Chained together

Chapter 11

Arinas POV:

"Now, as a final, since this is an art class, we're going to have a project instead of having a test. Each of you will be paired with a student with similar grades to yours and I expect greatness from all of you. Now here are the pairs...", the teacher announced, getting a piece of paper from his desk.

My ears hyper fixated on each and every name until my own rang in the classroom, "Arina Williams, paired with Sabrina Smith.", he said and I almost wanted to laugh. What the hell was this? A practical joke?!

"What?!", both of us asked in shock, Sabrina even standing up from her seat, hands slamming on her desk.

"What?", the teacher looked dumbfounded at our shocked faces, glancing between the two of us.

I sighed, glancing at Sabrina, whos green eyes glared back. Pretty much the whole class looked over at the two of us and I looked down, fiddling with my hands, "Teacher, I'm sorry but I can't work with her.", I told him, hoping that he'll understand and pair me with someone else. If Mrs. Hannah told the teachers about our situation at the beginning of term like she said she would, then it should be okay.

But it wasn't. Mr. Henry just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "And I'm sorry, but both of you are pretty much failing. So if you don't want an F for your final, I suggest sucking up whatever teen drama you have and work."

Sabrina huffs and sits down, whilst I slouch in my seat, Sophia giving me comforting pats on my shoulder. This is already a nightmare and we haven't even sat down next to each other yet. When the teacher finished announcing all of the pairs, we were all instructed to change seats, with Sabrina leaving her seat to take Sophia's one. Soon we were siting next to our partner and were instructed to plan the project and sketch out our ideas. The project being centered around our school building and we were free to do whatever we wanted as long as it was art.

Being next to Sabrina boiled my blood, especially for something this important, because I knew that she was going to try to find ways to get under my skin, since I don't doubt she noticed how out of it I've been. I sketched out a few basic compositions, feeling Sabrina's gaze on me. I turned, glaring right at her, "Are you going to work or?"

"Oh, but you're doing so well on your own already. You know I'm not good at art Ari.", she said, serving me another of her smirks, straightened red hair falling on her face as she leaned her head on her hand.

I sighed, turning back to the piece of paper and continuing to sketch. A bit of time passed, before Sabrina spoke again, making my heart drop to my stomach, "So, how's it going with the girlfriend?"

I looked over at her smug face, my own eyes widening before I reeled them in and cleared my throat, "What are you on about? I don't have a girlfriend. Now come on, we got work to do."

Sabrina clicked her tongue, sitting closer and looking down at the paper, "Yeah, I guess Blake was joking. Who would want you long-term? They'd just fuck you and run.", she said quietly, giggling to herself.

Blake wouldn't say that, I told myself. Mirai and I love each other, I repeated in my head, my hold on the pencil tightened, eyes glaring down at my drawings as I tried to take deep breaths. I'm not about to just let her win this. No matter what she says or who she mentions.

Her face came into view, eyebrow raised, "You're so quiet now. You agree with me, don't you?", she said, twirling a strand of my hair. My hand snapped around her wrist in a tight hold, "Touch me again and I'll break your hand.", I said through gritted teeth, tears filling my eyes from the frustration and anger. 

She pouted, a mock of confusion on her face, "Oh, like your mother did to your dad?"

And that was the last straw.