The Antics of 8A

Part 9 - Flying

Wrote this to the lovely tune of Melbourne Sound. Can I get a hell yeah?

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"Who's gonna jump first?" Johanna asked to no one in particular.

The whole class had huddled around the edge of the cliff to where they were meant to willingly leap of edge in a couple of minutes. They were all trapped up in many sets of heavy harnesses, preparing themselves for the daring jump. Bright red helmets sat comfortably on their heads, shielding the blinding sun rays from their eyes. William peered over the edge gingerly, quick to shuffle back to the group after witnessing the steep plunge below them.

"I'm honestly kinda feeling a bit dizzy looking down," Ngoc Han remarked. "It's a big drop."

"I just want you guys to know that I love you all very much," Angus began.

Molly snorted. "Ha, gay."

"Gay is ok," Lucette retorted.

"Seriously guys, who is gonna go, 'cause it's definitely not gonna be me," Joel says, throwing his hands up in a surrendering gesture.

"I volunteer as tribute," Georgia stuck her hand in the air. "Someone has to go with me."

Everyone looked around, still avoiding on the concept of going first. It was probably the scariest thing any of them had done.

"Oh, come on! Man up," Georgia contested and turned off in the direction of Frank you was adjusting something on one the many gliders that we're currently lined up on the edge of the high-standing scar.

Georgia got hooked up to one of the large kites with a female professional hang glider (named Billy) while the rest voted on who should go out next and join Georgia out in the sky of Rio. There were no present clouds which made the sun very predominant, with a wind dragging through the air.

Once Georgia was finally suited up, she called 8A over for she was immobile, the hang glider now strapped securely to her and Billy. She wore a massive grin that held a slightly nervous curve. "This is actually so scary. My tummy has so many butterflies right now. It feels a little bit like I'm gonna throw up."

"Noice," Dimitri said.

Rachel rolled her eyes at Dimitri's immature comment and then looked at her friend that was now ready to fly off the cliff. "Kill 'em," she said reassuringly with a little punch of her fist. "Do all Asians proud."

They all watched her as Billy gently nudged her to the side. "You'll be fine, ok? Just tell me if you need to go back in, otherwise, if all goes well, we'll be out there for at least an hour."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Doesn't what?"

"Go well," Georgia queried eagerly, looking over her shoulder at Billy.

"Just wish on your lucky stars," she smiled. "Ok, you ready?"

"Yep."

"Any last words?"

Georgia turned to take in the sight of her twenty five friends patiently waiting on the side lines. "BRB. Oh and also, can you take some photos?"

Lucette pulled her phone from her jeans pocket, setting it up so that the camera lens was facing Georgia. "Got it."

At that, Billy carefully pushed her forward, counted down for three and then they lept off the ledge.

"GERONIMO!"

All of the classes eyes followed the hang glider as it dove down out of view. "Oh, shit," Benson muttered.

They all moved hastily to where they had last seen Georgia. The slouched over to see where the pair had disappeared to when they suddenly soared up into the air, Georgia screaming loudly with joy.

"Oh my God! This is bloody incredible," she shouted, her arms spread widely out at her sides. "Why aren't you already out here? Can I get a hooi-ya!"

"HOOI-YA," a few yelled in return, but Stefan and Finn had already sprinted out to the next kites, closely followed by Sienna and Hannah.

They were soon saddled up, each having their own hang glider professional. Not soon after, Sienna and Molly had lined up beside each other at the same side the Georgia had made the Leap of Faith. They twisted their heads to look at each other's faces, huge grins plastered on their complexions. Sienna was jumping up and down slightly while Molly was laughing with utter excitement.

"We can jump together, yeah?" Sienna asked, clapping her hands.

"Shit, I'm kinda scared. Uh-"

"Molly, it's no time for being scared. We are doing this for the rest of the crew," Sienna said in a manly inspirational voice. [Sorry that was weird]. This made Molly laugh, squeezing her eyes shut.

"You ready to go, lady's?" Said the women (Brenda) that was attached to Molly, looking at the two of them expectantly. They giggled and then nodded at Brenda in unison, facing the view that would they would soon be leaping out into. "Ok," Brenda acknowledged, then she and the other woman partnered with Sienna repeated the process Georgia had just experienced.

"Smile at the camera," Molly gestured towards the phone Lucette was holding up in front of her face.

"This ones for Adrian, guys, do it for Adrian!" Lucette yelled at them happily, referring to Sienna's dad.

After Lucette took their picture, Sienna and Molly collectively stepped off the cliff. Molly let out a excited yelp as the she and Brenda plummeted down to the ground below. The kite, suddenly, caught the wind which pulled them upwards in the direction of the rest of the group watching from the platform. Sienna hadn't so much plummeted as she floated gracefully out into the air, spreading her arms wide as she soared and broke the wind.

"This is the best thing. I feel like I way nothing," Sienna told Georgia when she spotted her flying around in circles above her, like a seagull circling the ocean.

"I know right, this has got to be the smartest thing 8A has done in a long time."

Molly slowly ascended towards the pair, laughing loudly. "Look at the people down there! And look! There's the beach! The water is sooo pretty."

Soon after, the whole class gradually flew out to join the trio, admiring the picture-perfect scenery below them. Frank glided out silently, and then called on the group to follow him. He guided us over the city and busy streets of Rio de Janeiro which were crowded with people riding motor bikes and pedestrians strolling along the side walks, chatting intently with one another. The students drunk up the view of the vibrant beaches, their waves crashing across the shores that were also bustling with people, some taking a jog while others thrashing and swimming around in translucent water.

"And that," Frank hollered over his shoulder at the class, interrupting their thoughts, "is what we came here to see."

At that, each and every one of their eyes followed Frank's pointing hand and saw what he was gesturing to. The Christ the Redeemer statue. It stood proud and tall on the Corcovado Mountain, His arms extended wide out to the sides and His head looking down at the buildings and people as though He was watching their every move closely.

"Wooow," Anne spoke first. "It's enormous."

Claire laughed at Anne's observation quietly.

"I've seen this statue on Trivago so many times. On Instagram, too. It's larger than expected," Anne continued.

They all began to marvel over the famous landmark. Frank lead them in a tight circle around Christ the Redeemer where they were able to get a closer look. Some of the boys who were (unsurprisingly) already bored of it were waving frantically at tourists down at the base of the statue, yelling greetings of "hello's" and "how are you's".

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sorry guys, this took so long and it's so bad omg.
ok who do you think should be the main focus of the next chapter? I need help :)

see you tomorrow hoped you enjoyed this anyways pfft lol #suckedalot