05| trouble

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Screwed. I came to that realization the second Prof. Emerson said the following two words, pop quiz, I had completely forgotten about the fact that we were supposed to study our assigned pages for today's lecture and review our notes from our last class as well.

The only thing I had going for me in this unfortunate situation was the fact that I actually paid attention to that 40-minute video about the history of feminism. But being in my junior year here at BGU I already knew that most of the questions would consist of the assigned pages. So the most I could score was a solid four out of ten at most.

Thank God the semester is just starting, I had plenty of time to study for our next unannounced quiz and ace it. At this point, after three long years at BGU, I just store the class syllabus in a box under my desk in my room but before throwing Prof. Emerson's syllabus into the dust-covered cardboard box I actually read the thing. Quizzes and assignments were worth twenty percent of our final grade, I couldn't sleep on Prof. Emerson and her quizzes if I wanted to pass the class with a decent grade, and by decent, I meant at least a B.

"Alright students, once you receive your quiz you will have a total of ten minutes to complete it. It's easy, that is if you read your assigned pages for today's lecture of course." Prof. Emerson says as she hands every person on the first row a stack of papers.

"I'm screwed, the guys and I went to AJ's last night after practice and I got home a little bit after two," Stensby says taking out a pencil from his grey backpack that sat on the floor next to him.

"Who are you even kidding Stensby? AJ's or not we both know you weren't going to read a damn thing." I tell Stensby and he laughs in agreement.

A few minutes later I had the small paper filled with a total of five questions in front of me. To my demise, there weren't any answers we could choose from. Fill in the blanks, read the instructions. I looked over at Stensby for a second and he was actually writing answers down on the piece of paper.

"Eight minutes," Prof. Emerson said raising her voice so we could all hear.

I better get to answering these questions before I'm out of time (to guess of course). First question, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, one of the first feminist books, in 1792? That's easy. Mary Wollstonecraft. That's two out of ten. Second question, what is the average proportion of women globally who will suffer violence from a man or male partner in their lifetime? To my surprise, I was certain I was correct in my answer. I watch a lot of SVU and I wrote a paper on this topic in my freshman year. 1 in 3.

Four points out of ten so far, not bad. When did feminism first appear in France? 1872. Thank you forty-minute video. The rest of the remaining questions were opinion based ones so I would say I actually did pretty well for not reading the assigned pages for today's lecture. Stensby on the other hand wasn't as confident of his answers and just wanted Prof. Emerson to get on with the class so we could leave already. Can't say I disagree with him.

I enjoy Emerson's class, it's just that I don't like hearing her voice this early on a Friday morning. Having to practice every day at five am was already taking a toll on me and I just wanted to lay in bed all weekend long. I also had my last shift at the coffee shop yesterday afternoon because I was positive (fingers crossed) that I was going to get that internship at the firm. My interview was tomorrow morning at nine and I would be needing to borrow Peyton's car or call an Uber for this one. Aunt Claire sent me the details and the directions as well and the firm was a twenty-five-minute drive from campus.

"Class, your time to complete your quiz is over. Please pass your paper to your right, I will be walking by to pick them up." Prof. Emerson announces as she makes her way through the aisle. "While I collect your quizzes, I would like to get a conversation started as an introduction to today's lecture."

Prof. Emerson started a discussion on Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Act. History has never been an interesting topic for me but Prof. Emerson made the lecture very dynamic by asking our opinions on the topic. The fifty-minute lecture lasted a little longer than that because we got carried away with the discussion. Stensby was more than happy once Prof. Emerson dismissed us, I grabbed my backpack from the floor and I walked towards the door. As I was walking out of the auditorium I spotted Connery and his friends leaving through the front entrance.

Coach Jennings canceled today's afternoon practice but he still asked me to meet him in his office at the pavilion. Apparently, he found a way to help me correct my technique before the meet against OHSU. I wondered what the solution was because I bet he wasn't going to spend his Saturdays helping me out with my technique and I doubted anyone would. He could've told me earlier this morning after practice, but no, he was making me go over there again.

I would be meeting Stensby and Peyton later in the afternoon, we were going out for empanadas tonight. And possibly we would be making an appearance at AJ's as well to watch the Lakers game with Stensby's friends from the baseball team.

The pavilion was quiet when I walked in, making my way down through the main hallway I looked at the pictures of the team in the walls. The biggest one of all was of course a picture of the golden boys of BGU. It was taken in our freshman year, that's where it all started. They won us the gold by breaking the record in the men's 100-meter medley here at BGU. Connery's fit figure was the most eye-catching out of the four of them. Aside from his drop-dead gorgeous body, the emotions in his eyes and the smile plastered across his face told a completely different story.

I knocked on Coach Jennings's door to let him know I was here, he was going over some documents by the time I got there. He signaled me to come in and I walked inside. "Hey, Coach,"

"Hey Everest, you can take a seat if you want or not. Whatever you prefer. I won't be keeping you long, don't worry. I bet you have more important things to do." I nodded and I took a seat in the red chair in front of his desk. "Coach Tanner and I were going over how we could help you correct your technique as quickly as possible before your first meet and we came to the conclusion that the only way of helping you achieve that is to get you the best of the best."

Please don't say what I think you're going to say, Coach.

"I called in a favor and Connery agreed to help you out with your technique amongst other things that Coach Tanner and I noticed you would be needing a little help with."

I facepalm myself. Out of everyone on the team it had to be him? So much for staying out of trouble these last three years.

"Really? He agreed to do it without any buts?" I ask Coach Jennings surprised. Connery would rather be doing anything but helping me with my technique on a Saturday.

"You look surprised that he actually agreed to help you. Did something happen between the two of you that I should be aware of?" Coach Jennings asks and I almost choked on my own saliva because I knew what he was referring to.

"No, it just occurred to me that he has more important things to work on, like getting ready for the Olympic trials that are taking place in a few months."

"He does, but he agreed to help you nonetheless."

"Okay then, when will we be starting?" I ask.

"As soon as possible, meaning tomorrow." Coach Jennings says and my eyes widen. Tomorrow? I have the interview for the internship tomorrow morning. "Listen, Everest, I know there are things you would be rather doing on a Saturday, and adding an extra day of practice is not easy but trust me on this. You won't regret it."

I surely hope I don't Coach, I sure hope so.

.

"Peyton, for the hundredth time, I'm not wearing the damn skirt." I heavily sigh at my very insistent best friend. "You're testing my very limited patience."

"Everest Green, you look like a nun in that floral green dress. I'll test your patience all I want if that means I get you to wear anything but that."

I roll my eyes at Peyton's insult. I most certainly do not look like a nun. "We are just going out for empanadas at Alejandro's, why do you insist on me wearing the damn skirt?"

"After we grab a bite to eat, we'll be making a stop at AJ's to watch the Lakers game and drown ourselves in beer with the baseball team." And by ourselves, she means Stensby and her. I have an interview tomorrow morning and there was no space for screwups. "I insist on the skirt because with that drop-dead gorgeous body of yours all eyes will be on you."

I doubt that. With all the girls that will also be making an appearance, Everest Green will be invisible like always.

"Don't sell yourself short Ev, I know what's probably going on in that head of yours," Peyton says whilst she puts her Princess Polly top on. "Also, Stensby told me Carson will be at AJ's tonight. Maybe you'll finally start giving the poor guy your time of day. He's been chasing you since freshman year."

"Don't start getting any ideas Peyton Sawyer, you know my rules."

"I know them by heart already, I've been hearing the same thing since freshman year Everest. I'm all caught up don't worry." I roll my eyes. "Fyi those rules are stupid."

"If I wear the damn skirt, would you stop fussing about the decisions I make regarding my personal life?" Peyton nods and I proceed to change my entire outfit.

A few minutes after I had changed my phone lit up with a notification. A sweet message from Stensby. IM WAITING OUTSIDE. GET YOUR ASSES DOWN HERE IM STARVING. I replied with OMW.

"Peyton, Stensby just pulled up. Let's go." The sooner we left the sooner I got to come home.

"Now that is a killer outfit."

I roll my eyes at Peyton as we walk out of our apartment. Stensby pulled up in his blue BMW and he started whistling at us once he saw us come out of our apartment building. "Aside from being sexy, what do you do for a living?"

I laugh at Stensby's both ridiculous and just plain awful pick-up line as we get in his car. "Stop fooling around, I thought you were starving."

As soon as Stensby started driving Peyton connected her phone to the car's aux cord and she started blasting Josslyn through the car speakers. What I loved most was the way Peyton sang her song at the top of her longs as if she was the one being cheated on, it was comical. Stensby on the other hand instantly started to argue with Peyton about her poor choice in music, meanwhile, I sat on the backseat minding my own business scrolling through my phone.

Alejandro's was thankfully not that full by the time we got there. Peyton and Stensby were still deciding on what to order whilst I already knew what I was going to order before we even left the apartment. Yes, their empanadas are that good. "Parcera, me alegra muchísimo verte por aca. ¿Quiubo?"

Alejandro greeted with his Colombian accent. "Parchando con mis amistades. Vamos a rumbiar pero primero paramos para comer de las mejores empanadas que hay por aca."

Alejandro smiles. "¿Comeras lo mismo de siempre?"

I nod. "Si, unas empanadas de enchiladas de pollo por favor. Acuérdate que son sin queso. Gracias Alejandro."

"A la orden siempre parcera, que te las disfrutes."

I paid for my empanadas and I sat down at the nearest table whilst Peyton and Stensby ordered. My grandma was born and raised in Colombia, ever since I was little she kept her traditions alive for me and she taught me how to speak Spanish too. I took Spanish throughout middle school and high school but almost everything I know I learned it from her. Alejandro is also from Colombia and even though he's been living here for almost five years now, it's a little hard for him to fully understand English so I just speak to him in Spanish to make things easier for him.

My phone screen lit up with a message from an unknown number. It was weird until it wasn't. Connery? How did he get my phone number?

[Matt Connery]
hey everest! it's connery. stensby gave me your number I hope you don't mind.

[Matt Connery]
at what time are you available to train tomorrow?

[Everest Green]
don't worry, it's fine. after 11. is that okay with you?

[Matt Connery]
yes, I'll meet you at the pavilion at 11:30

[Everest Green]
perfect. I'll see you then.


"Who are you texting?" Peyton asks as she sits down at the table with Stensby orders in hand.

Grabbing my order I answer. "Matt Connery."

"Matt who?" Peyton asks almost choking on the bite she had taken off of her empanada. "Greek god Connery, your teammate Connery?"

"Yes, Coach Jennings asked him to help me out with my breathe stroke technique. There are a few things I need to work on before the start of the season." I tell Peyton taking a bite off of my empanada. "I don't know why you're acting so surprised I already told you all of this."

"I don't know why you're surprised either Ev, Peyton never listens to anyone unless it's about her." Stensby chips in and Peyton rolls her eyes.

"Shut up Stensby, you know that's not true." Peyton spits. "And you did tell me, but you left the most important and exciting thing out."

"I just found out today, that was the best idea Coach Jennings could up with." I heavily. "It could've been anyone really, but he chose Connery."

"He is the best breathe stroke swimmer on the team Ev. And let's not forget about the fact that he's going to the Olympic trials in a few months," Stensby says making a great yet irrelevant point to this conversation.

"You made your point Stensby, I get it."

"I don't know why you're so against the idea of having Connery help you, Ev, he's not asking you out or anything related to that matter," Peyton adds. "Although I don't know why it would be so bad if he did ask you out. And please don't mention your stupid rules Everest Green, that's just an excuse and you know it."

Stensby gives Peyton a look. "What Peyton means is that there is no harm in having him help you out Ev, he could've said no, I bet he has other important things to focus on."

I'm certain he does.

There's no harm in training with Connery. He's just helping me out. In what kind of trouble could that get me into?

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