It's Complicated

6. Two Can Play That Game

6. Two Can Play That Game

I was greeted with a shock in homeroom the next day at school. Apparently, Emma was going to be switching into my math class because she was "having problems" with her math teacher. As far as I knew, she wasn't having any problems with her math teacher. She was making a low A and the teacher loved her...

Emma, Riya, and I were on our way to math class. I wondered if I should ask Emma why she was really joining our math class, but I wasn't sure how she would respond.

"What problems were you having with your old math teacher?" Riya asked curiously, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Oh, none. I just wanted to be in the same math class as Drew." She giggled loudly and shrugged. I knew there had to be an ulterior motive for her switching into our math class. Now she could work her magic on Drew, too! This was just wonderful news.

"Hello," Mrs. Laschka said, greeting Emma once we were inside the math room. "You will be sitting next to Drew Jackson in this class, okay?"

Thanks for making this even better, Mrs. Laschka...

"Oh, okay!" Emma said brightly. She started to smile happily.

Of course. Of course she would get to sit next to Drew. I tried to hide any emotion from my face and put on a fake smile, though I was irritated on the inside. Emma went and sat down at the desk next to Drew's desk, combing through her hair with her fingers. She took out a small mirror and checked herself out, clearly pleased with her appearance. 

Drew came in to class, then, and walked to his seat. He looked confused when he saw Emma sitting next to him.

"Hey, Drew! I switched into this class and I get to sit next to you! Isn't that great?" Emma babbled excitedly, not giving him a chance to say anything.

Drew nodded, not looking annoyed or reluctant. "That's great, Emma," he said, sounding sincere.

She gave him a big smile and scooted her desk closer to his. "So what are we doing in class right now?"

"Logarithms," Drew said. "It's pretty difficult."

"Even for you? I thought you were, like, good at everything!" She giggled and he grinned.

"Not at everything," he said cockily.

"You are so funny, Drew!" Emma said, lightly hitting his shoulder. I tried not to puke up my breakfast.

He shrugged. "Thanks, Emma."

I was completely composed on the outside, but I was screaming on the inside. I couldn't help but feel a strong dislike for Emma. She was too pretty and charming for Drew to be able to resist her. She had every guy wrapped around her fingers, but the only guy she cared about was Drew. And she never stopped until she got what she wanted.

Mrs. Laschka cleared her throat. "Settle down, class. I will begin class in five minutes. I have to finish entering your last test grades into the computer before I can hand them out and go over them. Most of you did okay, but some of you need to review the material more thoroughly."

She started filling in the grades again, and Emma resumed her conversation with Drew. I tried to look like I was writing stuff in my planner so no one would see me creepily eavesdropping on their conversation.

"I bet you did great, Drew. You're so smart," Emma said. Why don't you just bury him under a pile of compliments, Emma?

"Thanks, Emma."

"No problem. So I hear you've been going to 24 Hour Fitness with Allen these days. Is that true?"

"Oh, yeah. Allen convinced me to join a couple of weeks ago. Wanna see my muscles?" he asked in a flirty voice.