Playing Hard to Get

Chapter 2

   This was not happening.

   There had to be some mistake with Mrs. Hart's partnering. Why was my luck always so horrible? Of course I would be stuck with Jayce for the stupid project. Not only that, but now we had to stare at each other for extended periods of time?

   Stiffly, I got up out of my chair, ignoring Jayce, and went to get paper off of the desk. What was I going to do?

   Don't panic, I told myself sternly. It's just a simple project. Nothing to worry about.

   Yeah, right.

   I sat back down with my materials, still not saying anything to Jayce. Maybe, just maybe, if I ignored him the whole bell, he would get bored and leave me alone. It was a brightening idea.

   Unfortunately, he didn't seem fazed by my lack of responsive behavior.

   "Hm...who should go first?" he asked me now. "I don't mind if you want to, but if you're nervous about your drawing not looking good enough for me, I can give it a go." Jayce grinned at me.

   I still hadn't said anything. I wasn't sure what I should do.

   "Oh, c'mon. At least say something," he complained.

   "Why should I?" I snapped, glaring at him. "So you can fool me, like all those other girls? Give it up, Jayce."

   He gave me a cocky smile. "You know my name."

   I cursed myself mentally. Way to go, Ace. Give him some straws to grasp at. "So? You know my name. I'm hardly flattered; neither should you be."

   He frowned. "I guess I'll start first," he said, setting up his paper on a clipboard.

   I rolled my eyes.

   "Turn to your right," he instructed.

   I laughed sarcastically. "No way. I'm not modeling for you."

   He raised an eyebrow. "You call that modeling?"

   "Well what's your definition?" I demanded.

   He gave me one of his lopsided grins that I'm sure made half the school population swoon. "Maybe you'd like to find out."

   Ugh. What's wrong with this moron? I made a disgusted sound in the back of my throat. "Stop talking to me."

   "Why? What did you think I meant? I was just talking about photo shoots. That's what real modeling is."

   "Sure. Whatever you say. Leave me alone."

   "Sorry 'bout your luck. You're stuck with me till we finish these portraits. And I should warn you; I take a long time to draw." He laughed.

  I glared at him. "Well I guess I'll just have to make up for lost time by working extra fast then, huh?"

  He shrugged. "That's why I'm going first."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After an hour of bickering back and forth with Jayce, the bell finally rang. It sounded like Heaven to my ears.

   I picked up my stuff and left the classroom before Jayce could finish putting art supplies away. I didn't want to talk to him any more than absolutely necessary. Actually, I didn't even want to talk to him that much.

   "Ivy!" he called from behind me- not far enough away for my tastes. "Wait up!"

   I picked up my pace. Was he ever going to leave me alone?

   I made it to my history class in one piece, without interruption from Jayce. On the other hand, I saw Sam in the corner of the room huddled with some girl in a skirt short enough to reveal her underwear, and a shirt that cut in a dangerously low V.

   I hastily looked away. Then I came up with an idea. I smiled to myself, wondering how I was such a genius.

   I made my way over to where Sam and said girl were- kissing would be too appropriate a word- eating each other, I supposed, and tapped on her shoulder.

   "Ahem," I cleared my throat when she didn't respond to my tap. Sam glanced up irately, likely wanting to know who would  bother interrupting him. Then his eyes widened in surprise.

   "Ivy!" he exclaimed, breaking apart from the girl, who now seemed grumpy. It was funny how Sam almost looked guilty. Almost.

   He'd played his part perfectly. I summoned fake tears from wherever it was girls kept them in reserve, and made sure my voice sounded thick.

   "Sam, what about last night? Was that all just a lie? I thought you said I was s-special..." I purposely made my voice break on the word special. I just hoped this girl would have the right reaction.

   "What are you talking about?" Sam asked, confused. "I just met you today."

   I sniffed, willing more tears. "Now you're acting like you never even knew me??" I demanded hysterically. "I can't believe you!" I turned around to find a seat, ignoring Sam's reassurances to the girl behind me.

   "Really, Taylor. I just met her! I have no idea what she was talking about."

   I glanced back from the corner of my eye. Taylor slapped him.

   "You jerk. Don't lie to me to my face. What do you take me for? I may be blond, but that doesn't make me stupid. You told me I was special. Obviously special isn't a very exclusive word to you." She promptly got up and left the classroom.

   And then there's that. I wanted to feel bad, but I wouldn't let myself. I'd seen Sam flirting with other girls in the hallways on my way to classes earlier. He'd been kissing one in the locker bay upstairs. The only thing that surprised me was that the girl named Taylor fell for any of his bull. I pitied her.

   Maybe I shouldn't have interfered. It's really none of my business, the better part of me argued. But this was payback! He's the one who told Jayce about me. And now Jayce won't leave me alone. It's only fair.

   But that girl didn't do anything to me...I sighed. But she should know. The girl I was playing might not have been me, but there was another one like it.

   It still wasn't your choice to make! Ugh...

   "Miss Hunt," the teacher called, interrupting my inner monologue. "Would you care to introduce yourself?"

   You just did... "Sure," I replied hesitantly.

   "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up here."

   I reluctantly pushed myself out of my desk. I was so sick of introductions. I'd been doing this all day.

   "Hi, everyone," I said with a cheerful façade. "I'm Ivy Hunt. It's nice to meet all of you." Then I returned back to my seat.

   The teacher- I think his name was Mr. Thompson- nodded contentedly. "Alright, then. On to our lecture."

   The class groaned, and his lecture began. Oh, joy.