Tangled in South Park

Winter Break Has Arrived

*About a Week Later*

I twirl my pencil in my fingers as I stare down at yet another final. This one a math test, which isn't that hard since we are allowed to have a page of notes, but it is still mind numbing. Miss Woods' tests are definitely a bit tougher than Garrisons were, but at least she gave a shit about teaching us. A couple years too late, but at least we get to end our high school years off on the right foot.

"Thirty minutes left," Miss Woods speaks up.

Thirty minutes. I need to finish up this test in the next half-hour and then it is time for lunch. Then I am done with finals for this semester, meaning that my last year of high school is halfway done. All I have to do is get through a few more questions.

I focus back in on the final, forcing myself to grab my pencil and start to figure out the math problem. Doing my best to work my way through the steps. If I have the formula, math is fairly easy for me, but there are some concepts that just make me want to scream.

Before I know it, I'm on the last question, and my brain is running on its last cylinders. After a whole week of studying and taking tests, I am on my last leg. Finals week is hell, and there's no other way to describe it. I just need to power through this last question.

The bell rings as I am looking over a tough problem. I probably wasn't going to fix it anyways, but at least I can use the bell as an excuse if I get it wrong.

"Please turn your tests in up here," Miss Woods pats the corner of her desk. "And I hope that you all have a wonderful break and enjoy the holidays. I will see you back here after the new year, and we will take a big leap into learning about some interesting topics that you hopefully haven't learned of before. Thanks for a great first semester," she widely smiles.

In the next few moments, everyone places their tests on the corner of her desk, and then begin to file out of the room. All of us excited to get this day over with, and the end is now closer than ever. Most of us are finished with finals in our elective classes, so the rest of the day is going to be a breeze.

"Man, that was a bit of a struggle," Red grumbles as she falls into step next to me. "How do you think you did?"

"I did fine, I think," I chuckle. "Thank god we could have a page of notes, because I was lost on a few of them. I know it is cliché that the art girl would be bad at math, but I really am not that good at it."

"I mean, I love numbers, but not when I have to figure out those long problems. At least we are done and can relax for the rest of the day."

"I wish they would just let us go home if we are done with finals, but no, we have to stay and still go to electives that we have nothing to do in."

"You can work on art though," she shrugs.

"I wish I could do it at home," I sigh, stopping at my locker to put my things away. "Regardless, it will be easy to get through these last few classes."

"What are you going to do over winter break?" Red leans up against the lockers.

"Lots of art, followed by video games, and then watching TV shows and movies. I really need to wrap the presents for the Christmas Eve party that Wendy put together for next week, so that is at the top of my list right now. What about you? Anything fun planned?" I close my locker, the only thing in my hand being my lunch box.

"I will probably work on my game a lot, so I hope I can come over a lot to do that," she grins as we begin to walk to her locker. "Other than that, I'll probably hang with Kevin a few days when he works at the diner, and I have a few video games that I would like to beat while I don't have to worry about anything else. Are you looking forward to Wendy's party?" She opens her locker, beginning to put away her things.