Unexpected

Chapter 2: Rules

Chapter 2: Rules

• Mikaila •

Mikaila had but five variables. Five was simple. Five was safe. Five variables can be controlled. She never planned on gaining two more this year. She was hoping to bump the ever present five down to three by the time the year ended but she wasn't even sure anymore.

Variable Number One is as everyone knows is the former best friend. His name was Jeffrey Jacob L. Layton. He and Mikaila were once inseparable. And then he drew away from her after she may or may not have ended up liking him as more than a best friend and then he met the girlfriend. Things went South from there. The girlfriend absolutely hated Mikaila, she gave her a look whenever she saw her. But now that her old best friend seemed to frequent sitting next to her for the first few days in school she had begun to hope they would become friends again but halfway into the First Quarter he said it...

"We broke up" he had told her, as if he was talking about the rain that had begun to pour outside. Mikaila had asked him why, but she feared that this was some nightmare. Because - ladies and gentlemen - one of the things Mikaila Libera didn't need right now was Variable Number One back and ruining her life. "She cheated on me with Josh Judd" he had said, his face still emotionless even though this girl he was talking about was his first girlfriend and his first kiss. He had thought he was in love with her once and now he knows she's a cheater. Mikaila knew this would happen but she ended up saying nothing which was what she knew he needed. And they just sat there, silent, until he told her he hasn't told anyone yet and left.

He told me first... She had thought of that for the longest time that day and it made things so much more complicated. So, she established a new rule. He pulled out a worn notebook and began sifting through the pages.

Rule #1: Don't immediately assume you're in love.

A rule she learned from the Sixth Grade when she had thought she was in love with Leo Magnus, back when she was still friends with Jeffrey.

Rule #2: Remember the people who were there for you.

A rule that was established when she had forgotten about Jake while smitten with Leo.

Rule #3: Don't take those you care about for granted.

Rule #4: Treasure your few real friends.

Number 3, a rule she wrote after parting with Jake. Number 4, a rule she wrote after being betrayed by a person she thought was a friend.

Rule #5: Don't make the same mistakes twice.

She wrote that when she started being closer to Luke. She smiled at the memory, they were such kids back then. So carefree. Now, he was a Variable. Variable Number Four.

Rule #6: Never try to take what is not yours.

She wrote this when Raph became a Variable. She texted him a lot then, she was more comfortable talking to him over the phone than with Luke so she frequented talking to him when she felt down or troubled. And she's always taken to cheering for him whenever he had to play Basketball for school. He became a Variable the day he told her about this girl he has liked for the longest time, she had agreed to help him woo her but she realized this had hurt her. That statement had hurt her. And then she realized he was a Variable. Variable Number Five.

She began to write a new rule for the new Variable, for Jeffrey's predicament and for Variable Number One and the appearance of Variable Number Six and Seven.

Rule #7: Don't assume the worst is over.

She sighed as she closed her notebook and prepared to leave the classroom for recess. And so started the day's routine. She would go down and catch the boys in P.E. class given it was Thursday. They'd be finished in a couple of minutes then they would sit with her near the tree. Jake would stop by every once in a while when she was waiting for the guys to finish P.E. but would leave when the guys came. She asked him about that once an he said something about understanding where he stood. The thing she liked most about the guys was that they kept the tenser variables away, the more emotional ones. They'd talk for a while before going back to the classroom and she'd have Science before Christian Living Education rolled around and she'd talk to Andrew Jamison K. Reynolds, Variable Number Three.

"Libera" she didn't count on the Guidance Counselor calling her by the time she got to the grounds. The woman was sitting on one of the benches, tense as ever, in her pencil suit and her stern glasses. She has never taken to calling me by my name, only my last name. "Yes ma'am?" I asked like a good student, although very irritated on the inside. I could be watching Raph win his basketball game right now or watching Luke play Cardfight Vangard with his classmates. "Do you know why Ivanov is always alone?" She asked, I regarded her with a look of mild surprise. Marcus Ivanov D. Anton was Variable Number Two. We were close once and he was always the only one in our class who could keep up with me intellectually. We sat next to each other last school year and I like to think I know most of his tells. "You do know he prefers Ivan, right?" I raised a brow at the woman. She has a thing for calling us all the wrong things. "Answer the question, Libera" she hissed. See what I mean?

"You shouldn't be asking me that question, he hasn't spoken to me since last year. And that was only because we were seatmates. He hasn't spoken to me since the incident" I explained. Everyone knew what incident I was talking about. During the Fourth Grade, I was talking to Kyla, telling her there were no more decent guys in the academy and she suggested Ivan. Buenssen, who was still a bully, overheard and thought I told Kyla that I had a crush on Ivan. He hasn't spoken to me since, which is a shame since the guy was a great friend.

I wasn't overly surprised Variable Number One had returned from dormancy but to have Variable Number Two re-enter my life made me question if this wasn't just some sick joke.

I was thankful for the Guidance Counselor leaving because I didn't think I could take much more of this. Forget Jason whoever he is from earlier, I knew better. Five Variables was trouble enough.

"Stick to five, stick to five." I muttered to myself.

Better yet, stick to one. One was easy.

Now the question is... Which one?

This was going to be a long day for Mikaila Libera.