Kim folded her arms and settled into her chair as the film started. She had not seen it even though it had come out only two years ago. Beside her Beth scoffed noisily and folded her arms. Kim glared at her from the side of her eye but turned back to the television. As the opening scene played, the date 1280 appeared on the screen and Mrs. Craig, rolling her eyes, paused the video. Kim could not help but smile slightly as she gave a playfully exaggerated sigh of exasperation. 

“Alright,” she sat back at her desk, “We are less than thirty seconds into this ‘historical’ film and there are already several anachronisms. Does anyone know what they are?” 

Nobody answered. Many glanced away while others shrugged with weak smiles. Kim, wanting to make up for her comment before, put up her hand and ignored Beth’s and the other Bonnies’ scoffs and mutters.

“Yes, Kim?” The teacher asked.

“Um, the dates are wrong. King Alexander the Third did not die until 1286,” Kim began, “And Longshanks didn’t invade Scotland until 1296.”

“Excellent,” Mrs. Craig spoke cheerily, “Anything else?”

“Longshanks was a devout Christian, not a Pagan. He went on crusades and that.”

“And?” Mrs. Craig probed further.

“Um…” Kim thought, “ Oh! Um, they haven’t mentioned John Balioil at all? Or the Maid of Norway? Longshanks didn’t instantly take over.”

“Exactly!” Mrs. Craig was beaming now, “Excellent, Kim, I will give you a merit for this.” 

Kim, her face feeling flushed from a mix of embarrassment and pride, sat down as Mrs. Craig resumed the film. Propping up her elbows, Kim rested her head and looked around. The other students were shifting about, whispering to each other and generally not paying attention. As Kim watched the movie, she opened her jotter and absentmindedly doodled.

“You’re a right suck up, y’know,” A hiss made her jump, Beth was glaring at her, “Want to be Mrs. Craig’s best friend since you can’t get any your own age, being the freak you are!” She was whispering, but the sharpness of her hatred could cut glass. 

Kim kept quiet. At this point, she had no energy to deal with Beth’s nonsense. The paracetamol was losing its magic and her cramp was coming back with a vengeance. Kim would have no chance to take more until she got home. She just sighed and kept her eyes forward. 

“Oi, didn’t you hear me?” Beth snapped, “Got nothing to say now, huh? Not so mouthy when you’re face to face huh? Say something, you daft cow!”

Kim remained silent, still drawing in her jotter. 

“You weren’t so quiet when you were chatting up my man at break, what are you doing talking to Kieran?”

Kim suppressed the urge to blurt out unfavourable words at this accusation. She had never seen Kieran and Beth together, and if this had been true, it would be school-wide news. While Kim did not personally partake in the idiocy that was high school politics, she knew better than to ignore it. 

“Say something!” Beth snarled, and prodded Kim painfully on the shoulder, “go on, talk!” 

That prod did it. Furious, Kim turned away from Beth and wrote “I only talk to people I like” in big and bold letters on her page. She pushed it slowly over to Beth’s side of the desk and turned her head back towards the television. She was rounding on her to continue but stopped as she read what Kim wrote. From the corner of her eye, Kim watched as Beth’s expression changed from smugness to surprise and then embarrassment. She sheepishly sat back in her own seat, her face pale and looking taken aback.

Needless to say, the rest of the period was very peaceful.