With Me | Chris Sturniolo

3.

I walked into last period thinking about the guys, but I wish I wasn't. I stood at the front of the room, looking for somewhere to sit in the room, when all of a sudden my breath was taken away. There's only one seat left- next to Chris.

Scanning the room again, I realise I have no other choice. I feel something burn a hole into my skull, and I noticed Katy sitting in the other end of the room with Chloe.

Chris was talking to two guys in the desk behind him- Matt and Nate. At least they'll make this less awkward. It can't be that bad now that Chris apologised.

When I reach the desk, all the guys look at me. Two out of three of them breaking into smiles.

"Hey" I said with a small smile. "Is someone sitting here?" I asked

He looked at me, like he was having an internal battle.

"No" he said finally and moved his bag to make room for me.

"Sabrina" Matt greeted me. "I've missed you! How was your first day?"

"Matt, I saw you less than four hours ago"

I get the sense he was that kind of guy you couldn't stop smiling around. He's like an innocent little brother, except not so innocent, considering he's probably slept with more girls than I can count on two hands.

"So! That doesn't mean-"

"Okay, class! Today you're working on page 57-65"

Matt was interrupted by a very distressed looking teacher. I turned back to my desk and took out my book.

"Take notes and answer the questions on pages 66-70. Do it in pairs, in groups or alone, I don't care"

I sighed as she went back to her desk and opened her computer. This was definitely going to be a class you have to teach yourself.

"Sab, be my partner?"

I turned and realised Nate was talking to me. "Sab?"

"My nickname for you"

"Why don't you just call me Sabrina?"

"Because everyone does- it wouldn't be our thing"

Are we having a moment? I think we are. Beside me, Chris was rolling his eyes. What's his problem? Why do I care?

I looked back at Nate again, he was quite the charmer. I see how girls fall from him. He really does-

"Hey, not fair!" I was torn away from my dreamy stare and brought back to earth by the sound of Matt's voice. "I want to have a thing with Sabrina! Why don't we have a thing?"

I shrugged. "Wrong place, wrong time, I guess"

"Starting now, it's my mission to find a thing for us"

Our laughing was cut off by an annoyed Chris. "God, get a room. I'm trying to learn and you and your pathetic flirting is making it hard for me"

He's back to being an asshole.

"He's just jealous he doesn't have a thing with Sabrina like we do" Matt whispered to Nate.

"I'm not jealous!" Chris yelled, causing the whole class and even the teacher, to look at us.

"Care to tell us what you're not jealous of, Mr Sturniolo?" The teacher asked, looking at Chris.

Chris narrowed his eyes and I can feel him holding back an offensive response that would get him sent to detention

Matt picked up on that vibe and jumped in before Chris could get himself in trouble. "We were saying Chris is jealous since we got the answer to a question that he didn't, but we'll explain it to him"

The teacher nodded, and went back to her computer.

"What the hell?" Chris turned and gave Matt a death glare.

"Dude, he saved your ass. You can't get suspended again, and we all saw it coming if he didn't jump in" Nate pointed out.

"You could have thought of a better excuse. We all know I'm smarter"

"No you're not!"

"Matt, you get lost tying your shoes" Nate pointed out.

"Are one of you geniuses going to help me or am I on my own?" I asked, cutting them all off. God, guys were so competitive. Chris muttered under his breath and turned back to his book.

"Screw that. Let's talk about Halloween!" Nate said, completely forgetting their argument

"What about it?" I asked, turning around to face them.

Matt looked at me like I asked the most ridiculous question. "It's this Friday?"

"And?"

"Do you have plans?" Nate asked

I really didn't think about Halloween. I used to love getting dressed up and hanging out with my friends. The best part was, no one could judge your outfit.

One year, my best friend and I went as giant dice, the stereotypical kind that would hang from a guys car rear view mirror. We laughed all day because we bumped into everything.

But ever since that horrible, life changing event, I can't stand Halloween. It turned into a day where kids worship murderers, the more horrific the costume, the better. I can't go through Halloween without thinking of him.

"Probably just going to watch a movie at home or do some homework"

"No, you're not" Matt stated

"I'm not?"

"Nope, you're coming to Matt's party" Nate said, smiling at me.

Me. Going to Matt's house. Surrounded by drunk people on Halloween. "I don't think that's a good idea"

"You're coming, Sab. No way to get around it"

"No, seriously. I can't"

"We're not taking no for an answer"

"You won't notice if I'm there or not!"

"Sabrina, seriously. You're coming, it's for your own good"

Nate stood his ground.

"Who'll give out the candy?"

Matt shrugged. "Obesity in kids is a problem"

"Chris, tell them I'm not coming" I said, hoping he'll back me up since he probably didn't want me there either.

Chris looked up from his book to me, then back to Matt and Nate.

He shrugged. "It's Matt's house"

The one time I depend on Chris' hatred...

"You can bring Callie! Jack invited her anyway, but you can come together" Nate pushed

"Yeah, Jack will be there"

"I don't know" Maybe if I convince Callie to come with me, it might not be so bad.

"Sabrina, if you don't come, I'll follow you around all day making annoying noises. And believe me, I'm annoying" Matt said, with mischief in his voice.

"He wouldn't do that, would he?" I asked Nate, but he just smiled.

"Okay, okay! You win- I'll come"

Matt and Nate hi five each other and smile. "Being the most annoying guy never fails"