Roses and Thorns

The gym echoed as the ball bounced repetitively on the wooden floor. Shoes squeaked as they slid against the flower while two groups of girls attempted to get the ball away from each other. One girl, whose hair had a rainbow of colors, grabbed the ball and threw it into one of the hoops. It effortlessly fell through the hoop and bounced on the floor beneath it.

“Great job, Rainbow!” One of the girls cheered. Rainbow continued to focus on the game, determined to win.

As she played, she noticed a girl standing on the sidelines at the corner of her eye. She took the ball and shot another hoop before running towards the girl. Her hair was dark-red and messy, and her eyes were magenta, just like Rainbow’s. She wore a leather jacket and black jeans. Her hands were in her pocket, so barely any skin was showing.

“Hey!” Rainbow greeted, extending a hand.

The girl stared at her hand and shrugged. “Hi,” She muttered under her breath.

“Is this your first day?” Rainbow asked. She has never seen her before.

She nodded, but she didn’t say anything.

Rainbow looked at the girls who still played basketball. Her team was so far ahead that they could easily win without her. The new girl seemed lonely. She needed a friend, and Rainbow was determined to be that friend.

She walked up to Coach Spitfire and asked, “Is it OK if I walk the new girl around school instead of play?”

Spitfire pushed her sunglasses up and replied, “I don’t know, Rainbow.”

“You know I get plenty of exercise,” Rainbow argued. “If I keep playing the PE games, then it wouldn’t be fair for the other team.”

Spitfire chuckled and said, “You’re so full of yourself.” She looked up at the ceiling as she thought. “Yeah, go ahead. Just be back five minutes before the bell rings.”

Rainbow silently cheered as she walked back to the girl. She told her that Spitfire let them both go for a walk, and the girl shrugged as she followed Rainbow.

They left the gym and walked aimlessly down the hall. For a few minutes, there was silence. Then Rainbow realized, “I never got your name!”

“Rose Thorn,” The girl said under her breath.

Rainbow figured that Rose Thorn was shy, but that wasn’t going to stop her. “Where are you from?” She asked.

As if a switch was flipped, Rose Thorn brightened up. “I’m from Manhattan!” She beamed. “My parents wanted to move after school became too stressful for me to handle, so we moved here.”

Rainbow was taken back by Rose Thorn’s sudden mood change, but she recovered quickly. “You’ll like it here!” She assured her. “The students are great, and we have so many activities you can choose from. I’m the team captain of every sport.”

Rose Thorn giggled and admitted, “I’m not into sports. Do you have a gardening club?”

“We do,” Rainbow replied. “We also have an agriculture club if you’re interested. My friend, Applejack, is in it.”

Rainbow looked up at the clock and saw that it was almost five minutes until class ended. “We should head back. Spitfire wanted us back five minutes before the bell rang. I don’t want you to get in trouble on your first day.”

“That would be terrible!” Rose thorn said as she walked quickly with Rainbow.

They made it back to the gym right on time. Rose Thorn waited as Rainbow ran into the locker room and changed back to her regular clothes. It felt like no time at all when Rainbow left the locker room and ran over to Rose Thorn.

“That was fast!” Rose thorn said, amazed.

Rainbow chuckled, “Yeah. I’m pretty fast.”

“We’re going to be great friends,” Rainbow said with assurance.

Rose Thorn chuckled and rolled her eyes, “You wouldn’t last a week being my friend.”

“Is that a challenge?” Rainbow asked, smiling confidently.

“If you want it to be,” Rose thorn answered, “but I have never had a friend last for a week. I think three days was the most.”

“I’ll be your first friend to last a week. In fact, I’ll last much longer than a week,” Rainbow told her.

“I should be used to losing friends, but I’m not,” Rose Thorn admitted with teary eyes. “I don’t want you to leave me, but I’m afraid you will.”

Rainbow placed a hand on her shoulder, “I won’t leave you. I promise.”

Rose Thorn smiled slightly. The bell suddenly rang, and the students spilled out the gym and headed for their classes. Rainbow waved “goodbye” to Rose Thorn and headed for her next class. Lunch was already on her mind.