I Hate Clichès

Heated moments and Strangers on the street

"Good morning class, I trust you all slept well last night." Ms

Howard says, smiling brightly. Today I notice she looks less strung up, is smiling more, smells faintly of cologne and has small purple bruises on her neck, covered by bright blue scarf.

Groans and laughter fill the room, but she only smirks. I, myself grin and Avery groans. It's weird to have him next to me and if I must admit; it makes me nervous. What if giving a second chance was a bad idea?

"Too bad, because you're going to need it for the next three weeks."

She reaches over and takes out a stack of blue file folders, setting them on her desk. Ms. Howard smiles again and pushes back her curly brown into a bun. Her cheeks are tinted pink, Brown eyes bright, lighting up the classroom.

"Now for this assignment, this will be something different. In every folder there will be your partner's name," Again? "And your assigned novel. Additional information will be included in the folder. For each pair, you will have to perform any scene I'm the novel,but there's a twist." Another chorus of protests and arguing. "You will have to decipher the meaning in the scene and modernize it."

Doesn't sound too bad, actually it's sounds interesting.

"Now, when I call your name please come up an  take the folder. Remember, not everyone will get a folder seeing as half of you will be paired with someone else."

"Carter Aragon, Georgia Brennan, Riley Bay, Christina Crowley, Brandon Foster..."

I zone out, until my name is called. "Natalia Williams."

I walk up, take the folder and go back to my seat. Holding my breath, I open my folder.

                                         A Tale of Two cities

                                          By Charles Dickens

Partner: Avery Parker 

"Again? Wow, seems as if fate wants us to be together." Avery winks. I blush.

"Yeah, well not if I have anything to do with it." I mutter.

I stand up, and make my way towards Ms. Howard's desk. Whisking away at her phone, she doesn't even notice me until I clear my throat.

She smiles at me. "Natalia, what can I help you with?"

"Well, you see I was wondering why I'm getting paired with Avery Parker again. Can I just switch with someone?"

She frowns. "Well, I paired both of you together since last term you both had the highest grade in this class. I also thought that since you two are dating you would most likely be happy with this arrangement."

I laugh, and not a "Oh, that's funny." laugh either. I give her an Are you kidding me? look, but she remains the same.

"We- I mean he and I- we're-"

"Very happy with the arrangement and dearly appreciate you for having sympathy towards young love, Ms. Howard."

I whirl on my heel and glare at Avery. 'What are you doing?' I mouth.

He gives me a look that screams, just go with it. I shake my head. He nods. I shake my head again.

I look back at Ms. Howard, getting ready to give a full explanation of Avery's stubbornness and idiocy, but as I look at her she wears a proud smirk.