Taking Chances

Hullo Friends

     Bartholomew heard a knock on the door and all but threw his phone across the room. He quickly grabbed a nearby textbook from his night stand and flipped it to a random page before saying,
     " Come in." The door opened and his older sister's head peeked around the corner. He gave an exasperated sigh of relief, letting his face fall on the text book. He had thought she was mom. 
     " What you up to squirt?" she asked.
     " That is none of your concern, Genevieve, now what do you want of me? " Bartholomew replied, picking his face up off the book. Genevieve feigned a look of hurt.
     " Is it a crime to want to talk to my darling little brother? After all, if it wasn't for me, you'd be kicked out of the house by now." Bartholomew glared at his sister.
     " If you had any self respect. " he said curtly. " You would not have touched what is not yours."
     " Then maybe you shouldn't leave your things laying around for people to pick up. You're lucky I got your stupid journal rather than mom, " she said. " And if you want me to keep quiet about it then it's your turn to do the dishes for the next two weeks." She then shut the door and left Bartholomew seething on his bed.
     Getting up to retrieve his phone from where he had tossed it, Bartholomew checked to make sure his journal was where he had hid it after his sister found it on his night stand. Just because she was 18 and about to leave for college once she finished high school, does not give her the right to do whatever she wants. Still angry with his sister, Bartholomew went and grabbed a towel before taking a shower and going to bed.
~~~
     The alarm clock went off. One more day to solve his problem. Bartholomew started getting ready for school. Only half paying attention to what he was doing. He dropped his toothpaste twice and put his shirt on backwards. He was still thinking of ways to avoid getting kicked out of the house because of that other thing, and to also take Davia to see Wicked without his mom finding out. Tripping on his way down the stairs. He supposed he could say he was sleeping over at Tomas's. Although he doubted Tomas would like lying to his parents.
     Bartholomew hit his hip on the counter and let out a cry of pain. Genevieve giggled as she passed him and said,
     " Watch where you're going next time freak. "
     " I just thought I had happened upon a clown and was startled, so I collided with the counter. Until I realized that clown was you, since you wear just as much makeup as one." Bartholomew retorted. Genevieve narrowed her eyes at him and stalked out the door.
     Bartholomew stood by the counter feeling pleased with himself, then he followed his sister outside. Only Genevieve's car was in the drive way since his mom left early for work. It was a blue ford escape that Bartholomew hated. He personally liked the Mustang better. It was a black 06 that had great rims, and nearly 300 horsepower. And the best part was, his mom said that he got to keep the car once she got a new one.
     Bartholomew crossed the yard and got in his sisters car. They rode to school in tense silence. When Genevieve pulled up to the students parking lot, Bartholomew nearly launched himself out of the car and went straight to the cafeteria to grab breakfast before class.
     He stood in line holding a sausage biscuit and a carton of apple juice, surveying the crowd. The Elves were easiest to pick out since they were the tallest, but sometimes they were the same height as the human kids. Elves were nice and all, but could be snobbish at times which is why not many of the other species hung out with them.
     Dwarves were distinguishable by their beards and short, stocky stature. Although they were the loudest and most brash, they were natural puzzle solvers and could often be found playing board games or card games at lunch.
     The pixies were the smallest out of everyone and almost never got bigger than 11 inches. They were extremely mischievous and got in trouble the most out of anyone. Their wings were the envy of all the species, except Wizards and Witches.
     They were the hardest to pick out since they looked just like humans. They kept their wands on them at all times, so that was the only way anybody could tell they practiced magic.
     Sirens, centaurs, trolls, mermaids, and banshees went to separate schools that were equipped to deal with their unique body styles.
     Bartholomew spotted his friends at a table near the back of the room and went to join them. Michael waved and pulled out a chair for him as he approached.
     " Hullo friends, " Bartholomew said sitting down.
     " Hullo yourself, you don't have an essay due in two hours, " Grimlock retorted.
     Grimlock was a Dwarf with a thick, shaggy beard that hung half way down his chest and had long red hair to match. He almost never brushed it because he thought he looked more rugged when he didn't. And to a point it was true. And if a group could have a brawler it was him. He was a quick tempered and would call things as he saw them, often getting into fights with random people.
     " That is your own fault, you had two weeks to do the paper. " Bartholomew informed him. Grimlock sat grumbling about how things were so much easier when he didn't have to write papers over stupid books when Gabriel said,
     " Dude just stop complaining and suck it up. " He then went back to frantically writing the same paper that Grimlock was supposed to turn in second hour, pushing his light brown hair out of his eyes for the fourth time.
     Gabriel was considered the baby of the group since he was a full year younger than everyone else. Because he was so young he sometimes had to have things explained to him, but the others didn't mind. And his eyes were the color of sunshine through whiskey.
     Grimlock just glared at him and was about to say something when Michael interrupted him and said,
     " Come on guys, we're all friends here. "
     Michael was the peace keeper of the group and has often broken up fights between Grimlock and well, everyone. He was considered short for an Elf but was still 5'11". He had short, naturally plaitnum blonde hair, and intense nut brown eyes.
     " Incorrect, " Tomas piped up. " I am not Grimlock's friend. "
     " Gee thanks, " Grimlock grunted.
     " That's because I'm your best friend idiot, " smirked Tomas.
     Tomas was the trickster of the group and had quite a sweet tooth. He considered himself a ladies man and has been on plenty of dates with lots of different girls. He was human, like Bartholomew, but had a more muscular build than he did. His dirty blonde hair always stuck up all over the place and he had a hard time taming it, but it went well with his electric blue eyes.
     Bartholomew sat eating as he watched his friends' antics. Smirking at the way in which Grimlock and Tomas insisted on exaggerating everything, when the bell rang. Sighing, he stood up and through away his trash.
     " Alright, so we're all agreed that we're taking my car for lunch right?" Asked Tomas.
     " I suppose so," Stated Michael. " It holds the most people so it would be the most logical. Just as long as I get shotgun. "
     " No way, you got shotgun last time. It's my turn laddie. " Said Grimlock.
     " Well quite frankly I do not mind who aquires shotgun, just as long as I am able to dine upon greasy fast food. So I shall see you fellows when the clock strikes noon. Farewell friends." Bartholomew reported. Then he turned to go to class and left his friends standing silent by the table.
     "He sure is weird. But in a good kind of way," Michael said after a bit.
     "I'll drink to that," Grimlock agreed.