It was raining today. At least, it was raining in Brighton at precisely 8:15 this morning as I tugged at the sleeves of my rain coat, trying not to get wet. I'm not sure if it is still raining now but I hope it is, I love the rain. I can't really see anything outside though, considering the classroom blinds are pulled down and the only light comes through the wooden door that leads to a corridor that smells of bleach. Our rest of the class sit attentively with their eyes glued to the projector screen. Celina Stockman lies, resting her head on the palms of her hand which are supported by her strong elbows. Next to her, Beckely James lowers his vision to his phone, lightly glowing beneath the white speckled desks, texting his girlfriend frivolously. Across the room, Ellery cups her hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles as the message pings on her screen:
Beckely & Ellery James 4EVA <3 xxx
Immediately, Ellery lowers her phone beneath the desk and reverts her eyes away from the film, no longer paying attention. The film has been going for almost 40 minutes but every one's eyes seem to devour all they can from the flickering images of David Attenborough, narrating the stories of the penguins. Ellery swipes the message right and hits the reply button on her iPhone:
#beckellry 4 lyf m8 <3 xxx
Is her response as she hits send. It doesn't take long for the reply to come:
Love you to the moon and back sweet pea xxx
And then Ellery's reply:
Love you to the sun and back pea pod xxx
Their compliments were always like this, both were popular and pretty and good at everything, but inside they were both dorks and they knew it. On my right, Sammie elbowed me.
"Oi Bemmy, will you ask Ells if she's still up for Latin revision later?"
"Sure, one sec"
"kk"
I turn to Ellery and tap her lightly on her shoulder. Immediately, her eyes shoot up, wide open and fearing the worst. Her jerkiness catches me by surprise as she bangs her head against mine and we both let out a load groan.
"Quiet girls, don't disrupt the lesson please" bellows Miss Mathews, our biology teacher. We both look down sheepishly and she returns her gaze back to the screen. I prod Ellery again, this time more gently. She switches off her phone, and I can just hear the familiar click of the phone lock, before she turns to face me with a giant smile on her face. I told her that Sammie had asked whether Ellery would be joining her for Latin revision and Ellery replied that she would, before turning back to her phone and replying to Beckely's latest text. I turned back to Sammie.
"Ells says she's still up for Latin later."
"Bril. You joining us Bemmy?"
"Sure, why not. I have to revise for a test"
"omg same. E's and F's. I haven't started yet, I've been so caught up in the Cosmo this morning."
"I wouldn't expect anything less from Samantha1350972"
"Oh shut upp, I was such a weird diva wannabe thenn, it's not my fault my YouTube username can't be changed."
"Or your Snapchat"
"oh shut the bleeping f up Bemmy, I'm still 5 million up"
"Yeah yeah whatever you say. It was never a competition anyway"
