Juliana

11. Off the market

I walked into AP Chemistry and went up to Mr. Salzstein's desk immediately. Juliana smiled at me, but I just turned my head and attention away from her.

"Yes, Robbie?" Mr. Salzstien looked up from the paper he was reading.

"I was uh... wondering if there is any possible way that I could... you know... switch lab partners." I asked nervously—my hands were in my front pockets and everything.

"I will have to think about it. Now go on ahead and sit down."

"Yes sir." I gulped and then walked to my seat.

Just like always, I kicked my backpack underneath the table.

"Hey..." Juliana mumbled.

I scooted my chair further away from her.

"Look, Robbie, I'm really sorry about Friday."

I looked at her, coldly. "You know, for some odd reason, I don't believe you Juliana."

***

"You can switch lab partners if you find somebody willing to switch with you. If you don't mind me asking though, Robbie, why do you want to switch?"

"Reasons." I raised my eyebrows. "Reasons, Mr. Salzstein."

"Very well then. Find yourself someone to switch with and then you can."

"Will do."

***

"No, I ain't gonna switch with you. You gotta face this like a man, Robbie. You're being like a girl right now."

"Please, Aaron."

"No."

"She stood me up. I waited for over three hours."

"I don't give a damn about what she did. Man up. You're the freak that decided to hang out for over three hours. She obviously wasn't coming, dude." He shook his head and took a sip of his sweet tea.

"I'll do it." Dalton said around a wad on sandwich in his mouth. "I'll switch."

"I'm warning you now, man. Don't get involved with her as anything more than lab partners. She's a witch."

"I don't care! She's hot."

"Yeah, and just like all other cute blondes, she's a witch to go along with it."

"I still wanna switch."

"Be my friggin' guest, and don't say I didn't tell ya."

***

As soon as I got home, I went downstairs to the basement and flipped on the TV. Nothing was on, just like usual. I kicked my feet up on the coffee table.

"Tyla! Quit it!"

"You stop, Sam."

"I'm not doing anything... That's Danny."

"Mhm. Sure it is."

I rolled my eyes. Why did my siblings always have to argue by me? "How about you both shut up? I'm trying to relax."

I dug my phone of my pocket—half still paying attention to the TV, half not. I shot Kylie a quick text.

Me: hey. you still in town?