i can't stay mad at you

four

Olivia

As I text back and forth with Ethan, I can't seem to get Miles out of my head. I'm obviously attracted to him, in some weird ass way. Is it smart to be flirty with the friend of the guy you're actually sorta a little bit interested in? Well, I'm doing it anyways.

Ethan is plenty cute, don't get me wrong but as I've said before, its something about curls man. Maybe if Miles wasn't a complete asshole to me at all times, I would compliment him or try to start some sort of conversation. I just have such an urge to get to know him. I want to unravel all of his layers and understand where all his hostility comes from. Clearly that's not something that will happen ever, but a girl can dream, right?

Wow, maybe that stereotype where girls are always going after the assholes is true. Who would've thought I'd be the victim of such a sad sad truth. Okay, I may be crazy, but I am not completely delusional. I, of course, know nothing will ever happen between Miles and I. But it doesn't hurt to look okay. His face is just so damn nice to look at, and his eyes are so damn blue. And if I have to annoy him a little just to get some eye contact, then shit, that's what I'm damn well gonna do. Well...okay maybe I won't do that because I don't really know what he's capable of and seeing that everyone at Barrington besides Ethan seem to be scared of him, I ought to stay away. Looking will have to do.

Ugh, I am so stupid. Ethan is safe and not bad looking. If I'm gonna get involved with a boy, safe is exactly what I need. Though its every girls fantasy, I don't need to live on the edge and try to seduce the mysterious bad boy of the town into being with me. Ethan is perfectly safe and he at least seems interested so.

Maybe we can grab a bite to eat this weekend? His text reads.

Let me think about this. No, I am not that interested in Ethan. But, going out for food is harmless. Who knows, maybe we will talk all night and fall in love and date for years and years and have kids and buy a big house in the city. Very unlikely, but like I said, a date is harmless.

sure! saturday @ 7 good? He replies saying that's perfect and I begin to drift asleep thinking of blue eyes and brown curls.

---

Waking up in the mornings is the biggest struggle in my household. I wake up at 6:30 every day to be the first in the shower. Well second, technically my mom has already left an hour ago to catch the train for work.

After my shower I knock on my brothers door on my way back to my room. That's his first wake up call. There's many more to come. Then, I swiftly dress myself, look in the mirror, deem myself presentable, and head out the door again. This time I pound on Josh's door, with a yell, "Get up little boy, we're gonna be late!" I hear him grumble and shuffle in his sheets. I know from years of experience he will not be getting up. On to the next.

By now its about 6:55 and unfortunately I have to wake up the twins. Kindergarten begins at 8:00 and my job is to have them up and ready to go so Alanya can get up, bring them to school and make it just on time for her morning classes.

Unlike many children, Tia and Serena are not that difficult to get out of bed. Mostly because they love to accomplish their morning task. I smile to myself as they both run into Joshua's room to officially wake him up. We soon realized that this is the only way he wakes up without me going to his door about five times every morning. I hear him groan, and I call the girls back to get them ready. After a few minutes, I hear the shower running. Thank god, he got up before Alanya. She is definitely not a morning person and when someone is in the shower when she needs to be in, it's not pretty. After the girls are dressed and ready, I finish getting ready myself. Thank god they feed you breakfast in Kindergarten. As if I need something else to worry about in the mornings.

It's now 7:10, I have to be to school by 7:40 and the walk is around 8 minutes. Wearing my hair out is not an option today, I realize as I look at the absolute craziness that is my curls. That's what I get for gelling it down yesterday. I throw it in a bun, and decide this is as good as it's gonna get. Joshua has to catch the school bus by 7:25 and he's always running late, but after I've gotten him up my duties to him for the morning are done. If anything, I shouldn't even be waking him up anymore, but whatever, I don't really mind. By 7:15 he is running out the bathroom to his room with a squeal. At this point Alanya is up and on her way to the shower. I brush my teeth as she washes up.

The hectic morning is officially over for me as I leave the house chewing on a cereal bar, on my way to school. The breeze is nice this morning, and I wish I had my hair out to feel the wind rush through it.

As soon as I walk in the building the girl from third period almost immediately latches on to me.

"Hey girl" She greets me.

"Oh hi Kelsi"

"How was your morning?"

Um absolutely hectic as always... "It was good." Okay, I know I'm being super dry, but I just seriously have no interest in developing a friendship with this girl. Nothing against her, I just get this weird ass vibe.

"That's good, well i'll see you in third." She walks away to meet up with a big group of blondes.

I keep walking. I was hoping to avoid the awkwardness of people trying to be my friend and all because for me friendships just happen or they don't. I hate forcing it.

"You're friends with Kelsi?" I turn to see Ethan walking next to me. I ignore the disappointment that Miles isn't nearby.

"Uh no, not really she just started talking to me after she saw me speak to Miles."

"Yeah, that makes sense, they used to date." He states as if it was nothing. But this information is for sure not just nothing. I just figured Miles didn't date anyone, and also, why wouldn't Kelsi mention that when she started talking to me?

"Wait, really? Miles doesn't seem like he dates anyone.."

"Well he didn't, or well he doesn't. They dated freshman year, back when Miles was a little more tolerable. It didn't end well. She always seems to pop up though, I'm not sure if she wants to destroy his life try to get back in it."

"Hm. That's interesting."

"Yeah, I guess. I'd stay away though, there's no way she has your best interests in mind."

We say our goodbyes, and I turn to head to class. Hm, what an interesting day this would be.

---

Third period comes, and it's full of silence. Miles is either fidgeting with his fingers or staring at the clock. And me? I'm trying to hide the fact that I'm staring at him. Which is not that difficult of a task considering he not once looks at me. Half way through the class the teacher announces we will be doing project with our partners.

Great...

At this he finally speaks, "Uh don't worry about the project, I'll do it."

Yeah, no. I take my education very seriously and, I don't know him well enough to know if he does as well, so I won't have him jeopardizing my grade. "No, that's fine, I'll work on it."

He immediately shakes his head, "I said I would do it." He speaks to me as if his word is final. Too bad that's not how this is gonna go buddy.

"And I said, no."

His hands clenched into fist. His hands were shaking, I could tell he was trying to keep from exploding. "Fine." He seethes."We will work on it together. "

And that was that.