I joined my friends outside at the courtyard. It was surrounded by a huge forest and had logs all over. They waved at m and I smiled back.
“What took you so long?” Sahara asked me.
“I guess I was the only one who answered long response” I explained. They all told me they just put one to two word answers. We sat down at a circular table telling jokes and eating the snacks that popped up. On the other side of the courtyard, Kraun and Leon were shouting at each other.
“What’s going on over there?” wondered Eli. There was a group of people forming around them.
“We won’t find out if we stay here” Nigel remarked getting up from the table, we followed him.
“Fuck you” Leon blurted out. I looked over at Kraun who was turning red.
He growled, “Say one more word and I swear I’ll--” He was cut off by a deafening whistle. We all looked around to see who it was, but we couldn’t see anything. Everyone was on the floor with their hands to their ears, the sound was horrible. The whistling finally stopped after thirty seconds (even though, it seemed like five minutes). I got up and looked around, I was confused. Then right before my eyes a big black thing fell from the sky. Everyone stared at it. It had human features but moved like a robot.
“See ya!” Nigel croaked. He grabbed my hands and we got a head start. Right after, Eli was behind me with Sahara. We ran for safe spot while everyone just stood there watching it. The unthinkable happened: the robot’s eye shot open and rays of fire came from its eye.
Everyone ran and screamed around. The robot was now running with fire from its eye. Nigel found a small cave near the forest and we hid in it. “What is that thing?” Eli managed to get out. He was breathing harder than the rest of us. “Not sure” Sahara said. I thought about it for a moment. Hadn’t they said almost everything was going to be tested? Or it that a fragment of my imagination? I kept silent while watching everyone try to save their life. I felt guilty having a place to hide when they didn’t.
“Ahh!” cried Kraun. He was burned in the leg. He was limping to safety when the robot appeared behind him and swallowed him whole. I closed my eyes shut and Sahara screamed shortly before someone covered her mouth. I started to cry. Though, I opened my eyes when I heard a pitchy cry for help.
It was Saiyak. She started to run and robot spun around and he was closely behind her. I saw the fear in her eyes. Seeing something like that triggered something in me: Bravery. I got up and sprinted towards at full speed. “Over here!” I shouted out her. She hid behind me; I could feel her feet shaking. I braced myself for whatever happened next. The robot stopped in front of me and closed it eyes. A few seconds later, the stomach opened revealing Kraun. I held my hand out and he took a hold of it and climbed out.
“Thanks” he mumbled. The robot flew back where it came from and the othere came out from hiding. Sharon came running to us. I looked around for my friends until I spotted Connie Harris standing on top of the roof. She nodded her head and vanished.
Nigel, Eli, and Sahara came up to me and hugged me. Eli looked as if he was crying and hugged me tightly and threatened to kill me himself if I ever pulled a stunt like that again. I laughed so hard and so did Sahara.
“Everyone that was test but as you can see only Kelly passed” Sharon informed us. I started to blush. Nigel picked me up and everyone high-fived me. This was the first time I ever got so much attention and quite frankly I enjoyed it. My victory came to end when Sharon told me Connie Harris wanted to see me. I followed her and left my friends behind.
We walked up a corrider and reached a door that had two infinity symbols on it. Sharon placed her hand and eye up to a scanner. It spoke up with a woman’s voice. “Sharon Wheeler of America. ID number 246392. Please Verify” Sharon spoke very clearly and said “Ducky”. I giggled, it was weird password to choose. “Access granted” and the doors opened up to stairs. Sharon climbed onto one and it started to move upwards. I jumped onto the steps also.
The stairs came to halt shortly after and we stepped off. Sharon told me to wait here and disappeared. I ended up in a brown oak colored office. It had a big desk with Griffins on the bottom of the thing they kept the desk up. All around were awards and pictures. On one of the shelves stood a a hat with a face on it. It growled and snored. It reminded me awfully of a something my told me about: A book? Movie? Show? I just couldn’t remember---
“No, I’m not related to Dumbledore but I am a huge fan of him” said a voice. I turned around to see Connie Harris standing a beautiful blue gown. She sat down at her desk and told me to take a seat.
“I read your test answers and I must say impressive.” She started. “But I just can put my finger on it” She gritted her teeth. “On what?” I asked her.
“Your results, I mean your answers show you’re shy and scared but today you showed a great deal of bravery and I must applaud you for that” she clapped her twice then stopped.
“It was just an instinct” I pointed out. She nodded her head and pulled a fife from the snap of her fingers. “Kelly Osbourne, am I right?” she asked. I nodded my head and rolled my eyes.
“Your mom works at a stripper to support you two” she said more at a statement then a questions. I stared at her.
“Dad left you guys?” she asked. I nodded. “Do you know his whereabouts?” she asked me in a flat voice.
“No” I hissed.
“Such a shame” She continued “your dad, Mark was so talented, very smart.” I was started to get angry with her. “So?” I sputtered.
“So, he give it all up for your mom” she pointed a finger at me “and you.”
“Don’t act like you know him!” I scolded.
She stayed calm. “Oh, but I do know him. I know him very well indeed. You see, he was one of my brightest students” she exclaimed. That’s how she knew my dad. That also explains---
“Why I chose you? Yes, it does” she smiled slyly.
*********
“She knew everything about me, it was so awkward” I told Nigel, Eli, and Sahara back in our rooms. “What does she mean your dad was a student of hers?” Nigel asked with curiosity.
“Before Connie became vice president, she used to teach at Harvard” Eli noted.
“Do you ever remember your dad ever being a student there?” Sahara asked.
“I don’t know. My memory doesn’t work as well as it used too” I lied. I didn’t want them to know that my dad left when I was young, even though they were my bestfriend. I just wasn’t ready to tell them.
“What the hell?” Nigel laughed. “Your sixteen! ‘doesn’t work as it used to’ oh my god” He fell off his bed laughing his butt off. Eli eventually caught on and started laughing too. They inform us it’s time for dinner, so we go to the dining hall. We sit near the end of the table far from Connie Harris. As Sharon walks by, she pats me on the back.
A boy named Shawn, Saiyak, and Carla come to join us. We talk about everything: home, friends, school, and the rebellions.
“Do you think the world might change?” Eli wondered. Saiyak shook her hand, “likely not”
“How do you know?” Carla retorted.
“It’s only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve” Saiyak speculated.
“Woah!” Nigel blurted out. “You just totally quoted ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’” I laughed. I remember watching that movie with my mom.
“What’s that?” Saiyak asked puzzled.
“Geez, you futuristic people, it’s like you don’t watch movies!” Nigel commented. He was right. Saiyak shrugged her shoulders, “I only read.”
Eli smirked. “That explains a lot”. Everyone laughed except Saiyak who was beyond confused. While we were having a great time, Drew walked in. He was wearing gray sweatpants and a black wife-beater. His hair was messy and he looked very tired. Can he get any cuter? I had a short thought about me waking up in the morning in bed with him. I sighed.
He was walking in the direction of my table. My blood was rushing, my heart was pounding against my skin. I patted my hair to check if it was alright. I quickly looked around and noticed the only seat available was the one next to me. He flopped down on the chair beside me. I didn’t dare look at him for I knew I was blushing like crazy. Sahara nudged me in the stomach and winked at me.
“So, you guys ready for tomorrow?” Drew asked us. Everyone answered aloud but I just nodded. Drew took notice, “What? You can’t speak all of the sudden?”
I turned around and looked him in the eye, “What?”
“I heard what you did today. Nice stunt” he smirked. “Some brave shit you pulled off but now you’re all quiet as a mouse” Everyone was now listening. He continued, “What are you? Double personality? Two-faced?”
“Hey!” Sahara chimed in, “Back off!”
“Yeah, you don’t know her” Eli said. My friends were sticking up for me, I brightened up.
“Drew, what’s all the fuss down there?” Connie Harris asked. “Nothing” Drew lied. He got up and started for the door. Before leaving, he turned around and said “Careful, you guys” He said pointing to my friends. “Don’t let her deceive you” and he walked out. I looked at my friends who looked down at their plates.
“Do you guys believe him?” I asked.
“Nah” Eli said.
“No, don’t worry. He’s full of rubbish” Nigel winked. I smiled at them but I couldn’t help notice that Sahara was still staring at her plate.