Cast The Die

Chapter Eighteen

January 2018

I flicked through my music on my iPod trying to find a good playlist to study to. I have all my books set out in order on my desk and a checklist of everything I need to do. It's the third week of January and I already have three assignments and a practice exam to study for. I only started Sixth Form in September and I've had seven assignments in English Literature, five case studies for Geography and a lot of course work for Biology. I pressed the play button on my old iPod and opened my first book. I read three words of Shakespeare's Hamlet when my phone started buzzing. It was Jen.

"I told you I was studying" I said.

"Hello to you too" she said sarcastically. "Mace, it's Friday night, why are you studying? Even our parents are out tonight. Can you believe they've gone to London just for the night and didn't take us?"

"I know it's Friday night, I have a lot of work to do...I didn't do anything over the Christmas break, and I need to catch up. I tried to climb in my Mum's suitcase, but she said it was adults only. Made me cringe a little." I said.

"That sounds like something I don't want to know about. Okay, fine. But stay on the phone while you study and we can talk, I'm bored" she said.

"I can't" I laughed. "You know you'll just distract me"

"Yeah you're probably right" she said. "Don't study all night though, call me when you're done"

"I was only going to study until 7 o'clock anyway, I'll call you then"

"Can't wait" she said, and then proceeded to make kissing noises very close to the speaker. I hung up and turned my phone off completely.

After some light reading about the Tragedy of Hamlet, which I've read four times, I opened my laptop and started my assignment by typing out the question at the top of the page.

"What does Shakespeare suggest about the role of women in Hamlet?"

When I looked at the time it was already 6.30pm and I'd written 1,460 words. The essay limit is 2000 words and I know exactly what I'm writing about, so I decide to save it and leave it for the night. I took one look at my Geography folder and closed it instantly. I have the rest of the weekend to study, it'll be fine. I picked up my phone and turned it on, I had 150 messages and more coming through, my phone is old I don't think it can take this amount of interaction. I tried to click on one of the messages, but it wouldn't work. I tried to click the call button, but the screen froze. I stacked my books up neatly to make my desk look tidy and then turned on my TV, there wasn't much on apart from an old movie with Morgan Freeman in prison. When my phone had finally stopped having a fit, I opened my messages to find a group chat had been made. Jen, Jacob, Matt, Isaac, the Jack's and another number that I didn't have saved to my phone. I didn't want to read through over 100 messages, so I quickly called Jen.

"Oh my god, finally!" she shouted.

"What the hell is going on? Why am I in a group chat, you know I hate those things" I said.

"You need to turn on the News. Now" she said. I started to get an anxious tummy. I switched the channel over to News and waited for what was to come.

"What's happened?" I asked her whilst my TV loaded. Why is everything I own so slow?

"It's been crazy, Mace. You're not going to believe it. Jacob made the group chat because he saw his parents watching the News and he told us all to watch it" she said. I think my TV has lost signal.

"It's not working! What's happened? Has the local barber shop been burgled again?" I laughed. That was as exciting as things got around here.

"There's been a huge raid just outside of town," she said. "A massive drug bust. It was literally five minutes away from here. No one has been arrested yet, but they've seized more than 100 kilos of cocaine!" she shouted.

"That's a lot of cocaine" I replied. The News channel appeared on my TV and I could see the headline.

Dorset Police have seized over 100 kilos of cocaine from a shipment container in Mudeford.

"Isn't that crazy? Nothing like that ever happens around here" Jen said.

"I know, I wonder if Mr. Chirping had something to do with it, you always said he looked like a drug dealer" I laughed. Jen thought our old Math teacher was a secret drug dealer. She had no reason to believe this, but I let her come up with her own conspiracy theories.

"I told you he was shady" we both laughed. "Auden is in the group chat" she said.

"Is that one of the other numbers? I don't have it saved." I knew it was his number.

"You should talk in the chat; you do know he broke up with that barbie doll from Oakfield?"

"No, I didn't know. What happened?" I asked.

"Who cares what happened? Now's your chance to talk to him, do it" she said.

"I'm going to make some food; I'll talk to you later" I laughed.

"Talk to him Ma..." I hung up the phone. I wanted to talk to him, but every time I do, I look like a complete idiot. I suppose it would be easier over text, I can take my time with what I want to say and if it sounds stupid, I'll delete it. What if he doesn't reply? What if he just laughs and shows his friends so they can all laugh at my expense? I decide to turn my phone off and have a lie down, I didn't realise how tired I was. I'm not even sure what time it is. I'll check in a minute.