Jenga

Chapter Eighteen- Salt ~Phoebe and Cassandra~

When I open my eyes, this time, by the smell and by the feel of the bed, I know I'm in my room. I sit up, and unconsciously, the first words that come out of my mouth are, "Where's Charlie?"

Max startles me, coming straight into my face while I'm in a daze. "I can't believe this. You really are in love."

I frown, look at the time, and shove him away. "Just because my name is a guys', I'm still a girl--"

He looks up and must've had a careless, good night sleep because he has the nerve to interrupt me saying , "at heart. You're a tomboy, you know."

It's way too early in the morning for this. This situation reminds me of when Cyan called me "Noa darling" at one point, but it's different because I'm close enough with my brother to kick him out of my room and down the stairs.

"I was going to say . . . that I'm still a girl, so I'm bound to fall for someone at some point in my life! Now get out!" And kicking him is exactly what I do.

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When I take my first step into homeroom, I see the regular: Julia causing Charlie stress, Timothy messing with Megan's hair, squirrel on the windowsill--yet again, all that good stuff. But, not only the atmosphere (I like that word), but the seating arrangements seem to be different. Everyone seems tense.

"What happened?" I ask Julia, taking my seat--which Charlie directed me to--behind her.

"Look at the sub for Arthur, who's out sick. She's eerie, right? Sure looks like another one of your cousins," Charlie answers.

I jolt and glare at him. "I asked Julia. And don't bring up that "cousin" thing again. I'm ashamed."

His mouth agape, he replies, "Are you mad at me, now? I really can't read you."

My eye begins to twitch. Does he really not get it? I look at Julia, who seems to be angry now that I've shown up, and snap loudly at Charlie, "You found out something so critical about me yesterday, but while I'm afraid of confronting you, you dare act normal around me?!"

His eyebrows raise and he appears to be shocked, but then he smiles. "You're not afraid of me right now, are you? You just lectured me in front of the entire class."

I scoff and face forward in my seat. But, now that I think about it, that sub does look to be someone like me. Then it hits me, and I jump out of my chair, beginning to sweat bullets. It's way too early for this drama. Ugh, this drama that I'm about to start. I can't help it, though. I need to settle this once and for all.

I look down at Charlie as we make eye contact, and nod slowly. He makes a choking noise and stands up as well.

"Sit down, please," the sub says, "homeroom is not over yet."

"The truth is, it never started. You're not a real substitute, isn't that right Phoebe?" I say.

Phoebe looks up and removes her glasses, short-haired wig, and makeup face. The class gasps. "Alright," she says, "let's settle this right here and right now."

Charlie smirks. "I'd love to." He punches his fist to his palm and walks in front of me.

"Oh, protecting your girl? You won't be able to do that, unfortunately. If you're distracted, that is. Cassandra, come in!" Phoebe confidently says. It's that smugness about all four of those "chicken nuggets",--Neil, Casanova, Phoebe and Reynie--that I deeply dislike about them. They must think they rule the world. Either that or they're just evil. Probably both, but either way their in the wrong.

Charlie shakes and stares as Casanova comes in the room. She just sits there, staring at Charlie. He looks away from her, then at me. Oh, I see. I may not be socially strong, but it seems that Casanova over there is the ex-girlfriend of some sort in all of this. Now I'm mad.