Shine: Chapter 2

by Lilly, Grade 7

Chapter #2

Social Studies: So… who is the Census?

ELA: I may have fallen asleep if Kaylie didn’t poke me from across the aisle.

Science: What if I don’t WANT to dissect a frog, I mean YUCK! And finally!

Math class. Man, it's a good thing that Gus reminded me to do my homework, otherwise I would’ve ruined my only chance to impress Everett. He is like the nicest guy at Malcolm. I blush deep red when I think of the bus ride. I think I just got a case of the shivers.

“Does everyone have their homework?” Mr. Crane asks in his regular monotone voice. I practically throw mine in the air when most of the class raises theirs or digs through their binders cursing under their breath. Everett is one of these people, by no surprise. But, he just sits there, slouching, combing his fingers through his hair. He never finishes his homework so Mr.Crane tells him if he forgets again, he will have to kick him off the basketball team. Every class, it's, “Everett, one more chance, or else there will be no more basketball.” And all that it is a privilege that can be taken away junk. So, he has had one last chance since the second day of school. No one can touch Everett because his dad is so rich and the main contributor to the school. Then my chance strikes me out of my trance. Mr. Crane asks for someone to help him with the homework! He explains that it is to walk him through it and explain it, not give him the answers. I try to raise my hand casually but before anyone else.

“Raven, please take your homework sheet and an extra from the front desk and go work with Everett in the back. I can catch you up about the class discussion later.” Mr. Crane concluded. I jump at the chance and walk to Everett’s desk, in the way back.

He smiles and pulls up a chair for me to sit in. “So…” I start off.

“So.” He says, trying not to smile. Can he tell that I am too? EEK! YAY! He takes the extra homework sheet from my hand.

“Let’s start on #1. Now I think …” But I am not listening. HE TOUCHED MY HAND. HE TOUCHED ME. I try to shake myself out of it and focus, but I am giddy with love. I think I might faint. I look to Kaylie for help, and she gives me a thumbs up. I nod, grin, and turn back to Everett, who hasn’t looked up. Kaylie has known about my crush ever since 3rd grade. Cmon, focus Raven. Don’t you dare blow it. And then, we start off the best math class ever.

But my day is far from over. After math, Everett smiles, waves and walks into the science classroom next door. I am so red in the face that I can barely wave back. I turn 180 degrees and am consumed by a tornado. Kaylie is jumping around and asking me 10 questions per second.

“Did you confess to him? Did he ask about you? Did you ask about him? Do you think HE has a crush on YOU, TOO!?!” She looks like it is mozzarella stick day in the cafeteria.

“Kaylie! Chill! We just went over the homework! It's not like he asked me out or anything!” I exclaim. Although that date thing would be pretty nice… I think to myself. Kaylie gives me a look that reads all too well, ‘Really? So disappointing.’ Lucky, the warning bell goes off, so I am saved from her rush of questions and my pitiful answers, I realize. Maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal. Nope. Nope. NOPE. I will treasure that class forever. I smile and drift back into the conversation.

“See you in Gym?” Kaylie asks, already walking backwards toward the hallway.

“I guess.” I say sticking out my tongue as she laughs and takes off at a jog. I just have to survive Spanish until then.

Gym was a bust. I am pretty sure Mr.Thornton assumes we all can do 50 push-ups without breaking a sweat.

“Today, I will let you guys take a little break from all this,” Mr.Thornton coughs into his fist, “HARD work.” I look around the gym until I can find Kylie. I know she will immediately be disappointed, and sure enough, I recognize the slump in her back. I grin and turn back to Mr.Thornton, who was passing out permission slips for fall sports. He was trying to convince Kylie to join the basketball team, along with soccer and cross country. By the looks of Mr. Thornton’s hand gestures and hopeful smile, he was going to win that argument. Once he was finished, Mr.Thornton announced that we would have a free period to talk, finish up work or play basketball on the other side of the court.

I squeezed past a clique of girls in my Social Studies class and into the locker room where I changed out of my gym clothes and took out my computer case and headphones. I retreated to the corner of the gym that was unoccupied, slipped on my headphones and played my Sunny Days playlist of hip hop, pop and soul. I looked up to confirm where Kaylie was, which I assumed to be challenging the random people to a game of basketball. Which was not far off. I found her trying to convince other girls to play with her so she could have a full team. I smiled, then I worked on my homework until the merciful end of gym class. Now all I had to do was shake off Gus and survive the bus ride home. Which is MUCH harder than it sounds.