Noelle - Day 166 (Marathon 5)

Just a thought...
If any body who reads this blog starts a band (like, ever) can you call it Marathon 5?  It sounds edgy enough to be a band name and, well, it just does.

Please?  I asked nicely!

Anyway, just some marathon parts today (and geez, do I have a ton for you guys!)  We've had set up. We've had character development.  We've had feelz.  It's time for some action!!!

The Survivors (Parts 14, 15, and 16)

Jess woke abruptly, the whole room dark and her alarm clock making that annoying brrrraaaaaaaaannnng! sound.  She sighed, staring at the ceiling, but finally pulled herself up to glare at her bedside table.  5:31 am.  Before it woke up Danny, she slammed her fist on top of the alarm, accidentally hitting the snooze button and having to wonder sleepily how long it would take to come back on.

5:32 am.  BRAAAAANNNNGGGG!!!!!   The alarm clock hissed angrily, and Jess carefully pressed the off button.  “I need coffee,” she muttered, and that was how Jessie Willow’s first day of school began.

*******

Jess tried to smile.  She really did.  But when she stalked into Midtown High, she was just not feeling it.  School had began over a long and (mostly) comfortable summer, and her mind kept replaying that embarrassing moment with Danny last night.  I can’t believe I would do something so stupid!  She thought, frustrated.

“Morning Sunshine!”  Called a familiar voice from behind her.  Jess spun around to see Ava dashing after her, a one-shoulder bag slung across her back.  “Why so gloomy!  C’mon, it’s school time finally!”

“Yep,” Jess commented sourly and took a deep sip from her portable coffee cup.

“I hope we get some of the same classes - eek I’m so excited! - I mean, seriously, 10th grade, Jess, you’re not a least bit excited?”

“Nope.”

“Je-ess?!”  Ava prodded, extending the one-syllable name into a whiney two syllable word.

Ava continued to follow Jess into the school and was delighted to find that her locker was only five away from Jess’s.  Jess wondered if Coulson would let her transfer to a different school.

“Hey Jess,” Somebody else said, followed by a heavy hand clapping her on the shoulder and nearly knocking her to the ground.

“Hey Luke,” Jess said back, grinning at the 6’ 5” teenager in front of her.  “Please tell me that 10th grade has a nap hour.”

“Didn’t sleep well?”

“I need another summer before I can catch up to the point of ‘didn’t sleep well’,” Jess quipped before slamming her locker door shut.  “BAH!!!  Sam, where did you come from?”

“The library.  I was trying to find a poetry book, but this gang of girls kept following me around and well, I couldn’t lead them on so, obviously, I had to leave before they got any...ideas.”

“A likely story,” Peter said as he approached, obviously thinking the opposite.  Punching Sam in the shoulder, he smiled at the black-haired girl.  “Ready for a new school year, Jess?”

“Ready for it to be over,” She snapped and shouldered her backpack.  “Seriously, I’ve been up since five thirty doing flight practice.”

“Flight practice?  With what?”  Ava asked, suddenly suspicious.

“Wings.”

“Jess, the regulations -”

Jess’s already grumpy face fell into a sour expression.  “I know what the regulations say, ok?”

“So where’s Danny?”  Sam asked, trying to distract Ava before it became a full-blown argument.

Jess rolled her eyes.  “Not coming.  Doesn’t feel well.”

“Or just doesn’t want to start a new school year yet,” Luke joked.

“Yeah, remember that time he....”  The group started a new conversation, leaving Jess in the back, silent and unspoken to.

Sam noticed and fell back a pace, saying, “Hey, I wasn’t joking...do you happen to have a poetry book at your house?”

Jess gave an angry ‘aaaergh’ and quickly ditched Sam for the girl’s bathroom.

*******

“Hey guys,” Jess said, much more cheerful now that her brain had a chance to wake up.  She dropped her lunch bag on the table and added, “What up?”

“The ceiling,” Peter and Sam chorused.

Before she could come up with the obligatory sarcastic comeback, Jess was cut short by Harry Osborn, non-superhero friend of the whole group’s.  “Hey, Jessie, can I talk to you for a second.”

Sam giggled a very suspicious-sounding giggle and Jess glared at him furiously before responding, “Sure.”

Harry pulled her aside, running his fingers through his hair awkwardly, and muttered, “M.J. and I were going to have an all night movie-marathon on Friday and I was wondering if you wanted to come?”

Jess, surprised, said, “Um, sure...why couldn’t you say this in front of them?”

“Well, they’re invited already, but they would never stop teasing me if I just straight out asked you.”  He grinned apologetically.

She glared at him.

“Sorry...?”  He looked very sheepish.

“It’s fine, Harry.  I just find it funny you’re inviting me over on my birthday...I wasn’t planning on doing anything, but I guess now I’m having an all night movie-marathon!  Thanks,” She said.

“Your birthday?  No joke?”

“Yeah...finally sixteen.”

“Cool...I’ll let you go now.”

Jess pursed her lips, bemused, and returned to her spot at the table.  “What did he ask you about, Jess?”  Sam hissed mischievously.

“None of your stinkin’ beeswax, that’s what,” Jess snapped, not at all liking what he was insinuating, and was about to say more when -

“Can I have your attention please?”  Principal Coulson (aka S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Agent Coulson) said, his voice amplified by a microphone.

The lunchroom quickly fell into silence, all except- “Flash Thompson, don’t make me repeat myself,” Coulson said, annoyed.  The blonde bully fell silent as well, embarrased.  “Good.  Well students, welcome to a new school year.  You’re all in 10th grade, and you of course need to start worrying about college if you haven’t already....”  He immediately launched into an age-long speech about Midtown’s college funding and responsibility and such.  Even Ava, who was usually attentive, fell into a sort of stupor towards the end.

“...and this school year should go by for all of you without a bump,” Coulson finished, stopping as if he expected an applause.  There were a few, weak-minded claps.

Suddenly, the wall tore open!  The cafeteria was flooded with brilliant sunlight and the screams of surprised students as the bricks rained down, crumbling on the floor and sending clouds of dust everywhere.

A twisted, living pile of sand poured in, an angry mouth agape.  “Where...is...Spider...Man?”  It roared, shaking the foundations of the school itself.  The 10th graders began scrambling for the exits and even Principal Coulson seemed frightened, but only for a half second.

One scream could be be heard louder than the rest. “Principal Coulson?  Bump!"