Since today is Friday, and classes on Fridays aren't taken really seriously, students bewilder around the grass field of the school. Apparently, I'm still wearing the same plain white top and checkered blue skirt as today's fashion. And so as the others. The school does have a bad taste in fashion.
And obviously, Aaliyah is absent. Lenore had to cover her up so she wouldn't die in the hands of her own grandmother-who I think is an evil person that needs to be executed like how witches were killed in the late 1500s. Lenore is all alone on the corner in front of the class. The two have hearing problems, so they prefer sitting in front. I only sit in the middle row somewhere near the wall.
The weird guy with a backpack and hoodie yesterday is still sitting in the same corner, and not giving a damn about anything going on in class. All he does is look down at his shaking legs, and cover his face. With his hoodie on, I can't exactly recognize who he is. But I just let him do his thing as long as it's not bothering me.
He promptly stands up from his seat and leaves with his backpack on. I shrug it off. Perhaps he was holding his pee for too long that he couldn't take it anymore.
The teacher isn't here yet and everyone is still causing chaos around so I decide to walk outside the classroom and lean on the balcony. I remember George saying Ysa and the others are coming over here. My phone buzzes so I pick it up, and Ysa is on the screen. I answer the call, only watching her waving her phone everywhere. She stabilizes her screen for a second, and I can see her big, chunky face on my screen. I can't believe how she can still fit on my 6-inch gadget.
"Hi, Riley!" She says breathlessly, smiling, while possibly walking.
Georger joins the call and greets. "Hi, guys! Where you at now?"
"Hi, George, we've already arrived. We're coming up there." She says, many footsteps overlapping her voice. She stretches her hand that holds her phone as she shows Jay, Patrick and Katy with her.
Ysa doesn't exercise so it's apparent that she catches her breath as she takes the stairs.
"Nice." George comments, and looks away from his camera. "Hey, guys! They're here."
I can hear him both on the phone and in my general surroundings. He's basically in my classroom as he yells. I hang up when I see Ysa and the others coming.
Claude, Josh, George, Mark and Kirby go out of the room, running toward them and throwing a hug when they all collide. I follow them, slowly walking forth, yet Ysa sees me and her eyes enlarge and her mouth forms a big O. She hurls herself into me, her big arms wrap me around, making me flinch from the action. I don't do anything but keep myself cool, hiding my hands in my hoodie pockets.
"I miss you, child!" She speaks against my ear.
She releases me from her crushing embrace and then Patrick gives me a high-five and a pat on my head. I groan at the nice thought. Jay gives me an eyebrow nod, and Katy gives me another hug. Hers is a little different from Ysa's. She's got short and thin arms, so she can't fully wrap herself around me, but she tried. She hurts my ribs instead of giving me a warm hug.
"Momma!" Lenore's voice echoes the entire hallway. She runs towards the guests and gives them a one time big hug.
Ysa is the mother-friend. She treats everyone as her children, and most of them play on with it. Lenore describes her as a living pillow since Ysa's big, but not that big. She's got the body that everyone wants to sleep on. Jay is a polyglot who looks like a science nerd or a band singer because of his hairstyle-a high ponytail. He's also very thin, as if he's never eaten his whole life. Patrick is, too. But he looks more like a corpse who just got woken up by his set alarm. Katy is the shortest among us. And she's basically tender, so she's got Ysa's back to keep her from breaking her bones.
Ysa is wearing a mustard cold shoulder top paired with light blue jeans which I think she looks cute in the color combination. Rubber shoes are her footwear. Jay is wearing a white oversized top along with short, fitting pants that accentuate his skinny thighs, and his feet are in high cut sneakers. Patrick is wearing a plain blue shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans, and a pair of white sneakers. I'd feel bad if those were caught in the mud. Katy has her style too. She's on a lavender top with a light brown jumper suit. She totally looks like a kid in those with a pair of high cut sneakers to hide her real height.
"Where's Aaliyah?" Ysa asks.
"Unfortunately, she went out on a date with her foreign boyfriend from Malaysia. I'm not even sure how the guy could take the flight all the way here all by himself at 16 years old. It's weird." George answers.
"He's rich, then."
"Yep. Most correct answer."
"We're gonna go somewhere around. You guys wanna come?" Patrick asks.
"I'll go with you since I'm bored." Lenore says, reaching for Katy's hand.
George shakes his head. "Nah, I'm staying. I'm waiting for Mark so we can play together."
"Me too." Kirby says.
"Yeah, me too." Claude adds.
They all turn to me, waiting for my response. I freeze for a second before I can answer. "Not me, Smith has something for me to do."
"What? Your essay?" Lenore asks.
"No, something that might save my failing grades."
Patrick looks at me. "What's your essay about, though?"
I reply, "Nonsense, really."
Lenore speaks. "It's about dinosaurs."
"Mm-hmm." Patrick nods.
"Well, we'll be right back." Ysa says.
The friends go together downstairs, pulling each other.