"Here it is, folks. The lucky school." He opened it slowly. With a terrible grin, he read, "Marrisville Jr. Sr. High School located in Iowa."
"No!" students screamed. They all jumped to their feet. Others broke down in tears. The reactions were...
"I didn't think she'd actually let me do it. She was furious with me the other day," I explain to my most trustworthy friend these days, Nora.
"What the hell happened?" she asked as I closed my locker.
I watched Olivia from across the hall as she chatted with Toby at her locker. Taylor joined them and together, they walked to fifth period. "I don't know."
"Well, one more period and you get to work with her. Maybe you'll find out then."
The warning bell rang, telling us that we needed to get to class. Nora and I made our way to class which just so happened to be the same class as Olivia and Taylor: gym class.
We entered the gym and made our way to the locker room, talking about the test we just took over the Revolutionary War. Nora told me that Mr. Kelsall said that test would be the final test so we can concentrate on the Challenge, but he would continue classes. We were dressed and walked out into the gym. I found the girls' gym teacher, Mrs. Howell, and went to go talk to her, but I saw Olivia and Taylor approach her and decided against it. They finished their talk and we began class.
"Alright, listen up!" she yelled. That grabbed the attention of us girls and the boys who were on the other side of the gym lacking their teacher, Mr. West. "Coach West is gone today as he had a funeral to attend."
"Who died?" I asked.
"My soul," a boy called out. Everyone snickered. I looked to see who it was, but all I could focus on was Olivia rolling her eyes; she was not up for those games. The smile on my face faded.
"Not funny," Mrs. Howell scolded. "I want you guys to jog three laps then line up. We're playing capture the flag."
Cheers erupted as the class began taking their laps. I ran with Nora and another girl. We finished and lined up. I watched as the students put themselves in a certain order, knowing how Mrs. Howell would divide us, and tried to get on the same team.
She split us up just as we expected and just as I expected, Nora and I were together. I looked at my other teammates. Clayton, Brian, Mark...all athletes. We were the red team and we were going to demolish this game.
Olivia was on the white team and Taylor was the blue team. They gave each other glares. They meant business. I got close enough to hear what they were saying.
"The white team doesn't stand a chance," Taylor declared confidently.
"Please, I've got enough capture the flag experience to know that you're going down," Olivia shot back.
"What experience could you have? You're fourteen!"
"And my sister's seventeen. I've been to a lot of band parties."
"Touché."
Mrs. Howell distributed the flags and explained the rules:
"There are four teams. The goal is to capture one of each of the other teams' flags. You get tagged by another team, you go to their prison. Only way to get out is if someone tags you free. The only way to be tagged is if you are in another teams' territory. Capture one of each teams' flag and you win. Got it?"
The other students nodded in agreement and went to their corners of the gym to create a plan.
"Alright, here's what I'm thinking," Clayton said. "We have Brian, Maria, and Mark each go for one of the other three flags. Then we get Nora, Cale, and I to be distractions. We'll go in acting like we're going for the flag, while the others sneak in for them. The rest are defense. Reasonable plan?" The others nodded. "Great. Red team, let's fight!"
Some of the boys made warrior calls while the girls just cheered.
"I got green team," Mark called.
"Dibs on blue," Brian said.
"I'll gladly take white." I grin and look over. I see Olivia talking with some of the quieter girls. Her team doesn't look the best. Most of the troublemakers and quiet and lonely kids that I rarely talk to. Looks like she's got the shy ones on defense. Not the best idea. I'll be in and out of there with a flag in no time. I watched as she gave them a thumbs-ups, asking for their understanding. They nodded and she walked to the next group.
I watched as she spoke to the troublemakers, each of them giddy with excitement. Olivia spoke to them then looked around at each team. They were the only team still discussing. The others had got a plan and were ready. She examined each group, looking at each member with stern eyes. I was right; she really did mean business.
I caught her eye as she looked at the red team. I gave her a playful glare. She returned it with a smirk. She turned to the troublemakers again and finished her statement. I caught one word from her mouth: distraction.
"Really, Olivia?" I muttered. "You're putting them as your distraction? Not your best bet." I walked over to Brian and Mark. "Guys, watch those kids that Olivia's talking to. They're the supposed distraction. Make sure you don't let them get past you."
"Got it." Mark nodded. Brian nodded. I watched Olivia move onto the lonely kids. She spoke to them quickly, leaving me unable to catch what she was saying. They nodded, understanding whatever it was she said.
I watched as she gave Mrs. Howell a thumbs up, saying she was ready. Mrs. Howell blew the whistle and the games began.
I'm really excited for this chapter because it leads into the next chapter which will be even more fulfilling than this one. This was was pretty much just a filler. Be prepared for something better in the next chapter.
If you enjoyed the chapter, give it a vote and comment what you liked!
GUYS. MY OLDER SISTER GRATUADTED. I'M SO FREAKING PROUD. SHE'S HOPING TO BE AN UPPER ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND I'M JUST LIKE YAS GIRL YAS TEACH THEM KIDS.
Annual question of the chapter:
"What's your favorite game to play with your friends?"
Mine's Sardines. It's where one person goes to hide and the others have to go find them. Once you find the person hiding, you hide with them and let them pile up(like a can of sardines!) I play it with my friends all the time and it's best to play at night! I love it!
Welp, that's all for now! Bye-bye, my flag capturing friends!
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