Jane walked glumly to the Drama department. Why the principal had decided that "teacher partners" were a good idea, she would never know. And wasn't it slightly stupid to pair a drama teacher with a Bio teacher? After Jane's first day meeting the teacher, she was less than enthused.

Now, they had to do a "get-to-know-each-other" thing. Jane dragged her Manolo-clad feet to the drama classroom and sighed. She paused for a moment to make sure that her sleek blonde bun was perfectly positioned, and looked herself over: Black pencil skirt, high heels, and a deep green, silk shirt that brought out her eyes. At least she looked put-together. Jane clutched her signature diamond pendant and knocked softly on the drama teacher's door before walking into the classroom, armed with only her teacher's file and her Blackjack.

Sarabeth was sitting at her desk. Her booted feet were propped up on the desk. The room barley looked like a class room. Most of the lights were off and the windows wee covered. It was covered in posters of actors and Shakespeare as well as set and costume designs. Instead of desks there were sofas and easy chairs spread every where. A large glass locked glass case full of every sort of weapon sat behind Sarabeth's desk covering most of the dry erase board. The other part was covered with a large poster that said: "So you think you don't use Shakespeare and it listed several hundreds of Shakespeare terms still used in the English language. Next to the weapons case sat another glass case that held a replica of Shakespeare globe. In the back corner sat three stacks of text books Drama 1 Drama 2 and Stagecraft. Next to it sat two large stacks of crash pads

On Sarabeth's desk sat several photo's of her and her future wife Jac as well as their 18 year old adoptive daughter Mai Ly and her son Xen. On the desk also sat a messy stack of Shakespeare scripts and a few late set designs. Her sword layed across almost everything. Also sat a large leather book that said "Wedding Plans" she was supposed to be looking at that but instead she sat with a cup of coffee and was deep into reading Running with Scissors for the 40th time.

When she heard a knock on the door she sighed. She was getting to the best part. "enter if you dare." she replied not looking up from her book.

"Hello again," Jane sighed, trying not to sound like she was walking to her doom.

She glanced around the room. It was as dark as a vampire's lair, and was decorated just the way she would have expected from a drama teacher. The weapons held Jane's interest and she studied them with a smile, remembering the time John introduced her to the famed Jet Li. He wasn't fond of using anything but a bo staff or his hands and feet as weapons.

"I don't suppose you've had a chance to read up on the itinerary the principal gave us, did you?" Jane asked, "Because, to be frank, some of these suggestions are absurd. How are we supposed to combine one of our drama and Biology classes, for starters?"

"yes I read the itinerary," Sarabeth replied finally looking up from her book. "its actually not that hard," she put a mark in the book and set it on the only empty space on her desk. She took a long drink from her coffee. "A good scientist must be an artist. Take for instance Leonardo Devinchi he was an artist before he was a scientist. want a modern day example. That woman... oh what was her name... my girlfriend thinks she is a genius.... oh Jane Glass." Sarabeth put her feet down and leaned forward. "She acted as if there was some disagreement. Though this scandal she is having she still holds her composer in public by acting." Sarabeth leaned back in her chair with a smile

Jane's fist clenched until she could feel her fingernails digging into her skin.

"I KNOW you have to be an artist to be a scientist!" she wanted to scream, "Don't think I haven't said that myself when Glass Industries created cloned blood cells!"

It was a jolt to hear Sarabeth reference her as if she wasn't in the room and left Jane with a queasy feeling as she stared at her. The woman was difficult to read. She didn't know if Sarabeth was mocking her to her face with her identity, or just giving an example. Also, Jane wanted to know how the hell her private scuffle with John had become so public. Whatever the case, she was in hot water.

"Um." Jane replied eloquently, "Maybe you have a point. Uh...can you elaborate some more on that?"

"what do you what me to elaborate?" Sarabeth said reaching into her desk and she pulled out a coca-cola and offered the other teacher one. "She is a brilliant woman who got caught up in some scandals as crazy as it sounds my girlfriend is physic and she is really good at reading people. She said she likes Jane Glass because she can tell Jane has a good heart." Sarabeth popped open the coke and took a drink. "I figure to keep her composure either she is a cold hearted bitch or a good actor" Sarabeth took another drink of her soda.

"I actually meant about the whole scientist-artist thing," Jane replied, slightly offended at the comments.

She took the coke anyway and nodded her thanks. The way her day was going, she needed the sugar. And a martini. Or three. Jane was sweating in her Manolo's. If Sarabeth didn't know who she was and she told her, she could be more screwed than if Sarabeth DID know who she was and was mocking her.

"Have you actually seen a picture of Dr. Glass?" Jane asked warily, "Can you get some reading of her character from that?"

"I haven't really taken a good look at her." Sarabeth replied. "I catch glance at her once in while when she is on the magazines my daughter brings home. The Jac usually steals them from Mai Ly. I swear Jac is obsessed with the woman. I bet if Jane Glass showed up at our house and asked Jac to Marry her instead... well lets just say I have already wasted a few thousand dollars. But we all know that isn't going to happen because Jane is straight." she took a drink of her soda and then said with a small laugh. "thank god."

"yeah Jac can get a reading from a picture she is really good at that stuff."

"Oh, okay," Jane croaked, making a mental note NEVER to show up at Sarabeth's house.

She avoided touching her blonde hair. God, she was so stupid for not dyeing it when she came to this wretched place. Another thought struck her as she looked around the room. A bad one.

"Hey, have you read J.D. Salinger's "A Perfect Day for Bananafish", have you?" Jane asked, praying the answer was "no."

"Are you going in the water, See more Glass?"

"not yet." Sarabeth reached into her desk and pulled out a copy of the book. "Jac got it for me as a Summer Solstice present. I have been wanting to read it. but I got sucked into Running With Scissors again I always do. Its my favorite book" Sarabeth paused and looked at the woman in front of her. "Is something wrong? you seem quite pale.

"No," Jane replied weakly, "I'm pretty pale as it is. And it's been a long, long day. Being a teacher is quite difficult, especially when only a quarter of your students want to pay attention."

"Seymour! Seymour Glass!"

"So...we were talking about how we had to combine one of our Biology and Drama classes? I mean, if now isn't a good time we could always do it later, or meet somewhere to talk about this whole file."

Sarabeth finished off her coke. 'I have free time right now," She said. "now I would be willing to give up my free first period. second period I have Combat 101 third and fourth I have drama I 5th I have lunch 6th is drama tech and 7th is Advanced Placement Drama. whats is your schedule like?"

"Well, first period I have Biology, Second Period I'm on break, Third and Fourth are AP Biology, Fifth is lunch, and Sixth and Seventh are Remedial Biology and another Biology, respectively."

She shuddered at the thought of Remedial Biology. It made her itch.

"If you wanted to come in to do my first period class with me, that would be great. It's just the fact that there's so many other things we have to accomplish as well. Does your principal usually do these sort of 'group activities'?"

"that sounds great," Sarabeth replied. "Now it comes down to what are we going to teach? Yeah our Principal is pretty strange he does this kind of stuff all the time. I just hope that your no homophobic like the last teacher I got stuck with. Your not are you?"

"Of course I'm not," Jane shrugged, "You can't do what I've done and have any sort of prejudice or anything. Quite frankly I don't know what we're going to teach. What if you came in and mixed things up a little...like, have them do some sort of artistic representation of Biology? Or had them be creative and think of some solutions to a health problem? Stuff like that. Or we could give them some examples of how scientists have to be good actors and present a decent political face to the world-you know, like Einstein, or Marie Curie, etc."

"yeah I like the later idea." Sarabeth said. "Ugh too bad it isn't Chem. I sucked at biology but I aced Chem. I have quite a nack for mixing chemicals. I think the only reason we got stuck with each other was because our classes are next door to each other."

"I did love Chemistry too," Jane replied, "But you'd be surprised at how much of it is used in harmony with Biology. You need Chem to fully understand Bio."

Just then, the sound of "The Requiem Mass in D minor" filled the room. Jane jumped, sloshing a bit of coke out of its can and onto her Manolo. She swore and yanked the phone out of her pocket.

"I'm sorry, I have to take this or it'll never stop ringing."

"Where are you? I can't believe you've just run away from all of this. From me," a cultured, irritated British voice said.

"I told you not to call me," Jane hissed back, "So don't. I thought you 'didn't care anymore' anyway," she added, unable to resist sticking one last barb in.

"Face it, Glass, both of our stocks have taken a nosedive since"-

"So this is about stocks," she said quietly, "Of course. Knowing you? What else would it be about?"

"You have the nerve to stand there and play the victim?"

"You know what? This is your necklace, I'm taking it off.

Jane fumbled with the clasp just to show him she meant business debating if she would ACTUALLY have the guts to chunk the diamond in the trash.

"I'm going to find you," he snapped, "No matter what podunk town you've hidden yourself in. And we're going to talk, no matter how much the great "Doctor Glass" would like to pretend she's immune from such dealings."

"Screw you, John," she said bitterly, hanging up the phone.

She didn't take off the necklace, of course.

"Where were we, Sarabeth?" Jane asked, running a hand nervously over her hair.

Sarabeth started playing with her ring after the other teacher picked up her phone. She was trying to give the woman privacy but she couldn't help but overhear. blink several times. "care to elaborate?" she asked carefully.

"Sure," Jane said, formulating a series of half-truths, "Just an old boyfriend. We recently...ended things. I was stupid, I shouldn't have given into temptation in the first place, but I did, and now it's come back to haunt me. He thinks I'm just running away from things, but in reality, I need to let both of us cool off before I go back home."

She paused and touched her necklace fondly. The diamond winked in the light.

"My family was less than happy when I even mentioned that I was attracted to him. Imagine, two fully-grown adults, sneaking around like teenagers," Jane laughed, remembering their late-night rendezvous, "But I wanted him so badly that I was willing to, and so was he. We both understood the need for privacy. He gave me this necklace for my 25th birthday. It was something that I could wear in public to think of him, and I wouldn't have to explain myself."

She sighed. A year seemed like such a long time. It seemed like forever since she had been happy.

"Wow it seems like your in some deep shit," Sarabeth replied. "Pardon my mouth of course. I guess I somewhat understand where you are coming from. I am having a hard time with love as well I mean I should be happy I'm getting married. I am not sure if I am afraid of commitment or what but.... I am starting to fall for someone else." she wasn't sure why she was telling the other girl this. "I have only been with Jac my whole life. there was one girl I kind of fooled around with when I was younger but we were never anything official. I love Jac and I am just afraid I am going to screw things up." Sarabeth looked at the photo of her and Jac together that sat on her desk and she took a deep breath.

Jane hesitated. The way her relationship was going, she was in no position to dish out advice. But at least it got the topic off of her.

"Well, you probably just have pre-wedding jitters," Jane said matter-of-factly, "Don't worry about screwing stuff up. I mean, I wouldn't fool around with anyone at THIS stage, but it sounds like you know she's the one for you. Maybe you're just freaking out a bit, you know? Sort of panicking and trying to shop for something else before you're stuck with the purchase you're about to make, if you'll excuse the metaphor."

"I guess your right," Sarabeth said with a smile. "I guess both of us have some love problems eh?" Sarabeth laughed. She reached into her bag and pulled out a zip-lock bag full of cookies.

"Yeah, I'll agree with you on that," Dr. Glass sighed. She glanced at the cookies and looked away. Of course, that coke she just drank was probably her sugar allowance for the day, and her publicist wasn't too happy with her figure as it was, though John hadn't been able to keep his hands off of her when they were together.

"I don't know, I suppose my problems are my own fault," Jane admitted, "So I have myself to blame for what happened between me and John, but I guess it doesn't matter anymore."

'talking to a lesbian about man problems is a bad idea do you know why," Sarabeth replied eating a cookie. "because no matter what I am going to say its the guys fault. I am just kidding but seriously if this guy is suck a jerk then maybe you shouldn't be with him."

Jane laughed. "Oh, I'm certainly not with him anymore. But the fallout was greater than I had forseen. And...yeah, I'll partially agree with you: He was a jerk. Plus, he was older and more mature than I am, so I was in a bit over my head."

"I don't like guys who are jerks to girls," Sarabeth replied. "Like my daughter Mai Ly she has this baby named Xen" Sarabeth picked up the photo of the two of them and showed it to Jane. "the father is a complete jerk basically ruined her life after she got pregnant now he is trying to get back into her life and I keep telling her 'mai ly don't let that jerk near Xen if he wanted to be in his sons life he should have been there 3 years ago when Xen was born." with that she ate another cookie'

"I agree with you," Jane said, "But are you sure he hasn't changed? Maybe he's turned his life around or decided to wake up and realize that he can't be such an ass all his life. Of course, I don't know the whole story."

"yeah I guess," sarabeth muttered/. "I still don't like him. Jac keeps telling me to give him time and he is being a big person but I still hate him. He annoys me. and he has another girlfriend.