Becoming the Bad Girl

Chapter Two

I messed with a loose piece of string on my black cardigan as I sat in the library waiting for Raiden to show up. I angrily ripped the string off. He was ten minutes late already. Any longer and I would leave. He could get transferred for all I care; or expelled and drop out since no one wanted him.

I should be home studying. I didn't have time to waste sitting here. I sighed and looked at the clock for the billionth time. I saw movement in the corner of my eye and glanced away from the clock.

Raiden turned the corner and slumped in the chair next to me.

"You're late," I stated.

"And?" he asked, "Let's just get this over with." He said bored.

"Don't be late next time. I don't have time to waste. I have things I need to do."

"Like what? Going to one of mommy and daddies business dinners with the rest of their rich partners?" he mocked.

I ground my teeth together to keep myself from replying to him. In truth, I was never allowed to go with my parents to their family business dinners. Only my older brother was allowed to go.

"Let's just start," I said opening my copy of the math book. "I talked to your teacher and he told me everything that you're doing this week. We'll start with yesterday's work since I'm sure you didn't do it."

"That's an unfair conclusion you jumped to," Raiden stated.

"Did you do it?" I asked.

"No, but that's not the point." He said with a smirk.

"It's not unfair if I'm right. You have a reputation that follows you; it's not hard to jump to the right conclusion. Now-"

"Why are you helping me anyways, Peaches? If you have better things to be doing that is." He asked leaning back.

"First, don't call me Peaches. Second, I'm doing this because Mrs. Spanos is going to talk to my teacher about why I have a low grade in math."

Raiden snorted, "You? A low grade? Please, that would only happen if the world ended; probably not even then. You have a reputation that follows you too. Scarlett, the rich nerdy freak that always lines up her pencils and has perfect grades and a perfect GPA and a perfect life. So what's the truth, Peaches? Have a secret thing for bad boys?" he asked mocking me again.

"I told you my reason, not that it's any of your business. And no, I don't have a thing for the likes of you." I stated lividly. Not only was he was mocking me but he was wasting my time again.

"The likes of me?" he asked sitting up straight, "You mean the poor people who don't have rich mommies and daddies like you? I'm just scum to you right?" he asked with a scowl.

I instantly felt bad, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. "No, I didn't-"

"Save it." He said cutting me off again, "Save the lies for someone who cares." He said. "I don't need your help; I know the entire lesson already." He said getting up.

"If you did you wouldn't be failing math. So sit down."

"Bossy much?" he asked going back to smirking. I hated that smirk already. He sat down anyway and that was all that mattered.

"If you know the lesson already then prove it. Let's go over your homework." I said. He rolled his eyes but resorted to allowing me to go through his work with him.

********

Two hours later and I was completely dumbfounded. I looked up at Raiden.

"If you're smart enough to get all of this, why are you failing?" I asked him.