Chapter 3: Jack

“Mind your own business Jack,” Davies’ face twisted into one full of displeasure as he rebuked the boy who sat in front of them. He could do with Jack badmouthing him and picking on him, but he wouldn’t allow Jack to insult his friend.

“This is my business,” Jack turned his head to face the two. He gave a small smile, revealing his dimpled cheeks and deep blue eyes. His face was exquisite, like a masterfully sculpted Greek stature brought to life. His broad shoulders suggested that he was of a fairly muscular build, and even his large overcoat couldn’t hide that. Around his neck was a leather chain that held on to a medallion that was hidden within his clothes.

“How is it your business?” Davies asked with a sour expression on his face.

He didn’t like Jack at all; for the larger boy loved to tease him and Kylie. Initially Jack wasn’t an issue. Davies had attended the same high school as Jack, and the guy was not aggressive nor was he a bully. He was actually quite a nice guy, especially when one considered that he was one of the top athletes back then. However things had changed since they entered the university. Since Kylie’s arrival, Jack had been picking on them constantly. He followed them wherever they went and made life slightly unbearable for them. At the start it was relatively easy to avoid Jack. But as the years went by, it was harder to avoid the larger boy, especially when he noticed that Davies always arrived quite early to class. This made it much easier for Jack to pick a seat, and he always chose to sit right in front of whatever seat Davies saved for Kylie.

“How is it not?” Jack asked with an expression that said ‘how can you ask such an obvious question. “You’re obviously disturbing me and making it difficult for me to hear what Professor Dewsbury is saying. Basically, you guys are a distraction.” Jack held his chiseled chin as he spoke. The longer he spoke the harder Davies gritted his teeth. If he had the strength he would have long smacked Jack to the moon and back. The guy was highly infuriating.

“We are sorry. We will do well to be quiet from now onwards.” Kylie, seeing this matter wasn’t going to end until either Davies or Jack conceded, which neither looked willing to do, was forced to break it up. Although Jack intimidated her a fair bit, she still spoke up. Besides, for some reason no matter what Jack did, she didn’t find him repulsive. She felt he had a good heart, only that he was weird. As for why Jack followed them around, she felt it was because he actually felt closer to them than others in this class since Davies went to the same school with him and all. For Jack didn’t seem to have any friends.

“Thank you,” Jack beamed hearing Kylie’s words. Then he turned to face Davies and said, much to the other boy’s annoyance, “At least one of you has some common sense.”

Kylie had to hold Davies back. For the leaner boy was about to smash Jack’s head with a large Physiology Textbook. Jack with his back now facing them didn’t know that Kylie had saved him from a possible concussion.

“Why are you taking his side?” Davies asked in anger. However the fact that he still whispered this showed that he hadn’t totally lost his head.

“I am not taking his side. I am stopping you guys from bickering throughout the entire lecture. I don’t want what happened last week to happen again.” Kylie replied.

“You are right,” Davies quickly turned docile when he recalled the events of the past week. He and Jack were going at each other’s throats much like there were doing right now. Unfortunately that day Kylie stayed out of it, and in the end the two were called out by Dr. Epstein who had grown sick of their noise. What was worse was that Kylie had been dragged into the entire thing although she wasn’t involved. The three had been forced to stand behind the entire class for the full lecture – which was three hours long! What made matters worse was that everyone seemed to enjoy that the smart ones in class were getting punished. Because although Jack seemed to be quite troublesome, he carried a very good brain.

“We would talk more after class is over,” Kylie told Davies who nodded his head in agreement. With nothing else to distract her, Kylie could now focus on Professor Dewsbury’s lecture.

“As we are well aware, it was Matthias Schleiden and Theodore Schwann, a botanist and a zoologist respectively, who came up with the following theories. Sir Schleiden postulated that plants were made up of cells, and Sir Schwann extended this to animals, stating that all animals were also made up of cells; now these discoveries were made in 1838 and 1839 respectively.”

“Rudolf Virchow jumped onto the scene much later – almost about 19 to 20 years after the first postulation - to also add that all cells were made up of pre-existing cells. These discoveries formed the basis for the Cell Theory. Now that is just by the way. You studied this in your 2nd Year. Back to Archaea. I was saying that Archaea can be grouped into Methanogens and Extremophiles. Methanogens generate methane, hence their name, and Extremophiles can survive in harsh environments.”

“Now who can give me examples of Extremophiles?” Professor Dewsbury had been speaking for almost thirty minutes, and now her throat was a little dry. Whiles waiting for an answer, she walked over to her desk and sipped some of her juice which lay next to a few neatly arranged notes of hers.

“No one?” the professor asked, seeing that the students whom she happened to glance at where avoiding eye contact.

“Kylie. You came late. This question is for you then.” Professor Dewsbury finally picked a person, much to Kylie’s dismay and everyone else’s relief. No one wanted to be made out as a fool in front of the entire class.

“Well Professor, Pyrolobus fumarii and Thermus aquaticus, both of which are Thermophiles are examples of Extremophiles.” Kylie stuttered a bit due to the fear that gripped her. She really wasn’t comfortable in such situations. And that was why Professor Dewsbury kept calling her out. For the Professor knew what her favorite student’s chief issue was – confidence.

“Yes child. And do speak up next time. There is nothing to be afraid of.” Professor Dewsbury flashed Kylie a lovely smile before returning to what she was teaching. Soon the Professor was going on about the similarities between Bacteria and Archaea, seeing that they both belong to the Domain Prokarya. The lecture was three hours long, but to most it felt like an entire day. Of course to students like Kylie and Davies who enjoyed science, time passed by too quickly.

“That is all for today. Enjoy your weekend everyone.” Professor Dewsbury was a stickler for the rules, and once time was up she didn’t take up any second that wasn’t hers. The cheerful students were more than happy to hear that the class was over. And many escaped the lecture hall before the Professor could even return to her desk, as though the room was on fire.

“What now?” Davies asked in an irritated manner when he saw Jack watching him and Kylie, seemingly waiting for them.

“Nothing,” Jack shrugged, but remained seated. “You’re so annoying,” Davies grumbled. “Yep,” Jack snickered, much to Davies’ frustration. However, before Davies could trade words with Jack, a pleasing voice cut into the conversation. Unfortunately although pleasing, this wasn't a voice that was in any way welcome.

“How dare you speak to Jack like he’s your equal?”