I'm Writing This For You

Chapter 15 || Born in the Wrong Generation

As you might expect, the rest of the school day went by about as slowly as a snail crawling its way through molasses. I couldn't stop thinking about the person that had just seen Tanya and me together, and how that person now held the power to ruin my entire life.

You may think I'm exaggerating, but just wait until you find out who it is. You know that quote, "with great power comes great responsibility"? Well, this person had great power, but they were irresponsible and mischievous as hell.

I went through so many scenarios of what could happen in my head, it was like an entire book could be made out of all of them. If I could make one, I'd call it 1000 Ways to Die, or something along the lines of that. But, I doubt your mother would agree with such a sadistic way to use my time.

Anyways, like I was saying, it really wasn't a matter of if I was doomed, it was a matter of when. A few hours later, three loud knocks jolted me out of my seat. My eyes darted towards the clock on the lower-right hand side of my computer screen. 4PM.

I wasn't ready to deal with her.

So my attention turned towards the computer screen again, my eyes grasped by the warm colours glowing from an on-screen computer game. Before my fingers even touched the left mouse button, three louder knocks filled my ears, again. The metal knob on my speaker felt cold, as my fingers wrapped around it to increase the volume of the computer game in front of me.

Then, a large creaking sound broke through the sound of my computer, turning my attention towards the door. That's when I saw your Aunt Rachel staring back at me, with a tiny sparkle embedded into her narrow brown eyes.

"Hey Rachel, how's it going?" I asked.

"That's a phrase I've heard in, well, never," Rachel mused, while she stepped inside and shut the door behind her. "But enough of the small talk. I have something you'd really not want your mom to see, and well, you have money."

This was inaccurate of course, and Rachel knew it. At the time, I had about five cents and a pack of gum to my name. Actually, it was half a pack of gum. Mike and a few others borrowed the other half earlier that day in English class. That reminds me, it's been about ten years and I'm still waiting for my gum!

Anyways, after telling Rachel I was straight out of money, she responded with a laugh. Its tone mirrored the motor of a dusty tractor that was spurring and spinning out of control. "Well, maybe you should have thought about that before kissing a girl, huh?"

The hairs on my back rose up as they pressed against the cold leather on my seat. But, in an attempt to not to let my opponent know my true emotions, I tried to make my reply sound as monotone as I could. "Fine. What do you want?"

Rachel began to press her fingers together, almost like an evil scientist would. Her grin was taunting me, almost as if she knew she was going to win the battle from the start. "Hmm... well, I've been meaning to get a new microscope, so you're gonna help me fund that venture. Let's start the bidding at $25?"

You know, usually, when there's a war between an evil scientist and the protagonist, the hero wins. And while you'll see how I do end up losing the battle, that war was far from over.

Maybe I should have accepted the original $25 deal with no questions asked, but it wouldn't have felt right without a few insults thrown in. "Wow, you're such a nerd."

Rachel's smile grew wider. My insult was ineffective. "Look at that! The price jumped up to $35!"

My mind began playing back the highlights of the prank that I pulled on her the previous week, which elicited a chuckle out of me. "By the way, does your hair still smell like mayonnaise and fish from the time I replaced your shampoo bottle?"