The Bad Boy Returns

Chapter 30: Step-Brother Science Project

KAT'S POV
You know what one of the most frustrating feelings is? When you think you have made so much progress in a situation. Whether it's in a relationship or a friendship or just something personal to your life. Then all of a sudden it feels like you are going backwards? Like everything you've worked so hard on just seems to start unraveling and you don't even know why. You end up going all the way back to the beginning. All that progress you made meant nothing and you're forced to deal with it again. Well it hurts like a bitch.

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The morning after I asked Shane if I could crash at his place, his whole attitude changed. He was mean and distant and as soon as I woke up he all but threw me out of his house. He was rushing me to get ready, saying that he had things to do, but wouldn't specify what those things were. Without so much as a 'good morning' he practically dragged me out of his bed. He didn't joke or call me kitty. He acted like his old asshole self that he was in ninth grade. I didn't even have time to be mad because I was too confused as to what his issue was. It was obvious something was bothering him and by the way he was acting I'm pretty sure it had to do with me. Not that I would know because he hasn't talked to me since that morning. It's been a week and a half and now I am pissed. I thought we got past ignoring each other. I feel like I just dealt with this and now it's happening again on an even higher scale this time. It's like we are going backwards again.

I chuck my thoughts out the window as I stalk down the school hallway, heading for my locker. I finally reach it and come face to face with someone I've wanted to see for a long time now. "Nikki! Thank god you're back!" I throw myself on my best friend, smothering her. "I missed you too Kat." She struggles to breath. She pokes my back telling me to let her go. I give her an apologetic look as she fixes her top. "Wow something big must have went down. I mean you aren't a big touchy person. What happened?" I sigh preparing myself to tell her everything that happened while she was away. "Hold on." She says pointing behind me. "Here comes the calvary." She says. I turn around and see that she's pointing at Brit and her friends walking our way. As they get closer Brit and I make eye contact. Then she does something I wouldn't have guessed in a million years. She grins at me. Then she walks past me without so much as a snarky comment. It wasn't a rude or arrogant smile either it was the most genuine smile she has.
Speaking of people who aren't acting like themselves, she has been doing things like that since the middle of last week.
Nikki watched her walk away and turns back to me, her mouth wide open. She doesn't try to hide her shock the least bit. "I think you have a lot to explain." She eyes me. "Yeah. You have no idea." I tell her.
I then proceed to explain to her everything that happened. From finding out who hurt Shane to Nate getting arrested then to Shane acting weird and spastic. I tell her about how my mom came back and how my brother and dad are acting like it's not a big deal.
"...yeah so that's why I look like a walking zombie." I finish. She opens and closes her mouth like a fish vying for air.  "Why do I miss all the good stuff!" She whines, the shock subsiding. "Trust me it's not as fun as you think it is." I tell her. "No wonder you look like you haven't slept in a week." She exclaims. I don't fight her on that because she is right. I haven't got any. "Sorry you had to go through all that. I wish I could've been there for you." She admits. I smile at her glad to have my best friend back. "So then what's going on with Brit? I mean I almost froze with shock. What happened there?" She asks, wide eyed. "That is the one thing I don't know." I admit to her, pondering the question. Why is she acting this way?
"I mean it kind of started last week. But she hasn't said a word to me for weeks, she hasn't done anything. I don't even know why." I explain to her. "Great." She sighs sarcastically. She looks at me shaking her head.

The first bell rings and kids begin to scatter into classrooms. We walk down the hall, heading to our first period. We enter and I take a seat in my regular seat. Nikki sits behind me, which used to belong to this kid that dropped out a month ago.  Right as the bell rings again, Shane saunters in slowly, his backpack slinging over one shoulder. He walks right past me, trying to avoid eye contact. He goes to the far back of the class and sits there instead. Just like he did last time he did this. Leaving a empty seat beside me, waiting to be occupied. I turn to look at Nikki. "See what I mean?" I whisper to her, gesturing towards Shane. She looks back at him quickly and then looks back at me with raised eyebrows. "Yeah..." She nods, I can see the wheels turning in her head, trying to understand why he's acting this way. "Don't bother trying to figure him out. I have been trying for years, it's no use." I explain to her. She just nods. I look at him for a quick second before turning back to the front of the class.

"Good morning class! We are going to be getting our labs today in class. The ones I know you've been excited for since I told you." Mrs. Sanchez explains, passing out the instructions on the lab. The whole class simultaneously groans.
"I'll be putting you in pairs and you'll be expected to accomplish this lab together by the due date. I'm sure if you each put your heads together you can manage that." She jokes, pulling out a list which I assume have the pairs on it. As she starts calling names I find that my assumptions are correct. I start crossing my fingers hoping that I get Nikki.
....Nikki and...John." She says. I immediately slump into my seat, looking back at Nikki. She sticks her bottom lip out giving me a sad face. I mimic her expression before turning back around.
"...and lastly Kat and...Alex." I immediately freeze and my heart begins to pound. I reluctantly turn around and meet Alex's eyes. He gives me an awkward wave, knowing how I feel about him right now. My eyes slide farther behind him and I see Shane clench his jaw, burning holes into the back of Alex's head. He looks at me and I turn back around quickly wishing I could dig a giant hole and throw myself into it. That would feel nicer than this disaster.

            . . . . . .

After I get over the initial shock and anger of my latest situation I realized that Shane's name never got called. I scrunch my eyebrows wondering how that happened.

As we work on a worksheet in silence, Mrs. Sanchez calls Shane to her desk. He drags himself to the front, as she hands him another paper. I try my hardest to listen to what they are talking about.
"...myself ...work hard...only...expectations." I catch snipets of their conversation. I try to piece it together in my head. From what I heard I think he asked her if he could work alone. She said yes and then something about expectations. He turns back around and heads to his seat just as the bell rings. People immediately begin to stuff their supplies into their bags and scurry out of the classroom.  I take my time, organizing my things before placing them into my backpack. I wait until most people have dispersed before I stand up to leave the class. Nikki rushes out after saying goodbye, racing to her class on the other end of the school. As I  walk out of the classroom I feel someone pull my arm, stopping me in the hall. I turn and see Alex standing in front of me. "Hey." He says. I don't reply as he continues. "I know you're not my biggest fan right now but I hope we can put our differences aside to get a good grade on this lab?" He asks me. I sigh. "Don't worry, we can be professional." I tell him, resisting the urge to yell at him. "Okay." He sighs in relief. "We can start at my place this weekend?" He suggests. At the same time Shane walks past us with a huff.
Hesitating, I finally answer, wishing I was anywhere else.
"Sure."

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Hello!!
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