And so the last exam ends with the ring of the bell indicating that its time to submit the paper and be free for the next one month. I'm so excited that we'll finally be shopping today without any stress. Austin will be giving me a treat as promised by him for helping with the Physics paper. Jeremy and I wind up and as decided, meet up with the whole group at the main gate. "The paper was amazing guys! What about you all?"
"Of course. It was Art Ally. Art never goes bad. Coz Mrs. Simpson is a really sweet teacher and plus, Art is our imagination-" Suzanne can put up a really good speech on Art. I obstruct her from starting one.
"Got it mam. Your paper went great." Austin laughs at this and I smile at him. "Austin! Let's go! Shopping time!"
"Wait. Austin is going shopping with you?!" Jason seems really astonished at that.
"Yeah. Long story." Actually, not very long, but too long for my laziness. "Why don't we all hang out together? Let's all go buy some clothes for the vacation trip. What say." Shelly, Suzanne and Maria agree, leaving Jeremy, Jason, Eric, Austin and Caspar in a dilemma. They've got no choice there. They need to come along.
"Is it necessary for us to come along? Can't we boys have our own party? Drinks and stuff?" No way are we letting them have a party.
"Come on Caspar. Get your car. Hurry." Maria orders. So does Suzanne. "Shelly, Eric, Jason get in with us." Maria says. "The rest in Jason's car. We're meeting at Zara up the hill slope. 15 minutes from here." We nod and get in the car.
We meet at Zara and walk into the store, filled with fresh stock pieces all around. Best timing. "I'm going to see some pants for me." Suzanne says and Shelly goes along with her. Whereas Austin, Caspar and I walk to the dresses section.
"After we're done, we'll buy clothes for you boys. Okay?" They nod at my statement. After 1 hour of trial and picking of clothes, I decide to buy three pants, a pair of shorts and five tops with two dresses. Today I'm in a total mood of spending a lot on my clothes. I don't mind if Shelly takes up what she wants too. We can shop like this once in a while. Especially when the whole group is together. To boys have also found something good for themselves and we all head to billing section. After completing all the payments, we walk outside and see a small instant photo studio right opposite to the Zara store. "Guys! I need a pic of all of us! Let's go!" We all rush inside the small shop and get set for the picture. Shelly climbs up on Austin's back, Maria standing next to them. Next to her is standing Jeremy, then me, Jason with Suzanne on his back, next to me. At last, Eric and Caspar are standing, Caspar actually in half-fallen condition. This picture is the best one which will be framed on the wall of my room, just above the study table. We ask the photographer to print one copy for each one of us. We all gather up at Austin's house to spend some more time with each other, since Austin's dad is not yet back from his business trip.
"Mayo sandwich?" All agree with sparkling eyes and watering mouths. I head downstairs with Austin to help him out. I fry some cheese balls on the other stove when Austin puts his mayonnaise-covered finger on my nose. I do the same. We start laughing and I put lettuce on his head. Austin is just about to take revenge, when Jeremy clears his throat, indicating that the whole group is watching us. Oops moment!
"What's going here guys? We want to have sandwiches. You guys just wiling away your time here? That's bad." Caspar says, adding to the teaser.
"We're almost done." I pull out plates for everyone and place the grilled sandwiches in it before passing it to the people. After eating, we just chat, chat and chat when Shelly notices that its 7:30 pm and Laura will be arriving home any moment now. We ask for our leave and head home from the main gate coz I had locked the window of my room before leaving. We walk in my room and open the window. We can chat like this as well. We then plan of a stay over. That is when Maria says that we have paper showing tomorrow. So its the terror coming up tomorrow. I hope we all get good grades.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Laura and Shelly are already ready and waiting downstairs for me. I walk downstairs with my blue canvas and navy blue hoodie. "Am I late?"
"As always." I say nothing and walk towards the door, shooting a glare at Shelly. "Don't give me that look. Let's go."
We decided to walk to the school to get some fresh air before the atom bomb drops on us. We first decide to visit Shelly's class teacher for her report sheet. I can see Shelly's face exhibiting tension. She signs on the sheet to give a record that she has received her analysis report. Ms. Thompson hands her report and her face lights up on seeing her marksheet. When Laura passes it on to me, I'm o glad to see that she has god A+ in all subjects except for Botany where she achieved an A. That means she just needs to work a little bit more on her Botany and she'll be fine.
We move on to my classroom and I sign on the register too before Ms. Canes gives me the report. The adrenal glands in my body have now relaxed on seeing straight A's in every subject. No exceptions! I'm so glad and in the remarks, Ms. Mariette, our extracurricular coordinator has mentioned that I'm really responsible of leading the crowd and that I am added to the nominee list for the coordinators club as its President. Laura and Shelly are really happy for me and Shelly herself too. We've got a good impression now, after getting good grades in our first exams in this college.
Great job Ally! Let's go and check out with the others now.
Luckily, all of them are gathered right near the car park and all parents, grouped up next to us. On inquiry, all of them have got amazing grades and Austin is really happy as he finally achieved A+ in Physics, the only subject he was lagging in, although he doesn't pay any attention in the class. He thanks me for the help. I give him a warm smile. Just then, we are all asked to gather in the assembly area most probably to tell us about our upcoming trip. Can't wait for that!
We walk down the hallway towards the assembly room as the room gets filled up with more and more students. "I wonder what this is about." Suzanne asks, scrinching her eyebrows.
"I hope for something worth all this waiting." Shelly adds up, shrugging her shoulder.
"Good morning students. Firstly congratulations to everyone on securing great grades. Secondly, Ms. Brinbale herself would like to to talk to you all about something very important in Strasbourg High." A wave of whisper erupts among the crowd on hearing Ms. Canes.
"Hello students. Hope you are all having a great day. Okay. I'll directly come to the point. Like every year, the school is organising yet another recreational trip looking forward to this being periodic activity now. This trip will not be anything related to your studies. Nothing......" Everyone in the room roars in excitement and happiness including us. "....... Now for the details of the trip. The forms will be put up on the notice board on every floor. It'll also be passed on to the head of the coordinators club and hence onto the office bearers of the club. You can always ask them out for any queries. For now, I want all of you to disperse and get yourselves ready for the trip as it's gonna be real fun. Thank you!"
Hell yeah! First outdoor trip with my group!
"I couldn't be anymore happy." Shelly states clapping her hands in excitement.
"It' gonna be so much fun!" Eric adds.
"Who wouldn't agree to that!" Austin speaks up before leaning closer to my ear and whispering, "Your first trip after moving to Strasbourg right? Don't worry. It'll be the best one. You can trust me on that." I look into his oceanic eyes as he takes me off guard by what he just said, my still bearing a small smile. Austin winks at me and breaks the eye contact as we walk up to the exit of the school and towards the mall for shopping again as we start listing down all the we will be needing for our trip.