Immortals Of Byolla Bay

Maggie and I walked into the classroom with her still chattering away about how different this school was from her previous one, which held about 2500 students. I liked Maggie. She was supermodel gorgeous from head to toe, looking exactly like she had stepped off a runway in Hollywood. Yet she was nothing like Analya. She didn’t flaunt her looks or act as if she was better than anyone else, nor did she acknowledge any of the boys who visibly were turned in their seats staring at her from the other side of the classroom.

We were seated in the back double desk of the third row, where I normally sat alone. Any other day the rich boys who sat against the wall in the last row were loud, attention hogs making the girls around them giggle as they told stupid jokes and bragged about how good they were at sports. Today, however, they were quietly gaping at the blonde haired beauty sitting next to me. Maggie was either ignoring them or blissfully unaware of their eyes glued to her face and body.

Our teacher then came through the door, slamming it on her way in.

Mrs. Yolawe was almost always in a bad mood for one reason or another. She didn’t tolerate bad behavior or ignorance very well. Those who failed quizzes or got low grades she would lecture them in front of the class and throw their paper in the trash, giving them zeros for the day.

This was still my favorite class though. I love to read and in here it’s all we do, then take comprehension quizzes. Easy. However, most of the time I’m the only one here who does my work, which infuriates Mrs. Yolawe to no end at everyone else in class.

Today she seemed like she was in her normal pissed off at the world state as she surveyed the class, “Great, a new one. I’m sure you will be like almost everyone else in here and be worthless. Turn to page 128. We covered the transcendentalism movement, now we are moving on to Naturalism. Can any of you name any authors that were based out of this period? I’ll be shocked if you can.”

The class went silent. I hadn’t read ahead to know any of the upcoming authors we would learn about either, I have been preoccupied with a particular green eyed Adonis. Maggie raised her hand, which made Mrs. Yolawe raise an eyebrow, “Yes, new girl?” Maggie lowered her hand, “Mark Twain and John Steinbeck.” Mrs. Yolawe looked shocked, “Very good. We will be reading Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, written in 1889.”

Maggie pursed her lips and raised her hand again. The teacher rolled her eyes and called on her, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Yolawe, but Huckleberry Finn was written in 1884.” The teacher bristled, “Look little girl, I don’t know how you did things in the school you came from, but here students don’t correct teachers. You don’t like it, move back.” Maggie rolled her eyes, completely unfazed by the teacher’s outburst. So not only was she beautiful, but smart, too.

Maggie looked over and winked at me, “Trust me, Kinsley these teachers here got their teaching certificates printed off the internet just to look legit. They have no clue what they are doing.” I agreed with her, but just never had the guts to say it like she did. Our class went by fast and the bell for last period rang.

Meshella was waiting for me in the gym locker room like always. When I walked in with Maggie her eyes lit up, “So you must be Maggie, the new girl. I’m Meshella, Kinsley’s bestie!” She said as she looped an arm around me and lead us both to our lockers.

“Seriously though, you can call me Mag if you would like.” Maggie smiled. “Okay, Mag. There’s not any empty lockers, but you can share one with me.” I offered her. She smiled, “I don’t mind sharing. Luckily they gave my parents my set of gym clothes when they came to register us here. These colors are horrendous by the way.”

Maggie set her bags inside the locker, then we dressed out and walked out for roll call. Coach Ronald called our names, acknowledging Maggie for a minute. She then split us up into groups, like normal, for the only two things she lets us do, volleyball and walking around the gym.

Meshella, Maggie and I were in the volleyball group that was against Analya and her group. “Alright, let’s get this over with.” Meshella grumbled. Meshella was amazing at volleyball, but Analya and her sidekicks always seemed to beat our team, probably because no one else on our side was as sports oriented as she was.

“Oh it’s that Jezebel I can’t stand,” Mag mused out loud, “Luckily I’m pretty good at this game and hopefully can accidentally hit her in the nose with the ball.” Meshella piped up, “You have been here a day and already can’t stand Analya? I knew I was going to like you! Okay, you stay up front, I’ll go to the back and serve.”

Meshella looked ecstatic to have someone on our team who can play volleyball and hates Analya. Coach Ronald blew her whistle and the game began. Meshella served, and Analya ran forward, hitting the ball back over the net. The next thing we knew blood spurted from Analya’s nose as she fell on the ground holding her face and crying loudly. The volleyball bounced beside her and gave us first point.

Coach Ronald came running in between us demanding to know what happened. Meshella was quietly giggling behind me as Maggie innocently explained how it was an accident and she didn’t realize Analya was right there when she spiked the ball over the net. Coach Ronald shook her head and helped Analya to her feet, leading her to the nurse’s office. When they were out of hearing range Meshella and Mag burst out laughing, getting horrible looks from Analya’s friends.

“Oh man, why couldn’t someone have been recording that just now? I would have paid anything just to be able to watch that in slow motion. That was so fast, I didn’t even see you spike it!” Meshella was singing Mag’s praises. Come to think of it, the last time I seen the ball in the air it was just now crossing the net to our side when her nose got busted. Wow, Maggie is fast.

Meshella clapped me on the shoulder, “I like this girl, Kinsley! Hey Maggie this weekend I’m having a birthday bonfire party down at the beach, you should definitely come. Oh and Rikki can come, too.” At the mention of Rikki’s name I felt the familiar presence of butterflies in my tummy. He does things to me like this when he isn’t even around. Man do I have it bad, already. I’ve got to stop myself from feeling like this. Guys like him are NOT into girls like me.

Coach Ronald came back telling us to dress out and sit in the bleachers until time to go. Apparently Analya called her parents and blew the whole thing out of proportion. They came up to the school demanding to know why such a “dangerous game” was being played and they were not informed of it.

The sad thing about this place is that all the kids who live in the front part of town get away with everything because their parents are the ones who fund the school and it’s necessities. The principal is a kiss ass especially to the Winnigroves and the Forthropes. It won’t surprise me any if tomorrow we come in and volleyball is banned.

Mag and Meshella were talking about dresses and party décor. I was smiling and nodding along because honestly decoration and shopping were not my thing so honestly anything they did was going to look fine to me. Don’t get me wrong I love to go to the mall, but not for shopping sprees. I love the trendy little bookstore next to Meshella’s favorite dress shop.

“I will definitely need to go buy a party dress. Where do you go around here to shop by the way?” Mag asked. “We have to go to the mall in the next town over. The only place to buy anything other than food and gas is in Zephyr’s Landing.” I answered.

She smiled with delight, “That sounds like a road trip! Tell me you two are free today?” Meshella shook her head, “I promised my mom I would stay home tonight because we didn’t get back until late from Zephyr’s Landing buying me a birthday dress, but I’m sure Kinsley is free. You need someone to show you the way anyways.”

It was true, I was free. Today is one of the days that mom stops and picks food up on her way home, so I could just text her and tell her I wouldn’t be home until late. I nodded, “Sure, I need to find something to wear anyways other than jeans.” Maggie clapped her hands, “Yay! It’s settled. We can just go to my house and I’ll borrow mom’s car!” The bell rings and we walk out the door leading to the trail, only to find Rikki already there waiting for us.