Destined to Fall

Ethan

Infuriating. That's the word I'd use to describe the image that's been stuck in my mind the past two hours. An image I'd rather not be seeing. As I sit down in my honors English class, I squeeze my eyes shut and rub them hard. The image disintegrates into black and I sigh relieved. However, the image isn't gone for long because when I open my eyes it's staring at me from the seat next to mine. Allyson.

"Must you sit in the seat directly next to mine?" I ask, annoyed. Allyson is the most infuriating girls I know. She's always ready to start a fight with me, spends all her time giggling with Elizabeth and staring at Asher Postuck, and gets perfect grades even though half the time, it seems like she hardly tries.

"It's the second best seat in the classroom Ethan, second only to your seat," Allyson says. It's true that the two of us have the best seats in the class, partially because no one else considers them the best seats. We have the two front center seats.

"Still, I'd prefer if you'd stay far far away from me."

Allyson rolls her eyes and scoffs. "Like that's gonna happen. I've been trying for twelve years and we kept getting shoved together, at this point, I'm giving up."

Has it really been twelve years? Me and Allyson met when we were three and in preschool. We were both stacking block towers and got into a heated competition of who could make the tallest tower. We've been competing at everything ever since.

Our teacher, Mrs. Addings walks in then. "Hello everyone," she says, addressing the class. "You all seem like a nice bunch. I know it's only the first day of school, but I have an assignment for you. You're all going to receive a partner and you have to spend time together, outside of just class. I want you to get to know each other. Then, you will work on a presentation, about each other and will present it on Friday. Your partners will be the same for this as they will be for any other assignment: the person sitting right next to you."

No. Fucking. Way.

I turn to the person next to me and scowl at the mocking smirk on her face. Of course the person I have to get to know is Allyson.

•

Since the Universe apparently hates me, Mrs Addings instruction sheet for the project said that we have to sit with our partner at lunch.

Allyson groans as I sit down at her table.

"Thank you for such a warm welcome," I frown. "I'm just as thrilled to see you." I look around the table and realize we're alone. "Where's your annoying friend? Elizabeth?" I clarify, although it's obvious who I mean.

"Ellie's paired up with Ayden. She couldn't wait to ditch me for his table." Allyson explains. Aydens one of the most popular guys in school. "I'll be sure to tell her you asked though. I'm sure she'll be very interested to know." She winks.

"That's repulsive."

"Hi Bree!" Allyson squeals. I look up to see Allyson's obnoxious friend Bree walking up to the table with a guy named Will.

"Sup," Will says, nodding at me. Will and I are not friends. I want to make that clear. However, Will is friends with my friend Jason. Jason and I wouldn't be friends if we met in middle school or later, but we live on the street and have been friends since we were little kids, regardless of how different we are now.

"Hey bro!" Jason says walking up to the table and dabbing up Will. He reaches his hand out to me and we end up compromising with a fist bump. "My partner is the lovely Cortnie here." He puts his arm around a brunette girl with wide blue eyes. Her big eyes widen more when his arm lands around her shoulders.

Jason sits on my right and Will sits on my left. Bree and Cortnie sit across from their partners. Bree and Allyson start whispering to each other about their days so far.

"I say Ethan won the cutest partner contest!" Will winks at me while we eat. Allyson chokes on a bite of her food. Her face turns pink and I can't help but smirk. I also can't help but think that Will might be right, especially when she's blushing like that.

"I don't know mines pretty cute," Jason says, raising his eyebrows at Cortnie who turns as red as a tomato. "Oh and we can't forget Bree."

"The thing is, it doesn't matter who's the cutest, all of us are too cute for any of you!" Allyson says.

"Ooo feisty. I call her!" Will exclaims.
Allyson's face goes pink again. And she doesn't bother to argue. Does she like Will? Oh, for Pete's sake, I don't care who Allyson likes, who the cutest girl is, or Pete and his sake for that matter. Yes I know that's an expression.

If this is how the next two weeks are gonna be, I might go crazy.