Buckingham - Being Rewritten

Chapter 5

Since I had English lit first, I sprint across campus to it. For some reason they thought putting the English hall and the café on opposite sides of campus was a good idea. Do they not know readers love cafes?

This class apparently has 'the best teacher ever', I heard she assigned good books instead of the 'classics'. Name's Miss Green. Room 406: Jr English lit. The only bad thing about her is that she has this infamous project called the '2 semester partner project'.

Here we go. The room is in a lecture format. The desks have a dark wood tone but the table's are in pairs. She left out cards with are names on them so we know where to sit. I'm seated to the left near the second row.

I was a little early so people are still piling in. Once everyone is seated Miss Green begins the class. "Hello my new Jr class. I'm Miss Green as I think you all know. For the first 15 minutes of class you all can read a book of your choice. After that I'll introduce our first project."

I love reading. It's so just amazing, it's the best form of escapism ever created. The 15 minutes fly by, they do say time flies when you're having fun. Miss Green begins telling us about said 2 semester project. "Okay so you all might have heard about the infamous '2 semester project'. So let's just rip the band aid off. This project is that 2 people will read the same book of their choice and you will each write an essay on it with different perspectives and when you finally present you will debate on each perspective."

That doesn't sound terrible depending on who my partner is. Miss Green continues "You will each be given a paper with who your partner will be and what kind of debate you are to be giving." She begins to pass the papers around. Right as she gets to me she says "Here you go. I wanted to give you both a real challenge." Let's see who my partner is. Sebastian Taylor, and we have to debate on if the book was a masterpiece of modern times or not.

"Okay class, go to the table where your partner is." Here he comes, I still have 15 minutes before this class ends so here we go. "Hello Elle, how are you?" How am I really? I think I'm good but I'm not sure. "I'm fine, how about you?"

"I'm okay" Interesting we're having a normal conversation. Compared to are usually debates of the past and mockery. I think the only expectation is for those conversations we had at that party.

"Okay I was thinking that we should do Turtles all the way down'' by John Green. I've heard good things about it." In reality I read it, but I would love to re-read it. "Sounds good I'll get back to you on that." How is he gonna get back to me on that? "Oh wait since we're gonna be working on this project together, we should probably have at least one way to contact each other. Want my email?"

Did I really just offer him my email? Why didn't I just offer him my number or something? Well probably because that's too friendly. "Oh sure. Here's a sticky note to write on" Okay. Pen and paper, I got this. "Here you go"

Miss Green begins to end the class "Okay class our time here is up you better head off to your second period because they might be on the other side of campus."

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Off to the AP bio I go, room 704. This room is also set up in pairs. The teacher has their seating chart projected onto the wall. I'm seated in the third row on the far left of 3 isles. Sat right next to Sebastian Taylor.

There he is sitting in his perfect regal manner. Maybe I can start a fire with a bunsen burner, that would get me out of here. But I would be expelled for that. Maybe it's worth it just to get out of this most likely awkward situation.

"Hey" God I sound like Bella Swan and we're in the exact same class as when she met Edward "Oh hey". He puts his hand out so I can shake it, as if I didn't see him less than 5 minutes ago. Just shake his hand Elle, it's not that hard. So I do in the way my dad taught me in a firm yet friendly way. The way that could make whoever's hand you shake want to be your business partner.

I mean we're gonna be lab partners which is similar to business partners so it makes sense. "Let's hope this ends up a good semester of being lab partners." That is very unlikely to happen as every time someone has made us lab partners either we get separated within the week or we cause a chemical reaction that pretty much explodes and then we get separated.

As you can tell it doesn't last. Maybe this time it will? "Well here's to being lab partners." He then raises a test tube and hands me one. Clink. Did we just cheer for being civil? I think we did. Well here's to hoping that this doesn't sour in the next hour.

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Tennis practice. My favorite part of the day. Since 6th grade, I feel like tennis is just this art form while also being a sport. Being on the girls tennis team means being expected to be friends with the boys tennis team, not rivals.

Well you see I'm not what most people expect. I think you know why.

Tennis is just breathtaking. I love the sounds that tennis makes. The sound the racket makes when it hits the ball. Or the sound my shoes make when they hit the floor from jumping to hit the ball.

Sebastian Taylor and I have competed as the girls and boys tennis team captains since last year. I swear he somehow weasels his way into every single part of my life. "Hey Elle! Long time no see." Audrey, My best friend on the tennis team. "Hey Audrey." Running in for a hug. I love hugging people. I know that sounds like something a 6 year old would say but I really do. Hugs are just awesome. Especially with Audrey, she's the best hugger.

Coach Haywood begins her usual start of the practice season speech. "Hello everyone! Welcome back to the court. You all know the speech so let's get right to it. 3 stations: running laps, hitting the ball against the machine, and practice matches. We will go through these stations each day this week. Elle and Sebastian at practice matches, Audrey and Lily against the machine part 1 and Gigi and Dylan at part 2. Jude and Mike run laps."

Playing against Sebastian is okay. I can do this. It's like every other time we've played against each other. "Hello." Odd he was friendlier earlier. "Hey" Let's just get this over with. "I'll serve" Okay. He serves. This game will be easy. I got this.

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Author's note

Soooo this was supposed to be up way sooner. I thought I published it but it was actually a draft. So um enjoy this chapter! 

Tysm for all the votes comments real. I love reading comments it's so fun.