Emma in Exile

Three

It only took a few days of hearing every single person in her class refer to the clubs or teams they were involved with before Emma decided she needed to join something. Anne didn't just do tutoring-she was also on the school newspaper, the student council, and was planning on trying out for the swim team. And that was considered a normal amount of commitment. Oliver was president of the debate team, played bass in the school orchestra, was assistant captain of the football team, and ran track, while somehow finding time to write in his spare time and finish all his schoolwork.

But no one was as involved as Holly, who seemed to run half the clubs in school, was on just as many sports teams, and was top of the class. "She'll probably get the lead in this year's senior play, too." Charlotte told Emma one evening as Holly dashed into the dormitory from a student council meeting and then hurried out just as quickly wearing her gear for track.

"It only seems like a lot to you," Matthew told her reassuringly when she'd come to him on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "We've all been coming here since we were twelve--if you consider that we were all told to pick up an instrument and a sport in our first years, the rest was just added on extra as the years went by."

She tugged anxiously at her braid. "It's not like I didn't do anything at my old school! I was on Model UN! I played rugby! But everyone here is so Type A, with the music and the clubs and the sports! And why does everyone call it sport, anyway?! Why drop the 's'? What happened to the 's'?"

After a few cups of tea she calmed down and was able to have a rational conversation without dissolving into near hysteria, during which time they planned what sorts of things she could get involved in.

"It's an unspoken tradition that most of the senior class joins the ski club in November," Matthew informed her, "Because there's a trip to the Swiss Alps before Christmas break and everyone goes. You can join that--it can fill your sport requirement."

"Won't there be a girl's rugby team in spring? I want to join that," she said thoughtfully, glancing up as Lucy stormed into the main area of the senior dormitories and slammed the door to the girl's section. Edward came hurrying in after her, gazing forlornly at the closed door.

"You could also talk to Mr. Beckford about joining the orchestra--usually they hold auditions at the end of the year, but if you go and see him he might let you try out."

"I didn't bring my violin," Emma said as she picked at her nailpolish. "Plus I stopped taking lessons last year. I might be too rusty to audition."

Matthew shrugged, glancing at his watch. "Orchestra is fun. Leo's on trumpet and sometimes he just randomly improvs, which drives Beckford crazy. But listen, I've got to go."

"Hm. Maybe." She bit her lip, staring into the dregs of her tea. "Yeah, maybe I'll go talk to him."

She sat a bit longer at the otherwise empty table, thinking over what she was willing to commit to, and eventually decided to make a list and narrow it down to her top choices. By the time she was satisfied she was almost late for her third study session with Reed, their last before their upcoming test. She hurriedly gathered her things and then made haste towards the library, glancing forlornly into the dining hall as she passed.

"Sorry I'm late," she said when she came upon the table where Reed was sitting, his books and Mac already open around him. She sat down beside him and he shuffled his notes around, making room.

"I've already done the sample questions," Reed told her, holding up a stapled package of handwritten notes. "And I've started making a list of themes. I figured we could compare our answers to the questions, and review the themes in the play. If there's time we could look for supporting quotations."