Practical Examinations

Avixi Lynn

Short Author Note: Hey guys! I just wanted to start off by saying...hi! So, HI! This is my first time submitting a story, and I am very much excited to see how many people truly will enjoy this fanfiction.

A few minor details before you begin reading. I obviously do not own the rights to the characters in the Hannibal universe, those works of art all are credited to Thomas Harris. I am a big fan of his work, and this fanfiction is both based off his novels, and the TV show Hannibal on NBC by Bryan Fuller. As you will read on, you'll notice I have used a few characters from the novels, and the rest from the TV show.

This however is a High School AU (Alternate Universe) and all the major characters are either students or teachers.

Have fun reading, mein fronds, and please remember to submit a review! It helps a LOT!
Avixi

Chapter 1

"I'm not impressed in the slightest, Will Graham." A thump and fluttering of a thin examination leaflet was all that filled the silent void as young Will Graham trained his light colored eyes hidden behind thick, black rimmed glasses up at his English Literature teacher, Mr. Gideon. He peered back down at the paper the teacher had handed him-or his desk, more appropriately-and a big D- in blue ink stared back at him, almost in a taunting fashion.

"Well, that makes two of us, Mr. Gideon." Was all he could muster as he resisted the urge to throw his head into his hands and degrade himself. He had to admit; he could have studied and prepared much better and reviewed the material more thoroughly. English Literature was never Will Graham's strongest subject, or most desired subject either. But the requirements of Baltimore State High School insisted that at least three credits in English Literature needed to be taken by all students alike. He was faced with an inescapable situation right from the very start.

"Will, I do not want to have to hold you back this year, I really don't. But these grades are just getting consistently worse..." Mr. Gideon sighed, trailing off as he ran a chubby hand through his sandy colored hair.

"I understand. I thought that by the time grade ten rolled in I would have understood the material..." Will admitted both to himself and to his well regarded teacher.

Mr. Gideon searched for the unspoken, unrevealed solution to the issue around his empty classroom, eyeing desks with chairs not even partly tucked in as his last class for a gloomy Friday had rushed out the moment the last bell rang. Nothing but dust and debris danced about, as if romancing the air in the room.

"I don't know what other options you have left, Will. I'm really trying, here. You're a good student, I know how well you are doing in your other classes. But English Literature clearly is not your taste."

Will gathered his worn out book bag and clutched it to his chest desperately, feeling as if all the oxygen in the room had suddenly been sucked out by a large, demonic vacuum. When it came to his future and academic success, it was practically a matter of life and death. He certainly didn't want his adoptive mother to receive more grievances anyway. It was bad enough and much of a burden on her as it was due to all the phone calls she received from the school because of other students bullying and tormenting Will. This was the last thing she needed.

"Are you alright, Will?" Mr. Gideon trained his light cold blue eyes on Will once more.

Will only nodded, standing up slowly on shaky legs. "Don't worry about it, Mr. Gideon. I promise I can and will find a way to pass this course. Even if it kills me."

All Mr. Gideon did in response was smile lightly and pat Will once on the shoulder; a reassuring comfort move.

Will nodded and walked out of the classroom dragging his feet with him in shame and regret.
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The halls of Baltimore State High School were very empty and practically looming of a ghostly essence by the time Will got to his locker to grab his umbrella and coat. The windows facing his locker were soaked like the very ocean.

Will sighed lightly as he fumbled with the lock. The combination was not difficult at all to remember; but it was the lock itself that was the problem. It was an old lock due to the fact that Baltimore State High School wanted to cut back on its budget and spend as little money on renewing school items and property as possible, so many of the locks were reused from previous years.

It had to have been Will's divine and wonderful luck to receive one of the most rusty locks and the most sensitive ones. He had to practically marry his eyes and fingers to the lock, and gently skate his fingertips across the dial, hitting and touching each number perfectly on the spot in order to be rewarded with the gracious "click", signalling the success of his actions.

He was almost at the last number when a small, pale, red-finger nail painted hand slammed on his back, thus succeeding in scaring Will out of his skin and messing up the orderly fashion of the combination.

Will cursed internally when he turned and met the owner of the intruding hand.

"Freddy, what the hell is wrong with you? Most normal people at least say "hi" or something!" He hissed practically.

Freddy Lounds, who was a year younger than Will, was one of the world's most annoying ninth graders, according to practically the entire student and teacher body. She was of medium height, but her vibrant, fiery red hair made her stand out among her peers, and her odd, yet intriguing sense of clothing and fashion made everyone alike wonder and marvel at her.

Today she wore a flashy dark green skirt with matching dark green high heels, and a formal business-like top jacket, only with grey and black checkered patterns peppered all along her top. Her hair stood in a few odd directions, most likely due to the rain and humidity.

"That was my way of saying "hi", Will." She smirked a cheeky grin that Will wanted to knock off with his umbrella. But giving more attention to Freddy Lounds was the last thing on his mind at the moment.

"Why are you still here?" He barked at her, finally opening the lock after the millionth try.

"I could ask you the same thing." She retorted back, checking out her red painted nails, bored already.

Will rolled his eyes as he gathered the rest of his belongings. "And I will respond the same way I normally do whenever you ask me questions that are absolutely none of your concern...none of your damn business." He turned and slammed the locker door shut and locked it angrily.

Freddy smirked in response. "Why all the anger, Will? Home problems? Or school problems?"

"Freddy, one day you are going to end up asking the wrong person the wrong questions on the wrong day." Will warned as he began marching down the hall and towards the exit of the school.

"Perhaps you see it that way, Will. But there is always an opportunity, in my eyes. I consider it the right question, at the right time, with the wrong person."

Will snorted. "The wrong person?"

Freddy nodded. "Of course! It is always the negative influences that gather the most attention and the greatest amount of success."

"Freddy, all you seek is drama. All you ARE is drama. This all is not surprising at all to me." Will concluded, finally opening up his umbrella as he stood with Freddy by his side under the roof of the school, right under the eaves trough, listening to the sound of water rolling down from the sky, gathering in puddles everywhere, pitter-pattering here and there, as if conducting a magnificent ballet for him. He closed his eyes, and suddenly he was not with Freddy. He was not at Baltimore State High School. He was sitting right in front of a large, dimly lit stage in a dark theater. Dancers in silver outfits danced about in swift movements, as if acrobats. Their moves each were precise and carefully organized. The tapping of their shoes and feet across the wonderfully waxed wooden floor of the stage echoed all throughout the theater, and resonated back to Will's ears. Each step the dancers took were calling his name..."Will, Will, Will..."

"WILL!"

He opened his eyes abruptly to look at Freddy waving her hand in his face in annoyance.

"I swear to God, you do this all the time! You zone out and all act alien-like. No wonder you can't find an easy time with women!" She insulted him, pulling out her own small black umbrella with strange designs unknown and unrecognizable to human eyes.

"Yeah yeah. Sorry I am lacking your grace and finesse on the matter, Freddy. But I'll take a rain check on it." He laughed at his own joke.

Freddy rolled her eyes and walked off into the rain. Will cheered internally. "Thought she'd never go!"

She turned and grinned at him. "Oh, by the way, did I mention that you forgot our History class textbook in your locker?"

He frowned. "You're telling me this now?"

Freddy reached into her bag once again and pulled out a cigarette and lit it, blowing out a bile cloud of smoke in Will's direction. "No, I noticed back when you opened your locker door and I knew we had homework for the weekend. I just thought it was priceless and amusing how much you struggle with that damn lock combination." With that last statement in, she turned on her heels and walked off with her curly red hair swaying slightly in the wind.

"Have a good weekend, Will Graham!" She shouted and waved, not even bothering to turn back to face Will as he stood rooted to the spot, stuttering.

"FREDDY LOUNDS, YOU BITCH!" He yelled against the growing wind and rain. But his only answer was the cold spray of water in his face.
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