Drift

Chapter 8

The basic rules of Clover High (as brought to my attention by Alex) are as follows:

1) Do not try to break the status quo.

"This isn't some inspirational high school movie about a 'nerd' who rises up and beats the nasty people at the top of the food chain because the captain of the football team falls in love with her. If you're popular, great. You get 4 years of artificial popularity. If not, then grit your teeth and bear it." Alex had told me while we walked down the hall from the cafeteria.

"Not that any of us care anyway." She'd said. "I fail to see how those 20-something- year-old looking high schoolers can worry so much about social status when they have these giant tests to get into college. With that logic, I can fail all year, and have only one test to redeem myself, stress about it for literally 3 movie minutes, then have the smart, good-looking-under-the-glasses, geeky person be forced to be my tutor, and because of our chemistry, come out with a top grade in chemistry!"

By this time she spoke determinedly and her fists were clenched by her side.

"Oh, and don't forget they also have the jealous ex who just happens to be the head cheerleader on their back. And then there's the best friend who's 'sexretly' in love with them, but for some reason, they choose the sporty jock that they've known for 12 movie minutes..." I respond, laughing.

Alex stopped in the hallway.

"Finally someone who gets me!" She exclaimed, wrapping me in a tight embrace. When she let go, she beamed at me, showing me all her teeth.

"But, despite all that, you still can't help but hope that she gets with the good looking jock, and that she eliminates that ex and passes her finals after only a night of frantic studying."

"Yes, my friend. The hypocrisy is real." I laughed, and proceeded to walk down the hallway with Alex, moving on to pointing out everything wrong with our favourite dystopian novels.

**
2) Mind your own business

"Ah, yes." Alex said, sitting down on a bench in the courtyard. "The hardest one to follow. Who can't resist the allure of a juicy rumour, ripe and ready to spread? It's all well and good enjoying the gossip while it's there, but if that gets traced back to you - and it will get traced back to you - you need to be ready for a viable excuse; I will be conveniently vacationing in Guatemala when this whole show down happens. " She finished, then gave me a smile so that I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.

"So... To avoid any confrontation I just keep to myself? I can do that!" I replied.

She nodded.

"But, just a side- note. How do I handle confrontation that did not spark from me spreading a rumour?"

Alex pinched my cheek and shook her head. "You have so so much to learn!" She cooed. "But that's for later. Right now, rule number 3!"

3) Keep grounded

"Okay, so you may or may not have to go through this initiation thing next week. Technically, I'm not allowed to outright warn you, but I can't get in trouble if you 'figure it out' on your own."

I narrowed my eyes. "Initiation? For what?" I asked suspiciously.

"The popular people are going to try and see if they can recruit you. They do it to all the new kids. Apparently, you've already passed level one, because you look the part, and they like your accent." She rolled her eyes. "I would be jealous because I was dismissed as soon as they saw me (you do not want to see my pictures from freshman year), but I'm kind of relieved. Popularity is way too much stress anyway."