The Rivalry (Discontinued)

Chapter 4: Attracted Anew?

It didn’t cause me any harm, like what River had told me.

When I met up with Gaya, it was only her and Ashanti. The other members said they couldn’t come for they were busy. So we just hanged out somewhere. Probably that was all we would do when they’ve all come: just having fun and goofing around.

River hasn’t talked to me since that time I left her. Maybe she was sad. But you couldn’t blame me. I don’t know what was happening with her. Was she trying to prevent me from being friends with her ‘mortal enemies’? Or does she only want me to be her friend alone? That was just so selfish of her, if that was the reason.

After having recess with Gaya, I headed towards my next class and my favorite subject: Science. I love Science, and also Math. Call me a nerd but it’s the truth. Fortunately, it goes every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But unluckily, I’d managed to get Ms. Angel mad.

When I reached the room, there were still many students that hadn’t arrived. Well, the period doesn’t start in five minutes, so yeah.

I made my way towards a vacant chair on the last column on the left side of the room, near the window on the second row. I like sitting near the windows because I like how the sunlight shines through it and how the cool breeze enters the room and touches my skin and how I could easily jump out when there’s an earthquake or fire or when I just wanted to get out and cut classes, which I would never do.

I placed my things on the desk and sat down. There was still another empty chair on my left side, and I had to admit, I was hoping that Ace would sit down again beside me. River, on the other hand, well… I don’t know. I want to talk to her again but it was up to her if she’d even want to.

Since there was still a lot of time left before the bell rings, I grabbed the book I borrowed from the Library and started reading it. I’m a bookworm, and I love reading novels in the genre of teen fiction. I like mysteries and action too, maybe the thrillers and horror as well. I just love books, especially the fictional ones.

Whenever I read a book, I feel like I’m always being pulled into its world and so I’m not aware of the happenings in my own anymore. The sounds from the real world get drowned by my powerful imagination as I picture the scenes in the book that I almost see it as a movie. And so that’s why when the bell rang, I quickly snapped back into reality, like someone just banged a hammer on my head and let me remember I’m in school.

I looked up, my eyes blurry because of the sudden change of lighting. After my vision adjusted from the brightness, I saw the room was already filled with students and that Ms. Angel was already in front. I closed the book and carefully put it down on top of my bag, since I treat all books like they were my children.

Ms. Angel finished the discussion early. “Now, since Biology is the study of life, we will study the animals. We’ll have an experiment on the first week next month, and you’ll be grouped right now.” She grabbed a small carton box and shook it. I heard faint shuffling from the inside. “Three members each group, and since we have thirty-six students in this class, we’ll have twelve groups.” She raised the box to her chest for us to see it clearly. “Seeing that there are exactly twelve boys in here, I’ll let them pick two names from the girls in the box.” She looked down at her list. “Anderson, come here.” she called out.

A guy stood up and went in front. Ms. Angel opened the box and brought it nearer to him, and he picked two small papers. He opened one, and read the name out loud, “Amanda Chester,” Then he opened the other one, “Venice Jackson.”

“Boys, please write down your names and your group number on a one-fourth sheet of paper. I’d be collecting them by the end of the period.” Ms. Angel said as Anderson went down the platform and back to his seat. Then, she looked down again on her list. “Brook.”