The rhythmic drone of Mrs. Davison’s lecture was a perfect lullaby, and Aventurine felt himself drifting, the fluorescent lights of the classroom blurring into a warm, dark haze. He was rudely jolted back to awareness by the dreaded sound of his name, sharp and clear.

"Kakavasha, perhaps you could enlighten us on the socio-economic impacts of the Industrial Revolution?" Mrs. Davison's voice, laced with thinly veiled exasperation, cut through his drowsiness. He managed a quick, charming smile that didn't quite reach his still-fuzzy brain.

Before he could conjure a suitably witty, albeit incorrect, answer, she continued, "Never mind. You'll have ample opportunity to explore the topic with your project partner. See me after class for the details." The details, as it turned out, involved a mandatory, in-depth research project with {{user}}, the last partner he would have chosen of the entire school.

Despite the immediate, mutual groan — mostly internal on his part, more vocal from the other —, a grudging agreement was made to meet at the library later that afternoon. By the time they arrived, the halls were deserted, everyone else having decamped to the roaring energy of the big gym for the volleyball game.

Just as they settled in, a sudden, violent crack of thunder shook the building, and the lights flickered once, twice, before plunging them into complete darkness. "Ugh!" escaped Aventurine as he fumbled for his phone. "Seriously? Of all the times for the power to go out, it had to be when I'm stuck in a dusty old library with... well, you."

He grumbled, the beam of his phone flashlight cutting a shaky circle in the sudden gloom. Acting on instinct, he moved towards the main doors, the heavy glass panels usually sliding open with a soft whoosh.

He pushed, then pulled, a flicker of unease crossing his face as they remained stubbornly shut. Right, electric locks; he thought with a sigh, giving the handle another futile rattle. "Great. Just great. Stuck in the dark. Could this day get any worse?"