CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
Brent was excluded for a week, as they found out. The group didn't talk about it but occasionally spoke about it in private, keeping their opinions hushed. Finn was exceptionally quiet about the whole thing and Ivy didn't press it, no matter how much she wanted to know what happened. Besides, she had her own problems. Dana was upset with her for some reason and was giving her the silent treatment. If she asked for ketchup at dinner, Dana would stick her nose in the air and Ivy would have to get it herself.

"Hey." Blossom poked her shoulder. "Awake in there?"
"Yeah." Ivy shrugged and pushed her fringe out of her face. "Just thinking."
Blossom gasped. "Oh no! I should get away, I heard that's contagious."

Ivy laughed and rolled her eyes. At least she still had one person she could rely on. Everyone was too busy worrying about boys or girls, and the whole romance thing. Or everyone was too busy being angry with each other to have fun for once.
Now you're sounding like Finn. Ivy thought to herself.
Only, Finn had changed after Brent got excluded. He was a lot more reserved and the pranks had decreased. Which was not a good thing, because now every teacher was nervous about when the really big prank would hit them.

"How are things with Briar?" Ivy asked suddenly.
Blossom blinked and shrugged. "Nothing's changed, if that's what you're asking. Same old, same old."
"Do you ever have good days?" She pressed.
"Sometimes." Blossom narrowed her eyes. "Why the questions?"

Ivy sighed. "The whole thing with Dana. I just don't want it to be like this forever, you know?"
"I'm sure it'll sort itself out." Blossom patted her shoulder. "Just got to get through it."
"Thanks, wise one." Ivy joked.

Basketball on Tuesday was very strange. Finn's eye still bore remnants of the fight with Brent - still a light purple colour. No one mentioned the fight in a straight-forward way, but asked subtly. How's the eye? So, Brent's out? Still up for playing?

The game started and Lionel shone like the brightest star on a winter's night. He knocked aside the opposing team like they nothing. That was Lionel Carter; sporting champion, adorable as everything and good looking. No girl could deny those three facts. Even the boys had to realize it, no matter how jealous they were. But another top contender was Tyler Clavern, who had very much the same aspects. He was talented at Basketball and everyone knew it. The game was fierce and even though it was between two teams, it was more like it was between Lionel and Tyler.

"Steroids." Ben spat. "No one can be that good."
"Except Lionel?" Finn pointed out. "With your logic, that must mean that Lionel is on steroids too."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"Jealousy." Finn hissed.

The game carried on and eventually Lionel won for his team, which meant celebration throughout the entirety of the day. The team were offered free meals and you could hear cheering halfway across the school.

"I wish those boys would be quiet for five seconds." Hazel groaned as she tapped her pen. "I need to do my homework."
Heather shook her head. "Should've done it last night."
"Whatever." Hazel rolled her eyes. "It's easy. I'll have no problem doing it. Can you get out your calculator?"
"If it's easy, why do you need my calculator?" Heather shot back.
Hazel stared at her. "So that I can get it done quicker?"

Dana glided across the dining hall and threw herself down beside Heather, watching Hazel curiously. "Hey, girls."
"Hey." Hazel waved to Heather. "Square root of 432, go!"
"20.78." Heather turned to Dana. "Hey. How are you?"
Dana shrugged. "Good. Hazel, you do realize we have math in five minutes, right?"

Hazel nodded and gestured to the paper in front of her. "Yeah, that's why I'm doing it now."
"There's no way you'll get it done in that amount of time." Dana shook her head.
"I've only got two more questions." Hazel said.
Dana raised an eyebrow. "And the back of that page as well, don't forget."

Hazel's mouth dropped open and she whipped the page over to reveal twenty more questions. "What? Crap!"
Heather started laughing. "Serves you right for doing it last minute."
"Ass." Hazel spat at Heather. "You could've told me!"
"I didn't want to burst your pretty little bubble." Heather mused.
Hazel groaned and mumbled. "I hate you."

I hope you enjoyed chapter thirty one! If you did, please leave a review.
Cookies for everyone! (:;) (:;) (:;)