Sierra
It was 9th period. Jamie, Julia and I were sitting in Ms. B's history class, her boring voice droning on and on, washing right over us. The class was silent, everyone was straining their ears to hear the announcement of the winners. Halfway through the period, the long awaited screech came from the loudspeaker.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we are picking the raffle winners now. Instead of announcing them over the speaker, we will turn it into an assembly. Everyone please report to the auditorium in a moment. To prevent a traffic jam, we will call classes down by section. If you don't know what section your room is in, the map that every class has on the door says it. Thank you," the voice said.
"Ms. B, what section are we?" a girl named Melissa asked.
"Section A1," Ms. B answered.
The loudspeaker screeched again and the voice said, "Section A1, please make your way down to the auditorium."
The entire class started talking as we rushed to the doors into the crowded hallways. I couldn't hear myself think through all the talking. Julia and Jamie looked as nervous as I felt. We really didn't want Ally and Alex to come with us! We made our way to the auditorium and got seats in the front. All the other classes were coming down. It was insanely loud. I had a huge headache.
Our principal, Mrs. Edwards, stepped onto the stage. The auditorium immediately quieted down. "Okay, everyone. Settle down. I know you all are excited to find out who wins the raffle, so without further ado, we'll ask Julia to come up with the two people she picked to go with her." It was more of a command than a request.
Julia
The three of us walked up the stairs to the stage and smiled modestly at the crowd, blushing red at the roaring applause. "Okay. Julia, would you please reach into this box and pick out a name?" Mrs. Edwards asked.
I turned my head away and blindly reached into the box full of papers, praying I wouldn't pick Ally or Alex. I grabbed a paper. I unfolded it apprehensively and read the name Amalia. A Robot. "Amalia Paterson. Homeroom 124," I read. There was a squeal from the audience as a girl with blonde, shoulder-length, straight hair strutted up the stairs, her dark blue bracelets clinking on her wrist. "Congratulations, Lia," I told her, using the nickname almost everyone called her. I hugged her as honestly as I could. She smiled and thanked me before walking to Mrs. Edwards who gave her a sheet of paper. I assumed it was the permission slip. Lia walked to the chair awaiting her on the stage.
"Okay, now Sierra, please pick a name," Mrs. Edwards smiled.
Sierra walked to the box, placed her hand in, fumbled around a little, and pulled out a name. She opened the paper and read, "Jacob Smith." He walked up to the stage, smiling his brilliant white smile. "C-congratulations, Jake," Sierra stuttered. She always got nervous around him. Jake hugged her briefly. Sierra and Jake both turned red. He totally likes her, I thought. Jake took the permission slip from the principal and took his seat next to Lia.
Jamie was next. She called Nicholas Scott's name. Jake's friend. Like that's a coincidence. A+A must've put Jake's name and Nick's name in a lot, so Jake wouldn't be without another guy, I thought.
It was Mrs. Edwards' turn next. "Allison Adison." Ally strutted up to the stage, light blue bracelets jangling on her wrists. Her long, braided, blonde hair bounced on her back. Her bright turquoise eyes twinkled when the principal congratulated her and handed her the permission slip. She sat down next to Lia. Four seats were already filled. There were four more empty seats lined up on the stage.
Now it was my turn again. I reached in and pulled out a name. My heart dropped as I read the name, "Alexandra Adison." Wearing almost the same light blue outfit and bracelets as Ally, she looked like a clone. The only difference was that Alex had left her wavy blonde hair loose. I mumbled congratulations and winced as I hugged her. She strutted to a chair and smiled her whitened smile at the school.
Sierra called Alice Johnson's name. Another Robot. Two seats left.
Jamie called Amanda Brown's name. Another Robot. One seat left.
Mrs. Edwards called a girl named Samantha Thompson's name. She wasn't a robot. Maybe she'd be nice. "And that's everyone," our principal told the audience. There were some claps, but they were drowned out by many disappointed groans. "Congratulations, Allison, Alexandra, Alice, Amalia, Amanda, Samantha, Jacob, and Nicholas. And of course Julia, Jamie, and Sierra." We all thanked her.
I glanced at the clock. 2:41. The bell would ring in five seconds. Then I could talk to Jamie and Sierra. Five, four, three, two, one, I counted down in my head. The bell rang. After everyone else left, the three of us sighed. "I guess we're stuck with A+A, and three robots," I complained. "But, Si, Jake's coming," I teased. We ended up cracking up as we walked to our colorful lockers and threw our books in our backpacks. "Si, can I get a ride home?" I asked as we walked out the doors. Jamie would take the bus. "Or not," I said as my eyes widened at the sight of a long limousine waiting with my mother standing in front of it. "Come on," I told Jamie and Sierra.
We walked towards the limo, ignoring all the stares. "Uh, hi, Mom," I said.
"Hi, Julia. Sierra. Jamie," she answered.
"Hello, Dr. James," Jamie said politely. Sierra echoed her.
"Well, what are you three waiting for? Go on, get in," my mom said. We stepped into the limousine to see my father sitting there. "Hi, Dad," I said.
"Hello, Julia and Sierra and Jamie," he answered.
"Hello, Dr. James," Jamie said again. Sierra echoed her again.
My mom joined us in the limo and it almost instantaneously began to move. She attempted to have a casual conversation with us, but it was just awkward. I glanced out the window of the limousine and saw several reporters with cameras following us. Sierra, Jamie, and I exchanged nervous glances.
