You Can't Hate Me

Chapter 7

    The next day at school, Alia still managed to avoid Ajax, making her feel suspicious since she was sure he was perfectly capable of finding her.
    She sat down with Sarilyn at lunch, looking around warily.
    "Something wrong?"Sarilyn asked.
    "Yeah, it starts with an a,"Alia hinted.
    "Alia Roger?" Sarilyn joked.
    Alia glared at her. "Ha ha, very funny."
    "Sorry,"Sarilyn said, knowing full well who Alia was referring to.
    Alia took out her P&J sandwich, devouring it eagerly. The highlight of the day had always been lunch and sandwiches. No one could, or should argue with that.
   She was enjoying her 'highlight of the day' when half way through her eating, her sandwich was snatched from her hands.
    "What the-"Alia hissed, spinning around to see no other than Ajax Hunter hightailing out of the cafeteria. How dare the #*!% steal her lunch?!
    "I, "Alia said flatly, "am going to kick his butt and send him to Oz faster than he can say 'Dorothy'."
    "You're into Oz?" Sarilyn asked, raising an eyebrow.
    "No. And is that the point?"Alia snapped.
    Sarilyn shrugged.
    "Well, will it make you feel better if I change it to Hogwarts?"
    "Yep. "
    Alia threw her hands up in exasperation. "You weren't supposed to say that! You were supposed to say you're sorry! "
    "Sorry," Sarilyn said, obviously not sounding anywhere near sorry. In fact, an idiot could tell she was amused.
    Alia scowled and stormed out of the cafeteria, fuming.
    "Alia! Come back! I really am sorry!"Sarilyn called, wincing.
    Alia headed toward where she had seen Ajax going. What did he need her lunch for anyway? Not that he needed a reason. He'd probably stolen it just for the fun of seeing her reaction.
    Alia halted when she heard voices from around the corner, she hadn't been to this part of the school where the gym was.
    "...my first lunch in days."
    Alia frowned. That was obviously Ajax's voice, but what was he talking about?
    "But you stole it!" another voice said.
    "Who cares? I'm hungry, "Ajax said. "She has lunch every single day anyway, and dinner to look forward to."
    The mystery person sighed."Just because you don't have much to eat doesn't mean you can go and steal other people's lunch. We already share with you everyday, don't make it a burden for other people."
    "You're just saying that because you have lunch! And dinner! Every single f*cking day! Do you know what it's like to starve? To have no money? And at the same time not knowing if your mom will ever remember you before she dies? Never knowing what your dad might do to you? Or the fact that everyone might find out?" Ajax ranted.
    "Ajax-"
    "And don't expect me to apologize to the girl! She deserved it!"
    The metallic sound of Ajax slamming his hands onto the lockers for the Bball team rang deafeningly.
    Alia covered her ears, cringing.
    She emerged slowly from her hiding place when she was sure both Ajax and the mystery person were gone.
    Walking along the corridor, Alia saw huge double doors and knew they led to the the gym.
    Opening one side of the doors just a crack, she peered inside, her head pounding at the thought of what she had heard.
    Who were the 'we' the mystery person was talking about? Why didn't Ajax have much to eat? She knew about his mom, but what about his dad? What might he do to Ajax?
    Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she tried to concentrate on the going ons inside the gym. If Ajax wanted to keep his family issues a secret, he could at least not shout it down the hallways for every passing person to hear.
    The sound of basketballs bouncing on the smooth gym floor echoed in her ears as she finally looked at what was going on.
    Ajax and some other people that Alia assumed were from the Bball team were dribbling basketballs around the basket, occasionally trying out a few shoots before practice.
    Surprisingly, Ajax seemed to be enjoying himself. He looked relaxed, very unlike the angry, cruel Ajax Alia had come to know.
    Alia stared in shock as Ajax scored easily every single time he took a shot. It wasn't long before she learned that he was actually the captain of the team. Ajax Hunter of all people?! The Bball team captain?!
    Alia started when the school bell rang, echoing down the corridor deafeningly. Wincing, she made her way to her next class, looking forward to telling Sarilyn what she had heard.
    But then, she remembered that she was supposed to be mad at her friend.               
   Sighing, she sat down, bracing herself for another boring lesson.

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I know I know, another super short chapter, but trust me, I'm doing my best.
To people out there who aren't my classmates: Please forgive me for any grammar mistakes or confusion in any part of the chapters. You will be shocked to the very tips of your toes and probably faint if you knew my age, which is all I can say quite young 😜