Something Worth Fighting For

Chapter Thirteen: Changes

Chapter Thirteen: Changes

During the second week back at school, Natalia found the work was starting to pile up. Exams were just around the corner. One week away, to be exact. Teachers always have to remind us of that, don't they, Natalia thought miserably.

Oddly enough, exam review for some of her classes was being done in groups. For biology she had gotten stuck in Marissa's group. Natalia had wanted to ask the teacher to change groups, but she had balked. Marissa would have loved to see Natalia chicken out.

Natalia stuck it out, even though she knew how much she wanted to skip class...she found herself leading the group in many areas. Marissa had not said anything to her, rude or nice.

Natalia was sitting in the library. Her thoughts were distracting her from her work. She was supposed to be concentrating on the unit review for biology, instead she was thinking of ways to tell Dallas why she had avoided him.

So far things with Dallas were fine. He hadn't asked her again about why she had given him the silent treatment. Instead today he had asked her to come with him afterschool. Apprently today he had another practice but it was scheduled right around the time he would be dropping her off at home.

Dallas had already told her parents that she was going to be accompanying him to practice. Her mother had of course told her not to get in his way. Like I would ever play..., she thought to herself.

Natalia finished the last of her work, as she sat in the library writing on the last group sheet, somebody sat across from her. Natalia looked up.

It was none other than Marissa. “Hey Natalia.” She said with an overly sweet smile. Natalia could already begin to feel smothered. “Hi.” Natalia said, looking back at her work. Speak of the devil, Natalia thought.

“So are you done the chart for biology?” Marissa asked. Natalia looked up. Marissa was intently staring at the sheet she had been working on. “Yea, I'm done. I was just adding some extra points.” Natalia told her. She wasn't comforted by the fact Marissa was sitting across from her. Something was up, Natalia wondered. Natalia couldn't think of any reason why Marissa would be here talking to her.

Since school had reconvened, Natalia had kept out of Marissa and Raine's way. Infact Natalia had kept herself in the library when ever she had spare time, just to keep out of any more drama. Even her friends had started to notice a difference in her behaviour.

Dawn and Clara had grown annoyed of her extreme exam preparation and had started to stay out of the library, whereas the guys either spent time studying or were at a sports practice in the gym.

Natalia hadn't minded being alone...until now. She would have loved to have her friends instead of Marissa sitting across from her. I should really smooth things over with Dawn and Clara, she thought once more. But it isn't all my fault, she thought. The other two girls had started whispering when they thought she wasn't paying attention. That had effectively kept Natalia confined to the library. She didn't need to hear what they were saying to know who they were talking about. Right now...I'd do anything to be talking to them instead of her, Natalia thought, with a pang of guilt. She should have tried to patch things up with her friends.

Marissa looked as though she was going to say something when they both heard her name being called. Natalia turned as Marissa did, only to see Raine calling her. Marissa excused her self and left Natalia sitting there.

Natalia shook her head in annoyance. Collecting her papers, Natalia grabbed her things and walked out of the library. She went to her locker, still deep in thought.

“Why won't you open!” Natalia muttered viciously. After her third attempt, the combination lock opened. Relived, Natalia put her books inside and took out her biology text book. She packed her back pack with all the books she would need to do her homework. Getting her agenda she closed the locker.