In Your Corner | ✓

Seventeen

Mid-terms creep up on me far too fast.

I stumble through the weeks beforehand, precariously balancing my soccer commitments, all my college work and hanging out with friends when I have a spare minute.

I still spend a few Wednesday afternoons at the garage, training up Anita. I was so relieved when we eventually decided to hire her – although she's on probation for the first month – and have tried really hard to get her settled in.

Not that she's really needed any help. Jonny and Andrei, having once been in the same position as her, are very good with her, patiently teaching her what I haven't been able to.

Anita immediately was involved in all of the teasing that we subject each other to, but she's a spitfire and handles it very well.

Pat, despite his initial reluctance, has really taken a shine to her, just like I knew he would.

It's good, because now that mid-terms are here, it means I can step back a little.

Anandi is leaning against the wall, waiting for me outside of my final mid-term exam with a big grin stretched across her face. "You did it!" she shrieks loudly as she embraces me, completely ignoring the looks we get from other people in the hallway.

To my chagrin, she and MJ finished their exams yesterday, but now we're all on an even playing field, finally.

"We're going to Smith's tonight," she announces, slinging an arm around my shoulders and steering me in the direction of the exit. "It's going to be a wild one, I promise, Nat."

It so happens to be a Friday night and I don't have a game tomorrow, so we can let go as much as we want. Hopefully, some of the other soccer girls will be out too, given that today was literally the last day possible to have a mid-term.

"Sounds good," I agree. "I really need to blow off some steam."

She giggles in my ear, throwing the door open and breezing through with only the type of confidence that she can muster. "You're not working tomorrow, are you?"

"Nah," I deny as we head towards her car. "I'm working Sunday, though."

She'd insisted on giving me a lift this morning, saying I needed chaperoning to my last exam, which was sweet of her, to be fair. I think she was just at a bit of a loose end, given that she refused to keep going with her own work until at least Monday, despite the other deadlines that she must have coming up pretty soon.

One the drive, she predictably blasts Fifth Harmony, bellowing the lyrics to That's My Girl.

Elated at having finished my exams – and that the last one seemed to go okay – I just laugh, throw my head back and screech along with her.

Neither of us would win the X-Factor, that's for sure, but we have a good time anyway.

When we arrived back at the apartment, MJ is already waiting for us, cooking dinner.

"You're amazing," I greet her, throwing my arms around her from behind. "The absolute best, MJ. Thank you so much."

My exam didn't finish until five o'clock, so it's getting on dinner time now and I'm hungry.

She pats my hands that are around her midriff for a second. "It's cool. We all need to load up on carbs before tonight, anyway," she points out as she stirs the curry.

Well. Her sorry white-ass excuse for a curry, with next to no spice in it.

"Okay, well, I'm going to grab a shower before we eat," I tell her. "I won't be long."