Castle High

22. Battre En Retrait - I

“You know as much as I keep thinking about it – i just for the life of me, can’t believe that the semester is over.”

Ariel expressed her immense surprise to the group of girls in the class-room. They all formed one big circle in the center of the room, which was totally void of male occupants. The A3 were on one side of the circle, while Shelby, Emily and Nicole were on the other. Roxanne sat just in between both curves.

“It still felt like yesterday you know.” Roxanne sighed happily, fiddling with her fingers. “The ish with the Jungle Camp and all, Alex’s party, the examinations. Everything proceeded in warp speed. It’s just like they say, every year keeps on getting faster than the previous.”

Alice smirked, sitting up. “Or we’re all getting old and our duties and work is increasing making time seem shorter. Anyway, the exams were really pleasant – this semester. It was like the school was taking it easy on us – due to everything we’ve had to deal with so far.”

“Oh, please – we haven’t dealt with much.” Alex snorted, disagreeing with Alice’s point. “Just the Jungle Camp disaster, just that. And y’all keep bringing up the fact that ‘we’ve dealt with a lot’ like we were invaded by dinosaurs later on.”

“You can’t just let a comment slide, can you?” Shelby shook her head in dismay. “Anyway, Alex is right. Besides, if they take it easy on us this semester, then when is going to get hard? Next term? That’s when all the championships kick-off. A lot of folk won’t have time for classes, anymore.”

“I don’t know, the exam just felt really simple.” Camille chipped in, dangling her legs forward in glee. “It was one of those examinations, you know you dismantled absolutely but yet you know your preparation isn’t deserving of such performance. But still, that won’t stop you from hoarding all the credit when it comes though.”

Emily tittered mischievously. “Yeah, sure like any exam is ever difficult for you – Camille. This exam to me, is one of those exams – where I get placed with those braniacs, who at the end of the exam – cry about how difficult the exam is and I express my sympathy by pouring out how poorly I performed also. Only to find out that, said person passed exceedingly well and I – you know, the usual.”

The whole group erupted in laughter.

“Spot on, Emily.” Nicole agreed. “I’m telling you – it’s like the supreme forces have a feud with me when exam week comes around. I keep ending up in the same hall with Marc. And boy, you should listen to this dude rant about how difficult every exam is – you’d be so convinced he is going to fail woefully. The new students – the 9th graders would have thought he was such a dunce – that’s if they understood quarter of what he was saying, of course.”

Ariel sat up. “I think Bee is the only person with high grades, who complains about difficult exams and eventually turn out to have average results. But if it’s Camille, or Marc – then nah ‘I ain’t drinking none of that shit.’”

“Shelby could actually come out tops this year, you know.” Emily pointed out, glaring admiringly at her best-friend. “Her subject combination has less complex subjects than that of Camille’s and Marc. The principal would be so proud – calling her out on the assembly if that were so.”

“Nah, it ain’t happening.” Alex scoffed, shaking her head. “Even if that were so, that wouldn’t make – Shelby the best. It would make her the luckiest, and I’m very sure Marc wouldn’t fail to point that flaw out to the administration if that happens. She’d be announced as the luckiest student – is what I mean.”

“Gee, Alex.” Shelby growled in annoyance. “Couldn’t you be a bit flexible on your opinions and be a little supportive of a friend of yours. You just keep on pointing out the loop-holes in every single suggestion. A girl can’t even dream, no more. Give your praise and encourage at least, it’d go a long way.”