"I don't see why he would want me- I'm very annoying, I never listen," I protest truthfully.
The boy in front of me smirked.
"That's why he wants you- he's trying to erase all the glitches in the system."
•••
It's the year... okay, no one knows w...
A little reminder, Amara's assigned name is Vickie and Peter's is Tyler, I may use them interchangeably at times, so heads up. Enjoy! :) ••• Amara POV "What?" I managed to choke out. I would have this arrogant bag of crap following me around all day. I didn't need fricking angel on my shoulder. I was a perfectly well behaved child.
Peter shrugged apologetically, even though his eyes were gleaming with mirth and the corners of his mouth were twitching as if he was trying not to smile.
I scowled at him, snatching my history books out of their locker and slamming it closed. With one last look thrown at Mr. High-and-Mighty I pushed gruffly past him, determined to get to History class long before him, and make sure that no seat was available next to me. As I entered the class Mr. Quinn gave me an odd look. "Vickie? You're here early," he commented, rummaging around his desk. "Better than being late, like usual, right?" I flashed a grin. Mr. Quinn smiled in the slightest. "True. I hope this becomes consistent."
"Uh, yeah."
Footsteps behind me. Perfect, now was the time to get the next student to sit next to me. Looks like I was stuck sitting next to.... Peter. He plopped down in the seat next to me, ignoring my death glare. "How?" I squeaked in rage. "It should have taken you at least five minutes to find this classroom!" Peter grinned.
"I ran into some very helpful girls, they pointed me in the direction." I bristled. Petty cheerleaders no doubt.
"This is your last warning to move." I hissed as kids began to fill the room. "If you choose to take a seat here you are submitting yourself to many jabs in the ribs." Peter let out a short laugh. "Sorry, kid, just doing my job."
I seethed. Kid? Kid? Who was he calling kid? "I'm only like, a year younger than you!" I huffed. "A year and eight months," he corrected me. I blinked at him. "You're creepy."
He shrugged. "Just doing my—" I cut him off with a elbow to the ribs. He let out a quiet, pained grunt. "Ouch." He elbowed me back, but not as hard. Probably thought I was a weak little girl. I hated it when people assumed I was weak because I was a girl. I elbowed him back. Harder.
Peter's hand suddenly clamped around my arm, hard. His eyes flashed as the met mine, gaze burning and intense. "Stop." "What if I don't want to?" I stuck my nose in the air, ignoring the pain in my arm. His hand slid down to my wrist, thumb lightly resting on the pressure point there. "Hey!" He applied light pressure.
"Since I have your attention, let's make a deal." I glared. "I release your wrist, no damage done, and you stop elbowing me." "I'm not making a de—" The pressure on my wrist increased. I sucked a breath through my teeth. "Fine."
His hand released my wrist, and I shook it, cracking my knuckles. He never said I couldn't punch him. Mr. Quinn began to speak, and I tuned out, doodling offensive pictures of Peter in my notebook. He cast a look at my paper and rolled his eyes. "You know, part of going to school means actually listening to the teachers."
I shrugged. "I already know all of this stuff. I'm not a total idiot, you know. I'm just in this class for the credits." When Peter didn't reply I returned to my doodling. Soon the pictures turned into pictures of my old house. Of Hunter and Emma. Mom and Dad. And little Destiny. Who I had forgotten. Who I had left behind.
I couldn't do it anymore. I cracked a little, tears silently trickling down my face. Wiping them viciously, I raised my hand, meeting Mr. Quinn's eyes. He nodded silently. Why couldn't all teachers be that cool?
I quickly got up, and sprinted out of the classroom, leaving my history books. I skidded to a stop in front of my locker and tore it open. No pictures of me and my friends. No fun decorations Chelsie had always got for me.
I was alone. I had no one. I no longer even had my own name.
I rummaged through my paper's and pulled out a drawing of Destiny I had done. Only a idiot would forget their own dog. I sunk down to the floor, head between my knees, taking deep breaths to calm the torrent inside me. "Why did I ever leave?"
I had seen the videos of the HH showing up at my house. Tearing through my room. But why did I always have to be so reckless?
I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I tensed, not moving. "Go away." Peter crouched next to me, and I peeked our to see him staring at me with concern. "Hey... you okay?" He asked in a soft voice.
I scoffed. "Of course I'm okay. I was taken from my home, forced into a new life with new parents, berated every day for not trying hard enough in school, not even allowed to see my family... or my dog." I lifted my head up, not caring that my mascara was blotched. "But, yes I am okay! Because I have to be! I have to perfectly fine, I have to smile, and I have to f*cking laugh my way through all of this!"
Peter looked a little scared.
He spotted the drawing on the ground and gently picked it up. "Is this your dog?"
I snatched it away. "Don't touch that. Don't ever touch that." I growled, standing up and shoving it in my locker. Too bad I couldn't just shove Peter in a locker as well. As if hearing my thoughts Peter stood and stepped back to a safe distance. "I'm sorry Vickie. Usually we let people bring their pets with them. Why didn't you tell me you had a dog?"
I turned away.
"None of your business." I snapped, even though it kinda was his business. I chewed my lip, looking at him. "You don't think... you could get her for me now?" I asked hesitantly.
Peter sighed, scratching his neck. "I can see what I can do. It's protocol not to visit the same house again after a removal is instigated..." "Than I'm getting her myself!" I snapped. Peter laughed a little. "You're stubborn." "And you're a—" He cut me off. "No offense intended. How about this... I get Destiny for you, and you do your homework. Every day."
He drove a hard bargain. "Okay. Fine."
Peter grinned, reaching out his hand for me to shake it. I gripped his hand in mine and gave a firm shake. We stood like that for a few seconds, his tanned skin contrasting against my light skin. I cleared my throat. Peter blushed, letting go of my hand. I rolled my eyes.
"Let's get back to class." I said, taking a deep breath and heading back towards the classroom, Pete in tow.
•••
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