„You little piece of shit!", Emery Hart shouted, struggling to keep her head above the chlorine infested pool water. Her brown hair was sticking to her face and her eyes were sparkling with rage.
In hindsight, Ashley probably shouldn't have shoved her. She could get in trouble for this, the principal seemed to hate her guts for some reason. Of course, Ashley couldn't care less. Her mom did though. „Ashley Camila Greene, if you get expelled one more time, I swear to God I'll-" Ashley grimaced, remembering all the horrifying threats that spilled out of her mothers mouth. She knew her mother wouldn't go through with any of them, but damn, that woman was creative.
„Oh sorry, did I ruin your hair? I didn't realise you attempted to style it today.", Ashley cringed after saying that. It did sound better in her head.
„That's not even a good comeback!"
„Well, at least I have one."
„What i-"
„What's taking you so long? Mr. Hayes is getting impatient. Oh hey Em, whatcha doing in the pool?"
Cole had popped his head round the door of the schools swimming shed and, when he realised that none of the girls had the noodles they were sent out to get, strutted in to grab half a dozen of them. The two girls only gaped at him as he headed back to the door.
„Whatever, just hurry up you guys." And with that, the boy skipped away.
Emery heaved herself out of the pool, cursing Ashley for getting her clothes wet. „Great, now I'm wet."
„Miss Hart, this is highly inappropriate!", Ashley gasped dramatically.
The wet girl only rolled her eyes, not even bothering to reply. She stood up and stalked to the door, bumping her shoulders roughly with Ashley's. „Utinam conuirati te in foro interficiant." She muttered the Latin phrase they'd learned in class the other day while she passed her.
Ashley snorted and hurried behind the angry girl, remembering that they're supposedly to be training for the upcoming maths competition.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
„What were you thinking?! It's practically freezing outside!", their red-faced teacher shouted. He sighed and shook his head. „Are you trying to send me into cardiac arrest or something?" Another sigh. „Just...go get some dry clothes so you don't catch a cold. Look, I know you two have your...struggles, but if you don't stop this madness I fear I'll have to kick you off the team. Got it?"
"Yes Mr. Hayes", the girls muttered reluctantly. Emery started towards the door when their teacher spoke up again:
"Which is why you will work together to create some sort of simulation or presentation that shows the tarski paradox in a way that even a 5th grader could understand it."
"The what now?", Emery asked.
"With her?" Ashley sneered.
"Somebody will get hurt." Harper chimed in.
The mathletes murmured in agreement.
"Enough. You have 3 months. Now go change your clothes, Emery.", the teacher shook his head and adjusted his glasses. Ashley thought she heard him mutter "what am I even doing with my life?" under his breath.
Emery huffed and hurried to the spare closet they have at their school. It had been arranged 1 year ago, right after the incident. The teachers realised that having 674 teenagers in one building would inevitably lead to, at least, ruined clothes. The incident was also the reason why Ashley and Emery didn't have any classes together and were barely allowed into the same mathlete-club.
Ashley dropped herself into the chair next to the other mathletes. Harper, Nora, Ethan and Cole were okay enough people. They didn't get on her nerves as much as most of the students body, but she didn't consider them her friends. Her psychologist, Dr. Lane, said that she should at least try to spend time with them outside of anything maths related, but honestly, why bother?
Ethan was explaining to Cole why he can't measure the noodle with a banana and Harper was laughing at the two boys. Nora had stolen said banana and was currently munching on it while watching the situation unfold. Mr. Hayes was too busy banging his head on the table to stop them. How are those idiots even here? Ashley thought. She grabbed the noodle and started measuring it herself.
"3.068"
The group stopped and turned around. "The volume?", Cole asked.
Ashley rolled her eyes. "No, your d-"
"Okayyy thank you Ashley.", Ethan chimed in.
"Are you sure?", Nora asked.
"Nope."
Everyone shrugged and noted the number down. Emery came back wearing an ugly Christmas sweater and blue joggers. She looked downright pissed. Mr. H glanced up and, with a defeated expression, announced:
„I'm ending today's practice early. Go home, get help, whatever. I'll see you next Friday."
The mathletes cheered and quickly scrambled out. Emery stopped Ashley on her way out.
"Give me your phone."
Ashley raised her brow and started to say something, but then remembered the project they had together. She reluctantly reached into her pocket and handed the girl her phone.
"Cool, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Wha-"
"Bye, scum"
And with that, Emery was out the door, leaving Ashley frowning after the girl. She shook her head and strutted to the motorcycle Dr. Lane specifically told her not to ride. Yet she couldn't help but seek the adrenaline rush and vague sense of euphoria that came with it.
"Mom, I'm home.", she called out when she arrived at the small but comfortable house she lived in with her mother.
Her mom didn't answer, which meant she was either out with friends or working in the garden again. Since her dad left and Alex died, the garden seemed to be the only place where her mother could fully relax. It payed off. There was always something that could be sold or gifted, which is how Evelyn quickly became popular in town.
Ashley went into her room and collapsed on her bed. Half of her just wanted to stay there and stare at the grey ceiling, contemplating life and pitying her sorry ass. The other half quickly got bored, which led her to get back up and go to her most prized possession -the piano she got on her fifth birthday. As soon as her fingers touched the keys she felt everything disappear around her. It was only her, the piano and the music she played. Well, until her phone dinged.
I found ur IQ points in a dumpster
What's ur address?
Ashley rolled her eyes. Of course that girl would find a way to insult her through her own phone. She quickly changed it before replying.
You
221 B Baker Street
Soggy turd
Haha, very funny.
Ashley sent her the address and turned off her phone. Those were going to be a long, painful three months.
YOU ARE READING
Inconvenient Things
Teen FictionAshley was pretty sure that shoving her fellow mathlete Emery Hart into the pool wasn't what her Psychologist had in mind when she told her to try and "make some friends" She was also pretty sure that butterflies wasn't what she's supposed to feel w...
