Bad Boys' Game

Chapter Three

When Austin saw Victoria talking to me, his pretty boy smile turned upside down. He didn't look to happy about her coming along. I guess he was jealous. He knew we were a package deal when shoving that kid out. I think he knew I'd never pick his team, and that he would have wound up with just Victoria if he hadn't done what he did.

Victoria and Austin used to date. Apparently, one night they got into this huge fight and Victoria wound up yelling, not just the loudest, but the most, calling him all the curse words that she could think of, and then punching a wall. Ever since then, Austin's done his best to avoid her.

Hmmm... Maybe I could just have Victoria follow me around everywhere I go... That would eliminate one of the problems...

We played dodgeball. Nothing else happened. Believe it or not, Austin didn't do anything. I think he actually was afraid of Victoria.

And I couldn't blame him; she could be pretty frightening.

All in all, gym went off without a hitch, but as they say out of the pan and into the fire. Next I had chemistry with Will. And Ashley.

I came in and sat down. I saw what was written on the board, and I didn't think anything if it:

New Chemistry project!!

With partners!

When I saw what was written next to it my heart sank so low I thought it would fall through my feet.

Partners are:

Joshua + Logan

McKenzie + Hugh

Bella + David

Oh please no.

Ashley + James

No. No. No, no, no, no, no, no...

Will + Autumn

Teachers are dumb. That's it, I'm saying it! Teachers are dumb! Don't they ever know who likes who and who hates who?

James, for one, was the nerdiest guy in class, the guy farthest from the top of Ashley's "Who I like the most" list. And secondly, I've scolded and frowned at and almost even hit Will in this class. Right in front of the teacher.

So why?

Will walked into the room with Ashley hanging onto his arm. They sat down. Will looked at the board, cracked a smile, and looked in my direction. I looked straight back, glaring at him. That's when Ashley noticed.

Her eyes were daggers and I was a big fat target painted a bright shade of red. Another long hour of class with the Annoyings.

"Alright guys, settle down," Mr. Barone said, and the class slowly quieted.

"I know that you all are probably a little upset given the fact that I've paired you up with people you might not get along with all too well," he stated, looking between Will and I before continuing.

"But I did it on purpose," everyone's eyes went wide. "The idea of the project is so that people who may not really like each other have a chance to get over their differences. This project should be fairly simple: spend time and get to know the opposing person, and gather information. In the end of this, you will have to present to the class some sort of presentation showing what you learned, and possibly what changed between you and your partner.

"The hardest part about this project should be spending time with the person that I set you up with," he chuckled. "Get to work, I'll leave the rubric on the projector screen and you can grab a copy on the way out," he stated finally, taking a seat at his desk.

All the kids got up from their seats and moved around, looking for their partners. Of course, I didn't have to, because mine was already sitting behind me.

"Hey, partner!" I hear from behind me. But I refuse to turn around to acknowledge him. So he comes and sits in the empty chair next to me, making himself unavoidably noticeable.

"So... if we have to hang out together, how 'bout I come to your house after school?"

"There is no way I'd ever let you into my house," I gave it some thought. "Why don't we meet at the coffee shop? We can eat and talk and there's enough going on there that I can ignore you."

"You buying?"

"You think?"

"No, but a guy can dream, can't he?" he let out a small, exaggerated sigh.

I just rolled my eyes at him.

I glance at Ashley and saw that she was staring at her phone as James rattled off something that was probably too nerdy for her attention.

Will pulls out a pen and a small notepad, one that you'd imagine a journalist having. "Okay, what do you like and dislike?" This has to be the most serious I'd seen Will about a school project. Too bad it had to be this one.

Oh, I bet he can't wait to tell Austin about this one, and show him how much he knows about me.

"I strongly dislike it when two annoying bad boys fight over me simply because they want to knock me off of their 'to do' list, and then break my heart afterwards," I calmly stated.

I would have expected some sort of reaction, other than him saying, "How can I write that, but using less words?"

He didn't even smile. He was dead serious, or at least it seemed like he was.

I guess he's good at faking things, he has to be in order to make every girl feel special before he completely crushes her heart.

I'm surrounded by idiots.