Clash

India flashback

It was the first day of year nine. That's when it all started going wrong. I just don't know what happened. But it did, and this is how we've ended up. 

*********************************************************************************************************

I look up at the school towering above us. "So," I say to my best friend April, "Year nine. The most annoying school year in human history,"

April laughs, "Yeah," she says, "These girls in the year above told me all that happens in the first few months is the teachers convice you to take their subjects next year, then the last few months hating everyone who didn't pick their subject. Sounds scary, right India?"

We both laugh this time. "Oh well," I say, "They're going to have to do a lot of convincing for me, because I have absolutely no idea what I want to do,"

"Really?" April looks surprised, "I thought you had it all figured out?"

"No!" I exclaim, "I do not have a clue what subjects I'll take next year!"

A boy in the year above pushes past us, "Look where you're going!" I shout after him. He turns around and holds up his middle finger, "Dickhead," I mutter. I turn around to look at April, "So what activities are you going to sign up for?" I ask her,

"I don't know," she shrugs, "There aren't really any I like the look of. Like, seriously, why would you put yoursel through extra sport voluntarily?"

"Because it's fun!" I say, "I was thinking I might sign up for a few sports clubs this year. Last year all I did was orchestra and I got so bored,"

"Really? You're signing up for sports clubs?" April looks like she's about to laugh,

"Hey! What's funny?" I demand,

"No nothing, it's just... Well, I didn't think you'd enjoy sports clubs. It's just not really you,"

"How do you know it's not really me?" I say, trying to contain an angry outburst, which I'm sure will burst it's way out within a couple of minutes,

"Well..." She pauses, trying to think of the right words, "I've known you since forever, and you've never really expressed much interest in social activities,"

"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do!" I exclaim, "I do gym four times a week, don't I? Didn't I used to do loads of sports clubs at junior school before you made me quit to spend time doing nothing with you? Honestly April, I'm just tired of this,"

"Woah, chill, I didn't mean to upset you!" April steps back,

"Well, you did," I look down at my feet for a minute, "I'm sorry April ,I'm just tired of being the sad loner girl with you. I'm going to join some sports clubs, and then we'll see whether it's 'me' or not,"

So I throw my hair over one shoulder, and for the first time since we started in year seven, I walk into school alone, leaving April standing stunned by the school gates.

I stand by the gymnastics signup board. A girl comes up behind me, "Hey!" she says, "Are you signing up for gym?"

"Looks like it," I reply. I take a pen out of my bag and sign my name. She does the same. 

 "I've never seen you before?" she says, "Are you new?"

"No, I'm in year nine," I say, 

"Oh. I'm year ten. That's probably why I haven't seen you. Have you never done gym before?"

I shake my head, "No, this is the first year,"

She pulls a face which is somewhere between worry and amusement, "You've never done enough gym before?" She asks me,

"No, it's not like that at all. It's just, my friend didn't like me doing it because she got lonely at lunch. But I just don't care anymore,"

Suddenly someone pushes me out of the way. "Move out of the way," she says, and scrawls her name on the board. It's Serena Dickens. 

"Sorry," I mutter,

"Good, you should be," she says, then looks up at the board to see who else has signed up. She spots my name, "Wait..." she turns around to me. I can see her foundation cracking on her face and her mascara stuck together in blobs right up close, and in extreme detail, "Are you signing up for gym?"

And then I just don't care anymore. Why should she decide whether I do gym or not? "As a matter of fact, I am," I say proudly, "Is there something wrong with that?"

"India Rosendale?" She almost laughs, "You can't even do a cartwheel!"

"Really?" I raise my eyebrows, "Do you know that?"

The year ten girl is still standing there, clearly wanting to be in the middle of the action. "Let's find out," she says, "Come on,"

She leads us out onto the field, the area where people sit on the grass in summer. "Show us your tumbling," she says. She clearly doesn't know what to think or what she wants to happen. She either wants me to fail miserably so she and Serena can have a good laugh, or succeed so she and I can have a good laugh. Little does she know I've been taking gym classes since I was three. 

I throw myself hand over hand and cartwheel across the field. I backflip and jump in the air, giving the best show I have ever given in my life. When I've finished I stand in front of them, out of breath and smiling. They both stand with their mouths open. "Wow," the year ten girl says. At that moment, the bell for the start of class rings, "See you at gym tomorrow, India," She says, and walks away. I walk to class with Serena. 

"Hey, are you doing anything this weekend?" she asks me just before we enter the classroom. It's April's birthday this weekend. I smile,

"No," I say, "I'm not doing anything,"

"Cool," she smiles back, and we enter the classroom together.