“Excuse me? What did you just say to me?” Fiona snaps her neck to our direction and glares at Jasmine.560Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIqdluVaCk
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Ms. Monica stomps her heels and walks towards our desks.
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“Hey! Quiet down! I’m still in this class. Do you have no conscience how to behave when the teacher is still present?”
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Fiona gulps but her big, rich brown eyes are still fixed on Jasmine.
“We’re sorry Miss… it won’t happen again.” Jasmine says like casual.
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“Better stick to your words. I will not accept this type of tone again. Refrain from useless fights you two.” Ms. Monica says to Fiona and Jaz but it feels like she’s lecturing everyone.
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“Yes Ma’am.” Jasmine and Fiona say in unison.
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Our teacher gives them both a serious look before turning back to her table to collect her things and just then the bell rings indicating that the class in finished.
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I’m kind of upset that we didn’t see more drama between them but it’s also for the best because they might have ended up in the principal’s office if it got worse. Highly doubt it would ever gone that far because I know Jaz would never lift a finger no matter how much another person tries to test her. She will always stick to her casual roasting which some girls take way too seriously or they would take it lightly.
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No in way between.
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“Hold on guys I gotta pick up Max.” I say to my friends as soon as we’re done for the day. We head downstairs and I walk towards my brothers section.
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“Sure, take your time.” Alyssa responds.
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Max is my little brother. He’s only eight but loves to talk big about how he’s one of the best soccer player in his team and even his sports teacher loves his never-ending love for his favorite game. He can be annoying but I cannot imagine my life without him. Being the only older sister he loves to tease me and I don’t mind it.
Even when I want to punch him when he’s being overdramatic.
“Sup.” Max says as he comes out of his classroom. His unzipped backpack dangling from his back.
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“You should atleast zip up your bag properly. No wonder you lose your things almost everyday dummy.” I say to him and zip his bag pockets. He scoffs.
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“How was school?”
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“It was boring. The only entertaining thing that happened was when Bonnie broke her front tooth as she bit into an apple. She has to go to the nurse!” He giggles and I shake my head.
“It was funnier to see in person.” He adds.
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“You shouldn’t laugh when someone gets hurt Max.” I tell him furrowing my brows.
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“You’re always being a grumpy cat.” He mumbles.
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“I am not! Don’t go pretending I didn’t hear that you brat.”
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“Whatever, I’m going to play some football with Ron for a while. Can you spare me ten minutes please!” He exclaims turning his tone to a sweet one.
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Although I want to say no, I too want to spend some more time with my friends and well see Nathan too. I didn’t see him at all at school. Maybe he didn’t come?
No way he’s a prefect and he’s rarely not doing his duty. I’ll definitely be able to see him by the exit.
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“Fine, I’ll be by bus 11. You only get ten minutes though.” I tell Max and he gives me a sideways hug.
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“You’re the best Madi!” He says and runs off with his bag flopping at the back, to the ground where a couple more kids are standing.
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“Alright I’ll have to head home.” Alyssa says looking her watch as I reach upto my group.
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“But I just got here!”
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“Sorry but my mom wanted me to help her with a few things. You know how it is.” She says.
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Alyssa has strict parents and she quite pressured into becoming this top student by them. I think she already is an excellent student considering how she gets straight A’s in all classes and let’s just say she’s smarter than the three of us.
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“Yeah we get it. My bus is leaving in a few minutes too so..” Jaz says and rocks her heels back and forth.
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“Really? I already gave Max ten minutes of freedom and you all are planning to run off.” I click my tongue in frustration.
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“That’s okay we’ll leave too!” I tell them and grab Meghan’s hand and almost go out the door but Jaz stops us.
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“Alright I’m sorry! I’ll stay.” She says with a fond smile.
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I stop in my steps and so does Meghan. We wave Alyssa goodbye as she exits the school.
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We start chatting about the project we’ll be making for our physics class and then there is also the presentation for science. Jaz brings up Fiona again and asks me why do I have to be friendly with her and braid her “stupid” hair. I laugh when she says that and explain that I might never forget what she did to me and Meghan but I’m mature enough to talk to her as a classmate.
Meghan and I were made fun of when we were in middle school by Fiona and her group. We were also a part of it back then. The jokes that were supposed to be funny didn’t seem to make us happy at all. It all felt like we were mocked for the smallest things that were hidden by their fake smiles. I decided to confront Fiona and tell her that I never liked how they made us look silly but she always brushed it off and called me a buzzkill. It wasn’t until Meghan also felt that way and we both decided that it had gotten too much and we should leave the group and how toxic it had become overtime. That didn’t seem like the end of the world but it definitely left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.
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I look at my watch and its been seven minutes already and still no sign of Nathan coming from his class. I tap my feet on the ground and wait some more. Just as another thought could escape my mind, there he was walking down from the front gate. His short, dark brown hair looked lighter in the sunlight, his tall and lean figure made him stand out from the rest of the crowd, his glasses looked so cute on his small face. He walks right past me and I look around so he doesn’t think I was gawking at him like an idiot. We never made eye contact for all these months and it made me a little sad.
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He probably has no idea I exist. After all, there are three more girls in my class who have crush on him too.
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I gasp.
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"I like that he has better style sense than the other guys. I mean his haircut looks neat." Jaz admires and turns to me.
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She's right. He's parted his hair to one side and its stays looking good for the rest of day.
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-
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Meghan, Max and I are now heading home.
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After my brother came running to us while sweating profusely, he apologized for being a bit late. I wasn't mad at him because technically those last few minutes were kind of exciting. I had a huge grin on my face and told Max he was fine.
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He doesn't know that I have a crush on the guy he almost kicked with his football back in May when Nate was telling the kids to go back to their classes because P.E was over. Max being the stubborn one didn't listen and intentionally kicked a ball to his back missing his head which Max added "was the original goal."
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We drop off Meghan and cross the road and reach our door. I ring the door bell and wait for mom to open it.
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"Are you sure you're not mad at me?" Max asks me searching my face for clues.
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"Yes, don't worry. Its all good." I smile and ruffle his hair playfully which is soaked in sweat. Ew.
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"You need to shower as soon as you get inside."
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My mom unlocks the door and we head in. Carefully placing our shoes on the rack and heading for the bathroom. I wash my hands and face and change my clothes. I put my hair into a bun and reach the kitchen counter.
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My mom owns an apartment. It's grey and navy blue in colors. Our front yard has a lawn and mom has planted a few flowers by the windowsill. Our backyard has a mini basketball area and a hoop where I like to practice sometimes and its usually occupied by my brother and his football fanatics.
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"What are you making?" I say as I check the cooking pot with its lid on.
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"Chicken and rice! It's almost done. The rice just needs a little more time. Would you set the plates dear?" Mom says as she hurries to the refrigerator to get some water.
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I set the table and we all sit down to eat our food. It's delicious as always. My mom has the best cooking skills which I admire about her.
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"Max, you didn't knock anyone out this time around, did you?" Mom asks.
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He swallows the rice and continues to speak.
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"No mom! I did not. I'm learning to be more careful." Max replies in an annoyed voice.
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"I see, that's very good honey, I'm just worried that the Khan's won't complain again because you know how you knocked their son and although he wasn't badly hurt, his parents still managed to turn everything upside down." Mom laughs weakly.
"What did they say mom? Was it Anita again?" I ask her curiously because I know this look all too well.
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"Yes it was her but its okay I don't mean to worry you both."
"You can tell me." I place my hand onto my mother's lightly.
My mom is a single mother. Our father died of a heart stroke when I was six and Max was two years old. Ever since, mom has refused to marry someone else.
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"If I raised both of you just fine on my own, I think I can live the rest of my life without needing another man." Thats her answer whenever someone would question her about marrying someone new.
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But I think she just can't get over our father. She misses him alot. I do too... He was a great dad who always did his best to never let us down. I remember when he brought me my favorite dollhouse on my fifth birthday just a year before he passed away. Everytime I think about it, my heart aches so I can only imagine how painful it must have been for my mother. But she's a confident woman alright and I'm so proud of her for being strong through it all.
My mom smiles and she cups my cheek.
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"You look tired honey, make sure to rest well after you finish your lunch okay?" She tells me changing the conversation. She looks at me with her beautiful caramel colored eyes. Her face framed wih a few strands of her that made their way out of her usual bun. Everyone says I look like my mother but I know she's prettier.
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Max and I clear the table and I do the few dishes that were left in the sink. I throw my school uniform in the washer and turn it on. I make my bed and plop my head on my pillow, closing the curtains behind me, I take a nap.
I wake up around 5 pm and rub my eyes.
Time for some school work.
I follow up to my time table most of the time and it's been great having a routine. I don't miss out on any of the subjects and get decent grades at school. I actually quite like how my life has been treating me.
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After I'm done finishing half of my assignment for physics and a few questionnaires of English and math. I stretch my back and pop my knuckles. I've taken biology as my elective subject and I think it was a safe decision to make. My head does spin at memorizing all the different types of bacteria and cells but it's bearable. Guess that's ninth grade for us.
When I'm all done, I pack my bag and set it aside.
I'm finally free!
For today atleast.
I hear the door bell ring and get up to open it.
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"I'll get it." My mom stands from her couch and opens the door.
"Good evening!" Our neighbor, Anita greets my mother.
Oh great.
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It had to be this troublesome woman.
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