Prep School

Chapter 20

I wake up in a cold sweat. I breathe hard. I don't remember what I dreamt about but it must have been terrible. Tears are running down my cheeks and my hands are clammy. I shuffle out of bed and go into the bathroom. I splash some cold water onto my face.
I get back into bed after checking the clock. 2:30 A.M. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Waking up normally this time, I rush into the bathroom and take a shower. The hot water runs down my body, relaxing my muscles.
What Gianna told me yesterday hits me full force. The water now feels like it's burning me. I quickly get out of bathroom.
After changing, I rush downstairs for breakfast.
"Hey. Mom brought us some donut holes for breakfast," Riel tells me when I'm downstairs.
I eagerly pick up a chocolate one and lick my lips. I take a huge bite. Instead of chocolate, I taste something.... Chunky.
"Dirt!" I spit the "chocolate" out of my mouth.
I throw the rest at Riel, who's laughing on the floor. There are actually tears in his eyes.
"Your face! Priceless!"
"Shut up Greenie!" I point to the green that's still in his hair.
He laughs even harder, falling on the floor. Tears fall out of his eyes, he's laughing so hard.
"Bum."

When I got to my locker, Gianna's already waiting there for me. She smiled, but it seemed more fragile than before.
Was it always like that?
She comes up to me."Hey."
"Hey."
Awkward silence. I unpack my stuff and grab what I need.
"You ok?" I peer at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Gianna takes a deep breath. "I'm just relieved, that's all."
"Ok then." I loop my arm through her's and we walk to English.
As we're walking to class, someone says behind us," You've never held my arm."
Gianna and I turn around and see Zane pouting.
Gianna giggles. Zane grins at her reaction. Then he pouts again.
"I'm sure you would like it. I'm very muscular you know." He flexes his arms and poses. He winks at me. I feel my face redden.
Gianna laughs harder. I roll my eyes and grab his arm.  I loop through it with mine.
"C'mon you."
He grins at me as we walk into class.

We rush through music, not even paying attention to Mr. Cogges rants about the beauty of the Beatles.
"Can you believe that? He made us write an essay about the 'beauty of the Beatles'!,"Gianna exclaims after we leave.
"I know! How is that EVER gonna help us later in life. Honestly!"
Gianna smirks at me suddenly.
"What?"
"Hmmm? Nothing. Just remembering something from earlier."
"What? C'mon, tell me." I nudge her with my elbow.
"Oh, I was just thinking about what you did earlier...." Gianna smirks.
"What did I do?"
"Oh..... I don't know.... Hold a certain boy's arm?"
I feel my cheeks heat up. "I-"
"Why'd you do it anyway?"
I feel my face get even hotter.
"I just did, ok?"
"Really, is that so?" She crosses her arms.
"I just did to make him shut up, ok?"
Gianna puts her hands on her hips and smirks. "Suuurrreeee," she stretches out the word.
"What about you? Why do you talk to Cace?" I raise my eyebrows and cross my arms.
Gianna blushes. "Touché."
We laugh about the boys as we walk into math.
The bell rings before we can get there.
"Oh crap. We're gonna be late," I complain.
"We'll only be a minute late, it'll be fine."
As we walk in, Harmswell stops talking to the class and announces,"Well, look who decided to show up. Finally decided to grace us with your presence, Ms. Black?"
I feel my cheeks heat up as my classmates laugh.
"No, it's not-"
"Talking back, are we? Such impudence. Detention then. Tomorrow, after school."
I feel my skin heating up with anger.
"I haven't done anything wrong."
"Obviously you have, otherwise I wouldn't have given you detention."
His beady eyes pierce mine, daring me to argue. I glare at him and go to sit in my seat.
Gianna looks at me sympathetically. Zane looks over, concerned.
I huff and cross my arms and try to pay attention.

"I didn't even do anything! And he gives me detention!" I rant to Gianna and Zane.
"I should do something, so I would actually deserve it."
"It's only one detention right? It's not that bad," Gianna says, trying to reassure me.
"Yeah, but still. I didn't do anything wrong," I huff, crossing my arms. I can feel myself heating up again.
Gianna sighs," I'm gonna go get us some lunch, ok?"
"Ok."
Zane stays quiet for once. It's weird without his voice making a joke.
I turn to him. "What do you think?"
He looks thoughtful and brushes some hair from his face. "Control."
"What?"
"Remember to keep your cool. Like what I told you last time. I can feel you heating up every time you're angry."
I roll my eyes and cross my arms again.
"I'm serious."
I look up at him and his eyes look like they're glowing again.
"Ok."
He squeezes my hand and brushes past to get himself some lunch.
I don't get it. Why is it such a problem if I fight back?
I shake my head to clear it and walk to our table.