A Flame Inside Me

Chapter 1

I sit in English, second hour of the day. Ms. Langus describes a project we're starting. I'm a senior at Yuu Ei high school, despite it's name this school is built on American ground. Michigan ground, to be exact.

"Today, class, we start a new project! I've noticed that all throughout this long year we haven't socialized with anyone besides the people we already know. I don't like that. So, I've assigned you all partners whom of which I've never seen you talk to. This is called the ' get to know your peers assignment ' where you will answer a multitude of questions about them that I have put on this sheet and then write a five page essay on them. You will have the rest of this week including the weekend to do this. It's due Monday at the beginning of the hour. That's four days." She holds up the packets where I assume many questions will be written.

I look down at my current read, a five hundred page novel about the wonderful Vladimir Putin. I was born in Russia, and moved to the United States when I was eight years old. I speak fluent English and Russian, as does my twin sister Maggie who currently sits next to me.

Ms. Langus reads off names and I await to hear mine. In all my projects I always partnered with Maggie, she's the only person I talk to. I wonder who Ms. Langus will put me with. I'm obviously the favorite so it can't be that bad.

I look around the room, my eye catching Zach who sits in the back staring out the window. His black hair covering his eyes as he sits, his chin atop his palm. When he notices my gaze I look away, annoyed. The one person I hate most, Zach Farner. He never pays attention and he doesn't do any of the work. He's probably failing. The one person I don't want to be partnered with.

"Zach Farner and Marshall Flameson," Ms. Langus reads off her sheet, smiling mischievously as she quickly moves onto the next person.

"What?" I say, standing as my hands hit the table loudly. My voice fills with anger as my eyebrows slant down.

Zach looks up, his eyes wide. "Yeah, not happening," He eventually exclaims, folding his arms over his chest.

Ms. Langus ignores us and continues to read off the partners. I sit, my own arms folding over my chest. I pout, still mad.

Maggie looks over at me, laughing sneakily. "I may have heard about the project early," She whispers.

I look over, "And?"

"I may have mentioned a certain boy whom you hate." She laughs again, sounding like a fox.

"Do you have a death wish?" I glare.

"I'm only trying to help."

Not long after, the bell rings. Maggie runs out, knowing how angry I am. Of course she gets partnered with Chloe Anna, her best friend whom she just doesn't talk to in English.

Zach walks by, not paying me any mind. Instead, I go to Ms. Langus.

"Please don't make me work with him!"

"This will be good for you, just give it a chance. This'll be a test grade I hope you heard."

The US school system is shit. That's what I think, but instead I say "Fine."

"Hello Mr. Flameson, Ms. Flameson," Mr. Nye says as we walk in and take our seats.

I sit down, staring down at my feet as I think about Zach. No - The project. "What did you mean?"

"Huh?" Maggie says, pulling out her journal. She looks over at me, her flaming red pigtails bouncing happily. Her red eyes shine with the usual joy they hold.

"What did you mean by 'only trying to help'?"

"Oh, that? You always talk about how horrible he is and how he's evil and is probably failing all his classes, which you never talk to him so how would you even know that. I mean he doesn't ever do his work or pay attention so yeah you're -"

"Stay on topic." I say quickly. She always talks way too much and way too fast, not to mention too loud so I always need to keep her focused.

"Right, right. Okay, so you say you always hate him and you always show an angry expression but I know you and you don't just hate someone to hate them. I've watched you, I think you think you hate him but in all reality your eyes don't look angry. I think if you just got to know him you'd-"

"No!" I yell, way too loudly, compared to my usual quietness. I lower my voice, mumbling "I'll just get this project over with and move on. He's the complete opposite of me, we won't get along."

Then, the bell rings signaling class will now start. This makes Maggie quiet for once. Well, almost. Quietly she mumbles a tune, Won't Say I'm in Love from Hercules.

She really thinks I could come to like Zach. Not happening. Not ever.