Enemies or Frenemies

Chapter 12

Booker's POV
Im in school walking to class with Nia. Somehow she got my teacher to agree to let her sit in today's class. I am so nervous. This is the class where I have to do my presentation with Tess. I have no idea how this is about to go.
"Booker! You okay?" Nia says.
"Yea. I'm just so nervous. What if this doesn't go well? She's going to hate me more than she already does!" I say panicking.
"Booker! Your going to be fine. Do exactly like we planned. You walk in, you and Tess will be called to do your presentation, you walk up with her, you do yours first and just tell her what you think about her. Even though this was a class assignment and you should be presenting it to the class, I think it will really help if you just look straight at Tess when you're talking. She'll see how serious you are and how you honestly feel about her and your friendship! Then after that, she'll give her speech about you, you both finish and after class you two talk it out and then become friends. Easy peasy!"

"Nia I seriously don't think that's going to work.." I say before she cuts me off.

"Oh! And don't forget to give her these flowers and this necklace. Girls love when guys give them something like this." Nia says smiling at me.
"Nia, I really don't think that she's gonna like this."
"You haven't even given it to her yet. Trust me she'll be happy and she'll forgive you." She said confidently.
We finally reach the class and take our seats. I seat Tess in her usual seat in the back. She looks up and sees me and Nia. She looks confused as to why Nia was here but quickly shakes it off before looking back down at her phone. I really hope this works.

15 minutes later...

"Okay class, we will now be presenting our speeches that I told you all to do for your projects. You had to write about your partner and what you learned about them because of this project. First up is Booker and Tess." The teacher says. I look at Nia little nervous. I didn't think we'd be first. She gives me a thumbs up. I see Tess walk past me before standing up in the front with her speech. Well here goes nothing. I walk up to the front of the class and stand next to Tess.

"Well. I'll be giving my speech first!" Tess says to the class. I cut her off before she can continue.
"But first! I would like to give Tess something." I say fast. Tess looks at me surprised but also a little annoyed.
"Booker what are you doing? Are you trying to make us fail?" She whispers to me.
"No, I'm just trying to apologize to you the right way." I give her the flowers and the necklace. She stands there shocked.
"I'm sorry for everything that's happened in the past couple of the days. And for how I treated you in the hallway. It wasn't..." this time she cuts me off.
"Are you serious right now?" She says. I stand there confused.
"Yea I just thought that..." I start.
"Thought what. That I can be bought with some fancy jewelry and flowers. Do you not realize what you did?" She says now getting loud. The class paying attention. I stare at Nia really nervous.
"Is this some type of set up?"
"No Tess. I truly am sorry. I thought girls were in to this stuff and.."
"No. This doesn't show me you're sorry. And I already told you I'm not forgiving you. What you did isn't going to just go away. You embarrassed me and accused me of lying when you didn't even think about the fact that you've been getting to know me all last week and know about my past. But what it looks like to me now is that you really don't know me. Cuz if you did, you would know that I'm not one of these girls who you can just buy your way out of a conflict with expensive jewelry and flowers! I thought you understood me but now I see I was completely wrong. So once again, I don't forgive you and I don't want to ever forgive you. Just stay away from me." She says glaring at me.
I stand here frozen and scared to move. I failed again. Nia try's to walk over to me but I don't let her. I look at the rest of the class who saw everything. I can't face anyone right now. I run out the classroom.

Nia's POV
After seeing my brother run out the classroom I decided to give Tess a piece of my mind. I walk right up to her.
"What is wrong with you? All he wanted to do was say he's truly sorry. Are you that stubborn to let sour own pride stop you from accepting it?" I say furious.
" No! If he was really sorry, he wouldn't have done something like this, and if he was really paying attention to me this week, he would know that I'm not one of these girls to be bought off with fancy and expensive stuff. Also I'm not stupid. I know you helped him. Maybe next time stay out of it and let him figure things out on his own. Forget it. I don't want to talk to you either. You stay away from me too." She says before she walks out the classroom.