This World That Divides Us

CHAPTER 19

I'm pretty sure time is moving at a glacial pace today. We're only halfway through the first period, but I feel like English Composition should've ended an hour ago. I'm trying my hardest to focus because Professor Withers is currently talking about an extra credit assignment, and even though I'm on track to graduate this class with an A- average, I'm never one to pass on extra credit.

"I will be posting the questions for the assignment to our course page on the school's website tonight," Professor Withers begins. "This is a partnered assignment, so both you and your partner are responsible for equal participation. And I will be assigning the teams. Please raise your hand if you'd like to participate and I'll begin pairing you up."

Several hands go up in the air, including mine. Professor Withers starts to band people together and then she says, "Ms. Moore, you will be with..., she scans the room, "...Ms. Hastings."

No.

"What? No!" I hear Jordana shout. I can't blame her, I'm thinking the same thing.

"Excuse me, Ms. Hastings?"

"Professor, if you pair me with her, I'm going to be the one doing all the work."

"I highly doubt that," I mumble under my breath.

"Girls, if this is going to be a problem, then you don't have to participate," Professor Withers remarks. 

"It's not a problem for me, Professor," I'm quick to say. I'll suck it up, I guess.

"Fabulous," she says, glancing at Jordana. "Ms. Hastings?"

Jordana huffs and then finally says, "Fine."

The bell finally rings and everyone is quick to pack up their things. I'm shoving my books into my backpack when I feel a body hovering over my desk.

"Let's get a few things straight here," Jordana says. "1. We're not friends. 2. We'll never be friends. 3. You do your part, I'll do mine."

"Fine. With. Me."

***

"I can't believe Hastings paired you with Jordana," Molly says as we stroll outside the school's grounds.

"Yeah, tell me about it," I say with an eye-roll, clutching my binders even closer to my chest once they start to slip from my grip. "What's with my bad luck all of a sudden? First, I get pushed into the pool, then I get detention. Is Mercury in Retrograde or something?"

"I don't even know what that means. But, hey, why not focus on the good instead? Like Jack Carrington almost kissing you!"

"Not this again..."

"I still don't get how you're so calm about the matter."

"Mol, you can't stand Jack."

"I can't stand his personality. His looks, on the other hand..."

"Yeah, well, I prefer the personality of a man."

"Which I believe is growing on you..."

"Jack's personality is not growing on me, Mol," I lie because it...actually is. I see something different in Jack; something I think he hides from the rest of the world. The more time that I spend with him, the more I notice that he is a good person, that he does care.

"Sure. Fine. Whatever you say."

Suddenly, I feel someone run up and clutch onto my shoulders from behind.

"Boo!" the voice says in my ear, and I jolt.

Speak of the devil.

"Oh my God," I shout, pushing Jack's body away from mine. "You scared me."

"Mission accomplished then," he smiles in his ever-so-charming way as he clutches onto the straps of his backpack. "Waddup, Lawson?" he nods at Molly.

"Carrington..."

He chuckles at her and then focuses his blue eyes back on me. "Stas, I need to steal you for a couple of hours."

"Excuse me?" I ask him.

"There's something I want to show you."

"Now?" I ask, and he nods with a grin.

"Now."

"Um," I say, looking at Molly, who's enthusiastically nodding at me. "Okay."

"Okay," he repeats, and then interlocks our hands, surprising me. "Come with me."

"Thanks for the invite, dumbass," Molly shouts at Jack when we walk away, and he whips his head over his shoulder.

"Love you, Lawson," he shouts back.

We make it to Jack's car in the student parking lot and he opens the passenger door for me. "After you, milady."

Jack slides in and I can't help but squint my eyes at him. "What's with the good mood?"

"Can't I just be happy to see you?" he cutely remarks as he fastens his seatbelt. Great, now I'm smirking.

"So, where are you taking me?"

He pauses, smiling at me before saying, "To my favorite place."