Jack got off the bus and walked to his homeroom. They had twenty minutes before class started and 1 hour, 40 minutes after that until they'd see if they were the chosen school. Jack spent the twenty minutes before class well. He sat and read, he looked at the girl he had a crush on (Alisha, but don't tell anyone okay?), and he ate the granola bar he had brought for a snack.
After the twenty minutes were up Jack walked to his locker, put his bag away, grabbed his computer and literacy notes, and headed to class. When he got to class he grabbed his copy of the book they were reading in class, Redwall, and sat down at his assigned spot in the front of the room.
In school Jack was always moderate. He got mostly B's and C's and if he was lucky, an A here or there. He wasn't sure that he was happy today. It was a Friday, that was something to be happy about, but it was also the 13th. That meant today was unlucky. But he never believed in omens, or luck.
The teacher went to the front of the room and turned on the audiobook of the book they were reading. Jack liked Brian Jacques as an author. He had a certain style that Jack liked. RIght as they were getting to the part of the book where Methuselah and Matthias were figuring out the writing on the wall, behind the tapestry an announcement came over the speakers and the teacher paused the book.
"As you all know," said their principal, Mr. Jackson, "Today is the day of the annual School Games! The government has announced that after today there will be no more School Games. Ever. They have realised that it is barbaric, but they must do the one this year, today. Have a nice day everyone and we'll see what school will get a blood manicure in," Mr. Jackson stopped. Jack was pretty sure he was looking at his watch, "on hour!"
Everyone applauded and opened their books back to where they were in Redwall. The teacher played the tape, but Jack didn't hear the tape. His siblings would never have to worry about the School Games! They didn't have a possible percentage of being chosen! Jack was so happy he thought he was going to explode! He managed to have enough self-control to listen to the book when they found out, SPOILER, Matthias was Martin reborn.
After class Jack put his things away in his locker and walked to Art, pausing to say hello to Mr. Jackson who, seemed to be staying in his office a lot more then usual. Jack wondered why, then remembered that yesterday Mr. Jackson had been sick and he probably didn't want anyone catching his cold. Especially during the weekend.
When he walked into Art class Mrs. Corbin wasn't there. Weird. Jack grabbed some colored pencils and did as the board said: FREE DRAW. He was beginning to draw the outline of Magnus and Jack, cool coincidence that the Sword of Summer had his name, when he felt like he needed to go to the bathroom. Since there was no teacher, he excused himself, and, after relieving himself, was walking down the hallway when he passed Alisha. His heart pounding he soldiered on after smiling at her and waving. He was halfway between her and one of the strongest kids at school when the weapons fell from the ceiling and Mr. Jackson's voice said over the intercom, "Let the final School Games BEGIN!"