Crossing Jupiter (#Wattys2015)

Chapter Eight

"So I'm guessing my family didn't have a great first impression."

"It was definitely an interesting first impression, if that's what you mean."

"But it was still terrible." Bay mutters. "I told them to tone it down a bit, but instead they kicked it up a notch."

I lock eyes with him. "Hey, you didn't screw anything up. I think the only one who's knocked up about it is Jasper, but he should be fine in a few days."

He slouches farther into his seat. "I still feel bad."

"Well, don't." I glance at the scattered papers. "Now, did you get any information on Abraham Lincoln?"

Bay's eyes widen. "Wait, we had to do research on Lincoln?"

Oh my god. Remind me to choose a total stranger next time we have to pair up for a project.

"Yes," I say slowly. "We had to choose a president, and write about how he impacted our country. I asked if Lincoln was alright, and you replied with a walrus noise. I assumed that was a yes. You were supposed to do research on him last night."

He scratches the back of his neck subconsciously. Then he shifts in his chair. I've realized that many people have many different nervous ticks. Mine is twirling my hair or tapping my pencil. Bay's is scratching and shifting. Luckily, I typed up the paper and turned it in already, with both our names on it. Except I have no clue how to deliver that news.

I interlace my fingers. "Don't worry about it, we still have a few weeks to work on it, thus giving us time to figure things out."

He sighs of relief. "Thank god, I thought I would've gotten you in trouble. I'm used to taking the punch, but I'd never want anyone else to go down with me."

"You don't do your work?" It's not surprising, but it's definitely intriguing.

"I feel that work is ineffective if you know the information."

"Huh, interesting."

Mr. Lewis claps his hands to grab the class' attention. His ridiculous knitted sweater hangs out of his pants in an uneven manner, which adds to the fact that he's not very put-together this morning. He begins explaining how our papers will be graded, and how we can get any extra points if needed.

Bay leans over and whispers, "I've realized that you and Jasper seem to have a very sarcastic relationship."

"Not now." I hiss.

The history teacher pauses and then continues.

"It's very interesting, actually." He chides.

"Talk to me later."

"Wish I had a connection like that with my siblings."

All faces point in our direction as Mr. Lewis stops and turns to us. "Mr. Riker, may I ask why you are disrupting other students?"

Bay looks up at him and grins. "I was having a very intellectual conversation with one of my peers, if you must know."

A few people snicker. Mr. Lewis stares down at him. "Can't you find time to do that at a later hour?"

"Well, I would, but by then it would be insignificant."

I sink into my chair. Please shut up.

He slaps a referral down on the desk. "Maybe you should've thought about that before you talked back to a teacher."

Bay grabs his stuff and snickers. "Trust me, I did."

-

Derek shoves a slice of pizza into his mouth. "So Bay just, decided to be smart to a teacher?"

I twirl my fork. "Basically."

Hans stares at the ceiling. "That's very unlike him. I mean, sure he can be smart sometimes but never to a figure of authority. Which teacher?"

"Lewis."

"Oh, that makes sense." Derek says. "Mr. Lewis hates his family. He had both of his older sisters, and failed them out of his own personal misery. Bay believes that it's cruel and unfair, so he's fighting back however he can. I never imagined that he'd actually land himself in hot water. Normally, he just sits back and refuses to work, considering that he's extremely passive aggressive."

"What did his family do?" I ask.

"They didn't do anything. He just has an old grudge with the father. I guess they used to be friends in high school, but then they grew apart in college. Mr. Lewis didn't realize how much he missed until Marissa showed up. And then Taylor. Now Bayden. And he's angry about that, because Bay's father made something of himself while Mr. Lewis became a history teacher. It's very childish, but he doesn't seem to grasp the concept of it."

I pick at my food. This is unfair. If you have a grudge, why don't you settle it? You don't have any power over what has already been done, and you can't undo the past. All you have is the future. What I don't understand is how people can hold their anger inside for years, only to take it out on the wrong person. It's inhuman.

"I think I might just tell him to go home today. He's had a long day, and I don't think he should be caught up in the paper right now." I look at Derek. "Would you mine taking over for the rest of the week?"

He shrugs. "I don't see why not."

"I just feel like it'll be too much. I mean, it's obvious that he's going to receive punishment, so there's no point in distracting him with other things."

"So, what, are you going to ignore him?"

"No, I'm going to help him. Bay seems to act different around me. I understand that he has a thing for me, but that thing is what's going to get him expelled."

"July, you can't break his heart."

"I'm not going to do that." I say. "I'd never voluntarily do that. Instead, I'm going to give him space. He needs time to think and plan."

I sigh. "He needs to stay away from me for a while."