Dare to Fall

Chapter IV

Literature class was surprisingly exciting. We delved into some of Shakespeare's most renowned works, including A Midsummer Night's Dream and the classic Romeo and Juliet. Our teacher, Ms. Brenda, had an ambitious idea to host a play based on Romeo and Juliet, but first, she wanted everyone to audition. The thought of acting sent a jolt of anxiety through me—I loved Shakespeare's writings, but I was no actor. I could tell a convincing story, but performing? That was a whole different ballgame.

After class, I stepped into the bustling hallway, my mind still swirling with the day's discussions. To my dismay, Logan was still lingering around, trying to engage me in conversation. I turned to him, hands on my hips.

"Look, if your goal is to annoy me like your friend did earlier, you're succeeding," I said, finally voicing the irritation that had built up inside me over the past thirty-five minutes.

Logan laughed, unfazed. "Wow, someone's in a mood! What's the matter? Is it because I'm just too charming?"

I rolled my eyes, trying to shake off his playful demeanor. "It's not charming when you follow someone around like a lost puppy."

Amelia, my friend who had been quietly observing our exchange, chimed in. "Seriously, Logan, it's not appropriate to tease her when she's clearly not in the mood."

I appreciated her support but didn't bother to add my own words to the mix.

As we headed to our next class, I noticed the guys I'd seen in the cafeteria earlier—Cayden included. He shot me a glance and rolled his eyes, his trademark smirk plastered on his face. I chose the only available seat in front of him, hoping to avoid any further interaction.

"You still owe me an apology," he whispered, leaning closer, which made my skin crawl.

"No, you owe me one," I shot back, casting him a glare.

We locked eyes in a silent standoff, and just as I contemplated throwing a punch at his annoyingly perfect face (yes, I had to admit he was attractive), a blonde girl named Katie intervened. She stepped between us, turning her back to me, and I couldn't figure out what she was doing until she suddenly faced me with an icy stare.

"You don't get to look at my man like that," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

"If he's even your man, which he's not," I replied, my annoyance flaring as I caught Cayden rolling his eyes at her. I didn't know if she was trying to give him puppy-dog eyes or what, but it was getting ridiculous.

"Alright class, settle down," Ms. Brenda announced as she entered, placing her belongings on her desk. She grabbed a whiteboard marker and wrote her name on the board: Brenda Evans. She had an hourglass figure and an ombre hairstyle that caught the light just right.

"Get your textbooks and turn to page 17," she instructed, already flipping through the pages of our chemistry book.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a chemistry book. Luckily, Amelia offered to share hers, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her kindness.

Ms. Brenda wasted no time in assigning us a group project that was due Friday. I couldn't believe it—our first day back, and we were already buried in work.

"I'll be assigning your partners, so you have no choice in the matter. Whether you like it or not, our classroom door is always open if you want to leave," she added, her tone surprisingly firm for the first day.

I glanced at Amelia, who offered me a reassuring smile, but I was too distracted by Katie's lingering glare. She cocked an eyebrow at me, and I quickly looked away.