Cross My Heart

Challenge Accepted

JEREMY

She hadn't returned to class after leaving with Noah. Unwilling to lose her to Noah, I got myself kicked out of class after calling Mr. Jefferson a parrot-nosed freak. His face had turned a deep color of red and I had to use up all my strength not to laugh and end up with a double detention. 

I was standing outside of Jefferson's class thinking of where she could possibly go when I saw her pass right in front of me. I opened my mouth to say something but immediately halted when I took in her posture. She was rigid, hands trembling by her sides, and each step taken with a little too much force. Curious of what had caused this reaction in her, I followed behind quietly, slowly. 

Since she was walking slightly faster than me, I lost her for a second, then had to backtrack before I finally spotted her in the empty cafeteria. She was sitting slouched at one of the tables in the far left corner of the room. 

I rolled back my shoulders, straightened my spine, took a small breath then walked towards her. This was my shot to impress her. 

She must have heard my footsteps because she straightened up. But when I took the seat in front of her, she didn't look up. She was looking down at her hands and playing with the silver ring on her left index finger.  Playing hard to get. 

"Ditching class, and it's only the 2nd day," I said, adopting a playful tone of voice. No response from her. "I didn't know you knew Noah Casters." At this, she looked up. Her eyes were big, oval-shaped, doe-eyed. 

"Who I know or don't know is none of your business. We're not friends." I would flinch at the coldness in her voice but I'd dealt with girls like her before. 

I laughed. "But we do know each other. Finch's class? You called me a duck."

If she recognized me, she didn't show it. 

"You were offended," she stated. 

"Wouldn't you be?"

"It was a statement. A fact. If you were offended, I'm sorry. I had no intention to insult you. I don't even know you." Her expression remained blank. I wasn't sure if she was being sincere or just mocking me. 

"You know, this is the first time we've actually talked face to face since the whole Finch incident. We should get to know each other. I feel like you and I could become good friends."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think so. I don't make friends easily and you, you're not up to my standards."

She rose from her seat and managed a step before I said, "You think you're all high and mighty?"

She stopped and turned. "I don't think that at all. It's just that I know how I am. I'm stubborn," she said, taking one step towards me, "and extremely difficult. Once I make my mind about something or someone, it's nearly impossible to change my mind. And, I just don't think you have the...tenacity to tolerate me. It's that simple." 

I took a second to absorb what she had said. When she had called me a duck, I had been shocked, not offended, but right now, the way she was looking down on me; I was severely offended.

"You don't know me. You said it yourself. Aren't you jumping to conclusions too quickly? Forming an opinion about me like that?" I asked, trying to stop the irritation from seeping into my voice.

She took another step towards me. "You think I'm easy." One more step. "I think you're the one jumping to conclusions."

A dry smile made its way to her lips. "You're the player of this school. Well, one of the players. You're used to girls swooning before you. You're used to getting what you want. You see the new girl. Don't know much about her. You find her intriguing. She's your new conquest. Get the prize before anyone else can, right? But here's the thing, bad boy, this little game of yours has no destination. It'll be tiring. Like I said, I'm extremely stubborn. I'm like a bull. I won't budge no matter how much you push."