The bell rings and school is out for the weekend.

  Chris meets up with the gang by Celeste’s truck. He gets a smack by Elle and Ivy.

  “What’d I do?” Chris rubs his chest but smiles, he knows what they’re gonna say.

  “That’s for teasing us with the trip to Spain.” Elle tells him.

  “That’s right.” Ivy adds.

  Elle then moves in close to Chris. “But, other then that. I can’t wait to take this test. You do know what Spain has, right?”

  Chris has to say it. “Uh…Spaniards?”

  She pokes his side him. “No! Fmenco dancing. You think Mrs. Hamilton’ll give me some extra credit for coming back knowing some fmenco?” She dances up against him a bit.

  Damn, she gets him excited. He has to bite his lip.

  “Seeing as how you’re one of her best students, I don’t think she’ll have a problem with that.” Ivy tells her.

  Jackson, and Jerry with Celeste, come up from behind the group.

  “Hey, guys.” Jackson says.

  “Don’t you two have a game to get ready for?” Chris says.

  “Oh, and let me guess. You…Spanish…students, got a test to get ready for. Huh?” Jerry says

  Elle looks to Celeste. “Celeste, could you hit him for me, please. You’re closer.”

  “Certainly.” Smack, right in the chest.

  Chris busts up with everyone else. It’s a good thing Jerry’s an earth elemental. They’re best known for being able to take a hit. Which is probably why he got onto the football team. Being, figuratively and sometimes literally, hard as a rock is a huge benefit. Celeste doesn’t care. As a matter of fact, she seems to enjoy beating on Jerry. Of course Jerry likes receiving her punishment. Chris gets a hint of a bondage future for both.

  Plus she didn’t care when they broke the elemental news to her st year. Benefit of being the easy-going farm girl, they guessed.

  Elle is called by one of the other cheerleaders that they’re gathering in the gym.

  “Be right there.” She calls over. She gives Chris a long kiss while the others chat.

  Celeste takes Jerry and practically dominates him up against her truck. Chris never would have guessed he was into being dominated till they started going out. But it didn’t surprise any of them.

  Elle and Jerry run off to their respective practice. Celeste offers them a ride to the b in her pickup. Jackson sits up front in the cab while the rest hop in back. Chris is scolded before they head out. They almost got in trouble this past summer when some cops spotted him standing on the roof while driving at full speed. Luckily, with the use of his little slipstream trick, they were able to get away. They didn’t even get the license pte number, thankfully. So, he just sits down in the bed like a good elemental. Sheesh, some people have no sense of humor.

  They arrive at the b and drive around to the loading dock. A lone UPS truck sits idling. They park in their normal spot next to Seth‘s car, away from the dock in case a semi comes in. At the door, Chris uses his card and they head inside. Celeste saying how cool it is, even after being friends with them for a year or so, to be able to just walk in like this.

  “Yeah, I suppose. We’ve just gotten use to it I guess.” Jackson says.

  They spot Seth with the UPS guy, going over some boxes. He looks up and smiles, putting a finger up, motioning for them to hold on. He finishes and the UPS guys leaves.

  “What’s up guys?” Seth says writing some stuff on a clipboard.

  “Not much. Just that, those of us who are in Spanish css at school could be going to Spain next month.” Chris says in a gloating way.

  Seth stops. “What?”

  “Oh, those in Spanish css who think they’re good enough…”, Jackson narrows his eyes at them, “seem to think they’re going to win this contest to go to Spain for two weeks.”

  “Whoa.”

  “Don’t mind him. He’s just jealous cause him and Jerry didn’t take Spanish and now have to stay here and keep going to school while we go and have fun.” Ivy says.

  Seth shakes his head. “Damn. Well good luck, you guys.”

  “Our parents in?” Elle asks.

  “Yeah, Ariel’s in her office right now. Not sure about your dad’s.”

  “All right. See ya ter. You coming to the game tonight?” Chris asks him.

  “Sure thing. I’ll be there.”

  The gang go through the back of the office area to human resources, where Ariel has her office. Which incidentally is next to his fathers office and Mr. Prowman’s. More like a joint office, actually. A conference room sits adjoined to it for conference calls and meetings.

  Some of the office employees and one of the scientists, Dr. Anderson, say hello to the group as they pass by. Chris thought Dr. Anderson was pretty cool. He was really down to earth for a physicist. He was also the happiest to be working here. As if no one wasn’t. The ironic thing was that Dr. Anderson was big on wormholes, hyperspace, parallel dimensions and the like. If only he knew.

  Chris’ mom is going over some paperwork when they arrive. “Hey, kids. Have a good day at school.”

  Ivy chuckles. “Well, that’s an understatement.”

  “Huh? What happened?”

  Chris tells her about the contest to Spain.

  “That’s wonderful. That’d be great if you all could go.”

  “Except for me and Jerry. We didn’t take Spanish.” Jackson says.

  “Well you know the old saying, ‘You snooze, you lose’.”

  Jackson rolls his eyes. “Hey, no one’s won yet. Don’t think all of you are going.” He gives the Spanish students a smug look.

  “Hey!” Ivy pokes him.

  Ariel ughs. “Go wait in the cafeteria till your dad’s get done with their conference call. I’ll meet you there soon as I’m done here.”

  “Who they talking with? The government again?”

  “Of course. Plus some other guys from some other company. Says they want to merge or something.”

  Chris rolls his eyes. The government again, like always. No surprise there. Wanting the technology for their own greedy needs. Just like the cybernetic technology. Probably wanted to make some super soldiers or something.

  They stick around the cafeteria, getting a pop and something to snack on. The north wall is windowed and over looks the patio and water garden. Simon had actually though of putting the water garden in instead of Larry’s idea of a pond with a fountain. Thought it would be more cssy. And it worked. Several visitors commented positively on it. Which brought more customers wanting TalCorp to help with research and development. Off to the northeast of the cafeteria is the new building for research and development. The shell of the building was put up this summer and into the fall. The interior is currently under construction. With work going on all winter, the contractor said it should be done next fall. The pce was huge. More offices, air-tight and static free rooms, a basement and two sub-basements. Even a robotics department will be set up. Larry even mentioned expanding again ter. It was a ood thing they built at the edge of town with nothing but open nd to build on.

  While they chat and joke about the facility being Area 51.

  “Hey kids!” Larry says as him and Simon walk in. “We just heard about some trip to Spain.”

  “Yup.” Ivy responds, as perky as Elle would be if she was here.

  “Who gets to go, exactly?” Simon asks.

  They expin the contest and quiz. Chris pulls out the pamphlet and hands it over to his dad. Larry flips through it, then hands it to Simon.

  “So what’s the quiz about?” Larry asks.

  “Probably Spanish history or something. I would think?” Paul tells him.

  Chris notices Jackson mouthing something. Not paying attention. “And of course some people are regretting their decision not to take Spanish css.”

  Jackson mocks ughter. “That’s all right. You’re not all going to get to go. Some of you are stuck here with us.” He says sarcastically.

  The rest have a ugh.

  “Aww. Someone’s jealous.” Ivy says poking her boyfriend.

  “Hmmph! Don’t want to go to Spain anyway.” Jackson crosses his arms and turns around.

  Chris had to ugh, he was acting like Jerry. Those two were a pair for sure.

  “That’s right. Besides, Jerry has chores to do at the farm. And Jackson is helping.” Celeste looks at Ivy. “Right?”

  “Yeah, like cleaning up the cow manure, feeding and milking the cows, cleaning the barns…” Ivy tells him. Jackson slowly lowers his arms. By the look on his face everyone can tell he wishes he was going now.

  Larry puts his hands up. “All right guys. Those of you going for the trip just make sure you study hard and expect the unexpected. You know we’ll be rooting for you. We have to finish up here, why don’t you kids head home and get something to eat before the game tonight.”

  “Melissa should be home now. Just hang out there, we’ll meet up with you.” Simon tells them.

  The gang leave and head to the Prowman’s house.