed as they strolled the quad, pointing discreetly at a tall guy in a hoodie jogging by. "Total ten. Muscles for days, and that smile? ¡Delicioso!"
Sharon flipped her hair, her crop top riding up just enough to flash her navel piercing. "Mmm, agreed. And that group over there? The one with the backpack—cute, but too nerdy. But the blond? I'd let him buy me dinner. College boys are next-level sexy. I can't wait till we're here full-time, ruling this place too."
Lily laughed, her wit on point. "Tell me about it. High school feels like kiddie pool now. These guys actually have cars that aren't their mom's minivan."
Megan, walking close to Sharon, added with a shy smile, "Yeah, and they seem... nicer? More mature."
The girls giggled delightedly, their voices a chorus of excited chatter as they weaved through the crowds, tossing flirty glances and snide comments. "That one's trying too hard with the beanie," Sharon whispered. "But points for the abs peeking out."
Eventually, Lily led them to a massive bulletin board tacked to the side of the student union building, covered in colorful flyers and printed ads. "Here it is—the goldmine. Experiments from every department: social studies, psych, computer science, you name it."
They crowded around, reading aloud in hushed, dramatic voices, their comments flying fast and furious.
Sharon pointed to one. " 'Volunteers needed for social media usage survey—$15 for 30 minutes.' Easy peasy, but fifteen bucks? Cheapskates. Next."
Tammy snorted at another. " 'Eye-tracking study on advertising—$25/hour.' Hmm, not bad, but staring at screens? My eyes are too pretty for that strain, *¿entiendes?*"
Lily pulled one forward. "This one's fun: 'Group discussion on pop culture trends—$40 for an hour.' We could totally dominate that. Positive: good pay. Negative: might have to talk to randos."
Megan scanned quietly, her tanned arms crossed. "What about this? 'Cognitive test on memory—$20.' Sounds boring, but quick money."
They laughed and critiqued each one, zeroing in on the payouts like sharks smelling blood. "Too low," Sharon dismissed one. "Ooh, fifty bucks? Tempting, but it's two hours—pass."
Then, Sharon's eyes locked on a bright green flyer. "Wait, this one: 'Seeking volunteers for a diet and nutrition experiment. Test new meal plans for weight management. High pay: $100 per session, plus guaranteed flatter stomach results with adherence.' Hello? Flat stomach and cash? I'm already toned, but imagine the bikini pics."
The girls murmured approvingly, but before they could discuss, Tammy spotted another, her voice rising in excitement. "¡Mira esto! 'Nanobotics Department seeks participants for groundbreaking tech trial. Non-invasive, cutting-edge experiment. Exceptionally high pay: $500 for initial session.' Five hundred? That's insane! What's nanobotics anyway—tiny robots or something? Count me in if it's easy."
What do they choose?
24 views
·
June 13
Log in to comment