"It is rather for us to be here dedicated" Ashley mumbled, "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to be dedicated, uh, to be to be dedicated to um....that cause..that..What cause? Gah."
"Hey Ash," Aiden said coming up from behind her.
"Hey," she mumbled "that cause for which they gave--"
"What're you talking about?"
"Shhh," she hissed, "that cause for which they gave. Gave? Gave....the last..last...."
"Ashley," Aiden said confused, "are you studying?"
"No," she rolled her eyes, "I'm building a tree house, of course I'm studying what does it look like?"
"No need to get snappy," he countered. "What is it?"
"The Gettysburg Address."
"What??"
"Spencer bet me I couldn't learn it," she told him, "and until this massively long run on sentence from hell I was doing just fine."
"Want me to help?"
"Sure," she said tossing her book at him. "It's the last sentence that's giving me nightmares."
"Alright, well give it a try."
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we we--"
"Take"
"take increased devotion to that cause for which--um--they gave the last full measure of devotion----"
"That we here--"
"I know what it is."
"Don't snap at me I'm just trying to help."
Ashley rolled her eyes, "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain----Well? I thought you were helping?"
"Gosh, Ash what's gotten into you."
"This stupid address," she whined. "I almost have it but this stupid sentence is kicking my ass, and it's pissing me off."
"Is there a reason you're learning it?"
She smirked, "yes but I can't tell you."
"Alright," he said unsure, "why don't you just start it over from the beginning and try not to over thinking it."
"Right, ok," she said, "Just plow right through."
"It is rather for us--"
"I know what it is Aiden, God."
He stifled a smirk, "you're cute when you're irritated."
"Well, you're just irritating."
"Do you want my help or not?"
"Sorry. Ok let me give this another go."
After a minute he said, "so go?"
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain----"
"That this nation--"
"I know what nation it is."
"Geeze, Ash, the way you're acting, you'd think sex was riding on you knowing this."
She smirked.
He laughed, "Spencer is a genius."
"What does that mean?"
"She's using sex to get you to study," he laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
The bell for fifth period sounded, scaring the crap out of Ashley, "Fuck, are those bells always that loud?"
"Yes and the other ten that ring through out the day as well."
She snatched her book from him and took off at a jaunt, "thanks for helping."
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"US History," she called back, "if I'm late I'll never hear the end of it."
Aiden laughed at her retreating back before going the opposite direction.
The tardy bell rang just as Ashley stepped foot in the classroom. Spencer gave her a look that Ashley couldn't quite distinguish.
"Glad to see you made it," Spencer told her as the girl sat down behind her.
"I had to run from the other side of the school just to make it in time."
"You ready?" Spencer asked.
"For what?"
"The extra credit--"
"Quiet down class," Mrs. Hagan called, "Gotta get right to it today, There are a lot of you and not much time."
"What extra credit," Ashley whispered.
"Shh," Spencer said.
"No seriously, Spence why didn't--"
"Miss Davies," Mrs. Hagan, "since you're so eager to talk, why don't you go first."
Ashley's face flustered immediately. "Oh, Mrs. Hagan, I don't wanna set the bar to high for every one else."
The whole class laughed.
Ashley frowned.
"Front and center Miss. Davies."
"Spencer," Ashley whispered, "what is thiiis?"
"We do not have all day Miss Davies, lets go." Mrs Hagan said finding a seat at the back of the class. "It will be nice to see what you've done with Mr. Lincolns' address."
Ashley's mouth dropped in surprise and the whole class laughed at her expense. Well, nearly the whole class, Spencer gave an encouraging smile.
"Just take a deep breath Miss Davies," the teacher cajoled, "Give it your best shot, its only worth 10 extra points on your mid terms."
"Yeah she'll need 'em," some boy teased.
"Shut up," Ashley hissed.
"Class," Mrs Hagan, "be nice. Miss. Davies if you will be so kind."
"Uh," she started.
The class snickered.
"The Gettysburg Address," she started, "was um, given November 19, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln--"
"Ashley," Mrs. Hagan interrupted, "you don't need to do anything other than recite the address."
"Oh," she stammered, "ok."
The class laughed. Spencer smiled reassuringly, nodding she mouthed, "You can."
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
She smiled then made her way back to her seat. The entire class sat stunned, Spencer included.
"Well, Ashley," Mrs. Hagan said, "that was perfect. Okay, Miss Duarte you're next."
Ashley leaned up to whisper in Spencer's ear, "you're Vanilla Lavender rocks. We're so going straight home after class."
Swallowing hard and shivering slightly, Spencer nodded her head slowly.