Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 3

They were assigned their schedules and classes. Emily, Bane and Isabelle shared several classes, as did Isabelle and Andie.

"Aww, nuts, we don't have a single class all together!" Jessica groaned.

"We didn't before, remember?" Andie smiled. "Don't worry, we still have lunch together."

"True, and look, we all have study period at the same time," Isabelle added.

They were sitting around their lunch table, comparing schedules and teachers.

"Ugh, we're stuck with Cheese breath again!" Jessica grumbled.

"Oh, come on," Andie smiled. "Mrs Jones isn't that bad!"

Mrs Jones was a French teacher, who was known for her breath, which almost always smelled of some sort of strong cheese, preferably Camembert.

"No, but she constantly smells of French cheese! It stinks!" Jessica exclaimed in outrage.

The others laughed heartily.

"But I wish we had at least one class together..." Andie sighed, looking at Bane.

He smiled.

"It's probably better that way," he reasoned. "You'd be too much of a distraction. I wouldn't be able to look anywhere but at you."

Andie grinned.

"You're such a flirt," she teased and kissed him.

"Careful guys, or you'll suffer the wrath of Vicki," Jessica said jokingly.

Looking around, Andie recognized the Queen Bee sitting with Chad, her boyfriend. She was glaring at them coldly. Andie briefly wondered if she hadn't gone out with Chad in the hopes of making Bane jealous... Or it might have been because she didn't want to be single too long.

Either way, Andie was not about to let her get between them.

"Well, she has her own," she shrugged, exaggerating it slightly so Vicki would see it. "I'm keeping this one."

They turned away from Vicki.

"So, Isabelle, have you met any cute guys, yet?"

"Jess..." Isabelle sighed.

"What? You're the only one of us who's still single..."

"What if I like it that way?" Isabelle demanded.

Andie could tell Isabelle was bristling. Jessica had made comments on her being the only one single before. Not in a mean way, but not always very subtly, either. She was about to try and steer the conversation on another topic, but Jessica, who hadn't noticed Isabelle's shift in mood, said:

"How can one like being single?"

"Jess!" Andie interjected, but it was too late.

"One who's tired of listening to comments from you," Isabelle snapped.

She got to her feet, took her tray away and marched off angrily. Andie sighed and turned to Jessica, who stared blankly after Isabelle.

"You really have to work on thinking before you speak, Jess..." Andie said.

"What did I do this time?"

"You badgered Isabelle about finding a boyfriend all summer long!" Emily explained. "If she wants one, she's perfectly capable of finding someone by herself."

"I just think it would be nice..."

"Yeah, you think so." Bane agreed. "But you tend to forget that we all have minds of our own and can make our own decisions."