Periodic Table Fanfic

Periodic Table High operated as the best school in the area, an environment which required students to show elemental traits that characterized their personalities.

The friendly nature of Carbon allowed him to establish friendships with everyone. Nitrogen remained calm and silent while he waited to decide when to speak. Sodium displayed loudness and energetic behavior combined with his overly dramatic manner. Chlorine presented herself as a strong and sarcastic person while she actually showed deep concern for others. But Iron was just a trustworthy friend who would always be there.

The term starts with a major announcement that declared lab partners would remain the same throughout the entire academic period but would have to go through a large project to see whether they would be a good fit for each other.

The school assigned Carbon to work with Nitrogen, Sodium to work with Chlorine and Iron to work with Oxygen.

Oxygen only spoke a few words, but her personality remained peaceful. Her main focus was on every aspect of her work, a perfectionist if I could say so myself. She ensured that experiments proceeded according to established protocols. It’s safe to say Iron looked like a complete idiot  when he met her because she appeared more organized than he did but she probably was.

Fast forward a few weeks and their teacher gave them time in class to start working on ideas. Iron asked his question about the diagram by saying, "Um... do you want to start with the diagram?". Oxygen answered, "Sure. You’re good at building strong structures, right?". Iron confirmed his ability to build structures by saying, "Yeah... I guess.". She assigned him the leadership role because she believed he should control that section of work.

No person had ever extended him such complete trust before this moment.

Carbon and Nitrogen found themselves already laughing as they reviewed their notes together. And Iron looked over in shock.

Carbon joked about Nitrogen's class participation in class. Nitrogen explained his reason for speaking less because he prefers to stay neutral, floating above everything around him. Carbon expressed his happiness about their friendship because he enjoyed speaking while his friend remained silent.

Sodium on the other hand worked excessively hard to gain Chlorine's admiration but was failing miserably. He declared his intelligence to the world while he unintentionally let his pencil fall. Chlorine raised an eyebrow. "You just tried to stir a beaker with a ruler." "...It was a long ruler." She tried to not to laugh but she couldn’t control herself and bursted into laughter.

Not everything at school was perfect, though.

Sometimes Fluorine thought she was better than everyone else and would mutter small comments under her breath, especially when she saw certain people getting closer. “Wow, some people bond so easily,” she muttered one day while walking past Iron’s table. Iron looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed. But Oxygen just calmly continued working like nothing happened.

“Ignore it,” she said quietly. “Reactions only get stronger if you feed them.” Iron smiled slightly. That made sense. And honestly, he didn’t feel alone anymore; he felt like he had a friend, someone he could trust.

As weeks passed, everyone started changing in small ways. Carbon and Nitrogen began studying together after school, knowing each other better than they did before. Sodium and Chlorine bickered constantly, but it was the kind of bickering that made them enjoy each other's company. Iron and Oxygen built their project slowly and carefully, learning how well they worked as a team.

One afternoon while cleaning up the lab, Iron hesitated. “Do you ever feel like you don’t really stand out?” he asked. Oxygen thought for a moment. “Sometimes. But standing out isn’t the same as being important.” Iron looked at her. “You really think I’m important?” She nodded. “You’re strong, reliable, and you hold things together. That matters more than being flashy.” 

That pep talk changed everything about Iron that day. Soon enough, presentation day came, the day the elements had to present each group showing their project about “stable bonds.” Some were creative, some were dramatic, and some ended in total distraction but it was finally, Oxygen and Iron’s turn approached.

Their model was less flashy, but it stood taller and sturdier than the rest. Iron pointed to their strong grid model. “Iron forms metallic bonds, where electrons move freely between atoms. That’s why metals are strong and can conduct heat and electricity.” Oxygen added, “When iron reacts with oxygen, they form ionic compounds. Iron loses electrons and oxygen gains them, which creates a strong attraction between the ions.” She gestured to the red spheres between the metal rods. “This shows how stability comes from balance between atoms.” 

Their bond flared like heated iron reacting with oxygen, glowing bright and impossible to ignore.” The whole class was in awe with their project,even Florine started clapping! The teacher nodded. “Clear explanation and a strong model. Good Job Oxygen and Iron, you’ve both outdone yourselves." Iron’s cheeks warmed slightly, like metal heating in a forge, and he smiled. 

They had explained the science and their bond perfectly. Oxygen grinned from ear to ear. “Strong reactions need the right partner,” she said.

The End.