05.
1669 Words
Bethany's POV:
I have decided to have dinner at the house instead of the dining hall. I'm tired from all that swimming anyway and I want to do some reading before tomorrow's AP English Literature class first period.
"Hey, how was your run with Dylan?" Linzey smirks when she finishes showering and gets in comfy clothing as I lay down on my bed with an open book.
"Interested, he told me about the private waterfall."
"He must really trust you then. Well, you're part of the group, so it's only fair", she shrugs.
What if I don't want to be there?
"Where are you having dinner? It's almost 7."
"In the dining room, I'm staying in tonight."
"Good, after dinner we're going to play a board game. You should join us", she suggested.
"I have to read-"
"Don't worry, it's only the first day of classes. Surely it's not homework."
"It's for tomorrow's literature class."
"The teacher is very cool, believe me, it's only one game."
"What is it?"
She grins.
An hour later...
"Twister?" My eyes opened as Carl opened the mat on the floor of the game room.
"Hope you're flexible Beth", Dylan grins.
"I did gymnastics for five years from age 5-10, I can still do things", I stretch.
"What happened?"
"I just didn't feel like it after I hit middle school", I shrug.
"Oh, the teenage phrase, yeah we have all been there but we overcame it and stuck to our favorite sport", Tyler states.
"The truth is my old school didn't have anything to facilitate gymnastics and the closest gym was in another area from our new home. My mother is a single parent. I couldn't put all that burden on her after I sprained my ankle", I confess.
"Can you still do a back-flip?" Kourtney asks.
Since the game room is big and has lots of space, I did a double backflip.
"Whoa, still got it after seven years", she claps.
"Let's get this game going, lights out on the first floor is 9:30", Duncan reminds us.
It's 8 pm.
"Get into teams so it'll be fair."
"I would rather play ludo", I muttered.
"Sunday we'll do that", Tyler says to me.
How did he hear me?
"Four people per team, myself and Evan are team captains", Dylan states.
"Linzey", Evan says.
"Beth", Dylan smiles.
"Duncan."
"Carl."
"Kourtney."
"Tyler."
The two teams are Dylan's: me, Carl, and Tyler. Evan's: Linzey, Duncan, and Kourtney.
"I hope you're good at twisters", Dylan looked at me.
I shrug.
"I think she should go the first rounds with me", Carl states.
I nod.
Kourtney and Evan are going first as well.
This should be fun.
Dylan is the referee to spin the spinner. He spins the arrow on the board, and it lands on the left foot, red. We each put our left foot on a red spot, he spins the board again, and it lands on the right-hand side, blue.
"Guess we're getting flexible already", Kourtney states.
I put my right hand on the blue dot.
The game goes on ten minutes more before it gets complicated.
"Left-hand, red."
I had to stretch over Evan to get my hand on red.
"Careful", Dylan warns.
"Guy I want to sneeze", Kourtney states.
"Kourt, no", Evan snaps.
"My nose is itching", she pouts.
"Hold it in, don't you dare sneeze."
"I really wa-"
"No, my team is not losing the first round."
It's a good thing he isn't the captain of the team at school. Imagine the pressure on the players.
"Our coaches are set on winning all games, they are the worst", Carl retorts.
"Yeah, five-mile runs as a warm-up."
Five miles as a warmup? Thank goodness I'm not doing any sport.
The spinner spins again, right-foot, yellow. I had to keep my hand on blue and stretch my leg to touch yellow with my foot.
I hear a bone c***k, "ouch", Kortney groans.
"Your summer bones are finally being used", Evan snickers.
"I wasn't a couch potato like you, I went camping and did other activities", she states.
"Yeah and stay with Duncan at a vacation home for an entire week", he adds.
"That's it", she says and sneezes. We all went tumbling down.
I land on Carl, he groans, "what are they feeding you?"
"Team Dylan wins first round", Tyler declared.
"Way did go Kourt", Evan glares at her as Linzey helps him up.
"You should keep your trap shut", she shrugs.
"Next."
Dyland hands me the spin board and gets in position with Tyler on one side of the mat.
I spin the board, "left hand, blue."
"We're getting right into it, I see", Dylan states.
"I'm just warming up."
"Bring it on, Yearwood."
15 minutes later...
"Right foot, green."
Dylan groans, since he's at the bottom of every one.
"Don't you dare fart Duncan", he warns, since his face is right behind Duncan.
Duncan laughs, "it's tempting, but I wouldn't."
I like their friendship. I miss my old friend who I lost contact with years ago.
Since Linzey is the only girl playing, she uses that to her advantage and pushes Dylan as she stretches for the color to place her foot.
He falls, taking everyone down with him.
Everyone groans.
"I guess that's the end of the game", Evan states.
"The night is still young. Let's play another game", Duncan states.
"I'm calling it a night", I said putting down the spin board.
"It's only 8:40", he frowns.
"I have got things to do", I shrug and leave the room.
"Beth, wait up", Dylan came after me.
"Yeah?" I looked at him.
"Do you want to play ludo?" He smiles.
"Now?"
"We can play in the living room if you're up for it."
"Why? Wouldn't you rather hang out with your friends?"
"I hang out with them every day. What do you say?"
"One round."
He grins.
********
"What time did you come in last night?" I smirked at Linzey as I woke her up. I got up at 6:30 am and she was out cold.
"What time is it?" She groans.
"Make a guess, the sun doesn't meet you in bed, does it?"
"It's not common, after you and Dylan left, we played never have I ever with alcohol", she explains, "I got a bit drunk and crashed with Duncan in his room after the lights. When I woke up I sneaked back into my room at about 3 am."
"Where did you get the alcohol?"
She grins, "we all have a secret stash in our rooms."
Oh, right, they are all 18.
"When's your birthday?"
"Halloween. "
"What's that?"
They don't know what that is? Well, I had better not confuse her.
"My birthday is October 30th."
"Oh, that's nice, a bit far though. We're only a few days from September. "
"I know."
"Well, I had better go get ready. Duncan is probably upset I didn't show up for our run this morning."
I nod.
1 hour later
I am entering my AP Literature class, and Dylan and Avery are in this class.
"Hey Beth, I saved you a seat", Dylan waved at me. I saw Avery roll her eyes.
I went towards Dylan and sat behind the desk next to him.
"Good morning", I greeted him.
"Do you want a rematch?"
He won the ludo game last night.
"Soon, but not today."
"Do you have training later?"
I get out my schedule and show him.
" The first day is always the hardest, the trainer in charge is a bit strict. Then, after a few basic defense moves, you'll be assigned to a senior student or experienced for someone in one on one combat", he explains, "since you have no background knowing, you'll be starting at the freshman level."
The teacher enters, "Good morning everyone, I hope you read the first chapter of the assigned textbook."
I did last night after the game.
Dylan sighs.
"I'm guessing you didn't", I whisper to him.
"Miss Yearwood, is there something you want to say to the class?" The teacher looks directly at me.
"No", I shake my head, and everyone laughs.
"Well since you already disrupt me, do you mind telling me what you think about the story?" He sits behind his desk with a smirk, "I know you're new, the talk of the academy miss popular."
I stand up, I will not be embarrassed. I begin to say what I think about the first chapter and who is my favorite character from just reading.
"You're absolutely right miss Yearwood, two points, now let's begin", the teacher nods.
Someone raises their hand, it's Avery.
"What if I have a different favorite character?"
"That's quite alright once you understand the story as you read along, this book is our first book for the semester, by the end of September I expect us to complete it and as we go along you'll get a quiz every few chapters", he explains.
We have to read at least 2-3 chapters for homework to prepare for the other class.
"Some of you had this on your summer reading list, am I right? I expect you to answer questions when I ask", he adds.
I read this book once, years ago but can't remember anything.
He begins to write on the whiteboard with his marker, all the books we'll be reading for the semester.
"Five books?" Dylan groans.
"Yes, Mr. Smokes", the teacher retorts, "did you have the first book on your summer reading list?"
"I don't have a reading list", he shrugs.
"Well starting from today you will, new rules for seniors are you fail any subject or your GPA is less than 3.5 by the end of the school year you don't graduate and will have to repeat the year."
"Repeat?" Avery gasps.
"Yes, Ms. Levine, don't worry I know all of you have maintained your high GPA, but I can't wait to see how you do Ms. Yearwood."
He looks at me.
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- Writer
