Silverleaf Collegiate Institute’s annual school festival had officially begun. Alumni, future students, friends, and families entered the gates in hoards. Right away they were greeted by plenty of food stalls and games. There were also students from different grades and clubs advertising their program for the festival.

“Haunted house in the A wing. Haunted house in the A wing.”

“The drama club’s play will take place in the gym. The first show will start in two hours. There’ll be an announcement closer to the time. Please check it out!”

“Basketball club’s café is on the second floor.”

“Fries get your fries and support the track team!”

“Fashion show will take place in four hours. A fashion show will take place in the gym in four hours.”

“Donuts and donut holes! Come and try them.”

“Del!” Rei, Asher, greeted Delancy who was trying to sell donuts for the volleyball team.

“Hey brat,” said Rosemond.

“Hippo.”

“Hello, I’m Nancy, Asher’s girlfriend,” Asher’s newest girlfriend, Nancy with the beautiful personality, introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you. I’ll talk to you if you buy some donuts.” Delancy brought the tray to their faces and signaled for money in the other.

“I’m doing this for the volleyball club not for you,” Rosemond said as she handed over money for a donut.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night you hippo,” said Delancy, not believing in her sister’s words.

“Hey, let’s check out the other places,” Nancy said, dragging Asher off into the school.

“But my donut.” Asher was reaching for the donut he was about to receive before Delancy passed it off to Rosemond since he got too far.

When they were far away enough Delancy asked Rei, “That’s Nancy with the beautiful personality?”

“You should have seen her on the way here. Couldn’t ask Ash anything.”

“I miss Kathy with the big heart.”

“At least with Ash’s track record, this one will be gone in three months.”

“Oh, there’s a haunted house,” said Rosemond after she finished her donut. She looked over to Rei with her sparkling green eyes and tried to repress a smile. “Hey Rei.”

Rei’s face dropped at the sound of Rosemond’s tone but before she could do anything about it as her best friend’s sister was already dragging her inside.

Delancy mouthed a good luck to her best friend that was in near tears before she returned to selling donuts.

*

Inside the school, Isaac finally had his free time. He was on his way to get a donut from Delancy when he saw Rosemond walking alone.

“Hey Mond.”

“Hey Isa. Are you on a break?”

“Yeah. Why are you alone? I thought you were coming with Rei, Ash, and Nancy with the beautiful personality.”

“There’s nothing beautiful about that girl’s personality but she dragged Asher off before he could get his donut. If you see him, tell him it was delicious. I was going to the haunted house with Rei but she found Diego dressed up like a bunny and went with him.”

“I’ll go with you. It can be a date,” he said with a wink.

Rosemond removed his arm from around her shoulders and said, “Cheeky aren’t you?”

“I try.”

“If only you could do that for your tutoring sessions.”

The two waited in line for the haunted house and chatted away, most of the time it consisted of Isaac’s flirting and Rosemond brushing it off. It was almost their turn before a fellow student ran up to Isaac and called him away.

“You go first, I’ll find you later.”

“Have fun.”

“Next group please.”

Isaac finished helping out with the final preparations and returned to the haunted house line. He headed to the front and asked where Rosemond headed off to.

“I think she went to the infirmary. It seemed like she injured herself, even came out early.”

“Thank you, bye.” Isaac ran down the main hall all the way to infirmary. His heart was pounding as he thought about all the scenarios that could have happened.

Isaac finally reached the infirmary but stopped when he heard laughter on the other side. He peaked in to see Rosemond and some other man laughing as the school nurse wrapped Rosemond’s injured leg.

“You should be fine. Just stay off of that foot and it’ll heal on its own.”

“Thank you,” said Rosemond.

“Again, I am so sorry about this. I’d like to make it up to you. If you don’t mind, do you want to check out the rest of the festival with me? I’ll just help you get around. I promise I won’t hurt anything else.”

“I’d love too. My name’s Rosemond.”

“Gale.”

Unable to watch anymore, Isaac turned around and walked back to the gym to prepare for the fashion show. He punched the nearby locker before running away.

In the end, life is all about the timing, something that I could never get right. If I had just been born a few years earlier then I wouldn't been known as the younger sister's friend. If I just spoke a bit faster than that phone wouldn't have interrupted me. If I had just waited one more minute then I would have seen my chance. Even after all these years, time proved that it wasn't on my side. Maybe if I had just pushed myself instead of catching my breath I would have been first. Then again, when have I ever been first?