Paradise

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

Monday was cool and wet. Rain ran unceasingly down the bus-windows. I stared at the wet, gray film and it was like I was in a submarine, submerged deep within the ocean. The roaring downpour was so incredibly loud it overpowered the engine. The floors were damp with soggy sneakers squishing down the walkway. A few kids almost slipped and fell getting to their seats.

Thankfully, I wasn't one of them.

"It's going to flood," Kendall said, sitting next to me. She'd boarded a mere two minutes ago. "That's what all the news channels are saying. We'll probably get out early."

"Don't give me false hope," I said, and she laughed.

"Hey, I thought you were scared of storms," she teased.

I shrugged. "Not rain by itself. And, I mean, if it gets us out early--"

"You're all for it, I know," she said, laughing again. "You sure do hate school, Penny."

"Eh, not as much as I used to," I said, feeling myself smile. "But, you know, every once in a while the contempt rises out of its grave and rears its ugly head again."

"Gross, Pen," Kendall chuckled.

"Hey, that's my thing," I said.

"I agree that school can suck sometimes," Kendall said. "But for the most part, I like it. It gives me something to do--"

"Something to do," I said. "I can think of tons of stuff to do, and none of them involve waking up super early in the morning to write notes and do worksheets."

"Well, yeah, that part isn't the greatest," Kendall agreed. "But it's nice to see everyone and socialize."

"Eh," was all I could reply.

"Oh, come on, you don't like seeing me everyday? I'm hurt!" Kendall cried, pushing out her bottom lip in a comical way.

"No, you're fine," I laughed. "But we could see each other outside school. And we can talk on the phone. Same with other friends." Though Yvette was the only other friend I could think of that I'd willingly socialized with outside school this past year. "I don't have much use for acquaintances."

Kendall laughed. "What's wrong with acquaintances?"

"I just don't understand the point of accumulating vast amounts of friends. Eventually, someone is going to get neglected. Most likely the ones labeled acquaintances."

"Pen, that's just not how friendship works. The reason to 'accumulate vast amounts of friends' is to spread happiness and friendship wherever you go. If you have a large circle of friends and all your friends have a large circle of friends no one will ever get neglected, because everyone will always have someone."

"Sounds like a lot of work," I yawned.

Kendall laughed, "Oh, Pen, you are one of a kind."

"That, I am," I agreed.

The bus pulled up at the school ten minutes later. Puddles were rapidly building on the ground. We rushed through them, water splashing through the air, and ran inside the school. Rain dripped down my nose and I wiped it away. Thankfully, my heavy black coat (usually saved for snow days) had been enough to protect my clothes from the torrent. I took it off and carried it over my arms.

Kendall had already disappeared and I didn't see Yvette or Ms. Albert anywhere, so I decided to go ahead and get to first block early. I walked into the classroom to find it empty, except for Robert. He was standing at the window, watching the rain. My face flamed brightly. I quickly hurried to my seat, dropping my backpack and coat on the floor beside me.