Chapter 1: Test Time
I look out the window and watch the snow fall. I sit in my bus seat, observing my friends chatting with each other. I'm fairly popular, okay fine, I'll admit, I'm very popular. But it's not like they're all my true friends—well, okay, they are all my friends, but not true friends. I only have four real friends; all three of us ride the same bus. My other friend goes to a different school. They're not as popular as me, though. The only reason I'm popular is that my brother is in the NBA, and he used to go to this school.
Piper has been my friend since the 6th grade, which says a lot since we're now in the 11th grade. I met Ava in 5th grade and Jada in 9th grade. We were a big friend group—me, Talia, Piper, Ava. Then, Jada joined, and everything changed. I'm not blaming her, but it changed. Ava and Jada formed their own group.
"Tal, you good?" Piper says. "Yeah, I'm fine," I reply. "Daydreaming again?" "You know it, sweetheart," I reply back. "What are you talking about?" Jada says, and the conversation is cut short as the bus stops at the school.
We all walk into the school. I immediately start greeting the people that greet me back to be nice. After the group makes it to me and Piper's lockers, we realize ours are right next to each other. We chose our lockers, and for some reason, Ava and Jada didn't pick theirs right next to ours. They don't even use their lockers anyway. They don't even care about their grades. The only time they care is if they are failing. But me, I thrive on academic validation. I've been on the honor roll since kindergarten. That's the only thing my parents congratulated me on, even though they still use it to compare me to my brother.
Even though he had at least one C in every report card in high school, I also need good grades so I can get into a good school and get away from my house. Piper has been my second competition for head of the class, but she doesn't care that much about grades. She just wants to be on her parents' good side and try to get into the same college as me. Now, you might be wondering who my first competition is. Well, that's a story for another day.
"I'm so ready for Christmas break," Piper says. "Same," says Ava and Jada. "Come on, guys, Thanksgiving break just ended." "Hey, ladies," I turn my head to see Jeremiah. Jeremiah is a classic heartthrob with medium skin tone and dreads that everyone loves.
"My parents are out of town, so I'm having a party tonight. Do you guys wanna come?" "I'm in," Jada and Ava both say at the same time. "I'll go too," Piper pitches in. "Can't, I have to study for the physics test." That's a half-truth. I do really have to study, but my parents would never let me go, and I wouldn't be caught dead sneaking out.
"I'm sorry, can't," I say. "It's okay." "So looks like I got 3/4. See you guys later tonight." "OMG, he's so hot," Jada says. "For real," Ava replies, "you guys are only saying that because you like any male person with a pulse." "Not true," Jada says with a roll of her eyes.
All of a sudden, the bell rings, and we all say our goodbyes. Piper and I walk into our math class. We split ways because we have assigned seats far apart from each other since we kept talking. I walk to my seat next to my friend Kayla. She skipped a grade, so she's a year younger than the rest of us. She flashes me a smile, but then our teacher, Mr. Martin, walks in, and we begin taking notes.
When Mr. Martin flips to the next slide that says "quiz," I realize I didn't study at all. Oh my gosh, I'm going to fail. It's just as if Mr. Martin read my mind. He says, "This is not an actual quiz, well, kind of. This is extra credit. If you fail, it's not your fault. It won't be put in the grade book. But if you do well, it will be put in the grade book and count toward your grade to make it better."
After he said that, my nerves cool down, but not completely. I'm still nervous. I snap out of my thoughts with a paper ball thrown at my head. "Ace," I say while turning around to face him. "Hey, Camile." "Can you not call me that?" "Okay, Camile." "You know what? I'm just going to ignore you," I say while turning around.
Ever since he found out my middle name, Camile, and I didn't like it, he started using it against me. My parents named me that because of the ballet Carmen. My teacher then hands me my test. "Thank you." Kayla and I chat up a storm while we wait. "Since this is still a test, we're going to change seats," Mr. Martin starts going down the list. Kai, who's sitting next to Ace, sits next to Piper. Kayla sits next to some random kid I don't know. I start to zone out, then I hear my name. "Talia and Ace." I groan. "Can I please get a different seat?" "Sorry, no can do." "You guys can start changing seats, and by the way, these are going to be our permanent test seats."
I slowly make my way to the seat. Ace isn't that bad; he's your typical class clown heartthrob. I don't really focus on guys because they mostly only want me for my brother. "Why so sad, Camille?" "Because I have to sit next to your ass." "Don't worry; you'll love me." Ace and I have known each other since 8th grade. We've been competing for the highest in our class since then. We live in a medium-sized town, that's why everyone knows each other.
We've been working on the test for a while when the teacher steps out of the room to get water. "Behave," he says before he leaves. "Hey, does anyone know the answer to number 10?" "Ace." "What?" "We're taking a test," some random girl says. "And the teacher left the room to get some water, so let's capitalize on this while we still can." "He's got a point," his friend Kai says. "What about you, Talia? I know you have the answer." "Stop, please. I'm trying to focus," I say. "You'll get rid of me sooner if you give me the answer." "I don't have it." I do; I finished that problem minutes ago. "Liar."
"I'm losing brain cells at the sound of your voice—did you just kick my foot?" "No." "Ace!" "What?" "Stop that!" "Stop what?" "Dude!" "What? I'm telling you, you're imagining things; must be all those brain cells you're losing." "You know wha—"
I say, then the teacher comes back in, perfect timing. As I continue working on my test, I find myself smiling.
---
"So, what's it like sitting next to your bae?" I say to Piper. "He's not my bae; we've just been talking, and I may or may not like him." "Come on, girl, it's obvious you guys both like each other." "I could be saying the same to you," I say. "What are you talking about?"
"You and Ace, obviously." "You know what? I'm glad you're at your stop. Bye, Piper." "Bye, Tal."
-OKAY GN I HAVE TO FINSH MY MISSING WORK
-1/10/2024
