𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃, joseph descamps

𝟎𝟐𝟐. a magnet for trouble

SINCE THE INCIDENT, their exchanges have deteriorated even further. Everyone notices — they throw more jabs at each other than before, providing an endless source of entertainment for their classmates.

Aimée secretly keeps the infamous list that Joseph wrote, but he never finds out. For her, it's a formidable weapon that she plans to use wisely.

That day, during math class, Joseph is firmly bored. The teacher, engrossed in her explanations about quadratic equations, doesn't seem to realize that the battle brewing won't take place on the board but on the desks.

Aimée, bent over her notebook, diligently jots down notes, her red hair cascading over her face. At the same moment, he grabs an eraser and, with the precision of a sharpshooter, launches it across the room. The eraser flies through the air, making a perfect arc before crashing onto Aimée's head.

"Really ?" She slowly turns her head, raising an eyebrow. "An eraser ? You think that's going to scare me ?"

Without waiting for his response, she grabs a pen from her desk and throws it back at him. Joseph skillfully dodges, the pen grazing his shoulder before smashing against the wall. "Not bad, but you need to aim better than that, redhead !" he mocks, an amused smile on his face.

Seeking an advantage, he picks up a pencil and, with a determined pout, throws it like a javelin. The pencil lands on Aimée's desk, leaving a mark on her notebook.

Amused, Joseph rubs his hands together, preparing for his next offensive. But at that moment, she catches the eraser he threw earlier, focuses, raises her arm, and hurls it back with force. The eraser heads straight for Joseph, but instead of hitting him square in the face, it bounces off his eye patch.

"Ow !"

A flash of pain crosses his face as his injured eye is particularly sensitive. He rubs his eye, grimacing.

"You... you really aim well," he complains, trying to hide his embarrassment under a layer of humor.

Just then, the bell rings, echoing throughout the room. The students start packing their things. The teacher, as if waking from a dream, suddenly straightens up, realizing class is already over. "You're all quite noisy today," she says, frowning. "What's going on here ?"

"Just a little physics lesson, ma'am," Joseph retorts, still rubbing his face. "The speed and trajectory of projectiles, you know..."

"Alright, that's enough ! Gather up for dismissal. Next week, I expect you to be a bit more focused, okay ?"

They finally exit the classroom, the noise of the halls ringing around them. The sun shines, and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the trees. Joseph turns to Aimée, still wearing a provocative pout on his face.

"You know, it's fun playing war with supplies, but maybe you could avoid aiming for my eye next time. That hurts a bit," he says, feigning pain.

"Maybe you should learn to defend yourself better. We don't just aim for easy targets. You know, if I had to rank the boys, you'd definitely be last. Just like in every ranking, you know ?"

He pretends to be wounded, placing his hand on his heart as if he's just been struck by an arrow. "Oh, dear ! That's a real low blow. I didn't know you put so much effort into evaluating me. Shouldn't I thank you ?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't waste my time evaluating you. I just know you're unbearable and spend all your time annoying everyone."

"Unbearable, huh ? That's what people say about those who are actually quite endearing. So I should be your favorite."

"Endearing ? Maybe for the teachers who still think they can reform you."

"If you knew how many girls want to spend time with me, you'd change your mind," he shoots back, confident. "I'm like a magnet."

"A magnet ? You mean a magnet for trouble. I bet they come just for the show."

"Well, at least I'm entertaining. What about you ? You're so serious that you could be mistaken for a statue. If there were a list of the most boring people, you'd be at the top, redhead."

"You're just proving how immature you are. All you know how to do is mock others to feel better about yourself."

"And you, who do you think you are? The little nerd who thinks the world belongs to her ? You're not that special, you know."

She swallows hard, surprised by the cruelty of his words. "Maybe I'm not special to you, but at least I don't hide behind jokes to mask my incompetence."

He prepares to retort, but a mischievous smile spreads across Aimée's face as she digs into her pocket. She pulls out a crumpled piece of paper, a satisfied grin lighting up her face. "Speaking of incompetence, look what I have here."

Joseph furrows his brow, intrigued and a bit anxious. "What is it ?"

She unfolds the paper, and her eyes light up as she reads aloud, emphasizing each word. "1. Aimée."

Joseph pales, realizing too late what it is. "Are you serious ? You kept that list ?"

"Oh yes, I've kept it close. But don't worry, I only show it to people who are worth it."

Embarrassed, he scratches the back of his neck, trying to hide his discomfort. "Wait a second ! I didn't write that !"

She narrows her eyes, intrigued. "Really ? Then what's with this nice handwriting ?"

"It could be anyone ! I bet someone just wanted to pull a prank on me."

She raises an eyebrow, skeptical. "A prank ? And you think I'm going to buy that ?"

"Look, you know I don't make lists. That's just stupid."

Clearly amused by the situation, she folds the paper and keeps it in plain view. "Stupid, really ? Then why do you seem so worried about me keeping it ?"

Joseph, annoyed, takes a step toward her. "Give it to me, Aimée. It's just a piece of paper."

"And why should I give it to you ? It seems to bother you. Maybe I should show it to everyone to see their reaction."

"You wouldn't dare !"

She skillfully dodges his hand, laughing. "Oh, you know I'd love to see your face when you have to explain this to your 'interested girls.'"

He frowns and starts chasing her. "Give it back, Aimée !"

They begin to wrestle for the piece of paper, throwing each other challenging looks. Aimée, agile, dodges another attempt by Joseph and spins around, causing a burst of laughter. "I'm serious, give it back ! Come on, Aimée, don't be ridiculous," he growls, determined to continue his pursuit. "It's just a piece of paper, but it means so much more to me."

She purses her lips, hesitating for a moment. "Why ? Because it makes you look silly ?" She stares at him, the piece of paper still in hand, before taking a step back, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Okay, but if I give this back to you, promise me you'll never make lists like this again. It's ridiculous."

"Promise. But give it to me first."

"A deal ?"

"A deal."

She smiles, amused, then, in a quick motion, extends the paper toward him. "Here." He grabs the paper carefully, a victorious smile on his face.

"Thanks," he says, his voice revealing obvious satisfaction. "I promise, no more lists. Really this time." He's about to make another remark but sees her turning away, ready to leave. "Wait, I can walk you home."

She stops, a smirk on her face. "No, thanks. I'd rather go alone."

"Why not ? I'm not going to eat you, you know."

"That's exactly why I don't want you beside me. I want to enjoy my solitude without your chatter."

With one last teasing smile, she starts to walk away. Joseph watches her red hair disappear in the distance, flowing like a flame in the wind. A sigh escapes his lips. Why does she always have to be so stubborn ?