Another Broken Smile

39- Exam Fever

I am panicking as I try to read through the unexplainable laws of everything stupid in the world right before my physics exam. I mean, what was I thinking when I chose this subject? I don't even want to do something in the science stream, why the hell did I chose years of torture trying to study laws of things that don't even matter? I mean, why do you need to know the complex freaking ways that sound travels in? I mean, just be satisfied with what you can hear. God dammit! Stupid subject... and especially don't get me started on those mirrors and lenses. Who needs to know where the fuck the image is formed? The negative in mirrors means real image but the negative in lenses means virtual image, are you kidding me? That sounds like a load of bullshit.

"Hello" Adeline greets as she drops her bag in the chair opposite to mine and doesn't even look up from rereading her notes. We are earlier than usual to come and revise before our exam starts. The study hall is practically deserted. I just spotted a boy sitting at the back bench with his headphones plugged in and a girl busy on her phone when I walked in and they seem to be the sole occupants of this study room besides us.

"Hey!" I greet her. "So how prepared are you for this exam?" I ask Adeline.

She gives me an easygoing smile before replying, "Honestly it's Chemistry and our teacher is amazing, so I feel like I know things pretty well."

"That's nice" I comment before launching into my own rant, "It's not the same for me. I despise physics and I am basically questioning my sanity because I chose this subject."

"Show me it, I'll help you" Adeline offers and soon she is telling me about all these weird shortcuts she used to learn different formulae.

"And this is one trick that Willow taught me," she says and proceeds to show me a trick to recognize the type of eye defect and how to go about calculating the power of the lens, but I am already distracted. Willow seems to overshadow everything in my life. I mean I don't even know when they met up to study physics together. I know I might sound like a huge possessive bitch but there are some things that you always think only you can do with your best friend. I mean, we never call anyone else for doubts that we have in school, so why now? And why Willow?

"And you studied physics with Willow" I tell her observantly while interrupting her mid-way as she is explaining me a sum. She looks up confused by my question before shrugging and replying, "Yeah, we did some time back."

"And what else, did you call her for a sleepover already and tell all your secrets and maybe you know braided each other's hair" I tell her bitterly.

"Umm... Ellie" she fumbles with her words surprised at the bitter tone in my voice. I just give her a questioning glance asking her to continue. She does after a while, "we just met up for some study sessions some time back. I mean I have four out of five classes with her."

"And obviously you couldn't call me over too. I mean obviously she is more important right? She is new and you need to help her, it just seems fair, doesn't it?" I ask her in a sarcastic tone and she just stares at me disbelievingly. I have three subjects that are common with Adeline and even if we do have different classes, the portions are the same.

"Ellie... it's not like that. Why do you have to bring Willow into this?" she asks me tugging her hand in her brown locks in frustration.

"You are the one that hangs out with her. Why don't you tell me why you bring her between us?" I ask her, turning the tables on her.

"You are just being ridiculous" she tells me pissed with her voice slightly high. She gets up from her place when I call her out, "How am I being ridiculous?" I question her.