Ballad of a Broken Boy

The two things Nina Salazar-Roberts hates

There are two things I hate. Obviously, there are lots and lots of things that I dislike, but there are only two things in the world that I honest to God cannot stand. The first is suffering of any kind. I just can't stand to see anyone hurting. I just hate it.

The second thing is actually a someone... Someone named Ricky freaking Bowen, who just so happens to be my lab partner at East high. Unfortunately, he's the guy I'm forced to sit next to in almost every lesson, all because the teachers seem to think that sitting next to the geekiest geek of all time will make him get better grades... ha- as if. He doesn't even bother to copy me. The days he chooses to show up to class are spent with his nose in his phone texting god knows who. To be honest, I would probably hate him less if he actually attempted to work, even if he was just copying me, but he doesn't even seem to care. The thing that bothers me the most about Ricky freaking Bowen is that when it came to the important exams... he was top of the class. Every time. At first the teachers all thought he was cheating, but couldn't prove it. I am still sure of it... how can he get higher scores than me? I work my ass off, day in/day out to get the high grades I do. Then he came along, does absolutely nothing, and does better than me?!

On top of that, he never even speaks to me! I mean, every now and then he'll mutter a quick 'sorry' if he runs into me, or a 'thanks' if I pass him something, but even when I ask him if he wants help, or if he's okay, he just grunts and ignores me. Now, I usually just ignore him right back.

And then, the other day he had the nerve to call me a geek and laugh at me, along with all his stupid, stuck up friends. I was in the park, walking Nigel, (my dog), and I just happened to see him and a few other people sat on a bench. I stopped in surprise mainly because I've never seen him outside of school before, let alone with anyone else. They all looked like the stereotypical 'bad guy'. Leather jackets, torn jeans, sunglasses, cigarettes. And every single one of them looked movie-star gorgeous. I mean, that's one thing I can't deny. As much as I hate Ricky, he's probably the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen.

Stupid, perfect curls.

Anyway, I stared at them for a second, before turning away quickly when Ricky noticed me. I kept walking past them with my head down, hoping they wouldn't say anything, but I heard Ricky laugh.

"Hey guys, look. It's that geek I was telling you about, the one I always have to sit by. She's supposed to be 'rubbing off on me'." He scoffed. I felt myself blush even harder, but didn't look up.

"I wouldn't mind her 'rubbing off' on me, if you get me..." one of the guys replied, suggestively. I felt like I would keel over and die of embarrassment.

Ricky laughed. "Dude, she wouldn't dare touch you. She'll probably be the 40-year-old virgin." He told his friends who laughed and gave each other high-fives. I rolled my eyes, running past them as fast as I could not wanting to be in that humiliating situation any longer.

LINE BREAK

This all happened last summer so, as you can imagine, now that I am starting my senior year, I want nothing more than to start afresh and to never have to talk to or even see him again. But, of course, dreams never do come true. I decided to sign up for tutoring to boost my extra credit. And, of course, who do I get assigned to tutor? None other than the one and only, Richard Motherfucking Bowen.

"What? But he gets better grades than me!" I whined to Miss Jenn, not caring if it made me look like a whiny brat.

"You're right, hon... he does. In finals, and any other exams. But the work he does, or doesn't do, in class and on homework means that unless he got 100% on every exam he does from now on, he'll flunk out. That's how the grading system works, I'm afraid." She explained calmly.