A Million Trillion Billion (What's Eating Gilbert Grape Fanfic) *ORIGINAL*

Chapter 10 - The Third Word

I wake up with a headache. I look outside the window and see it's not even light yet. I roll my eyes with a groan and stumble out of bed.
Part of me wishes the semester didn't start for another year. But I'm also excited to go back.

Becky and I make our way up the path to the gates of Belroud. "Ah, here we are again." Becky says, adjusting her bag. "Yep. What do you have first?" I ask her, just like we did on the first day of last semester. "Art History." She says with an eye roll. I laugh. "Grammatical Language Lecture." I read out. "Ha! See you at lunch!" Becky laughs, I nod and we head our separate ways.

In the lecture theatre, I feel like there are multiple people staring at me. What is this, high school? Do I have a bug on my face? Surely I cannot be that intriguing. "Janie Parker." The professor calls. Shit. "Yes Mr. Heath?" I blush, feeling nervous. "Can you tell me what the third word is?" He asks, obviously picking up on the fact that I wasn't paying attention. "Could you please repeat the phrase?" I ask, dramatically cringing on the inside. I get shy answering the bloody phone, how am I not supposed to freak out right now?!
"There are three words in the English language that end in "gry". One is angry and the other is hungry. Everyone knows what the third one means and what it stands for. Everyone uses them everyday, and if you listened very carefully, I've given you the third word. So what is it?" He explains. I think silently for a moment. "Well, it's simple. You asked me what the third word is. But you also said that there are three words in the English language that end in 'gry'. That is not true, so therefore you have not asked me that, but you instead have asked me what the third word in the sentence was which is in fact, 'three'." I spit out really quickly. "You are correct." Mr. Heath smiles, and nods.

"Janie?" Mr. Heath calls my name just as I'm leaving. "Yes professor?" I ask, intrigued to know what he's going to say. "I've been watching your workings, and I must say I'm very impressed." He says. "Thank you very much." I say, grinning. "I'd like to offer you a challenge." He proceeds. "I'd like you to write a non-fictional novel, about whatever you'd like. It has to be at least 70,000 words." Oh my god. This is insane. "W-wow, um, yes I'll do it." I nod furiously. "Excellent." He smiles. "I knew you'd be keen. It means that you don't have to finish most of your exams, if you complete it by the end of the school year. I know you can do it, but it will be tough." He instructs. "I'll try my best professor." I say. "I know you will. Now, good luck Janie." He smiles, with a dismissive nod. "Thank you!" I say on my way out.

At lunch, I sit at one of the cafeteria tables, stabbing my crappy sandwich with a plastic fork. My elbow rests on the hard wooden table and my cheek rests on my palm, my head in the sky. What the bloody hell am I going to write about?
I could write about global warming? No, to boring and predictable. Ooh, maybe the 9/11 conspiracy? Hmm, too controversial.
Maybe I could write abo-
"Hey there." Becky slides into the seat opposite me, interrupting my ever so fascinating thoughts. "What's on your mind?" She asks, with a mouthful of spaghetti. I snort. "I don't know, wanna look at my feelings diary? Dr. Becky?" I say, cracking up at her 'mid-chew-confused' expression.
I explain to her about the offer from Mr. Heath. Then I get to thinking.. Becky's an art major, and I'll definitely need someone to design the cover...
I tell her this and she jumps with excitement. "Really?! You'd really let me design it?" She exclaims. "Yeah! You work your artistic magic on it, and it'll look incredible." I nod, taking a bite out of my impaled sandwich. "Oh thank you Janie!!" She says. "This is just what I need for my big yearly assignment!" She tells me. "Well, looks like it worked out well then!" I say, grinning. "Janie?" I turn around to see Leon standing, holding a tray, eyebrows raised. I slide over with a gentle smile. "I'm sorry..." He mutters. "Well, there's one way you could make it up to me." I say to him, grinning. "Which is..?" He frowns. "You could come over for dinner." I chuckle. He smiles. "I'd love to."