{COMPLETED} ✔ December Bloom

eight

Dante;

I scrambled up as quickly as I could, Norah following.

Yeah, can anyone say 'oops'?

Hey! It wasn't my fault!

Okay, technically, it was kind of. I mean, I was on top of her. But I didn't know! Jeez, give me a break here.

Braden wrinkled his nose, a scary shadow passing over his face. Then, it was gone. He looked...mad? for a second.

He was looking between the two of us, a flash of recognition was very brief in his eyes when his gaze skipped lightly over Norah.

I'm sure we looked a sight.

I smoothed down my clothes, giving a sideways glance at Norah whose face looked tomato-red. I almost burst out laughing. She had, again, worn her hair in a bun and while we'd been 'fighting' it had unravelled just a little so there were quite a lot of stray strands escaping.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" I heard him say, a faint trace of amusement hidden in his voice. It seemed forced though. The amusement bit I mean.

So, I re-directed my gaze back to Braden who was smirking now. Fake. Oh-so-fake.

He folded his arms, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen, staring at me with one raised eyebrow.

I was busy trying to think up something and opened my mouth to say something when he suddenly looked away and stared at Norah instead.

Then, he did the strangest thing.

Something flashed in his eyes, different to the recognition, and was briefly visible before it disappeared. I saw him straighten and run one hand through his blonde hair, flexing his subtle muscles, before folding both arms and staring straight at Norah. His eyes turned all squinty on her, as if trying to remember who she was.

Odd.

I saw that flash of recognition.

He knew who she was.

He didn't need to pretend to study her.

"Hey! I know you! Norah Parker, am I right? Yeah, you're the girl who insulted Dante yesterday!" he suddenly said, laughing. He threw back his head, those blonde locks of his following. I narrowed my eyes at him.

I don't think that needs to be brought up. I looked at Norah who was flushing and nodding her head shyly.

Hang on.

Shy? Norah?

The girl's a bitch, an ice-queen, an unemotional freak. She didn't seem shy just now or even yesterday. In fact, she was being downright rude to me for no absolute reason.

Anyway, back to my current situation.

"Nice shirt." Braden commented, smiling at her. Same thing I said.

"Thanks. Used it for Dante here. Thought it would inspire him to take the advice." she replied coolly, smiling back at him. All traces of sudden shyness slowly evaporating.

Apparently, insulting me does wonders for her. Makes her a lot more upfront.

I gaped at her.

What the fuck?

Stupid little…argh!

When I commented on that, she insulted me!

When Braden does it, she…insults me again!

Me and Braden, we are practically the same. We have the same interests and everything and yet, she insults me, not Braden.

Talk about unfair.

Braden burst out in laughter again (what is up with him? She's not that funny).

Norah turned to me.

"Look, I have to go now. I'm busy. Sorry we didn't get any work done today but maybe next time, instead of acting immature, you'll actually help me. Okay? Bye!" and she was out the door.

Me?

Act immature?

The hell?

She's the one who started it with the marshmallows! Everyone knows not to provoke me. Everyone knows it.

Oh, what the hell. Who even cares?

I ran a hand through my hair and rolled my eyes, looking at Braden who was still chuckling.

What is up with him? He's always laughing. I'm beginning to get a feeling he's inhaled too much intoxicated gas or something from the Bio Lab.

"She isn't that funny, you know." I told him, voicing my earlier thought out loud. He shrugged then flushed immediately.

"I know." he mumbled, folding his arms and quickly walking to his room. I just stared curiously after him. He was acting very strange…he's never acted like this before.

Huh.

I walked to my room in a slight daze. Pondering.

I heard a knock at my door.

"Yeah?" I called, my door opened. I looked up from my Math textbook which I had been trying to study.

Don't laugh.

Okay, so what? I'm studying, does that make me a bad guy? I can't help it, I want good grades.

Plus, I have to prove to my teachers that I don't need any tutor, especially one like Norah.

God, that girl gets on my nerves so much.

I hate her, she's such a loser. She needs to find a life.