~•~

It was only the first day of classes and Gwendolyn was completely and utterly spent.

She had to endure chemistry, Latin and trigonometry along with the other classes she had taken that day, all with their own mountainous amounts of homework. Throughout the day, she had several boys stare and gape at her, some even giving her odd looks. Not that she minded. She was used to being the oddball of the school. Neil and his friends had offered friendly waves and smiled before classes, along with Todd, who had waved shyly, looking about as red as his chemistry textbook.

She had eaten lunch in the study hall, careful not to get crumbs anywhere and silently started on her homework.

Now, she was finally seated in her father's class rolling her pen between her fingers, taking her textbook out of her fabric book bag. She said a quick hello to Todd who sat in front of her. He responded with a choke and a replying hello.

Mr. Keating has caught his daughters eye, peeking out from behind the mostly closed door. Gwendolyn replied with a small smile and a tiny wave, her pen nearly flying out of her grip. He opened the door and walked out into the classroom which promptly fell silent, apart from Mr. Keating's whistling. He strolled through the aisle before opening the door and stepping out of the classroom, his whistle ceasing. The boys looked around at one another, confused. Gwendolyn beamed and then, stood up from her desk and followed her father right out of the classroom. Mr. Keating stuck his head back in the doorway, "Well come on."

The boys paused for a moment, murmuring. Slowly, they all stood and walked outside, trailing the weird Mr. Keating and his daughter who were both simultaneously whistling the same tune. Everyone crowed around Mr. Keating, Gwendolyn situated on the very outside.

"O Captain! My Captain! Who knows where that comes from?" He asked. Gwendolyn's hand shot up. Mr. Keating let out a short laugh, "Yes I know you know. I want to see if anyone else knows. Anyone?" He paused. More silence. "Not a clue?" Silence. "Ok, Miss Keating," he said teasingly.

Gwendolyn smiled, "It's a poem by Walt Whitman about Abraham Lincoln."

Mr. Keating nodded, "Very good. Now in this class you may call me Mr Keating, or, if you're slightly more daring, O Captain My Captain." A few quiet chuckles came from the group. "Now, let me dispel a few rumours so they don't fester into facts. Yes, I too attended "Hell-ton" and survived. And no, at that time, I was not the mental giant you see before you. I was the intellectual equivalent of a 98 pound weakling. I would go the beach and people would kick copies of Byron in my face. And finally, yes, Miss Keating over there is in fact my daughter and I will let her introduce herself to the class before continuing."

All heads turned to look at Gwendolyn who had stepped to the front near her father.

"Hello, I'm Gwendolyn Keating but you may call me Gwen if you like, or if you want to feel special, whatever nickname you please...as long as it doesn't hurt my feelings too terribly." She scanned the sea of stares, burning holes in her body, but Gwendolyn never noticed. "Like my father, I love everything poetry and literature but I also like a fair share of adventures and mystery. A little mischief too of course...I get that from my mother. Anyways, father," she turned to Mr. Keating, "I believe you have an English class to teach." With that, she stepped back into line and waited for her father to continue the class.

"Thank you Gwen." He nodded to her, "Now, Mr..." he looked down at his clipboard, "Pitts. That's a rather unfortunate name. Mr. Pitts, where are you?"

Amidst laughter, a tall, lanky boy meekly raised his hand. Mr. Keating acknowledged him with a wave of his pen, "Mr. Pitts, will you open your hymnal to page 542? Read the first stanza of the poem you find there."

Gwendolyn flipped to page 542 and listened intently.

""To the Virgins To Make Much of Time"?" He asked tentatively.

"Yes that's the one. Somewhat appropriate isn't it?" Mr. Keating addressed the quiet chuckles.

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may"
"Old time is still a-flying: and this same flower that smiled to-day"
"To-morrow will be dying" Pitts read off in a slight, monotonous tone.

"Thank you Mr. Pitts. "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" The Latin term for that sentiment is carpe diem. Now who knows what the means."

A hand shot up, Gwendolyn recognized the person it belonged to, the boy named "Meeks", "Carpe diem, that's seize the day."

"Very good Mr..."

"Meeks."

"Meeks. Another unusual name. Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Why does the writer use these lines?" Mr. Keating questioned.

"Because he's in a hurry." That sarcastic drawl belonged to none other than Charlie Dalton. Gwendolyn hadn't been here that long and she already recognized voices easily.

"No. Ding! Thanks for playing anyway..." Mr. Keating paused, "Because we are food for worms, lads...and lass." He glanced quickly at Gwendolyn. "Because believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die. I would like you to step forward over here." He gestured to the awards case, "and peruse some of the faces from the past. You've walked past them many times, but I don't think you've really looked at them." People were beginning to step near the case, analyzing closely. Gwendolyn stepped forward, squeezing beside Meeks and another boy she didn't know the name of.

"Sorry." She whispered when she bumped Meeks' shoulder.

"It's ok." He replied.

"They're not that different from you are they?" Mr. Keating continued.

In looks, yes, in aspirations and personalities? Maybe not Gwendolyn thought.

"Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible just like you feel." Mr. Keating began strolling along behind the group. "The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable of? Because you see gentleman, and lady, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whispers their legacy to you. Go on lean in." Gwendolyn leaned forward, almost pressing her ear to the glass. "Listen. You hear it?"

"Carpe..." Gwendolyn nearly jumped backwards, realizing it was her father at the last second. She suppressed a laugh, "Hear it?" Mr. Keating asked again. Gwendolyn closed her eyes, trying to focus. "Carpe...Carpe diem...seize the day...make your lives extraordinary."

A few moments of silence passed.

As Gwendolyn was about to lean away, she heard her name, just the faintest sound of a whisper from far away.

"Carpe diem...Gwendolyn."

Gwendolyn stifled a gasp. She knew it was not her father that had spoken.

He had never called her by her full name in her lifetime...

***

"Let's go, boys. Hustle up in here. That means you Dalton!"

"Alright who's up for a trig study group tonight?"

"Sure!" Neil replied.

"Me!" Cameron chimed.

"I can't make it guys. I have to have dinner at the Danburrys' house tonight." Knox draped a wet towel over her shoulders and sauntered towards the mirror.

"Ooh the Danburrys, who are the Danburrys?" Pitts asked.

"Big alums. How'd you swing that?" Cameron questioned.

Knox replied, "Friends of my dad's. They're probably in their 90s or something. Sounds great doesn't it?" Charlie gave a mocking "ooh".

"Anything's better than Hell-ton hash, Knox." Neil said

"I'll second that!" Charlie cut in.

"Hey." Neil snapped his fingers in Todd's direction, "Coming to study group tonight?" He began to dry his hair with his towel.

"Um...uh...no I got some history I wanna do."

Neil leaned forward and whispered, "We can invite Gwendolyn if you want." Todd turned a bright shade of pink and cleared his throat, squeaking out a polite "no thanks".

"Suit yourself." Neil shrugged and walked away. "Hey guys, should we invite Gwendolyn?"

"Ribbon?" Charlie asked, "Yeah sure I'm fine with it. Guys?"

Nearly everyone agreed.

"Why do we have to invite her? She's a girl!" Cameron furrowed his brows.

Neil mentally sighed while Charlie retaliated, "So? You haven't even met her Cameron. You can't say anything. She'll take Knox's place. I'm sure she's in there already."

Todd was really regretting not accepting Neil's invitation, but he couldn't say anything now.

***

Charlie's theory was proven correct, Gwendolyn was already sitting at one of the tables, neatly stacked papers and textbooks beside her opened book, a light frown on her face at the amount of noise caused by the other boys in the room.

"Why the long face Ribbon?" Charlie smirked, leaning against the table, "need some company?"

Her frown slowly melted into a bright smile, "Hello Charlie. It gets awfully loud here doesn't it?"

"Perfect huh?"

"Charlie!" Neil had come up behind him and whacked him on the head, "quit annoying her! And her name isn't Ribbon anymore, it's Gwendolyn."

Charlie argued, "I'm not annoying her!" He paused then glanced at Gwendolyn with wide eyes, "Am I?"

Gwendolyn laughed a breathy laugh, "No, of course not. And he can call me Ribbon if he likes, it doesn't hurt my feelings one bit."

"Are you done all that?" Neil asked, noticing the stack of papers beside her.

"What this?" She looked at her papers, "Oh yes, it's all done." She flashed a brillant smile.

Charlie's jaw dropped as Neil's eye widened.

"Holy shit!" Charlie exclaimed, "Meeks! Look! You got some heavy competition." He grabbed the attention of Meeks who was standing not too far away with Pitts beside him.

Meeks grinned happily, "I had a feeling you were smart."

"Hello, I don't believe you've told me your name." Gwendolyn stood from her table and moved towards Pitts, "Your actual name anyways."

"Gerard Pitts." He stuck his hand out. Gwendolyn took it.

"Pleasure to meet you. And you?" Her eyes flicked towards Cameron who looked as if he wanted to take a rocket ship to some planet other than earth.

"Richard Cameron." He nodded.

"Nice to meet you."

"We we're wondering if you wanted to join our study group." Neil tilted his head, awaiting her answer. Charlie had shuffled into her line of sight, hands clasped together mouthing the word "please" while trying to give puppy-dog eyes. Gwendolyn stifled a laugh.

"I'd love to."

Charlie blew out a breath, "I dibs her for helping me with trig! Dibs dibs dibs!" He shouted like a child.

"You can't dibs a person Charlie." Meeks gave a look.

"I'll help you. Sit." Gwendolyn sat back down at her spot and pulled a chair next to her. Charlie bounded over, sitting down happily. Everyone took their seats at their own tables. From his table, Cameron glowered.

He did not like this Gwendolyn girl with that weird ribbon around her wrist.

***

Todd quickly wrote on his notepaper in big capital letters:

SEIZE THE DAY!

He looked at it for a few moments before shaking his head and tearing it out of his notepad. Crumpling the paper up, he mentally slapped himself.

He had a chance to seize the day...and he didn't take it.

***

Gwendolyn fought back a yawn, but ultimately failed, "Sorry. Tired." She said to Charlie. They had moved closer to where Cameron was helping Neil. Neil had began to listen to Gwendolyn instead of Cameron for help with trig, while Meeks and Pitts were working on creating a radio.

It was that time the Knox had come in, shut the door and leaned against it, his coat thrown over his shoulder.

"How was dinner?" Cameron asked.

"Huh?"

"How was dinner?" This time, Charlie asked.

"Dinner?" Gwendolyn asked curiously.

Neil whispered, "He had dinner with the Danburrys."

"Ah."

"Terrible. Awful." Knox said putting his coat around the chair and sitting down.

"What happened? Why was it awful?" Gwendolyn frowned, her brows forming a crease.

"Tonight, I met the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my entire life." He explained.

Gwendolyn stuck the pen she was using to point at the trig problems behind her ear, "Well that's hardly awful is it not?"

"Yeah are you crazy? What's wrong with that?" Neil laughed.

"She's practically engaged...to Chet Danburry." Knox sighed. The group groaned. Gwendolyn looked around, confused.

"Who's Chet Danburry?"

Knox replied, "The biggest douche bag you will ever meet."

"The guy could eat a football." Charlie added.

"Well that's too bad Knox." Pitts said solemnly.

Knox looked at him as if he sprouted three heads, "Too bad? It's worse than that Pitts. It's a tragedy. A girl that beautiful in love with such a jerk." He moaned pitifully.

"Yeah well, all the good ones go for the jerks you know that." Pitts said. Gwendolyn bristled but said nothing.

Knox saved it, "Well I'm sure Gwen would never go for a jerk like Chet Danburry." Gwendolyn smiled a little.

"Forget her. Open your trig book and try and figure out problem five." Cameron glanced at Charlie's sheet of paper, "Look, Charlie's already gotten it figured out."

Charlie glanced up at Gwendolyn, "Ribbon here's a helluva trig teacher." He pointed at her. Gwendolyn flushed in embarrassment. Cameron's face morphed into a scowl.

"I can't just forget her Cameron. And I certainly can't think about trig...even if Gwen is the best trig teacher."

"Are we forgetting who helped Charlie pass Latin?" Meeks waved his radio piece in the air. It gave a loud squeak. "We got it!"

"Alright gentleman five minutes." A voice boomed near the door. Everyone began to pack up.

"Did you see her naked?" Charlie asked, laughing.

Knox rolled his eyes, "Very funny Dalton."

Gwendolyn grimaced, "Gross."

"That wouldn't be a radio in your lap would it Mr. Pitts?"

Gwendolyn cut in, "I don't think so sir, I strictly remember them telling it was a science experiment. A...oh what was it? Oh! A radar...yes it's a radar." She smiled as Meeks held up the metal curl which gave a wavering squeak.

"Ah...I see...thank you Miss Keating." Dr. Wagner said before leaving.

***