Bull-shit, I Don't Do Love

Chapter 3 - In which it only gets worse.

Shit. Shit. Shit. I walked right into a gang fight, didn’t I? Xavier was a drug dealing, gang member who wanted me killed. I was going to die. Today was my last day. I was gonna be jumped on my way home, or in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. I probably wouldn’t make it out of the school alive. What about my sister? And my mom? Should I call the police? Send a final good bye text? Maybe I should te-

A loud laugh jerked me out of my mild freak out. Ellie was laughing. At me. “Yo, girl. Relax.” Ellie put her hand on my arm, her body shaking with laughter. “Why you freaking? I’m just kidding.”

With as much force as I could manage, I slapped her arm. “You bitch! I thought I was in for it! I was planning my funeral! Why the fuck would you mess with me like that?!”

Ellie collapsed with another bout of laughter. I felt my face heating up. “I hate you.” I turned around in my seat and pointedly looked away from her.

She laughed for another moment longer and then leaned forward. “An, I’m sorry. I just- God, you should’ve seen your face. It was too funny. I’m sorry. It was a total bitch move.”

I turned my head to see her pouting at me. I sighed. “Fine. You’re forgiven. But I’m not inviting you to the funeral.”

She laughed again. “Fine by me. I’m an ugly crier.”

I let myself laugh at that. “Me too.” With that, the bell rang and I turned around in my seat. Mr. Bolder talked excitedly about all the ‘amazing and exciting things’ we’d be discussing during the semester. While he did this, I snuck a look around the classroom. It was a fairly decent size, about twenty or so kids, including Xavier and his buddy. I couldn’t tell too much from what I saw of the other kids. I was drew out of my observing when a loud crack filled the air.

I looked up to see Mr. Bolder standing in front of my desk with a meter stick posed in his hand, a large grin on his face. “Looks like we got ourselves a new kid, class. What’s your name, new girl?” He asked casually, yet I got the feeling that he genuinely cared who I was.

“Ana. Ana Valentine.” I spoke my name quickly, hoping he’d move on. I hated when people stared at me.

“Valentine? Like Valentine’s Day?”

Oh Lord. Seriously. First days. Sucked. “Yup.” I allowed the “p” on the end of my word to pop. I’ve heard this all before. Must be good with the men. Cupid’s daughter. Blah, blah, bleck.

“Cool.” And he walked away.

I sat there for a moment in shock. No teasing? No nicknames? No crap about my cliché last name?

I decided I liked Mr. Bolder.

I took another glance around the classroom. I know you know what’s coming next. I turn my head, find the dark, handsome stranger staring at me intensely across the room. We have a long moment then are dramatically ripped away from one another’s gaze.

Well, tough shit. You’re wrong. The only person staring at me was Ellie, and it was because, as she told me after class, she couldn’t figure out how I got my hair so curly. She didn’t believe me that it was natural. Figures.

Mr. Bolder’s class passed without any incident and soon I was headed to my last class, Anatomy. Relatively easy to find I found out, in the science hallway, at the very, very end the hall. Like the end of the never ending hallway kind of end. I was exhausted just looking at the walk.

By the time I reached the door, the bell was ringing. Quickly, I threw the door open, rushed inside the class and sat down at the first open spot. First mistake.

Ms. Sco, seriously, her name, only three letters, a tall, mid-thirties, brunette wearing a long flowing black skirt, was buried in scarves. The first words out of her mouth were, and I quote, “There will be none of that damn vulgar language in my classroom. You hear me?” I felt myself grin to myself. Third teacher in a row that I’d liked. This was getting to be a record. I set my backpack down next to my table and sat back comfortably. That’s when I turned and looked at the unfortunate student that I’d sat next to. Second mistake.

Xavier.

First thought. Well. Fuck my life.

Second thought. Are you freaking kidding me?

Third thought. He looks really good in that shirt.

That’s right. Tall, dark and dick-bitch was in my Anatomy class. Lucky me.

I sighed deeply, gave him a look of boredom and turned back to Ms. Sco. “-rning about the epidermis and its function, the muscles, the bones and several dise-”

“Are you stalking me?” A deep voice asked inches away from my ear. Whipping my head around, I glared at him before looking back at Ms. Sco. “-hat cause deformations in the str-”

“I could teach you about the human anatomy. Show you mine, you show me yours.” I felt a warm hand circling on my back. I scooted my seat away from him, he followed. His hand found my back again. “I know how the body works. How well it can work with another body.” I felt warm breath across my shoulder and cheek. “I can show you s-”

I held my hand up in front of his face and whispered fiercely, “No. Didn’t you learn anything from this morning? I. Don’t. Like. You.”

He threw his hands up in mock defeat. “Alright, skinny bitch, that’s cool. I don’t like blondes anyway.”

I spent the next forty minutes fuming silently. Seriously. Why did today have to suck so badly. Okay, well it didn’t totally suck. I’d made some friends. I had several teachers I actually didn’t want to skin alive and burn in a dumpster. I’d even managed to make it through the entire day without falling down the stairs. But seriously. Why did he, of all people, have to be in this class? In the chair next to me? Granted, it was my fault. I did sit here. Maybe it was God’s way of paying me back for all my language. I swear God, I’ll stop. I’ll be better. Just get this prick away from me.

“Ana?” I was pulled out of my thoughts by the familiar sound of my name. Ms. Sco looked at me expectantly.

I smiled sheepishly, “Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

Ms. Sco looked at me for a moment then smiled, “Well, at least she’s honest.” A few chuckles escaped the class. I threw a grateful smile toward her. “Ana, I was about to ask you to read the next paragraph on the syllabus. Starting with lab guidelines, please.”

I read the passage quickly and she moved on to another student. With a quiet sigh, I slumped back into my seat. Without thinking, I took a glance at my partner.

He was staring at me intently. A strange, hungry look in his eye. He looked as if he wanted to say something. Something important.

Nah, just kidding. He was asleep.

On the desk.

And drooling.

Oh man. This is too good to pass up. I quickly took out my phone and snapped a picture. Hot shot, bad ass caught drooling in class. How cute.

It was then that the bell rang. Drool boy shot up and groggily looked around. When his eyes landed on me, he smirked. “Watching me sleep, sweetheart? Isn’t that a bit Overly Attached Girlfriend of you?”

I felt a smirk of my own appear. “Nah, honey. I was just admiring the way the drool was dripping off your chin.” I motioned toward the desk where a small puddle had formed and proceeded to walk away. Behind me I heard Xavier swear under his breath. I let out a small laugh and left the classroom.

- - -

So do we like Xavier? Or no? :)

Also, thank you to Caruso2 for the epic cover in this chapter's photos and the hilarious cover in the next chapter. :)