Friends Forever, huh?

Chapter 4 | inexplicably drawn together

5:30 AM: Alarm
[snooze]

6:30 AM: Alarm
[snooze]

6:45 AM: Alarm
[snooze, but glance at the clock, only to panic moments later. I'm going to be late!]

Fact 1: Cole is back

Fact 2: I am dreading going back to school.

After yelling at him yesterday, I have no idea how I'll be able to face him now. In moments like those, I have a fight or flight response--adrenaline kicks in and I can yell until I'm blue in the face. But once I walk away, the adrenaline fades and I'm left with nothing but my rambling thoughts. And my rambling thoughts go to precisely what I don't want to think about. In this case, the time where Cole and I were actually friends.

You should apologize.

He should apologize!

Yes. He should apologize.

My thoughts verify my opinion that I certainly should not apologize to him. They're correct. I shouldn't. He was the one that insulted me and acted as if he could just waltz back into my life without a care.

Well he doesn't have to care. Not anymore, because I'm certainly not planning on caring about him.

I make it into my English classroom seconds before the bell rings, sliding into the open spot before Miss Greene marks me as tardy. Only after I've sat down, do I realize the seat I've taken is right next to Cole.

Shoot.

Despite myself, I steal a glance at Cole. He looks tired today, slumped over his desk, his black curls messy, as if he didn't take the time to brush his hair this morning. When he lifts up his head to blink blearily at the clock, I notice the bags under his eyes--as if he didn't sleep last night.

Good. He should know that I didn't sleep either. I blame him for that.

He notices my eyes on him and glances toward me.

I look away.

"Hello class!" Miss Greene says with a smile, "I have decided, that as a class, we will be working on group books reports on Shakespeare's classic work, Romeo and Juliet."

I groan, whispering an "of course" under my breath. I detest Romeo and Juliet. It's a shallow story of youthful passion and rash actions.  Romeo and Juliet's deaths could have been prevented if only they hadn't been so quick to succumb to despair. But no, they had to be so in love with their dearly beloved that facing death was better than living without the other.

I snort. Yeah right.

My thoughts are redirected when I realize that she listing off partners. Ah, group projects--the bane of every high school student's existence. They're never fair. And given my lack of popularity, I'm chosen as the leader almost every time. It sounds like an honor until you realize being dubbed the leader means you do all of the work.

"Ashley Grayson and...Cole Brighton"

Oh no. Oh heck no.

I raise my hand immediately, "Excuse me Miss Greene, can I switch partners, please?"

She eyes me curiously, as I usually don't speak up in class, "Ashley, surely you don't want to make our new student feel unwelcome, do you?"

"He does a good job of making your old student feel unwelcome," I mutter under my breath before summoning a sweet--although quite fake--smile, "of course not, ma'am."

A familiar laugh comes from my right--apparently my remark under my breath was not quite as quiet as I thought it was. But when I turn to glance at Cole, his face is stoic again, his lip quirked up in an infuriating smirk.  He seems almost determined to look miserable around me. Why?

"We're partners!" I make sure to let the sarcasm in my voice show in my smile, "Isn't this going to be so much fun?" And just for good measure, I reach out and pinch his cheeks with the intent to infuriate him as much as possible.

It works for a moment--anger and annoyance flash across his face, but then he gives me a thumbs up, faux excitement in his tone, "So much fun!"

So the punk still has his sarcasm.

Miss Greene's eyes flit back toward us and I suddenly realize that the whole class is watching us. I let go of Cole and he returns my gaze with his now usual glare.

"I just want you to be aware that I officially hate your guts," I say through my smile, "and if I were Juliet, I would probably kill you instead of dying for you."

"Aw," he coos, "that's cute, babe. Just know that if I were Romeo, I would have killed myself just to get away from you."

I decide not to dignify that statement with a response and turn away, not sure what to make of his joking. I'm not sure what to make of him in general, actually. His joking sounds like banter between friends...well the banter I would have between my friends if I had any.

However, it's free from any of the fondness friendly banter would contain. His insults and jokes come in unadulterated sarcasm. Typically I'm someone that loves sarcasm, but his makes me feel irritable.

I groan, realizing that his words from yesterday are replaying in my mind. Like an idiot, I'm hurt by them. He still has the ability to make my heart ache and I hate myself for still caring for him.

"Loser" he mutters, once he realizes that we're not being watched by the teacher.

"Backstabbing disloyal jerk," I counter, not bothering to look at him.

Two can play at this game.

***

Update: As a writing challenge, I am attempting to write this story in a month. So some of the chapters will not be edited to perfection...such as this one. I know it's not very good...my apologies. I really want this to be a good story but nothing seems to come out right on paper.

I promise I will edit this some and make it better! I hope you won't give up on this book just because the last chapter or two haven't been sublime :(

-J