Pectrals Academy - Beginnings Novella

Chapter 7: Friday Fever

Chapter 7: Friday Fever

The next couple of days feel as if they go rather quickly and I wake up Friday morning feeling like too much has come to pass too quickly but having no idea how I would know the feeling. My head feels fuzzy, like I have not slept and my body feels heavy as if I am about to come down with an illness. After my coffee and shower, I braid my hair and get dressed in my pastel pink skinny jeans and a light grey turtle neck singlet. Before walking out the door I check that I have everything packed. I wasn't sure what todays challenge would be but Eric has said to us repeatedly that we should always be prepared for anything. I decided his words might hold a bit of a clue for us so last night I went to the shops and brought some first aid supplies and came home and make up my own kit, which is now sitting at the bottom of my bag along with a spare change of clothes and some runners.

I meet with Raina down in the lobby and we head off to wait out the front of Asha's building the next block over. We have all walked together every day so far and I feel a fast blooming friendship with the both of them. Sometimes we pass boys from our classes and while even Asha seems to be doing okay with the ones from her own class I have made next to no progress with the boys from mine. I have ben civil with all of them and while Rhett, Blake, Forrest and Raiden can all return the gesture Caspian has only gotten worse. The girls were still struggling to comprehend why I have been having so many issues when everything has been going so smoothly for themselves until at lunch yesterday when Caspian came over to our table and accused me of taking his apple. I have now been accused of stealing an apple, there is a first time for everything. Well it turns out that he didn't even think to ask anyone at his own table first because the true apple thief turned out to be Rhett, who unlike Caspian, actually came over to apologise over the whole misunderstanding. At least after being chewed out by all of the other males present in the hidden courtyard, which really is not as hidden as we thought, he didn't even set his gaze on me for the remainder of the day.

When we arrive at the Academy the amount of conversation and excitement is so overwhelming that I can't help but let the atmosphere effect my own mood and even our own conversation turns to the topic of today's challenge. As much as we all are a best friend trio we can all admit to hoping our team is the one to win and that each of us had an idea that we didn't share with each other that we are hoping helps us to accomplish a win. Apparently we are all extremely competitive but despite this I don't feel like any of us would ever step over the friendship line to accomplish our goals.

By the time we manage to get our slow poke selves to the school the bell is ringing and we find ourselves shuffling into our classes. As I enter my classroom I see that Caspian looks up as if to say something but promptly closes his mouth again and looks back down at his desk. Well at least there isn't a snarky comment coming my way first thing this morning but I can't help but feel disappointed that he didn't apologise. I should have known better then to hope and I remind myself of such as I drop into my assigned seat.

The day progresses in the usual fashion until after our second break when an alarm rings throughout the school. We have yet to go over the types of alarms but Eric informs us that it is an alarm warning of an intruder and to stay calm and wait. The lights go out and I can feel adrenalin pumping through my veins causing me to hear my own heartbeat. Is this the challenge? Or are we all really in danger? I hear a scuffle and it feels like eternity before the lights come back on. I let out a gasp, tears gathering in my eyes at the sight before me. Caspian lays on the floor, blood oozing from an abdominal wound beginning to pool around his unconscious body. The other boys are all staring in horrified shock while Rhett begins an attempt at CPR.

I race to my bag to retrieve my first aid kit and race back to Rhett and Caspian. When I bend over to inspect the wound with tears silently falling I begin to realise that this here is our challenge. The wound itself is a fake stick on training wound and I assume the blood to be something else as well. I feel betrayed but Caspian when looks up guilt wells within his eyes and I know that I forgive him for this. The Academy and his other actions on the other hand are really beginning to do a number on my sanity.