Greengate Academy

Chapter 9

I yawned. It was Friday afternoon, and I was in my last class of the day. I looked across the room at Connor and we locked glares. The entire week he hasn't let me forget how he was top rider. He knows my competitive edges are my weakness, and that's where he goes.

And to make matter worse?

We're in the same riding lesson. Yeah, that's right. It's us and Elaine. So there's even more opportunities for him to remind me just how much better everyone is than me at everything here. I somehow had the patience to bear it.

Finally, the bell rang. Everyone started to pack their bags when the teacher held up her hand.

"I dismiss you, not the bell!" She reminded us.

We ended up being kept for a minute after the bell. It was complete chaos once we were finally released as everyone tried to squeeze out of the door at once.

I waited my turn, being one of the last people to leave the classroom.

I exited the class building and took a breath of the fresh air. I had to get to my lesson, but I could take a couple seconds to myself.

"Collins! Nice job on the quiz! Were u going for a C+?" I heard a voice call behind me.

I guess I wasn't going to get any seconds.

I gritted my teeth and kept walking, but Connor persisted.

Okay, so I didn't do too good on the first quiz of the year.

"Jeez, I almost feel bad for you, getting all those red marks." He kept pushing.

"How do you know what I got?" I asked.

"I saw it when the teacher gave me it. Hope you give a better performance in today's lesson? Might be hard!"

I stopped in my tracks, squeezing my eyes shut but still standing up straight. "Connor, I swear, you need to stop right now or else."

"Or else what? You're gonna send your big, tough brother after me like most people?"

At the mention of "brother" something inside me snapped.

"Just stop!" I screamed. Other people around us turned to look.

"...Claire?" Connor's voice softened, and I realized for the first time in a while he called me by my first name. I felt a hand gently being placed on my shoulder, but I spun around.

"Get away from me!" I yelled at Connor, making him back up. "All you've done is push me and push me since I've got here, and now you've gone too far!"

His eyes darted around my face. "What did I say?" He asked. I glared at him.

"If you really forgot what you said then there really is something wrong with you!"

"Claire, just calm down, please," He attempted to step towards me.

"Get away from me!" I pushed his chest to get him further away. He stumbled back and fell onto the grass. I was almost amazed with my strength.

"Oof. What was that for?" He was starting to yell. "Listen, I'm sorry if I hit a nerve, but I don't know how I did it or what I said. I didn't say anything wrong!"

"But you did, okay? Maybe there's more beneath the surface of some people...Maybe people have stories and you shouldn't keep pushing and pushing them, until they push back!"

"So that gives you an excuse to push me down?" By now a crowd had formed, and that had apparently attracted a couple teachers.

"What happened here?" One of the English teachers asked. I quickly turned and Connor stared behind me at them.