City Gurl

Chapter Thirty-Five

"Good morning, class," says Mrs. Medley.

"Good morning, Mrs. Medley," the class answers sleepily and boredly.

"Today we're going to do some textbook work," she explains. The class groans. Brianna shoots me a death glare like it's all my fault, like I was the one who chose to do the book work. I smile back at her just to piss her off. She spins around and begins whispering to Jackie. They giggle. I turn away.

"Don't you hate the textbook?" Jake moans. We all nod wholeheartedly except Tom. Gretchen, the most. I suppose she still likes him.

"That's stupid," Tom argues. We all look at him with bored expressions on our faces. He was always going on and on about how he loved books and school and learning and all that crap. "I mean, it's a big book with a billion useful, interesting facts. Who wouldn't enjoy that?" Thomas exclaims.

"Me," I say and he frowns slightly. I feel a bit bad. "I mean, I like it and all, but I just enjoy other things better . . . yeah."

"Oh, of course!" Tom chirps. "Yes, I fancy science-fiction quite much myself, so I can relate." Everyone smiles politely.

Some girl named Erica raises her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Young?"

"Can we work in groups?" she asks loudly. She's has a very loud voice but is really funny at times. Everyone starts screaming in favor of groups and stuff. Medley sighs.

"Fi-" she starts, but everyone is too bust rushing to other tables and meeting with friends to her the rest of the word. Nobody at our table moves. We look at each other awkwardly.

"Uh," Sarah mutters. "Wanna be a group?" We all shrug.

"Sure." I agree.

"Ok!" Tom says, opening his book to page 345, as Mrs. Medley instructed. We follow suit.

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The day passes quickly, and before I know it, it's time for the play auditions.

I step into the auditorium, gulping, and sit down in the third row. Only a few people are here. No Brianna yet. Maybe I'd been wrong. Maybe she doesn't want to do something this dorky.

Spoke too early.

"It's me, the beautiful Brianna," Brianna chirps and plops down in the seat next to me. "Hey, Evelyn." I stare at her. Did she just seriously say "hey" to me, and sit next to me?

"Uh, hi?" I ask cautiously. This could be a trap.

"So, you want to be in the play, too?" Brianna questions. I search her face, her eyes, looking for ANY type if sign that would show that she's pretending to be nice. But her face shines with pure innocence.

"Um. Yes."

"Yay! We can be in it together!" she squeals like we've been friends since kindergarten. What the fuck is she doing?

"Er, yeah, that'd be fun." I say. Brianna beams like I just promised her a puppy or something. I turn to take my eyes off her beaming smile that will probably blind me if I look at it too long. My heart stops.

WHOAH.

"Byron?" I gasp, spotting him behind me and Brianna. He smiles.

"Hey. I'm glad to see you and Brianna getting along for once." Grinning, he opens a pack of gum. "Want some?" I nod and take a piece gratefully.

"Hi, Byron!" Brianna says in a sickeningly sweet voice.

Omg! Of course! Brianna was only being nice to impress Byron. I mentally face-palm myself. I'm such a dumb-ass.