RED

JEN 

Waking up at 2 AM to study is not, in any way, fun. But somehow, Maya just goes berserk if she doesn't at least read a whole book at this hour. Though, I must admit, we really need the extra study session. We are in our finals week,as of the moment. And then off to our semester vacation! 

You know, minus the three month "break"(aka the time where we R-E-D the entire planet). After that, another month of "rest"(for people like me, that is aka the almighty remedial classes, but for people like Maya, it is, in fact, a break.) 

"Come on, guys. Work with me here." Maya groans, running a hand over her side-swept bangs over the top of her head. Her hand stays there then she points something with her pencil. She looks at both of us, probably expecting us to identify what crap she was pointing at. She sighs and begins flipping pages again, hoping to find something that we can answer. After a couple of minutes, she closes the book and grabs the translator from the table. She sits down between Ben and I, probably to stop us both from eating every snack laid out on the space behind us and to catch our attention. Then she says with perfect diction and pronounciation, "Nous avons besoin de cette merde fait d'ici demain." to the translator. She pushes the English button and holds pause.  

She looks at both of us, first at Ben, then at me.

"Care to translate what I just said?" 

Ben immediately replies with, "What's the use of the translator then?". He taps the top of wittle Maya's head. I hunch forward, my elbow resting on my knee and I give him a look that clearly says, Ooh, wrong move, brother.  

"Oh you know," she lifts a shoulder,"Just something to keep hold of." She smiles sarcastically and stands, facing us, her hands on her hips. She releases her hold on the pause button and the sentence plays in a robotic English woman's voice, "We need to get this shit done by tomorrow." Then Maya tosses the translator at the bed, her hands returning to her hips.  

"If you guys don't put a single drop of effort in this-" 

"We'll never be able to go to the R-E-D the world." My brother and I simultaneously interupt. 

"Yes, Maya. We know." Ben says. "Why do you think we're here studying-" 

"More like sitting." She butts in, but Ben continues anyway, "- our asses off with you?" I snicker a bit at the irony of their statements. They both look at me and immediately pull a straight face on. 

"As we all know, my dearest brother and I would prefer to be sleeping at this hour." I say. I glance at my watch. "Heck, we really should be sleeping at this hour."  

She uncrossed her arms and turns her back to us. For a whole solid minute, she just stayed there. I shot a glance at my brother, whom, I think, is as confused as I am. Then Maya turns to face us again, leaning down to us, her hands placed on her knee caps. Saying the words no one in the entire galaxy would expect Maya Patterson to say, 

"Okay look. This is hopeless. It's inevitably impossible to get you guys to learn the basics of the languanges we will essentially need for the tour at this hour. Cramming won't be an option, too, as we only have three hours remaining." She pauses, takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Then she motions us with her finger to come closer. My brother and I follow. She opens her eyes and looks at both of us.  

"You have my permission to copy the answers from me."  

We blink. Did she really just say that? Did Maya, our Maya, just really say she'd let us...cheat? 

"So.....you're going to let us.. cheat. From you." Ben intrudes. Maya furrows her eyebrows. As if she was still taking it under consideration. But to be honest, cheating is our only refuge at this point. I elbow my brother hard. "Deal." I say, before Maya changes her mind.  

She exhales and sits on the space between my brother and I again. "One condition, though." She says. "Yeah?" Ben asks.  

"You guys have to know some basic statements-" We groan. She continues, "greetings, other necessary words." We groan louder. "Of each languange. I don't want to do all the talking when we go sight seeing." She grins. Then claps both our backs and stands, flopping down on the bed. , diving backward.

I raise my eyebrow at her and say,"You are not going to sleep on us, are you?" 

"She is." Ben says. He's already on the table, rummaging through the books. Probably trying to figure out which one's the easiest to study. I groan and stand. "Ugh. I hate studying."  

"Ditto." My brother says. Maya shifts on the bed, making loud creaking noises. She has her eyes closed but she's smiling as she mumbles, "Night night. Love you, two." Then yawns. 

"Love you, too, smart ass." My brother and I both reply at the same time. 

Ugh. Here goes nothing.