Free The Academy - First Days by C. L. Stone

to either.” He moved to his desk and
picked up a history book. “You’ll need to pick this up at the book store. You
should always bring it with you to class. We’ll never have a day where we won’t
be using it.”
    The volume looked thick, even in his big hands. I sat back in my
chair, my legs sliding a little under Victor’s desk. I sensed North leaning
forward as I could nearly feel his breath on my hair.
    Mr. Morris dropped the book on his desk, and the corresponding
slam caused me to jump. “We’re starting with the Agricultural Revolution and
moving quickly into Egypt and then the Persians. As such, I want a one page
essay on my desk tomorrow about the Agricultural Revolution.”
    There was a collection of muttering and a few groans.
    “I’ll make it two pages. It’s no big deal to me how much you
write.”
    The class quieted down quickly. I chewed on my lower lip. Mr.
Morris was going to be tough.
     
    After class was lunch. Everyone surged for the doors. Victor,
North and I lingered back well behind everyone else as we headed to the main
building.
    “This being in the trailers is going to get old quick,” North
said. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked.
    “It might be nice,” I said, readjusting my backpack. “I mean
getting out of the building into some nice weather should be fun.”
    “It won’t always be good weather,” Victor said. “What about when
it rains?”
    I pushed my finger to my lower lip. “It’s not so bad. I mean with
an umbrella and everything.”
    Victor kicked a pebble off of the sidewalk. “We’ll see what you
say in the winter.”
    I had to smile at that. Did he not remember that I was from
Illinois? I couldn’t imagine South Carolina getting a few feet of snow or being
any worse in the winter than that.
    When we got to the cafeteria, the place was hectic with students
in long lines that stretched out into the hallways. All of the tables were
teeming. People sat against the walls, too.
    “I don’t see any of the guys,” I said.
    “I found them,” North said, pointing out the window to the outdoor
courtyard in the middle of the building. In one of the corners, I could see
Silas’s head over the crowds.
    When we got outside, I was relieved to see they were all there.
They stood around one of the benches, with a collection of book bags piled up
on the concrete bench seat.
    “The lines are crazy long,” North said. “I don’t know how they get
everyone fed.”
    “I’m hungry,” Gabriel complained, gripping his stomach. “I don’t
want to wait an hour for food. Tell me there’s an open campus policy.”
    “Nope,” Kota said. He opened his bag and pulled out a wrapped
sandwich. He split it with Victor. “No going off campus once you’re here.”
    “There’s some vending machines in the front hallway,” I said. I
glanced at Gabriel. “I’ll walk over with you if you want.”
    Gabriel nodded. “Yeah, I’ll eat anything.”
    I dropped my bag on the ground near North’s feet. “Keep an eye on
it?”
    “Grab some crackers for me, will you?” North asked. He dipped his
hand into his pocket and found a couple of dollars.
    I knew I was beaming and I couldn’t hide it. It made me happy to
be somewhat useful to the group that was constantly doing things for me.
    “And get me a candy bar,” Luke said.
    “Are you going to give her money for it?” North asked.
    “You just did.”
    North shook his head. “Get him something a little healthier than
candy, will you?”
    Gabriel laughed and then grabbed my arm. “Come on.”
    The main hallway was even more crowded than it was that morning.
The cafeteria wasn’t big enough to accommodate over two thousand students at
once. There was a line for the vending. We stood arm to arm at the back of the
line for our turn.
    “No wonder everyone here looks grumpy and gets into fights,” I
said. “Everyone’s hungry.”
    Gabriel said nothing, seeming distracted by students leaning
against the trophy