One
I drummed my fingers on the desk, and glanced at the clock hanging on the pale blue wall next to me. In only six more minutes’ school would be over for winter break!
I was so excited! I hadn’t seen my mom since spring break. I went to a boarding school in Washington, called: Washington State Oak Academy. It was for ‘special’ kids.
‘Special’ meant very smart… All students who attended WSOA were to advance for normal schools. Therefore we were sent of here, to be challenged academically, and even physically.
“Quinn,” my friend, Kelsey whispered to me. She stared at me with her green eyes, which were barely visible beneath her long, dark brown hair.
“Yes?”
“Do you think we’ll be able to hang out during break?”
In truth I didn’t think that we’d be able to. We lived an hour away from each other, her parents were strict about who she hanged out with. But I couldn’t face telling her that.
“I think so,” I mumbled. Kelsey gazed at me, sadness in her eyes. I knew she could see through my lie.
Then the sharp voice of our teacher, Mrs. Charles broke our discussion. “Kelsey, Quinn! There is less then three minutes left of school. Please wait till then to talk.”
Mrs. Charles is our social studies teacher. I could tell that she truly didn’t mind that Kelsey and I were talking, because we were her best students… But she didn’t want to give the class the impression that she had favorites.
“Okay,” Kelsey muttered. She clearly didn’t want to wait, but she knew she had no choice. She glanced at me once more, before turning towards Mrs. Charles.
I struggled to listen to what Mrs. Charles was saying. It was something about how next semester we would be doing a very important project about Egypt. But my mind was on other things.
I didn’t realize it, but I was doodling on my social studies folder. When I looked down at it, I saw I had drawn a galloping horse. It looked very real, and I smiled to myself.
Then the intercom turned on. “Quinn Marshall, please report to the office. Quinn Marshall, please report to the office.”
Mrs. Charles smiled at me and nodded. Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun, which made her look strict and boring. She was not boring, nor was she strict, which made me wonder why she made herself seem so.
Then I saw Kelsey staring at me sadly. If I had to go to the office now, I’d probably not get to say good-bye. And it was very likely she wasn’t going to come back to WSOA, and instead go to a boarding school closer to her house.
“Bye,” I whispered. “I’ll call you…” Then I quickly packed my bag, and headed to the office. When I got there, I heard the loud ring of the bell. School was over.
I pushed open the door, and stepped into the small office. My mom stood there, a small smile planted on her face. Her blonde hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and when she walked towards me it bounced around.
“Mom,” I said, as I walked towards her. Why couldn’t she have waited for me to get out of school? It’d have only taken a few extra minutes…
