Check up
Madison made her way to the nurse's office, feeling a lingering unease from her encounter with Coach Lockwood. She knocked on the door and was surprised to be greeted by June.
"Oh. Hey," Madison said.
"Hey," June replied, glancing up from her seat.
"You're that girl who had to write all over Baxter's chalkboard," Madison continued.
"Yeah, that was me," June said. "That guy's a total prick. We had to clean it up after you were done."
"We?" Madison asked, puzzled.
"Over here," a voice called out. Madison turned to see April G lying on a blue bed mattress, her ankle wrapped in a brace.
"Hello, Ms. Chan," said Nurse Barbara Lou, a Filipino woman in her late thirties. "Please take a seat. You too, Ms. Violet. Your clothes should be ready soon."
"Yes, ma'am," the girls agreed, sitting down on another blue mattress with April G in the middle.
"So, it's April, right?" Madison asked.
"April G," she corrected her.
"What's the G for?" June asked.
April G instinctively reached for her neck but didn't answer.
"Well?" June pressed.
April G shut her eyes, fighting back tears.
"You okay?" Madison asked softly.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about it," April G said, ignoring June's original question.
"Okay, different question. How'd you get that ankle brace?" June asked.
"Tripped on something after I left class," April G replied.
"Sorry to hear that," Madison said.
"I'll live. Why are you two here?" April G asked, shifting the focus.
"Some stupid jocks ruined my uniform. The nurse said she carries fresh sets," June explained.
"Why didn't you get one from your dorm?" Madison asked.
"Because this is the eighth one that's been ruined. This morning, someone wrote 'loser' on my clothes," June said, her voice trembling with frustration.
"That's horrible. You have to tell the dean," April G said.
"Tried that. Nobody is coming forth," June replied.
"I'm so sorry," Madison said, her voice filled with sympathy.
"Story of my life. What about you, Chan?" April G asked.
"I'm here for… pills," Madison said nervously.
"Pills? As in medication?" April G asked.
"Yeah," Madison admitted.
"Why? What's wrong with you?" June asked bluntly.
"Don't ask her that. It's rude," April G interjected.
"Not like I'm judging. By the looks of it, we all have a tough time here," June said.
"Okay, Ms. Violet," Nurse Lou said, returning with a fresh set of clothes. "You can change in the bathroom."
"Thanks," June said, taking the clothes and walking into the bathroom.
"I'll be back with your prescription, Ms. Chan," Nurse Lou said before leaving the room.
Madison and April G sat in silence for a moment.
"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," April G said finally.
"It's fine. She was right about one thing. We all have a crappy time here," Madison said.
"At least you have basketball. Surprised none of your teammates came with you," April G commented.
"They aren't very happy about me being on the team," Madison admitted.
"How come?" April G asked.
"I've cost us a few games. Apparently, I have two left feet," Madison said, her voice tinged with self-loathing.
"Maybe your coach can—" April G started.
"No," Madison shouted, slamming her fist on the nightstand next to her.
Startled by her outburst, April G recoiled.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" Madison's voice trailed off.
"Everything okay, girls?" Nurse Lou asked as she returned with the prescription, June following behind in her new uniform.
"I thought I was dramatic," June commented.
"Sorry. I'm fine," Madison said, trying to regain her composure.
"I brought your medicine, Ms. Chan. Take three pills every day, no more than that," Nurse Lou instructed, handing over the prescription.
"Yes, ma'am," Madison said, taking the medicine.
"You ladies should head to your next classes. Here are your hall passes," Nurse Lou said, handing out the passes.
The girls took their passes and made their way out.
"Ouch," April G said as she stood up.
"Perhaps you should stay, Ms. Jones," Nurse Lou suggested.
"I'm fine. Really," April G insisted.
"Here, let us help you," Madison said as she and June supported April G.
"You don't have to," April G protested.
"Come on. We outcasts have to stick together," June teased, smiling.
April G sighed and allowed her classmates to help her leave.
"Take care, ladies," Nurse Lou called after them.
As they walked away, a shadowy figure emerged from the floor, watching them leave. "Finally," it uttered. "They are all together."
Throughout their journey to their next class, the girls came across a crowd of students all rushing to their next destination.
"You know I can get to my class on my own," April G said.
"You said that already," June said. "Besides, I'm not in any rush to get to my class."
"By the way, that's a nice bracelet, June," Madison said.
"Thanks," June said as she fondled it. "It feels a little loose though."
The bracelet snapped off and rolled away from her.
"No," June exclaimed, leaving the others to chase after the bracelet, frantically trying to retrieve it.
The piece of jewelry continued to escape her grasp as June constantly pursued it.
"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered.
Eventually, the bracelet reached the end of the hall, stopping against a wooden door.
"Gotcha," June said as she picked it up.
"There you are," Madison said as she and April G caught up to her.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to leave you guys," June said.
"I get it. I had a pearl necklace that my mom gave me before she passed away," April G said. "I would do anything to get it back."
As the three girls were conversing, the school bell rang and the wooden door opened.
"What do we have here?" Brother Baxter said, eyeing them suspiciously.
"We were just on our way to class, Sir," Madison said quickly.
"Let's see your hall passes," he demanded.
The girls handed over their hall passes.
After a quick glance, Brother Baxter ripped the hall passes into pieces.
"Those were our hall passes!" June yelled.
"These passes were only meant to pardon you from missing one class. As you heard, that was the second bell, making you tardy for two classes," Brother Baxter said sternly. "I'm afraid I'll have to punish you three."
"Look, it was my fault. I lost my bracelet and—" June began.
"I said no excuses. The three of you will come to my office after your last class. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir," the girls said in an aggravated tone.
"Now get out of my sight," Brother Baxter ordered.
The girls walked away as he shut the door with a loud thud, making their troubled day even worse.