Chapter 24 The Weight of Words

With the test over, Instructor West announced, “Alright! Self-study while I go check the results. Don't run off before I'm back! I think I don't need to remind you what happens if you do.” With that, he slammed the door behind him, leaving the classroom.

 Students began to relax, some slumping over their desks in relief, while others exchanged whispers about the test they had just taken.

Sierra, however, was not in the mood to relax. She leaped from her seat and marched over to where Wimp was sitting. She seized the back of his chair and began rattling it like a maraca at a particularly enthusiastic dance party, sending Wimp wobbling dangerously in his seat.

“Listen here, you little noodle!” she growled with annoyance. 

“You better have scored the minimum! If you didn’t, I swear I’ll make sure you regret everything! If we have to run again just because you can’t carry your weight in class, I will make you suffer! Just give up and quit already, either way, you're useless! You just dragging us down! Do you understand?! GRRRR!” Her face contorted with frustration, making her look almost feral as she leaned closer to him.

Wimp stuttered while wobbling on his chair, his head downcast, ashamed to meet her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sierra. I'm sorry but I think I did better this time. I think."

From the back of the room, a voice boomed with mockery. It belonged to one of the meatheads sitting with his friends. 

“Hahaha, let him fail! We like running! Our muscles are meant for movement, not sitting all day in class! Good job, weakling-kun! Because of you, we get to train our muscles even more!” 

Laughter erupted from their corner, further fueling Sierra’s annoyance. Her face twisted into a scowl, her eyes narrowing as she shot back at them.

 “HUUUUUH?! Run on your own free time if you like it so much! Don’t get me involved!”

With one last kick to Wimp’s chair that sent him teetering dangerously close to the floor, she marched back to her group of giggling girls, her frustration radiating off her like a summer heatwave.

 “Can you believe this? I’m dealing with chair-wobbling nincompoops and muscle-bound show-offs! Geeeee! So annoying!” They huddled together, whispering and giggling, while Sierra vented her frustration, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.

Wimp looked around, trying to gauge the atmosphere, feeling the weight of Sierra’s threat. The meatheads laughed boisterously, clearly enjoying the drama, while the smart students exchanged uneasy glances, expressing disappointment in him. 

While Sierra was busy glaring daggers at Wimp, as if she could intimidate him into achieving a higher score, Jacob made his way over to Aria. He approached her with a friendly smile.

“Hey, new girl! I’m Jacob,” he said, his tone light and easygoing.

 “I joined about a month ago, so I'm technically a new guy as well. I work in maintenance, for a living. Just trying to do my part to help people out, and now here I am, aiming to become a pilot!”

He leaned against the edge of her desk. 

“So, how about you? What’s your story? Must be rough, with all that happened to you. I mean America and all.”

Aria smirked, her playful sarcasm bubbling to the surface.

 “Oh, look who’s back! A knight in shining armor from the other night. No wonder you looked familiar. Hi, I’m Liana Hale, and my story is none of your business, bub,” she said in a teasing tone.

 “But hey, if you’re interested in fairy tales, I can whip up a grand tale about a brave maintenance guy who rescued a damsel in distress - except the damsel isn’t so distressed, and the knight here is just looking for a way to make his life more exciting. How about that?”

Jacob gasped in playful disappointment.

 “Ghe! It’s you, the girl from the park!” 

He leaned in closer, a teasing grin spreading across his face.

 “You look different with your new hairstyle and makeup on; I couldn’t tell at first! But then you spoke, and it all came rushing back. I mean, I already can’t forget that mean, teasing tone and those delightful manners of yours! And we only met once.”

With a playful tone, he added, “So, tell me, do you always charm people like this, or am I just lucky enough to witness the full Liana Hale experience?”

 "Alright, alright, I get it, Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes, who wants to be friends with everyone," she said.

"But here’s the thing - I don’t want to talk about my problems. I’m not a crybaby! I don’t need anyone’s shoulder to lean on and cry. I’m more of an action person, I like to punch my problems straight in the face!"

She leaned in a bit closer, lowering her voice. 

“But since you’re such a nice guy, how about helping me out with the only thing I really need at the moment? I happen to need a partner for piloting. So, what do you say? Want to team up?”

Jacob gave her an easy smile, holding up his hands in a gentle decline. 

"Believe me, I’d help you if I could. But I’m already paired up with someone else. Got matched up not long after I joined. Sorry, Liana. I get the impression you’d be a hell of a partner, though. I’m sure you’ll find someone, you’re... pretty hard to miss."

Aria clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowing as she looked Jacob up and down. 

“Tsk! Useless. Guess I’ll have to try someone else. But hey, thanks for... nothing.”

Jacob was about to throw a snarky comment back at Aria when Sierra’s voice tore across the room like a battle cry.

“Grrrrrrr! New girl!” 

Sierra stormed over and jabbed a possessive finger in Jacob's direction, then swiftly pivoted her gaze to Aria with an intense glare.

 “Get your hands off my partner! This sewer rat... Jacob is mine, you hear? I won’t let you have him!” 

In one swift motion, Sierra aimed a furious kick at Wimp’s chair, sending him jolting so hard his tablet nearly flew out of his hands. He flinched as Sierra pointed a manicured finger his way.

 “If you’re so desperate for a partner, how about you take this wimp?! Nobody wants him around here anyway, so he’s just like you - no partner, no options! You two would be perfect together. Hahahahaha!”

Aria shot a look at Wimp, the corners of her mouth twisting in disdain.

 “Ugh! No way, I’d rather pilot alone. Thanks, but no thanks.”

 Sierra’s laughter erupted, loud and mocking. She leaned down toward Wimp with a cruel smile.

 “What a loser!” she jeered, practically crowing.

 “Not even the new girl wants to pair up with you!” She tossed her head back with a wicked laugh, her friends joining in, creating a chorus of taunts that had Wimp sinking deeper into his seat.

As he looked up and saw Sierra and her friends smirking at him, his attempt at shooting back quickly faded.

 “Maybe not…” he stammered, shoulders slumping.

 "I get it. No problem."