Rita's POV
I can't believe this. Cameron and I are going to be partners. Cameron looked over at me and smiled, but I can tell the smile was fake. He was probably thinking, "I can't believe I have to work with this ugly thing you'd call a human being." He suddenly frowned with concern when he noticed my bitter expression. Then he laid a hand on my shoulder.
"Look, if you want some friends, Moses and I will be your friend. Right, Moses?"
Moses didn't pay attention to him. He kept his focus on Ms. Donna.
"Moses!" Cameron hissed as he hit his arm.
"Huh?" Moses said, turning his attention to him.
"You and I are going to hang with Rita so she won't feel alone. Does that sound okay with you?"
He looked over at me, then back at him. "I don't know, man. She's conceited."
CONCEITED?! WHAT THE HECK?! I'M NOT CONCEITED!!!
"I'm not conceited!" I hissed at him. "Have I ever said that I was better than you?!"
"You're just so mean to everybody," he said, a little frightened.
"That doesn't mean I'm conceited!"
"Then what's your problem?"
"It's none of your business!" I hissed.
"Dude, she's been going through a lot in her life," Cameron said. "That's why."
Moses looked at me again and his expression turned into sympathy. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Then he turned back to the teacher.
I gave Cameron another confused look. "How did you know I've been going through a lot?"
"I can tell," he whispered. "Wanna come over to my house after school," Cameron asked me, "so we can work on our project?"
"Um, sure," I said.
"Okay." He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote something down. "Here you go." He handed me the paper. It had his address and phone number on it.
"Thanks," I said flatly.
He started to frown again. "Come on. Smile for me. Please? You're too beautiful to frown."
Wait. Did he just call me _beautiful_? Nobody ever called me beautiful. Well, except for my parents. The words repeated in my head: _You're too beautiful to frown._
"Please smile? Just a small smile. It doesn't have to be big."
I gave a him a small smile and he smiled back, but his was bigger.
"Aww! Your smile is so beautiful."
I started to blush. Those are the nicest words that anyone has ever said to me. Cameron does seem like a true friend. I suddenly felt bad for thinking that he only wanted to hang out with me because he felt sorry for me.
