The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 3

Cora heaved her backpack up onto her shoulders and fell into step beside Zoe. "So how was English?" she asked as they joined the herd of students streaming down the stairs.

"Alright. Got stuck with Mr. Upston, so it's going to be super easy and we're going to learn nothing. Ah well. At least I've got Warren and Fiona in the class. Those two are fun. And with two, I've got options for pair work and group projects. The last thing I want to do is get stuck with Ian again. I swear there are bags of bricks smarter than him. Who've you got for History?"

"Eydel, so it should be fun. Or at least not boring."

"I'm jealous. Upston already had a stick up this ass this morning and it's only going to get bigger as the semester goes on."

Cora blinked a bit as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight outside as they both emerged from the school. "At least you'll have a high mark for your university applications."

Zoe made a face. "At the expense of actually learning stuff I'm going to need when I go. Let's be honest, most of our teachers suck. I mean some of them are smart but they can't teach to save their lives. We get a couple of awesome ones but the bad ones almost ruin that. I can't wait until I'm out of here and don't have to deal with teachers who don't deserve the title."

"Yeah, university's got to be better than this. Remember last year when Mrs. Humes went on that half hour rant about 'kids these days' and the principal had to come in?"

"That was hilarious! Awful, but hilarious. I mean, I know she was retiring and had been teaching since my parents were in school, but Jesus, keep it together man. Still, it's better than that substitute we had who was crazy religious and yelled at us for 'taking the Lord's name in vain'. Didn't care that the boys were swearing up a storm, but I slip and say Jesus Christ and he's on me."

Cora chuckled as they passed through the shade cast by one of the many trees that sprouted in the front yards of the houses they passed on their way home. "I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head when you let your, ahem, preferences slip."

Zoe grinned wickedly, eyes crinkled up. "All it took was one fake sob to the administration about feeling like I was being harassed and discriminated against for my orientation and they booted his ass. That was great. One of the few times I've actually sided with the office. Most of the time they're the stupidest bureaucracy ever, but every once in a while they show some decency."

"That might have more to do with the fact that you're constantly arguing with them about stuff."

"Hey, last time wasn't my fault. They tried to keep me from my sweet, sweet peanut butter. If someone has an allergy they're going to have to learn how to deal with the fact that other people will eat it and then be around them. They might as well get used to it now."

"You have a problem," Cora replied, shaking her head. "I don't know how you don't get fat with the amount of peanut butter and other stuff you eat. And that's not even talking about the amount of baking you do."

"Speaking of baking..." Zoe glanced sideways at her.

"No! No! Damn you, witch!" Cora cried, fighting back a smile. "You're the reason that I never lose weight, even when I actually exercise."

"Like you need to lose weight. And are you really going to turn down s'mores brownies?"

Cora shook her head even as her mouth began to water. "Why am I friends with you again?"

"Because I feed you. Now hurry up!" Zoe said before beginning to jog. Cora was forced to hurry her own steps to catch up. Still, with what she was about to east the extra exercise was probably a good thing.