Chapter 11

 

        The semester seemed to roll by quickly. During that entire time, I remained sitting at a different table other than the one Jack's friends sat at. Jack sat with me most of the time, but there were times when he went to sit with them for lunch. I was fine with that though since I wasn't his only friend after all. Gym didn't change much either. I was always usually yelled at by the other guys if they were ever on my team for the sports we played, but Jack always stuck up for me whenever he was around. At least someone didn't get ticked off at me for my lack of athletic ability.

        It was now the last day before winter break, and it was definitely obvious too. All the other students talked about what they were going to do over break. We didn't do too much work during classes either, which made the day roll by quickly.

        When it was time for fourth period, I made my way to the Independent Living classroom. Once I was there, I took a seat at the table I had been sitting at the entire semester. Jack came in about a few seconds before the bell rang and quickly took a seat at the table I was at. When the teacher came in, she told us we would be going into the kitchen area today to cook. I had to admit it didn't really surprise me though since we spent the past three or four weeks learning how to cook things, but I did kind of wish it would've been something that didn't really require work.

        Jack, a Junior girl, and me were all assigned to a kitchen when we first began the cooking unit. However, the Junior girl wasn't there today, so it looked like it was just Jack and I. It didn't bother me too much, but it did mean that Jack and I would have to do a little more work since we were one person short.

        The entire class walked over to the kitchen area of the somewhat big classroom. There were about eight kitchens, each with its own cabinets, drawers, and stove. Everyone sat at the table that belonged to the kitchen they were assigned at the beginning of the unit. We were given the recipe – which was divided into jobs for three people since that was usually the amount of people that were assigned to a kitchen – and listened to the teacher explain about some candy wreath thing we were going to make.

        “So who's going to do what?” Jack asked me once the teacher was finished talking.

        “Let me do the cooking,” I replied without much thought. “I really don't feel like possibly dying today.”

        “Hey, I'm not that bad,” Jack said before chuckling a little.

        “You're the one who nearly burnt the biscuits last week,” I muttered.

        “That's true.”

        Jack went to go retrieve the ingredients at a small counter sitting in the front of the kitchen area while I got out the pot and wooden spoon we would need. When Jack returned with the ingredients, I put the marshmallows in the pot before turning the stove on. While the marshmallows were being melted, I stirred it in the pot as I added in the other ingredients we needed whenever the time came for them. When the melted marshmallows – which had been turned green from the dye we used – mixed with corn flakes were finished cooking, I put some of the goop on a wax paper sitting on the table and put the rest of it on a second one.

        Before we were able to eat the green mess called food, the teacher had us shape the mixture into a wreath. I didn't see the point in it since we were supposed it eat it, but I did as I was told anyway and so did Jack. When the circles were made, the teacher left us to go check another group, leaving us alone to our food.

        “This actually doesn't taste too bad,” said Jack. “You must be good a cook.”

        “Your taste buds must be screwed up because this crap's nasty,” I mumbled.

        “Hey, I was only trying to give you a compliment you know,” Jack pointed out. “But if you don't want the stuff, I'll take it.”

        I scooted the green gunk towards him. Once he finished eating, we threw the wax paper away before washing the dishes. Unfortunately, I was stuck doing the washing while Jack got the easier job of drying.

        “C'mon, hurry up; you're taking forever,” he said playfully.

        “Shut up,” I murmured. “You're not the one trying to scrape the marshmallow crap off of everything.”

        “Yeah, but that's why I made you wash the dishes.”

        Jack chuckled a little before sticking his hand under the running water. He then flicked his hand and some of the water droplets hit me on the side of the face.

        “You jerk,” I said with a smirk before doing the same thing to him.

        We flicked water at each other a little before Jack pulled me into a headlock to give me a noogie. I abruptly pulled away and quickly looked to the side to hide any possible blushing. The teacher told us not to play around afterwards and I quietly resumed washing the dishes. By the time we finished, the bell rang.

 

        When it came time for lunch, I sat down at a vacant table and Jack joined me a couple minutes later. We didn't say anything right away as we began eating our lunches.

        “So are you doing anything special over the break?” Jack asked about half a minute later.

        “No,” I replied. “Just staying home. You?”

        “My family and I are going to visit my grandparents and celebrate Christmas up there.”

        “Oh, when are you leaving?”

        “Sunday.”

        I nodded. We went on to talk about a couple other things as we ate our lunches. When Jack finished, he got up to go buy something. About a minute later, he returned with two chocolate chip cookies in his hand.

        “Here,” he said as he gave one to me.

        “Thanks,” I said, a little surprised about it since this was the first time he had ever given me anything during lunch. “You sure you don't want it though? You're the one that bought it after all.”

        “Nah, you take it,” Jack replied. “I got it for you.”

        I nodded. It felt a little weird because I was used to buying my own food whenever I wanted it, but I didn't bother protesting. I had to admit though, I didn't really like cookies all that much, but I ate it anyway to make Jack happy.

        We sat there and talked for the remainder of lunch. After about five minutes, the bell rang and we made out way to the gym.

Author's Note

I was going to add more to the chapter, but then I felt like I would be rushing the story too much. I was wondering if this felt like it was too much of a waste to read, or if it seems to have enough purpose to remain in the book. If it doesn't, then I'll just scrap it if anyone thinks I should.

Reviews

[courtney]

i think it should stay. its not a rush of the story. it seems just right. your writing the story of how the guys fell in love and this is part of what happened so keep i love the story and i like this part aswell as others.
i did however found an error not a big on and i beleive you would want to know about it.
You must be good a cook." i think you switched the words a bit around. theres another that you switched so i would just re read it and make sure.

[Amund Schofield]

Ok, the part where he's making the food, that's a bit of a bore. You could definitely make it so it reveals more about the characters, their interpersonal thoughts and what not.

[Kayla]

I think it fits into the story just fine. And no its not a waste.