Chapter 5 Getting Into it

Christmas passed without much event, and I returned to school on one of the first few days of January. I made sure to exchange presents with some of my friends due to my recent absence (I even gave a present to Nikki- am I too forward sometimes? Yes. Yes I am). Then came the final exams for our classes, which were really nothing to worry about, despite constant pushing by our math teacher to study all of our material. Let’s just say that I would have been surprised if any of the IBs who made it to Grade 12 two years later had any problem with these tests- they were simple. What wasn’t simple was what followed, or new courses in the second semester. Most will remember Math 20IB, a big step up from 10 honours, all the while trying to adapt to the strange way of doing things in English (most hadn’t yet figured out that agreeing with the English teacher’s theories was the best way to get by, while making your own out and getting high marks was as difficult as a running a 100m dash with two broken legs.) The transition into our language classes went well for most, except the Mandarin kids, who had to somehow figure out how to not only understand the teacher, but what was expected of them (I was in French, no problems for me!)However, perhaps my favourite part of third quarter was Foods 10. Oh the food that we made! I Truly enjoyed Foods 10, it was the one class in which I could relax, because making food is like an easier version of a chemistry lab, and I had already conquered chemistry, along with the teacher of chem, who believed that gravity didn’t exist (don’t ask… Please).

As for my little love interest, I finally worked up the courage to ask Nikki out one day in February- damn was I nervous, but I think I did well for my first time. I got a yes! We dated for about 2 months after that (I actually brought her some of the food I cooked in Foods 10, almost everyday.) It was a very typical High School relationship- attached at the hip, holding hands through the hall, walking her to class, etc. Unfortunately, we didn’t have even one class together, and she wasn’t really supposed to date (strict parents- I insisted I talk with them, meet them, and she insisted that I would be brutally murdered, brought back to life through necromancy, and then killed again.) I gave in, and continued the relationship behind her parents’ backs (I really despise crazy strict parents, thank goodness that mine are so understanding). However, due to the lack of interaction, and lack of any real connection between us, by the end of the second month I was becoming tired of the relationship, as repetition really gets to me. One day I just decided that I wanted to end it, but I didn’t know how to bring myself to say something. About a week later, after many failed attempts to just start saying those typical words “Can I talk to you for a minute?” something happened. Seemingly out of nowhere, Nikki said “Peter, I have to talk to you.” I was quite shocked, but she was just going into her class, so I rushed her in and told her to talk to me later. I figured she wanted to break it off, and that worked out great for me. I walked her through the field behind our school later on, to the bus stop, and asked her what she wanted to tell me about earlier. Yes, she really did want to break up, and I agreed that it was for the best. Evidently she must of thought the smile I was wearing was merely a ruse, but inside I was shouting “YES, YES, YES! I’m FREE!” To this day I consider that break up to be mutual, but most consider it me being turned down, because she brought up the idea first. To that, I say Psh.

Also within the time frame of January to April, I performed in the play that we all had been rehearsing for. It was a huge success, and possibly the best play I’ve ever partaken in. (A funny incident occurred due to my absent mindedness involving a brandy bottle filled with ginger ale, and a cork flying into the air mid performance. I think we all played it off very well). However, in the aftermath of it all, the joy of it’s completion and the congratulatory words of the crowd, Tragedy Struck. One of the senior year actors, Davor, took his own life on the weekend following the performance. Returning to school the Monday after, the terrible news was revealed in T.A. A somber mood overtook the whole school, as we were all in mourning. The funeral was Thursday of the week, and even though students were not supposed to leave without permission from parents, there was a general pilgrimage to the nearby church where all gathered to respect his passing. The church was full when I got there, and rarely had I ever seen it so full. The general attitude shared by all in the church was that of total and utter sadness, and although it is to be expected, especially during a suicide death, I didn’t like it one bit. It was the first funeral I had ever been at, and I had hoped to make it my last due to the total and utter sadness everyone demonstrated, but that wasn’t to be…

January to April was a time of learning for me, where in I had my first girlfriend, first kiss, first high school play (the only difference from junior high being multi-night performing), first crush on an older girl (She was a part of the play, though I can say that the crush was short lived), and first funeral. All in all, IB was pushed to the backburner for those months, as I was still busy having a life.