Chapter 2

Why would you believe that?

 

I trudged down the hall towards my fourth period class, dreading what the next forty-five minutes would be like. I never liked any of my science classes, but biology? Ugh, I loathe this place.

            I peeked my head inside the classroom and looked around for anyone that I might know. Drewanna sat in the back desk alone. The front board had read, sit where you want. I moved quickly to the back and sat down next to her.

            “Hi,” I smiled brightly. “How are you doing?”

            Drew looked over and exhaled. “Fine.”

            “Oh,” I looked down and bit my bottom lip. Something was wrong, I could feel it. “Are you okay?” I asked worriedly. She didn’t act that way last year. But then again, nobody wanted to leave the eighth grade, so who could blame her for being despondent?

            “I said I’m fine. Why don’t you go and sit over there with Destiny?” She pointed over towards the desk next to us, where Destiny was looking inside her bag for her phone.

            I blinked. Was she being ill-mannered to me on purpose? “Drew, what’s wrong? Come on, you’re my best friend, you can tell me.”

            She looked up, a scowl across her face nearly a mile wide. “Listen, don’t play stupid. I know what you said, Megan told me.” She looked back down at her notebook and began doodling on the cover.

            “Megan? What, no! I haven’t even spoken to Megan since last year!”

            “Right.” She shook her head and snorted. “You know, if you’re gonna call me a slut, you could at least admit to it, Emily.”

            I was dumfounded. Why would Megan lie like that? I had never done anything to Megan in order to earn this. “You’ve got to be shitting me, Drew. Why would you believe that? I mean, there’s not even any proof that I called you that…” I paused. If she wanted to believe that, then so be it. “You know what?” I slammed my book shut and stood up. “Screw you, don’t say that I didn’t try.”

            She shot me one last shit-look and went back to her drawing. “Whatever.”

            I picked up my bag and moved to Destiny’s table, where I was greeted with a smile.

            “Hi, Em,” Destiny greeted. “Why’d you move?”

I looked down at the table. Someone had drawn a picture of a stick figure, which was surprisingly anatomically correct. “It’s nothing,” I murmured, looking up at her. “It’s just…my friend thinks I’m lying to her and I’m really not. I just don’t get it.”

            Destiny frowned. “Oh, shit.”

            “Yeah, shit.”

            “Well,” Destiny clicked her phone off. “Maybe you should just screw her, you know? If she doesn’t believe you then don’t talk to her.”

            I nodded. “Uh-huh, that’s what I plan to do.”

            “You know, if it’s bugging you, you can sit with me at lunch.”

            “Sure,” I nodded in approval. “Who sits with you?”

            Destiny bit her bottom lip, trying to think. “Let’s see here,” She tapped her fingers on the table and looked up at the ceiling. “There’s me and you…Adrienne…Kylie and Matt…and Brittany. Sound okay?”

            Kylie and Matt…great. “Yeah, sounds fine.” I totally just fucking lied.

            By the time fourth period was over, everyone was already rattling on about “A lunch”. It’s amazing how hungry people can get in under three hours.

            “Emily, you coming?” Destiny yelled, pointing to the lunch line.

            “Nah, I brought McDics!” I yelled back. After seeing her give a nod, I walked into the lunch room and towards her table. Oh shit…looks like it’s just gonna be me and Kylie until Destiny gets out here.

            Kylie looked up for a brief second when I sat down. “Hey,” she said softly. “You sit with Destiny now?”

            “Guess so,” I swallowed. This girl seriously scares me sometimes…it’s just the expressions. “You too?”

            She looked up and slightly smiled. “Yeah.”

            All of a sudden, something slammed down on the table in front of me, making me and Kylie jump.

            “Jesus, Matt!” Kylie shrieked. “You almost got gravy on my new Sperry’s,” she growled and wiped gravy off the table near her.

            A goofy smile crept across Matt’s face as he sat down next to her. “Sorry.”

            “Better be, asshole.”

            “I am,” Matt groaned. “Want me to lick your new shoes clean?” He asked acerbically. He looked over at me and smiled. “Hey, it’s you again.”

“Yup,” I said, pulling my McDonald’s out of my Pink bag. “It’s me.”

            His eyes averted to his burger below. “This looks like shit,” he lifted the bun off the burger and set it back down. “Yeah, this looks a lot like shit.” He picked up his chocolate milk and opened it, immediately bringing it to his lips and guzzling away. He dropped the empty carton on his tray and belched loudly.

            Kylie closed her eyes in disgust. “Ew! What the hell, Matt! That was fucking…ugh. I’m leaving.” She got up, tossed her lunch and made her way out the door.

            “Good riddance.” Matt shrugged.

            I blinked at the sight at what had happened. Did she really just up and take off like that? I took a bite of a mcnugget and chewed slowly. “Is she not coming back?”

            “Probably not,” Matt spoke up, running a comb through his fine black hair. “Why, do you want her to come back?”

            “I…no…I honestly don’t.”

            He smiled, making his emerald green eyes sparkle. “Didn’t think so.”

            I couldn’t help but smile back. His presence was just so friendly it could make anybody feel comfortable. I can’t believe this is the boy that used to pick on me every day last year. “Don’t you want her to come back?”

            He shook his head and grinned. “Who wants to hear her nag?” He laughed at his own little joke and shoveled a spoonful of potatoes into his mouth. “I’d go after her, but she usually hits me when I do.”

            “Oh,” I faked a smile at his remark. “Don’t you hit her back?” I jested.

            “Looks like somebody’s getting along,” Destiny’s voice floated behind me. “Where’s Ky?”

            “She flipped and left,” Matt replied, winking at me. “Ain’t that right, Hartley?”

            Destiny and Adrienne looked over at me with questionable looks.

            I nodded. “Oh, uh-huh.”

            Matt smiled and mouthed the words, “Good girl.”

            I squinted and shook my head. “Screw you,” I mouthed back. My phone buzzed in my bag. I reached down to pick it up and pulled it out. Reading the screen, I giggled.

            From: Matt Hills

            To: You

            When, where, & how hard?

            My thumbs moved across the keyboard quickly.

From: You

To: Matt Hills

U wish…

            Destiny smiled at me from across the table. “So, Em, I heard your dad’s new client is paying big, huh?”

            “Wha…? Oh, yeah.” I swallowed, realizing how rash I sounded. My phone buzzed again.

From: Matt Hills

To: You

Oh, I totes do! ;)

 

From: You

To: Matt Hills

OMG! If u want sum, hit up Kylie!

            “Where are they planning on building that house anyway?”

            I looked up and bit my lip trying to think. “Mmmm, Westminster, I think. Or Eastbound.”

            Destiny’s eyebrows nearly shot into her hairline. “Are you serious!? Whoa-ho! Daddy-o is making it big in the architect world, isn’t he?”

            “Yeah,” I held onto my phone on my lap, waiting for Matt to reply. When it buzzed I looked down almost immediately. “Dest, you wanna hit up the mall on Saturday?” I ask while unlocking my phone.

           

From: Matt Hills

To: You

Hell nah, she’s a major bitch!

 

From: You

To: Matt Hills

Oh, u r sweet.

 

From: Matt Hills

To: You

U kno, this is the most random convo ever…we’re right across from each other…

 

From: You

To: Matt Hills

Haha, I know…

 

            “I can’t do Saturday.” Destiny replied with an apologetic tone. “I’m meeting up with Brittany to do our history project.”

            I looked up, wide-eyed. “Shit, those are due soon, aren’t they?”

            Destiny froze in place and squinted. “If you count three weeks soon, then yes. And, who are you texting?”

            “Nobody.” I nervously rubbed the back of my neck.

            “Right, Em.” Destiny took a bite of her burger and eyed me. “Well, anyway, I’m done here.” She got up and tossed her food, just as Kylie did before. “Coming, Em?”

            Looking up, I noticed Matt sitting at the table alone. “Yup,” I murmured. “Be right there.” Before leaving the room, my phone buzzed again.

From: Matt Hills

To: You

So, u wanna meet up this weekend for the project, Hartley?  

           

             

 

2: Partners

 It’s the first day of high school and I already hate it. There literally isn’t anything worse than the ninth grade. Its third period, so at least the day is nearly over.

 Mrs. Chadian, my U.S. History teacher, walked in front of the board and looked back at us. “So,” Mrs. Chadian began. “We’re gonna start with a little project.”

 Everyone groaned in response. There are some things you do on the first day, and there’s also some things you don’t do. Assigning a project is one of the things that you don’t do.

 “I know, I know.” Mrs. Chadian turned around, writing something on the board. “It’s an easy assignment, kids, you can relax.” She moved away from the board, revealing the words, Côte d'Ivoire. “Now, I know what you’re all thinking,” she took a swig of her coffee, “Côte d'Ivoire. Sounds stupid, right? Does anyone know what it means?”

 A kid in the row behind mine raised his hand.

 Mrs. Chadian nodded. “Yes, you,” she pointed at the kid.

 “Ivory Coast.” 

 Oh, I know who it is now. Matthew Kopchinski, A.K.A, Smartass. He used to think he was cool because his father owned a cherry red Jaguar E-Type, until someone scratched obscenities all over the hood and they locked it away in a garage. It’s really too bad, I’m sure he would’ve loved driving something like that to school.

 “That’s right.” Mrs. Chadian called. “Nice, um, Matthew.” She sat down, setting her feet up on her desk. “Now, to the project,” she looked down at her paper really quickly. “Yes, the project. I’m gonna split you guys into pairs. Adrian and Aaron, Drewanna and Monica, Katie and Hunter, Julia and Jen, James and Alec, Emily and Matt, Matthew and Cassidy. Alright, that’s it.”

 Me and Matt. No. I turn around, looking at the boy behind me. Matt Hills, skater boy, badass, Kylie’s boyfriend, asshole. He looked up, blinking at my appearance. People staring seems to happen a lot now that I’m wearing makeup.  

 “Hi.” I say, trying to sound as casual as possible.

 He smiled and brought his desk up to mine. “Hey, Hartley,” He slapped his blue Five Star notebook on his desk. “I saw you at McDonalds with Destiny and those guys.”

 “Good for you,” I deadpanned. Am I honestly supposed to be hyped up about that?

 “Are you okay?”

 I looked over at him out of the corner of my eye. “Just peachy.”

He looked flushed. “Oh, okay,” he let out an awkward laugh. “You don’t seem very happy to be my partner.”

 “Honestly?” I raised my eyebrows in question. “I’m not. After all the years of you and your friends making fun of me, I’m not very excited to be working with you. Plus, you don’t really seem to take things seriously.”

 “Oh,” he drummed on his notebook with his pencil. “I’m sorry, I’ll try and help this time.” He began to drum harder, all while flipping through his textbook. “Wait, what is this project even about?”

 I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh my god, I knew it! You weren’t paying attention!” I pointed towards the board. “It’s about Côte d'Ivoire.”

 He nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Hartley.”

 We we’re silent for about ten minutes. I couldn’t handle it anymore, the silence was killing me!

 “So, you and Kylie,” I spilled, trying not to sound overly dorkish. “S-still together?”

 “Yup.” He nodded, not looking too pleased.

 I looked around the room. Good, no Kylie. I looked behind me, looking for my friend Drew. She sat beside a blonde girl, who looked like she couldn’t even make it in this class, and jotted things down on her paper at a fast pace. I looked down at my paper, noticing that I was almost done.

 Matt peered at me with his peripheral vision. “Did you do coke in the bathroom earlier?” He smiled, realizing what he had just said to me.

 I rolled my eyes and put my paper in my binder. “Yeah, totally.”

 “Who’s your supplier?” He joked.

 “The Dunkelberg twins, who else?” I understandably yarn.

 Matt grinned, showing his perfect smile. “Of course, it makes so much sense,” he raised his brows. “How else would they exceed in every class?” He shoved his notebook into his bag and set it on his desk.

 “You know, you’re totally r-”

 The bell echoed loud, thundering through my ears.

 Matt picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Well,” he moved his desk over, allowing me to get out. “I’ll be seeing ya, Hartley.”