A Technical Miscalculation?

Prologue

Why can't time pass fast enough!?

I look at each box before glancing at the clock above the door of the office. With a huff, I face forward and begin to gnaw on the inside of my cheek. When I hear rustling, my head expectantly snaps towards the door and when – a few moments later – nobody even passes by, it hits me.

"Wow," I whisper. Finally letting go of the hem of my shirt, I stuff my hands into my pockets and start rocking back and forth on my heels. "I'm an idiot."

I look back at each of the five red boxes placed before me: a bold, black number in cursive writing atop each lid. Staring at the box numbered one, my hand faintly twitches as the temptation to pull one end of the black bow grows.

Groaning aloud, I roll my head and tighten the grip on my pockets.

Not yet.

After focusing a moment longer on the boxes, I squint at the ribbons.

Is that... satin? 

Sighing, I peer at the boxes as my stomach ties into knots. 

Ridiculous. The results are in labeled boxes, each wrapped in a black satin ribbon.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I turn away to look out the window and at the empty football field outside.

Why does this school take this tradition so seriously!  

I roll my eyes.

And with my luck, I just happen to be the one revealing this year's results to the whole student body.

Feeling my stomach flip, I take a deep breath and instead focus on the clock. I still and watch as the second-hand ticks away:Tick-tock. Tick-tock. I narrow my eyes at the annoying thin black stick as it mocks me with how many more, much more, seconds I have before its time.

Soon realizing how stupid I probably looked scowling at a clock, I turn away from it and mentally hit myself upside the head. Even though I'm alone in the main office, my face warms at the thought of having done the same humiliating thing while being amongst many others.

Rubbing my face, I stand still, determined to not look at the clock again: Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Gosh, why did I have to do this

Spinning on my heel, I glare at the damned thing. 

"Seth?"

My stomach jumps into my chest and I choke on a curse. I turn towards the source of the abrupt voice and feel a suffocating abundance of embarrassment as I face the school's main secretary.

"Yes, Miss?" I croak while probably blushing. She giggles and I take it as confirmation that I am.

"There are ten minutes left before we put you on the PA, five before the bell rings," Miss Nora informs me sweetly, her presence comforting enough to stop me from jumping out the window — which seemed like a pretty good choice. Looking back at me, Miss Nora's smile widens and manages to coax a shy one from me as well.

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I can ever be―," I stop short as a strange feeling crawls up my neck and tickles my nose. "Achoo !" 

Oh, no...

I glance at the window as the option becomes more tempting.

Miss Nora giggles and blesses me. Stepping away from the door, she places her hand on my shoulder and gives me a reassuring squeeze.