New World, Who’s This?

Class can sure be a drag

I sat in my chair as Mr Johnson droned on at his podium, talking about a book I remember learning about in High school, albeit briefly, but I got the basics of it.

Canterbury tales.

Fuck. That. Boring. s**t.

Don’t get me wrong, I like reading. I LOVE reading infact. Especially manga. Or really any kind of literature that’s fantasy based. I can throw in a history novel here and there.

I can’t retain to you though anything of Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Pride and prejudice, lord of the flies, etc. I do however love to read of mice and men. Weirdly enough. But this book? Canterbury tales? Yeah you can use context clues, but you’re still not gonna make any sense of this.

“Miss Anya Peterson, can you please tell me what you interpret from this,

“For I may wepe and waile, while that I live, with all that wo that prison may ye yeve, and eke with peine that love me yeveth also, that doubleth all my tourment and wo.”

I was drawing a complete blank. And I couldn’t stop myself from answering what I was actually thinking.

“That literally makes no sense.” I blurt.

That causes everyone to laugh.

Not that they really mattered all that much to me. I felt my face grow red. Not from embarrassment though.

“As always, adding magnificent insight on our discussions.” He hissed in annoyance.

“Claire Benedict, would you please try and translate?”

The pretty blonde that sat in the front. She wasn’t a very friendly person to people who got in on scholarship. Should say she makes their lives a living hell. Getting into Brown University was no small feat. Especially for me. I busted my a*s, working two jobs in highschool, as well as doing community service, just to be f*****g up in a writing class. More ammunition for them to use against me. High school truly never ends, just like they said in that Bowling for soup song.

“Of course Mr Johnson,” her voice came out sickly sweet.

“I think it’s saying that he’s sad in his life, and that he hopes that whomever was there for him, won’t go through the awful things he has had to go through.”

“Very well said, thank you Claire.”

She stole a look back at me, rolling her eyes and smirking, hoping for a reaction. But it never came, just as usual.

I gripped the pencil hard in my hand. I felt it c***k inbetween my fingers, but not enough to break it.

“I wouldn’t worry about it. I can’t stand this book either. Just a bunch of gibberish.” The guy next to me said. I didn’t know his name. I think it was either Mike or Matt. Something with a M.

I didn’t say anything in return, just slightly nodded.

——

Once class was over, Malia raced to me as we exited the classroom, linking her arm with mine as we made our way to the little cantina they had off campus.

“I’m really in the mood for a Taco Bowl today,” she says, nearly drooling, “or the Fajita one! Oh please get the fajita one so we can split it!!!” She begged me.

“Alright alright fine.”

We stood in line. It wasn’t a very long one.

“Um excuse me, I’m going to need to cut in front of you.”

I turned around and realized it was Claire, as well as her little friend group.

“Oh that’s too bad, you see we got here first. And besides, doesn’t Mexican food make you s**t your pants?” Malia hissed, venom clear on her tongue. I nearly giggled at the s**t your pants part.

“f**k off Malia, you don’t need to eat anymore lard ass.” Claire yelled angrily.

“You could lose a pound or two yourself.” Malia spat back at her. She took a step forward, towering over Claire like she does with me.

Claire shrank back. She recovered herself by scoffing then retorting “I don’t like the food here anyway, poor people stink up this place.” She glanced furiously at me, then walked away.

“Ugh, she’s annoying as f**k. She’s probably still mad my father makes more than her father.” Malia sighed.

We finally got up to the window and ordered our food.

We sat down with the taco and fajita bowls, and Malia started splitting them up.

We both took a bite.

Malia moaned. “Oh so so soooo good. I think it tastes better because I pissed off Claire.”

I giggled finally.

“You really need to loosen up. Start yelling back. I saw that look she gave you earlier in class. I would have jumped across the desks just to punch her in the face.”

I shrugged.

“I really don’t care what she thinks of me. I’m here for History anyway.” I looked down at my Apple Watch, and noticed my next class was in 10 minutes.

I started nearly inhaling my food.

“Slow down there killer, you’ll throw up!” Malia laughed.

I rolled my eyes and shoveled one last forkful of the spicy chicken and beef.

“I’m late for class.”

“Oh s**t that’s right. History with the gorgeous Mr Brenden. Maybe I should have been a history major.”

——