Chapter 145: The Commons
Tuesday, January 10th, Late Morning
The light came through the windows of The Commons, shining one the various students and tables. At one table, a ginger-haired student looked out of the windows and into the greater world outside. With her free left hand, she poked at her lunch absentmindedly.
The girl that sat across from her had ahead of height on her. She studied the redhead for a minute or two. The taller blonde brushed a few stray strands of hair over her ears.
"Brett, what's outside that's so interesting?" Avril Popova asked.
"Nothing," Brett said.
"Well, you've been stabbing your lunch for a while, I think it's dead," Avril said.
"Sorry, just my mind is on other things," Brett said.
"It wouldn't be the test later today, would it?" Nessa Coleman, a dark-eyed, dark-haired girl that sat next to Avril, asked.
"What?" Brett asked.
"The test we've been working on all last week, Brett," Ness said, "God, sometimes I don't even know why I try."
"Sorry, yes, the test in Sociology," Brett said.
The guy sitting next to Brett reached out and took Nessa's hands in his. "Relax, Ness, Brett has a lot going on with the game yesterday," Forrest Nez said, he was Nessa's boyfriend, and also a varsity basketball player.
"It just makes me feel like all my effort is put to waste when she acts like this," Nessa said.
"Sorry, just suffering from too much time with My Momma," Brett said.
"That's right; you're at Jamlyn this week," Avril said.
Brett nodded, "Yeah, and My Momma's been up my ass; since I got there," she said.
"Brett, why don't you just hop over to one of your aunts or Garvan's?" Avril asked.
"That's cutting into mine and Garvan's Xbox time," Forrest said.
"I see you have your priorities right," Nessa said.
"Got to have bro time, Babe, because you're my first priority," Forrest said.
"Awe Forrest," Nessa said.
"Smooth recovery, Forrest," Avril said.
"Thanks, Av," Forrest said.
Avril smiled and turned back to Brett. "Brett, why don't you come over to my place today. We could order pizza, watch questionable movies, and my Aunt Mack is staying with us. We could get some stories from her days playing here," she said.
Brett shook her head, "I can't," she said.
"Of course, you can, get your keys, get your ass into your car, and drive over to my place," Avril said.
"Again, I can't," Brett said.
"Is your car broken? I can give you a ride," Avril said.
Brett shook her head, "No, I still can't," she said.
"Okay, B, why can't you?" Avril asked.
Brett sighed and rolled her eyes, "I'm sort of, well, grounded," she said.
Avril put her plastic fork down and looked at Brett, "You're what?" she asked.
"Grounded, you know, no phone, no TV, no car, basically just sit around or shooting around," Brett said.
"So, your mom grounded you. What did you do, roll your eyes the wrong way?" Avril asked.
Brett shook her head, "My Momma didn't ground me," she said.
"Then who did, Brett?" Avril asked.
"Momma Chase ground me," Brett said.
"Why did Momma Chase ground you?" Avril asked.
"Well, she caught me going to Absolution," Brett said.
"I knew you couldn't get away with that," Nessa said.
"How did she find out?" Avril asked.
"She knew the club owner of Absolution," Brett said.
Forrest laughed, "That's some dumb luck," he said.
"You're telling me," Brett said.
"So, Momma Chase grounded you; you're at your Mom's. So, you could do what you want," Avril said.
"Oh no, My Momma jumped right on this and grounded me right along with Momma Chase," Brett said.
"I could see that," Nessa said.
"Yeah, I could too, sadly," Forrest said.
"Sadly, me too," Avril said.
"Yeah, well, I'm seventeen-years-old, already committed to Norte Dame, have less than half of year of high school left, and I'm grounded like I'm still in middle school," Brett said.
Avril laughed.
"What's that laugh about, Av?" Brett asked.
"Something, My Mom, told me, once," Avril said, empathizing the word once.
Brett nodded, Avril's mom, Greer Popova, nee Ward, was a scary woman. Greer was tall like all the Ward women, and they were tough. Greer was also the oldest of her sisters. Avril had little fear in her, except when it came to Greer.
"What wisdom did Mrs. Popova give her baby girl?" Nessa asked.
"Live under my roof, you live by my rules, and I don't care how big you are or how old you are, I can still kick your ass," Avril said.
Brett laughed, "That sounds like your mom," she said.
"I saw her do it too," Avril said.
"To you?" Nessa asked.
"No, to Victoire and Topher," Avril said.
"Who?" Nessa asked.
"Her older brother and sister," Brett said, "Who are both bigger than Av."
Avril nodded, "Yeah, Topher was all-state in three sports," she said.
"What did he play?" Nessa asked.
"God, do I have to relive the hell of growing up with Topher?" Avril asked.
Brett looked at Avril, "You brought him up, and she did ask," she said.
"Was he a good student too?" Nessa asked.
"Why did you ask that?" Avril asked.
"It would seem you're pissed at him; he set a high bar?" Nessa asked.
"No, thank god, Topher was dumb as a post when it came to school work," Avril said.
"No, it was Victoire that was a member of the National Honors Society," Brett said.
"Why did you have to bring her up?" Avril asked.
"Because you won't," Brett said.
"What's the story there?" Forrest asked.
"Avril and Victoire don't get along," Brett said.
"We're oil and water," Avril said.
"How's that possible?" Nessa asked, being an only child, she didn't understand sibling dynamics.
"Just imagine a person that's the complete opposite, well, that's Victoire compared to me," Avril said.
"Family is family," Forrest said.
"And the bell is about to ring," Forrest said.
They all nodded and started to clean up. The group had to prepare for the rest of the school day.
