Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be substantially fewer updates today than yesterday. As in 100%, unless you want to be a pedant and consider this an update in which case there is no change in the number of updates.
That aside, tomorrow will have no updates either, in all likelihood.
If you've been reading along, now's your chance to provide some commentary :D Critique me!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Dancing Into Darkness, Part 5
Wednesday, February 29th
I found Rinna at the same landing we ate at on Monday. She was seated in the same position, as well; body sitting on the window ledge, legs facing the stairs, and torso swiveled to the window. Her hair delicately contrasted the white snow beyond, and splayed downwards, fading into wisps on her dark green shirt. I stood there for a moment before coughing to make myself known. "Hey."
Rinna didn't turn. Not even the slightest head tilt.
I stood there, ignored, until I noticed what I had mistaken for a headband in her hair. Oh. Music. I strode up to her and gently tapped her shoulder.
Her eyes opened wide for a moment as she turned, extracting one earpiece from her nestle of hair, placing it behind her ear. She quickly adopted her neutral expression. "Oh, it's you. Why are you here?"
"I figured you could use the company."
She shrugged, and moved the earpiece back in place. I slipped my backpack off, slid it next to hers, and reclined on the wall by the window. I shuddered and crossed my legs as they hit the cold stone floor. I had just begun to pull my lunch from my pack when Rinna spoke up.
"Here."
I turned to find her facing me, hand outstretched. I cupped my hands together to receive the blueberries she offered. "Thanks."
"It'd be cruel to eat these in front of you without sharing." She shrugged my thanks off.
As I slowly popped the berries into my mouth, my eyes traced the shadow of my arm, around Rinna's shadow, and to the other side of the window. "I can see why you might prefer to eat here." I reclined my head against the wall. "It's peaceful. Away from the commotion of the commons. I'm not sure if I could stand this every day though."
Rinna laughed lightly in response. We sat in silence amiably a little longer. I finished off the blueberries, and pulled out my sandwich.
"I have a silly question."
"Ask. I'll laugh at you after."
"Are you in a cult?" I was remembering Tony's warnings. Silly as they seemed, I was a little worried.
"What?" Rinna was shocked. "Are you trying to recruit me?"
"Just rumors....sorry."
"I wouldn't believe any rumors you hear about me."
"Yeah." I hung my head, shame overcoming me suddenly. I shouldn't have asked that. Of course she's not in a cult. Of course she's not a cutter. I'm letting my fears get the best of me. She's just a normal girl. Well, maybe a little different. But not in a bad way. A hand splayed itself in my hair, and ruffled it. I looked up to see Rinna peering down. She quickly withdrew her hand. Her cheeks were tinged with pink.
"It's alright. I'm not offended." She said. "It's a silly rumor." She half-smiled, then turned back to stare out the window. I wondered what she thought about, day in and day out, staring outside at the field.
Tomorrow, Tony would be bound to chew me out. Oh boy.
But it didn't matter. Not right now.
I found Rinna at the same landing we ate at on Monday. She was seated in the same position, as well; body sitting on the window ledge, legs facing the stairs, and torso swiveled to the window. Her hair delicately contrasted the white snow beyond, and splayed downwards, fading into wisps on her dark green shirt. I stood there for a moment before coughing to make myself known. "Hey."
Rinna didn't turn. Not even the slightest head tilt.
I stood there, ignored, until I noticed what I had mistaken for a headband in her hair. Oh. Music. I strode up to her and gently tapped her shoulder.
Her eyes opened wide for a moment as she turned, extracting one earpiece from her nestle of hair, placing it behind her ear. She quickly adopted her neutral expression. "Oh, it's you. Why are you here?"
"I figured you could use the company."
She shrugged, and moved the earpiece back in place. I slipped my backpack off, slid it next to hers, and reclined on the wall by the window. I shuddered and crossed my legs as they hit the cold stone floor. I had just begun to pull my lunch from my pack when Rinna spoke up.
"Here."
I turned to find her facing me, hand outstretched. I cupped my hands together to receive the blueberries she offered. "Thanks."
"It'd be cruel to eat these in front of you without sharing." She shrugged my thanks off.
As I slowly popped the berries into my mouth, my eyes traced the shadow of my arm, around Rinna's shadow, and to the other side of the window. "I can see why you might prefer to eat here." I reclined my head against the wall. "It's peaceful. Away from the commotion of the commons. I'm not sure if I could stand this every day though."
Rinna laughed lightly in response. We sat in silence amiably a little longer. I finished off the blueberries, and pulled out my sandwich.
"I have a silly question."
"Ask. I'll laugh at you after."
"Are you in a cult?" I was remembering Tony's warnings. Silly as they seemed, I was a little worried.
"What?" Rinna was shocked. "Are you trying to recruit me?"
"Just rumors....sorry."
"I wouldn't believe any rumors you hear about me."
"Yeah." I hung my head, shame overcoming me suddenly. I shouldn't have asked that. Of course she's not in a cult. Of course she's not a cutter. I'm letting my fears get the best of me. She's just a normal girl. Well, maybe a little different. But not in a bad way. A hand splayed itself in my hair, and ruffled it. I looked up to see Rinna peering down. She quickly withdrew her hand. Her cheeks were tinged with pink.
"It's alright. I'm not offended." She said. "It's a silly rumor." She half-smiled, then turned back to stare out the window. I wondered what she thought about, day in and day out, staring outside at the field.
Tomorrow, Tony would be bound to chew me out. Oh boy.
But it didn't matter. Not right now.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Dancing Into Darkness, Part 4
Monday, February 27th
A hand clamped down on my arm as I left Mr. Randell's class. I turned to my right, looking up, expecting to see Tony there. I was ready to joke about this being an unnatural move. But there was nobody there. I shifted my gaze down, and my eyes fell upon a swath of black hair, turned away from me. "Come on." Rinna started down the hall, pulling me with her. Turning my head back, I saw Tony just exiting the room. The question formed in his eyes before it reached his mouth - What is going on?
I shook my head at him, hoping he wouldn't intervene. It would only cause a needless scene. I mouthed "I'll explain." to him before allowing myself to be pulled down the hall. Rinna was stronger than her slim arms let on. This definitely wasn't about the project, since otherwise Ellie would have come. We had already worked everything out Saturday, already, and had plans to meet at Ellie's house to work the next weekend. So what was this about?
I kept silent, knowing there would be a more opportune time to ask. It couldn't hurt to follow. I'd be lying if I said my interest wasn't piqued.
It was only when we walked by a group of freshman girls talking about who-knows-what when I realized the potential consequence of following Rinna. I caught a few taking furtive glances as I passed by, and I definitely recognized one of them. This would not do any good for my reputation. I was known as a tennis player who kept to his studies and friends, not some kid to be dragged around the school. I shook my swath of brown hair, annoyed at myself for letting this happen. It was a bit late to turn around now without drawing more unwanted attention to myself, and I didn't want to offend Rinna, either.
A faint set of giggles followed me as Rinna led me up a set of stairs, to the second floor. Where the hell was I being led?
I almost ran into Rinna when she halted at the intermediate landing, between the first and second floors. "So, uh, what's this about?" Rinna let go of my arm, and turned to stare at me.
"What?" She sounded as confused as I felt.
"Why did you drag me from history, through the halls, to here, without saying a word?" My arms flew up from my sides into the air.
"I thought I was making things easy for you..." Rinna trailed off. She grabbed her left arm at the elbow, and shifted her gaze down. "You can leave now."
My arms dropped down. "Oh." Shit shit shit. How did she even get that vibe from me?
"Umm..." No words came to me. It probably would hurt my rep more if I just left now.....Rinna would probably feel bad too. "I'll stay." I put on my best fake smile, shrugged my backpack off, and took a seat on the steps. "That is, as long as you promise not to go silent on me." I joked as I pulled my lunch out. I might as well make the best of this.
Rinna sat down on the windowsill. The landing overlooked the field, a vast expanse of white. It had snowed that morning - not much, but enough to make the world a pure, white slate. She stared out the window for a moment before speaking up. "Silence isn't always bad, you know."
"I guess." I looked up from my sandwich; Rinna still had her head turned from me. It...irritated me. I could not put a finger on quite why, however. Rinna seemed so calm here, and it was clear that her seat was a familiar one. "You don't...." I spoke without thinking.
Rinna's gaze turned to me, searching my face as I grabbed for words. "You don't...eat here every day, do you?"
"Mostly. Yeah. What's wrong?" Rinna fluttered her eyes, not understanding. I'm not sure if shock or concern was more apparent on my face.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Rinna opened her eyes with understanding. "Oh! You feel bad for me, don't you? Don't. I prefer it this way. People are stupid."
"Oh." Why did I say that? I searched for some way to undo the depressing turn this conversation had taken. After a few moments' pause, I spoke again. "Hey, do you think Ellie's a vampire?"
"What?" I was taken aback by the surprise in Rinna's tone. She sounded genuinely shocked.
"You know, avoiding Olive Garden and all. She kept dodging my questions as to why she didn't want to go."
"How does that connect with being a vampire at all?" Rinna's tone was flat. Does she not see that I'm joking? I wouldn't put it past her. She doesn't know me well, either.
"Vampires don't like garlic, right? And Olive Garden has a lot of garlic in its dishes. Why are you being so defensive? Are you a vampire too? Gah! I'm surrounded!" I continued to joke. Rinna finally seemed to get it; she laughed.
I swear that the world stopped that moment. Then, it was gone, the sound fading away like chimes on the wind.
"You should lighten up a little. Laugh a little more."
"I don't have much reason to."
"Do you need a reason?"
"Yes."
"Fine." What was it with this girl? "So there was this one time..."
---
Tuesday, February 28th
"What happened yesterday man?" Tony had gone into overprotective mode again.
"Uhh, what? Nothing. I'm fine." I held my arms up, palms open. I gave him a skeptical look.
"She didn't do anything to you?"
"What? Rinna? No!"
"She looked pissed."
"That was your imagination run wild."
"Then what did she want you for? You were gone all lunch."
"She just wanted to talk. It was enjoyable."
"Watch out, she's moving in..."
"So?"
"Watch out for her."
"She's not as weird or dangerous as you think she is."
"What has she done to you?" He gasped in mock horror. I chuckled, glad that, as always, he realized when his efforts were unappreciated, if only a little late.
A hand clamped down on my arm as I left Mr. Randell's class. I turned to my right, looking up, expecting to see Tony there. I was ready to joke about this being an unnatural move. But there was nobody there. I shifted my gaze down, and my eyes fell upon a swath of black hair, turned away from me. "Come on." Rinna started down the hall, pulling me with her. Turning my head back, I saw Tony just exiting the room. The question formed in his eyes before it reached his mouth - What is going on?
I shook my head at him, hoping he wouldn't intervene. It would only cause a needless scene. I mouthed "I'll explain." to him before allowing myself to be pulled down the hall. Rinna was stronger than her slim arms let on. This definitely wasn't about the project, since otherwise Ellie would have come. We had already worked everything out Saturday, already, and had plans to meet at Ellie's house to work the next weekend. So what was this about?
I kept silent, knowing there would be a more opportune time to ask. It couldn't hurt to follow. I'd be lying if I said my interest wasn't piqued.
It was only when we walked by a group of freshman girls talking about who-knows-what when I realized the potential consequence of following Rinna. I caught a few taking furtive glances as I passed by, and I definitely recognized one of them. This would not do any good for my reputation. I was known as a tennis player who kept to his studies and friends, not some kid to be dragged around the school. I shook my swath of brown hair, annoyed at myself for letting this happen. It was a bit late to turn around now without drawing more unwanted attention to myself, and I didn't want to offend Rinna, either.
A faint set of giggles followed me as Rinna led me up a set of stairs, to the second floor. Where the hell was I being led?
I almost ran into Rinna when she halted at the intermediate landing, between the first and second floors. "So, uh, what's this about?" Rinna let go of my arm, and turned to stare at me.
"What?" She sounded as confused as I felt.
"Why did you drag me from history, through the halls, to here, without saying a word?" My arms flew up from my sides into the air.
"I thought I was making things easy for you..." Rinna trailed off. She grabbed her left arm at the elbow, and shifted her gaze down. "You can leave now."
My arms dropped down. "Oh." Shit shit shit. How did she even get that vibe from me?
"Umm..." No words came to me. It probably would hurt my rep more if I just left now.....Rinna would probably feel bad too. "I'll stay." I put on my best fake smile, shrugged my backpack off, and took a seat on the steps. "That is, as long as you promise not to go silent on me." I joked as I pulled my lunch out. I might as well make the best of this.
Rinna sat down on the windowsill. The landing overlooked the field, a vast expanse of white. It had snowed that morning - not much, but enough to make the world a pure, white slate. She stared out the window for a moment before speaking up. "Silence isn't always bad, you know."
"I guess." I looked up from my sandwich; Rinna still had her head turned from me. It...irritated me. I could not put a finger on quite why, however. Rinna seemed so calm here, and it was clear that her seat was a familiar one. "You don't...." I spoke without thinking.
Rinna's gaze turned to me, searching my face as I grabbed for words. "You don't...eat here every day, do you?"
"Mostly. Yeah. What's wrong?" Rinna fluttered her eyes, not understanding. I'm not sure if shock or concern was more apparent on my face.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Rinna opened her eyes with understanding. "Oh! You feel bad for me, don't you? Don't. I prefer it this way. People are stupid."
"Oh." Why did I say that? I searched for some way to undo the depressing turn this conversation had taken. After a few moments' pause, I spoke again. "Hey, do you think Ellie's a vampire?"
"What?" I was taken aback by the surprise in Rinna's tone. She sounded genuinely shocked.
"You know, avoiding Olive Garden and all. She kept dodging my questions as to why she didn't want to go."
"How does that connect with being a vampire at all?" Rinna's tone was flat. Does she not see that I'm joking? I wouldn't put it past her. She doesn't know me well, either.
"Vampires don't like garlic, right? And Olive Garden has a lot of garlic in its dishes. Why are you being so defensive? Are you a vampire too? Gah! I'm surrounded!" I continued to joke. Rinna finally seemed to get it; she laughed.
I swear that the world stopped that moment. Then, it was gone, the sound fading away like chimes on the wind.
"You should lighten up a little. Laugh a little more."
"I don't have much reason to."
"Do you need a reason?"
"Yes."
"Fine." What was it with this girl? "So there was this one time..."
---
Tuesday, February 28th
"What happened yesterday man?" Tony had gone into overprotective mode again.
"Uhh, what? Nothing. I'm fine." I held my arms up, palms open. I gave him a skeptical look.
"She didn't do anything to you?"
"What? Rinna? No!"
"She looked pissed."
"That was your imagination run wild."
"Then what did she want you for? You were gone all lunch."
"She just wanted to talk. It was enjoyable."
"Watch out, she's moving in..."
"So?"
"Watch out for her."
"She's not as weird or dangerous as you think she is."
"What has she done to you?" He gasped in mock horror. I chuckled, glad that, as always, he realized when his efforts were unappreciated, if only a little late.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Dancing Into Darkness, Part 3
A shorter piece today. I promise I'll get around to making Bryan into more than just a name tomorrow!
I still dislike the name of this series.
---
Saturday, February 25th
I found Rinna already seated at a table for three at Olive Garden. Her stark black hair blended into - surprise - a black shirt which hugged at her slim figure. She was bowed over a writing pad, one arm placed around it protectively, shielding her writing from onlookers. I took the seat opposite her. "Hey."
"Hello." Her pencil kept moving, and her head remained down.
"By the way, Ellie's not coming. She said she'd meet us afterwards at the Barnes and Noble."
"Oh. Why isn't she coming?"
"Something about the food not being to her taste."
That got Rinna to look up. "Hmph. There's nothing wrong with Olive Garden." Her hair half-formed a veil around her face for a moment; she quickly tucked it behind one ear. "Well, I'm staying here for lunch. Leave if you like." She paused for a moment, furrowing her brow as if trying to recall something, before turning her attention back to her writing. That last statement normally might have offended me, but...it didn't. It was said with such a lack of tone, as opposed to indifference, that it caught me off-guard.
"I'll eat here."
I was met with silence.
Did she catch that? Maybe she just doesn't care. She certainly didn't seem to.
Why is she so quiet? I glanced around the room, trying to find something to occupy myself with. Maybe I should just leave. It would be less awkward that way.
"May I take your orders?"
Too late.
Click. Rinna's notebook snapped shut, and it disappeared in a flash. She looked to the waiter. "I'll have the Fettucine Alfredo."
"Would you like extra garlic sauce on that?"
"Just the normal amount is fine."
The waiter scribbled Rinna's order down, and I gave him my order when prompted. As he headed back to the kitchens, Rinna spoke up. "Do you have any thoughts on this project, so far?" I breathed an inward sigh of relief. She wouldn't be writing the entire time.
I also hadn't given the project a second thought since it was assigned. "Let's discuss that later. It wouldn't be fair if Ellie didn't do any work today. I'm sure she'd complain." I remarked a tad sarcastically. "So what were you writing, just then?" I wasn't actually interested.
"Nothing you would care about."
"I wonder what you've got to hide..." I mused aloud jokingly.
"Why are you so persistent?" She snapped back.
"I'm just trying to keep the conversation going."
"Then stop prying and tell me something about yourself. I hardly know you."
"It seems that you hardly know anyone." I blurted. There was a pause. "Sorry. I didn't-"
"It's alright. I don't seek out other people." Rinna fell silent. That was the most I'd ever heard her say in one go.
After a long pause, Rinna spoke again. "I-"
"Your order is ready." Two plates of pasta slid onto the table. "Enjoy."
"What were you going to say?" Rinna shook her head.
I ate in uncomfortable silence.
I still dislike the name of this series.
---
Saturday, February 25th
I found Rinna already seated at a table for three at Olive Garden. Her stark black hair blended into - surprise - a black shirt which hugged at her slim figure. She was bowed over a writing pad, one arm placed around it protectively, shielding her writing from onlookers. I took the seat opposite her. "Hey."
"Hello." Her pencil kept moving, and her head remained down.
"By the way, Ellie's not coming. She said she'd meet us afterwards at the Barnes and Noble."
"Oh. Why isn't she coming?"
"Something about the food not being to her taste."
That got Rinna to look up. "Hmph. There's nothing wrong with Olive Garden." Her hair half-formed a veil around her face for a moment; she quickly tucked it behind one ear. "Well, I'm staying here for lunch. Leave if you like." She paused for a moment, furrowing her brow as if trying to recall something, before turning her attention back to her writing. That last statement normally might have offended me, but...it didn't. It was said with such a lack of tone, as opposed to indifference, that it caught me off-guard.
"I'll eat here."
I was met with silence.
Did she catch that? Maybe she just doesn't care. She certainly didn't seem to.
Why is she so quiet? I glanced around the room, trying to find something to occupy myself with. Maybe I should just leave. It would be less awkward that way.
"May I take your orders?"
Too late.
Click. Rinna's notebook snapped shut, and it disappeared in a flash. She looked to the waiter. "I'll have the Fettucine Alfredo."
"Would you like extra garlic sauce on that?"
"Just the normal amount is fine."
The waiter scribbled Rinna's order down, and I gave him my order when prompted. As he headed back to the kitchens, Rinna spoke up. "Do you have any thoughts on this project, so far?" I breathed an inward sigh of relief. She wouldn't be writing the entire time.
I also hadn't given the project a second thought since it was assigned. "Let's discuss that later. It wouldn't be fair if Ellie didn't do any work today. I'm sure she'd complain." I remarked a tad sarcastically. "So what were you writing, just then?" I wasn't actually interested.
"Nothing you would care about."
"I wonder what you've got to hide..." I mused aloud jokingly.
"Why are you so persistent?" She snapped back.
"I'm just trying to keep the conversation going."
"Then stop prying and tell me something about yourself. I hardly know you."
"It seems that you hardly know anyone." I blurted. There was a pause. "Sorry. I didn't-"
"It's alright. I don't seek out other people." Rinna fell silent. That was the most I'd ever heard her say in one go.
After a long pause, Rinna spoke again. "I-"
"Your order is ready." Two plates of pasta slid onto the table. "Enjoy."
"What were you going to say?" Rinna shook her head.
I ate in uncomfortable silence.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Dancing Into Darkness, Part 2
Well, Rinna's name will stay the same, but I changed the title a little bit (I'm still not satisfied with it). Also I promise this isn't some rule 63'd Twilight. Or, hopefully it isn't. I haven't read the series, soooo...
Also yes, this is based in Seattle. Because referring to "the mall" would get on my nerves so much.
---
Friday, February 24th
"Class, the paper I am handing out right now is your project, due two weeks from now. That's March 9th. Write that date down. There's always that one group that gets a zero because they misheard the deadline. Don't be that group." Mr. Randell chuckled with part of the class. "You laugh now, but there will be that group. It is always this project, every year."
"Go ahead and read along with me." Mr. Randell returned to the front of the room. "You'll be working in groups of three to advocate for one government and its actions, as a representative of that government."
"Yes, you will be required to act in character. Except please," He put extra emphasis on these words. "Please, speak English." The class snickered. "If I can't understand what you are saying, you get a zero. Now then, let's look at the specifics of this project, and then I'll assign you groups and governments."
My world exploded with sound. My head jolted up from its comfortable seat in the crook of my arm, and the room came into focus. "Shit!" I shouted. Mr. Randell stood before me, smiling as the rest of the class held back laughter. I glanced around the room. Textbooks were strewn about the floor. It took a moment to piece everything together. I must have dozed off, and the class gave me a wake-up call by dropping their textbooks to the floor. "Err, ignore what I just said." Heat rose to my face. "Sorry about that. It won't happen again."
"I'm glad to hear that, Bryan. You've been paired with Rinna and Eleanor. They can fill you in on what you missed." Mr. Randell turned to the rest of the class. "You have the rest of the period to meet with your partners and get started." He turned his back to the class to clean off the whiteboard.
Phew. Lucky for me, Mr. Randell was a laid-back teacher. Swearing wouldn't get you detention in his class - that policy was stupid, anyway. I had also gotten lucky with my group members. Both Rinna and Ellie (Mr. Randell called everyone by their full names) were intelligent, and Ellie was a spirited actor. It would be an easy project....whatever it was. I rose and headed to the back of the room, where Rinna and Ellie were already seated around a table.
"So what did I miss?"
"You mean while you were snoozing?" Ellie responded, grinning mischievously. She brushed a wisp of blond hair behind her ear while waiting for a reply.
"I was taking a well-deserved break!" I protested with false indignation. I took a seat. "Well? Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Well..." She stretched her reply out, leaning back and crossing one long leg over the other. "Later. We're probably not going to get anything done in ten minutes. But let's meet sometime this weekend to figure things out. How about over lunch?"
"I still have no clue what we're doing."
"You're smart, you'll figure it out. Figure out where we're eating, and let me know, alright? Somewhere around Northgate would be great. Ciao." Ellie launched herself out of her chair, across the room, and into her friends, easily slipping into the conversation.
I sat there in silence for a moment before someone spoke softly from behind me. "Victorian England." I swiveled my head toward the voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"We're covering Victorian England. The main concern will be legitimizing maintaining the English colonies." I had nearly forgotten that Rinna was in my group. Hopefully it my face did not show it.
"Ah, thanks. So, what else did Mr. Randell cover while I was out?" I turned towards her.
"Not very much." Rinna spoke slowly. "He went over the rubric, and assigned groups and governments."
"Err, what rubric?"
Rinna grabbed the paper I held with the project details, and flipped it over. "Check the other side."
"So what's a good place for a group to eat in Northgate?"
"Is Olive Garden alright with you?"
"Sure. Let's meet at noon. I'll pass the word on to Ellie."
The lunch bell rang as I picked myself up to fetch my backpack, and I started out of the room. A hand fell on my shoulder, the pressure familiar. "What's up, Tony?"
"Not much man, not much." Tony was one of my closest friends. He had a tendency to be overprotective, something which had gotten me out of more than a few potential disasters in the past. However, on a day-to-day basis, it could be a hassle to deal with.
"What's on your mind? Did you get paired with a bad group?" The crowd of students on their way to the Commons pushed us along, steering us in the direction of our lunch haunt.
"Be careful with Rinna."
"What?" I glanced over my shoulder, to make sure she wasn't behind us to overhear. "Why?"
"I know it's just rumors, but don't get swept up into any cult or any other weird stuff, alright?"
"Uhhh...this is a group project. It's not exactly the same as prying into her private life. There's a slight difference, you see. Would you like me to explain it to you?" I joked.
"You can never be too careful."
"Ellie will be there too. If Rinna tries anything funny, the two of us can take her, easy. She looks pretty frail. Hey look, there's Rami!" I made my way through the crowd to the familiar Indian face, glad for an excuse to change the conversation topic.
Also yes, this is based in Seattle. Because referring to "the mall" would get on my nerves so much.
---
Friday, February 24th
"Class, the paper I am handing out right now is your project, due two weeks from now. That's March 9th. Write that date down. There's always that one group that gets a zero because they misheard the deadline. Don't be that group." Mr. Randell chuckled with part of the class. "You laugh now, but there will be that group. It is always this project, every year."
"Go ahead and read along with me." Mr. Randell returned to the front of the room. "You'll be working in groups of three to advocate for one government and its actions, as a representative of that government."
"Yes, you will be required to act in character. Except please," He put extra emphasis on these words. "Please, speak English." The class snickered. "If I can't understand what you are saying, you get a zero. Now then, let's look at the specifics of this project, and then I'll assign you groups and governments."
My world exploded with sound. My head jolted up from its comfortable seat in the crook of my arm, and the room came into focus. "Shit!" I shouted. Mr. Randell stood before me, smiling as the rest of the class held back laughter. I glanced around the room. Textbooks were strewn about the floor. It took a moment to piece everything together. I must have dozed off, and the class gave me a wake-up call by dropping their textbooks to the floor. "Err, ignore what I just said." Heat rose to my face. "Sorry about that. It won't happen again."
"I'm glad to hear that, Bryan. You've been paired with Rinna and Eleanor. They can fill you in on what you missed." Mr. Randell turned to the rest of the class. "You have the rest of the period to meet with your partners and get started." He turned his back to the class to clean off the whiteboard.
Phew. Lucky for me, Mr. Randell was a laid-back teacher. Swearing wouldn't get you detention in his class - that policy was stupid, anyway. I had also gotten lucky with my group members. Both Rinna and Ellie (Mr. Randell called everyone by their full names) were intelligent, and Ellie was a spirited actor. It would be an easy project....whatever it was. I rose and headed to the back of the room, where Rinna and Ellie were already seated around a table.
"So what did I miss?"
"You mean while you were snoozing?" Ellie responded, grinning mischievously. She brushed a wisp of blond hair behind her ear while waiting for a reply.
"I was taking a well-deserved break!" I protested with false indignation. I took a seat. "Well? Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Well..." She stretched her reply out, leaning back and crossing one long leg over the other. "Later. We're probably not going to get anything done in ten minutes. But let's meet sometime this weekend to figure things out. How about over lunch?"
"I still have no clue what we're doing."
"You're smart, you'll figure it out. Figure out where we're eating, and let me know, alright? Somewhere around Northgate would be great. Ciao." Ellie launched herself out of her chair, across the room, and into her friends, easily slipping into the conversation.
I sat there in silence for a moment before someone spoke softly from behind me. "Victorian England." I swiveled my head toward the voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"We're covering Victorian England. The main concern will be legitimizing maintaining the English colonies." I had nearly forgotten that Rinna was in my group. Hopefully it my face did not show it.
"Ah, thanks. So, what else did Mr. Randell cover while I was out?" I turned towards her.
"Not very much." Rinna spoke slowly. "He went over the rubric, and assigned groups and governments."
"Err, what rubric?"
Rinna grabbed the paper I held with the project details, and flipped it over. "Check the other side."
"So what's a good place for a group to eat in Northgate?"
"Is Olive Garden alright with you?"
"Sure. Let's meet at noon. I'll pass the word on to Ellie."
The lunch bell rang as I picked myself up to fetch my backpack, and I started out of the room. A hand fell on my shoulder, the pressure familiar. "What's up, Tony?"
"Not much man, not much." Tony was one of my closest friends. He had a tendency to be overprotective, something which had gotten me out of more than a few potential disasters in the past. However, on a day-to-day basis, it could be a hassle to deal with.
"What's on your mind? Did you get paired with a bad group?" The crowd of students on their way to the Commons pushed us along, steering us in the direction of our lunch haunt.
"Be careful with Rinna."
"What?" I glanced over my shoulder, to make sure she wasn't behind us to overhear. "Why?"
"I know it's just rumors, but don't get swept up into any cult or any other weird stuff, alright?"
"Uhhh...this is a group project. It's not exactly the same as prying into her private life. There's a slight difference, you see. Would you like me to explain it to you?" I joked.
"You can never be too careful."
"Ellie will be there too. If Rinna tries anything funny, the two of us can take her, easy. She looks pretty frail. Hey look, there's Rami!" I made my way through the crowd to the familiar Indian face, glad for an excuse to change the conversation topic.
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