Let's Go To The Mountains

Chapter 3

Hey! I didn't feel like writing substance paragraphs, so I got to the point and just set up some plot stuff through pointless dialogue. Enjoy, I guess.

Thomas

This school is so damn boring. I've been sitting in this stupid class for an hour, and the clock just seems to be running slower. I swear, I've been watching the second hand make its way back to twelve for at least thirty minutes.

The boys on the team all sit in the back of the room with whichever of their girls are also in the class. Typically, there's at least one seat for me to hide out in, but someone picked up a girlfriend within the last twenty four hours and I've been ousted to the front of the class.

There weren't any available seats in the middle of the room. That sucked. The front is where those who actually try in class have to sit. I hate it. I can pass this class with my eyes closed, and I have numerous times. There is no reason why I should listen to this teacher drone on forever when she gave out the assignment already. I don't want to listen to her debate what pattern she should have her nail tech do with the girls in the front of the class.

She had pictures pulled up on her phone, which was being passed back and forth between the girls on the front row. A lot of the suck ups were oohing and ahhing and my head hurt. I put my head on the desk, the cool laminate pressing into the forehead. The only person on the front row not engaged in the nail dilemma, besides me, of course, had her face in a book, practically trying to jump through the pages.

If I was in the back of the class, I'd sneak out my phone and play a game or whatever, but nope. I was stuck in the front of the class. My only options were reading a book like the girl next to me, redoing my already completed assignments, or staring at said girl next to me. I could actually engage in the nail conversation, but why in the world would I do that.

"Oh! Look at the time!" the teacher stood up and clapped her hand, shutting off her phone, officially sending students scrambling for their seats and stuffing their devices into their pockets.

"Time to go?" I mumbled. I don't think she caught it.

"Five minutes left, Mr. Williams. Sadly, you have to deal with me for just a little while longer," she stopped in front of my desk. I think she caught it.

"Great."

"Now that we have that out of the way-" she walked away- "We have a project due in two weeks. You are assigned in pairs with, uh, the person next to you. I'll explain details on Monday. What you need to do over the weekend is exchange numbers or emails or DMs with your partner to set up times to work out of class. The entirety of this project will be done out of class. Again, more details come Monday."

That was supposed to be a dismissal, but no one moved.

"Go on. Talk for the remaining two minutes. Hopefully, the conversation will be with your partner." She sat down at the desk.

Of course, the one day I sit at the front of the room, we get partners. I was stuck with nose-in--book girl. She looked familiar. I think I saw her last week at... where was it... um... oh yeah, the Dunkin'. She was behind the counter. Her name was... Olive. I think. No. Olivia.

"Hey," I called out to her. She didn't look up. I stood and walked around to her desk. "Hello."

"What?"

"We're partners."

"Good to know, Thomas." She turned a page.

"Do you want my number?"

"For?"

"The project? We have to work on it."

"Great."