A Not So Strait Love Story

Chapter 4

"It's been a week Erin and you still don't know anything about chemistry!" Ava rants to Erin. "You need to know this stuff. I can't do it for you!"

"But you're so good at it." Erin whines.

"Well, you could be good at it too if you actually did work." Ava says.

"But that would require effort." Erin groans.

"Yes. It does." Ava says. "Now, I need you to complete this experiment. Read the directions and tell me what you think we should do."

"I wish Ava would hurry up and tell him what to do." I whisper to Ryan during Chemistry. We have been copying off of Ava for the past week during this stupid class.

"Same." Ryan laughs. "We should probably learn how to do this eventually."

"Maybe one day," I agree. "But not today."

"I know! I know!" Erin squeals. He grabs the flask and a purple looking liquid. He pours the liquid into the flask and adds what looks like bath salts. He puts it on a hot plate and it starts making smoke. "Yes!" Erin yells.

"You did it!" Ava exclaims.

"I know!" Erin says excitedly. "Ryan! I did it!"

"Good job!" Ryan gives a smile and a thumbs up. Wow, his smile is wonderful.

Erin jumps out of his seat and runs to our table. Before he can get there, the bell rings signaling the end of the period.

"Well class," Mr. Radium says. "Since the bell has interrupted our experiment, we will continue tomorrow."

I shove my book in my bag and head out to lunch. Once I get my lunch of a simple sandwich, an apple, and a chocolate chip cookie, I sit down at an empty table. Ava spots me a minute later and sits beside me.

"What did you think of the experiment today?" Ava asks me.

"It was hard." I answer.

"I'll explain it to you." Ava says. "Wait!" Ava says as if she just remembered something. "I still need to tell you why diving is a sport. So it started in..."

"Hey girlies!" Erin laughs while sitting across the table with us, holding Ryan's hand. They sit down and kiss. Again, ew!

"Did you guys see me?" Erin asks excitedly. "I did the experiment all by myself!"

"Erin," Ava says. "Considering how loud you announced that, everyone in the classroom would have been able to hear you."

"I was..." Erin starts, but then stops when something catches his eye. "Oh no, not now."

"What Erin?" Ryan asks. "What do you see..." Ryan spots the thing also. "Oh."

"What?" I ask. I look around the room. I don't see anything.

"Erin!" I jump at the sound of a voice behind me. "I need money!"

I turn around. A little girl with red curly hair stands behind me. She is short and has bright blue eyes, just like Erin. That's when it hits me. She's his sister.

"Go away!" Erin whines. "I'm not giving you money, get your own!"

"Hello, Paige." Ryan says. She turns to stare at him. "It's nice to see you again."

"Shut up," Erin's sister, Paige, says. "No one likes you!"

"Sorry," Ryan sinks into his seat.

"Oh no." Paige says looking between Ava and I. "Please tell me you two aren't dating also."

"No!" Ava and I say at the same time.

"I am aware of my own sexuality." Ava states. "I'm interested in the male gender."

"Same." I say.

"Good." Paige says happily. "Then I like you already." She turns back to Erin. "Money. Now."

"Paige, I already said...," Erin starts.

"Now." Paige says through grinded teeth glaring at Erin.

"Okay, okay." Erin says getting out his wallet. "Here's a twenty." He throws the bill at Paige.

"I only needed five." Paige says smiling. "But don't worry, I'll keep the change." Paige sit down at the head of our table.

"Paige!" Erin yells. "Give me it back so I can give you a five!"

"Shut up Erin." Paige says. "You know you're not getting it back." Erin looks away defeated.

"So, how old are you?" I ask Paige.

"Well considering that she is short like Erin," Ava says before Paige can answer. "She looks 10, and Erin looks 14, but he is 16. I'd say she is about 12." Ava looks at Paige for conformation.

"Yes," Erin says confused. "Paige is 12."

"I'm not short!" Paige says. "I'm fun sized!"

Ava signs, "Well, technical..."

"Ava, " I interrupt . "Not now."

Paige turns toward me, "I like this one." Paige says pointing to me. "What's your name?"

"I'm Christine and this is Ava." I say.

"Erin, you should be friends with her." Paige says looking at me.

"I'll pick my own friends Paige." Erin says. Paige looks at him and gives him the don't-disagree-with-me look. "But, I'll keep my options open though." Erin says awkwardly.

"That's what I thought," Paige smiles. She scoots over a chair to sit beside me. "You want to know a funny story?"

"Okay." I say amused.

"One time I heard music playing from Erin's room. So, of course, I go to see why he's playing music so loud." Paige says.

"That's enough, Paige." Erin says aggravated.

"I walk into the room and Erin has my hair brush in his hand and he's dancing and singing to Justin Bieber like an idiot." Paige continues ignoring Erin.

"Paige, I said that's enough." Erin's cheeks redden with embarrassment.

Paige ignores Erin. "And he..."

"Paige!" Erin interrupts Paige while getting out of his seat. "Go. Now." He points away from the table.

"Make me." Paige smiles leaning back in her chair.

"Okay, I will." Erin walks over to her and grabs her. Paige turns around real fast, grabs Erin's hand, and bites the lower part of his arm.

"Ow!" Erin screams.

"Paige!" Ryan yells.

"Ohmygosh!" Erin yells. "It's bleeding." Tears start to form in his eyes.

"Erin," Ryan says walking over to him and setting him in his seat. "It's not bleed..."

"Yes it is!" Erin yells through tears. "It's bleeding and now I have blood every where." Erin coughs. "It's so gross! It's bleeding! I hate blood."

"Erin," Paige says calmly. "Chill yourself."

"It's not bleeding Erin." Ava says. "The bite marks aren't deep enough. You are making a big deal out of nothing."

I look over at his arm. No blood. The bit marks look painful but it's not bleeding.

Erin sniffles. "Really?" He looks down at his arm. "Oh... well it still hurts."

"I didn't bit you that hard." Paige says rolling her eyes.

"Yes you did!" Erin whines.

"Erin," Ryan says trying to calm him down. "It wasn't that bad."

Erin crosses his arms, exhales, and looks away.

"You better get used to this Christine." Paige says. "Erin is a drama queen."