Butterfly Years

“Give it back! Give it back!” I yell as Ryan runs away. “Come and get it, angel,” he yells back.

“Rayayayayayaaaaaan,” I tease back, and I can’t help laughing as I run behind him.

I’m at his tail when he suddenly stops and turns around.

“Don’t call me that,” he says, his voice soft and serious. I realize we’re an inch away from each other, and step back. He raises his eyebrows and I blush. Trying to cover up the awkward moment, I say, “Don’t call me angel.”

He smirks. “Sure thing, cupid,” and immediately I smack his arm.

“Why can’t you just call me by my real name?” I whine.

“What is it again?” he asks, pretending to think.

“Syaz!” I snap at him.

“Fine, Syazzy,” he whispers, stepping a bit closer to me. Ignoring how I can feel his breath on my nose, I reach for my novel, which he has in his hand, and now is the stolen object.

He throws my novel to his other hand, and as I make a grab for it again, it switches hands yet another time. This continues for a while, so let me fill you in on stuff you’re probably aching to know.

I’m Syaz June, age 15, and average heighted. I love to read, play the piano, read, write, read, and talk. I also like to study, but I wont say that because you’ll think I’m a nerd. Which I’m not. I’ve been in this school my entire life, and I’m not leaving till next year when I’m graduating. Last year, I got involved in a little fiasco which took the whole school year to clear out. So this year, I’ve made a rule for myself. No boys, no bullies, and no distraction from homework.

Unfortunately, right now, that rule is going down the drain.

Ryan Wong is a boy, a bully, and a huge distraction from homework. He’s Chinese, with fair skin, black hair and piercing black eyes. He’s made it his ambition to drive me crazy, and he’s doing it pretty good right now.

We’ve known each other since forever and a day. And another day. And another day. In kindergarten, he was the quiet, cute kid in the table right in the middle, playing blocks all on his own. In Year 2, he was the Math Whiz who poked my back twenty-four-seven. In Year 6, he was the guy girls swooned over. In Year 9, he formed his pack.

Oh, the formation of The Pack was probably the most important part of my life.

It all began when The Snakes were introduced. It was a bully group, headed by Aiden Richter, part-time A student, full-time bully. If Aiden wanted something done, something was done. If Aiden wanted something, no wasn’t a valid answer. If Aiden said the word, our whole school would have bowed down before him.

“Would have?” Yes. That was the past. In Year 9, Ryan founded The Pack, which was more anti The Snakes then for the student body (a.k.a. fellow Year 9-ers). Ryan wasn’t personally affected by The Snakes. He probably was just bored by The Snakes ruling the school. For a few months, The Pack and The Snakes hunted each other, until Ryan got bored of it all over again, and made a pact with Aiden and Gang. The pact was simple; if The Snakes left The Pact alone, peace would reign. If not, it was the start of a new war.

When this pact was made, respect for The Snakes grew less. Aiden lost most of his power, and it was obvious he was looking for revenge.

Ryan couldn’t be bothered less, and his care-free attitude gave the school body the assurance it needed.

While Ryan was adorably cute, he was devilish too. Take now for example.

“Ryan, give it back!” I screech, and he laughs. “Make me, angel,” he whispers back. I scrunch up my face, and his laughter stops.