Dreaming for a Change

Chapter Two: The Siren Queen Strikes First

My plea of my day ending swiftly didn't come true. In fact, it seemed to drag longer than it normally does. Spending the hours at the back of the class, that's how I do it. Maybe if I sat at the front, I would have better grades, but I think I'm fine where I'm at. Being a B student isn't so bad for me.

My last hour of the day is the most dreadful. One: it's the last one of the day. Two: it's the class in which the teacher assigns a enormous handful of group projects. And three: I share it with Charlotte and her goons. They would always squeal at random things shining from their phones while the teacher was mid-sentence during a lecture. I find it annoying and would always glance their way along with the A+ students.

Just as I was praying that my day wouldn't get any worse, it did.

The teacher assigned a group project with classmates he partnered up - probably planning for our failure with delight. I've begged to the teacher before to allow me to do the project independently, yet... He said no.

"Alright, class!" The teacher announces in a booking voice. "It is time for the group project of the Romans. I have assigned you in groups of two this time, in hope that you might all complete this with equal effort."

You know for a fact that that is not gonna happen no matter how heard you dream, sir.

"I have posted the groups up front. Please come up and look at it." The teacher finishes. I wait until everyone decides to check their groups. Charlotte and her minions didn't move either. Please don't tell me I'm paired up with one of them. I'd rather have her goons than the actual brains.

I stand and walk up keeping me head down. I lift my head slightly to review the list and search for my name.

Groups

Jackson Peirce  Mark Helton

Jackie Helgar Tika Upshaw

...

Nigee Sprout Charlotte Smith

No. No no nononono. Not her. Anyone else, but her. I don't catch myself panting slightly and staring at the teacher. He has to be kidding me! I've heard so many awful rumours about being paired up with Charlotte for anything!

I heard that she didn't do a huge science project. Another rumour is that she made her partner do all her work or she'll blackmail the poor girl. Charlotte tried to play Matchmaker for a group of girl in exchange for a free project pass on Charlotte's side. She matched them with football players that only wanted to hit girls up. She was gonna post a picture of a helpless girl to the school one project. Charlotte is cruel enough for me to believe all of these rumours.

And speak of the devil, Charlotte walks up to stand beside me. I froze and shift my eyes her way, my body still facing the teacher.

Her booming voice screeches over the class. "Who's Knee Ge Sprout?"

I flinch beside her. Her eyes pass over me and search the classroom. I don't want to show myself, even though I'm hiding in plain sight. If I move, I'm afraid that she'll find me. Yet the teacher throws me under the bus and shoves me to Charlotte.

From his desk, the teacher says, "Nigee is right in front of you Charlotte. Please lower your voice and work together."

Why? Why why why why?! Why is the teacher betraying me!? I didn't do anything! I'm a good average student! Please don't do this!

Charlotte towers over me. Her heels made her ten times taller than me - at least to me it seems. Her smirk is pure evil and I cower even more.

"You're Knee Ge?"

I nod.

"I've seen you. At lunch today with Zachary." Charlotte says with a wide smile.

I can't resist myself to stay quiet. "You...see...seen me?"

She nods. "Yeah I did. Let's get working on the project." 

I watch her walk to the back of the class and take a seat at the desk beside my own. I can't escape her. Its like the game of Mouse Trap all over again. I'm trying to run past through all the horrible traps Charlotte launches in my path. The voices of the other pairings grew as I stood frozen at the front of classroom. I watched Charlotte file her nails and brush the filed-off nails onto my desk - she then looks about acting like she didn't do such a disgusting thing.

I pluck up the puny amount of courage I have in my small body and force my legs on the journey back to my heartwarming home of the desk - with an unknown danger the hero must face when they believe all is well. I return sitting and find Charlotte on her phone texting her friends on the other side of the classroom. I let out a sigh inside my mind and begin working. I already used up my courage for today. It has a cool down time of a day like in online games. So, I begin working the project together, yet with no help.

Charlotte may have seen me, but now, she is treating me like I'm invisible...again. That was her attack, her move. Get my hopes up and then destroy them in two seconds flat. My move has already passed. Play along, bend to the villain's rules. Their rules will always push and I will fall to the rules. I won't fight. That's it. The Siren Queen has won this battle.