celestial

十三

Last edited » January 28, 2024
Author's Note » side note because it comes up and i don't know how common this system is: in my school, rooms are labeled by the wing they're in (A, B, C, D, or E) and whether or not it's in the 100s or 200s denotes if it's upstairs or downstairs (i.e E209 or D104)

wings typically have a theme, as well:
- A wing is the hallway basically and has the bathrooms
- B wing is art, music, agriculture, and anything else that's extracurricular
- C wing is language (Spanish and French) and the sciences
- D wing is computers, some math, and more extracurriculars like health class
- E wing is math and english
- there's also F but that's the cafeteria, the gym, and the dance class. think of it like a hand with A wing at the center
Referenced Movie(s) » N/A
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TUESDAY
7 AM

It was the first day back from spring break, however, the real full school day would be tomorrow. Monday and Tuesday were the school's registered dates for the SATs and PSATs respectively. Yesterday, the seniors and juniors were the only ones present at CHS while the sophomores and freshmen were given one more day of spring break. Today was the opposite.

Yesterday, Dash and her friends got together to host one last study session for good luck. You were invited by her's truly but declined. Dash's friends seemed like great people but they weren't your kind of people. The very opposite, actually: extroverted and attention-drawing.

Getting out of your car, your usual, heavy bookbag was much lighter for all you brought today was your school registered Chromebook. If only your bag could be this light every day. It was definitely much better for your back and shoulders.

Turning around to close the driver's door, you gasped but would soon smile when arms wrapped around your neck. You were in a (gentle) headlock.

"Did you think I was kidding?" Dash grit through her teeth. You laughed as she managed to maneuver your bodies and make you fall back into the driver's seat. You landed on her lap; Dash's legs wrapped around your torso to gain complete control over you.

"I meant easy in bowling!" you frantically pat her arms for mercy. "Not Mario Kart! I barely knew how to play, but I didn't correct myself because you got so mad and it was funny!"

"Nobody goes easy on Rainbow Dash."

You were actually starting to lose the ability to breathe correctly, "Dash, we need to get to our rooms!" All students were randomly assigned classrooms for testing.

"What's your room?"

"E107!"

"Oh, we're so close." You sighed as her arms relaxed. Her legs stayed, however. "I'm in E10..."

She looked at her hand, the room written in thick, black ink. "3. E103."

"That's my English teacher's room." Dash got up, making sure you didn't fall by putting her hands on your stomach.

"Did you finish that essay?" You two made your way to E wing.

You shrugged. "Most of it. It's due before class so I'm gonna proofread one last time today and submit it."

"Did your parents write you a note so you can leave early or are you staying until 2:15?" 2:15 PM was when the final bell rang.

"No, I have a note, but.. not physically. They called the school; my parents travel for work so I'm usually at the house by myself."

Her expression softened. "Do you see them a lot?"

"Not a lot, but enough. New Years, Christmas, my birthday, Thanksgiving, and any other big holiday I'm forgetting. If they can, they'll bring me with them for spring break so I can see Japan outside of visiting my Dad's family, but that wasn't this year, so they sent souvenirs."

"It used to be more when I was younger, obviously. I was always with them since they were homeschooling me- actually, it wasn't really homeschool, more online. They didn't teach me specifically, they just supervised it."

"Y'know, when you said that some days ago, it actually made a lot of sense," Dash laughed. "I knew everyone at CHS last year since most of us went to the same junior high, but not you."

You smiled, "Is that why we're dating? I stood out?"

She gasped. "We're dating?!"

"Yes, dating, not in a relationship. Dating someone implies you've went on dates." She groaned.

"Summer," she confidently stated. "We'll spend the day together and have dinner sometime in the summer. I'm just.. really busy with clubs and sports and.. magic and stuff."

You feigned a sigh. "I don't come first..."

"No! You do-"

"冗ー談," you smiled, speaking with a sing-song tone. "I get it. I prefer a good time over a rushed time. It means a lot to me that you want to set aside specific time for us."

Her eyebrows shortly furrowed. "'Jo-dan'?"

"It literally means 'joke,' but is used as kidding." You two were walking down E wing now. Luckily, both of your classrooms were towards the end of the hallway, thus giving you two a few more seconds to talk.

"You should speak Japanese more. I wanna, like.. be able to pick out certain things."

"わかった."
- Wakatta → Understood

"Oh, I know that one! It's 'alright'!" You softly laughed as you walked into your room, a few students were already in their seats.

"Oh, you'll probably finish before all my friends so wait for me!" Dash yelled before you walked too far.

You walked back to the door. "I'll leave with you." You nod.

HOURS LATER — IN THE PARKING LOT

"When do our scores come out?"

"In May." You went to open your door but Dash beat you to it. She smiled upon your short glare.

"I can open my own door." You weren't the biggest fan of chivalry. It wasn't genuine nowadays, only done for reputation or bragging rights.

"I know." You start the car as she walked around to the passenger seat.

"How do you think you did?" Dash continued to inquire.

"...I'd be happy with 1000. It's only PSATs so it's out of 1520, not 1600."

"You?" You looked behind you as you backed out. You weren't particularly particular with your parking today as you wouldn't be here all day, so you didn't back in.

"...9- No." Dash paused, slowly smirking, "850. I'd be happy with a 900, though, but I'm below average."

"I don't think you're below average. You're not a genius, but you could be in honors if you actually tried. You're quick to understand once it finally makes sense to you."

"Yeah, 'finally'."

"I mean in the sense that it occurs last, not.. that it occurs eventually."

Dash's soft laugh was pitiful. "You don't have to give me fake compliments. I know what I am and what I'm not."

"I'm not lying to you." There was a red light. You slowly eased your foot on the brake. "I don't think anyone is objectively smart because intelligence.. has multiple definitions, but you're a very quick problem solver, you can analyze a situation very quickly and proceed, you make great connections and have a great sense of understanding, and you would be surprised how much... various intelligence being in sports is giving you."

You continued, seeing how much Dash needed a pep talk, "When I told you that parabolas are the shape that a hit volleyball makes, everything made sense for you and you would beat me to an explanation because you finally saw quadratic equations in a way that made sense. Just because you need certain.. analogies doesn't make you any smarter or dumber, it just means you understand things differently from other people. I need facts but you need similes, but you're a great.. very intelligent person, and I am very excited to call you my girlfriend." She silently looked at you.

"Don't distract the driver!" you laughed, dodging her hand about to push your face as she started blushing.

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