Timber Creek Academy

~8~

Anna and I walked to our first classes, and I asked her about herself.

"Well, I like to act. I'm getting ready for play tryouts right now," she said. "Along with all my homework, it's what's been keeping me busy."

"That's so cool! What play is it?" I asked.

"Annie," she said. "I've done this play before a few summer ago, but I was only a background orphan. It was still really fun though, and I learned a lot."

"Wow, I could never do a play! I'd be too nervous and forget what to do," I laughed.

"Yeah, that happened in my first play, so I had to improve!"

"What role are you trying out for?"

"Well, I'd love to be Annie, or the Star-To-Be."

"Cool."

We reached our classes, and split up. I sat down in my usual seat, and waited for class to begin.

For the next 55 minutes, we talked about the use of suspense in The Most Dangerous Game. Not as fascinating as it may sound.

I sped off to sewing class, and felt uncomfortable as Beth sat behind me, "accidentally" kicking my chair once in a while.

As we learned the basics of working a sewing machine, I listened as I sketched out an idea for a saddle pad. I wanted to put a thicker, memory foam area where the saddle goes, so you wouldn't have to always use a half pad. The rest of it would be a normal saddle pad.

I could feel Beth's eyes looking at my paper, so I tried to hide it. "Don't try to hide it if I've already seen it," she whispered behind me. I turned around.

"Why do you care about what I do?" I said.

She scoffed. "Please-I don't. But what's the point of trying to hide it from me when I already have seen it? Besides, it's not a terrible idea. The saddle pad," she said. Wow, I can't believe she actually said something nice to me. Gotta mark the date and time.

"Thanks," I said, but nothing else. I wanted to take it and go!

The bell rang, and I stuffed my papers in my folder, shoved it in my bag, then went on to civics. Yay.

***

At lunch, I stuffed fries in my face as Hailey and Carly sat down by me.

"Hungry I'm guessing?" Carly said, and I just nodded. She laughed.

"Me too," Hailey said as she popped a chicken nugget in her mouth.

I took a sip of Sprite to wash it all down, then continued on to the rest of my lunch.

"You excited for practice today?" Carly asked me.

"Yesss!! But I'm sorta nervous too," I admitted.

"Why? You're a great rider!" Carly said.

"Yeah, you got this," Hailey said.

"Besides, Brooke will be there too. At least you're not the only new one," Carly added.

I nodded. "True, that makes me feel better. Thanks."

After lunch, I went to study hall with the Clique.

I sat down and worked on civics vocabulary.  I heard 3 girls giggling, then a tap on my shoulder.  Reluctantly, I turned around.

"Hey Sabrina!" Rachel said in a fake cheery tone.

"Hey," I said with a thousand times less enthusiasm.

"Aw, why the mean attitude? Still mad about Delicious?" Ally said, and stuck her lip out.