I push my way through the crowded halls of Central High School, making my way to my first period. Suddenly, I remember. Crap, stupid Jordan still had my chemistry notes.
Great. Just great. Jordan Gallagher and my chemistry notes — a combination that guaranteed at least one disaster today. I could try to find him and get them back, but honestly? That sounds like a terrible idea. Last time, it ended with me getting soaked by some rogue soda can. Maybe I'll just borrow Harper's notes. Or better yet, cram from the textbook and pray for a miracle. I sigh, wrestling with the idea of just hiding in the bathroom until first period is over. I decide to go get them, since I know those notes were precise and neat, and for once, I'd like that in my life.
I stand on my tiptoes and scan the crowd, spotting Jordan leaning against his locker, that smug grin plastered on like he owns the place. Perfect. Just what I needed today.I push forward, dodging backpacks and elbows. "Jordan!" I call, but he just smirks and raises an eyebrow. He ignores me. I push through the last surge of people and stand right in front of him. Maybe a little too close. I take a step back. In his hand he holds a white spiral notebook with Elyse Gates written neatly at the top.
"Oh hey, shortcake. Looking for something?" He waves the notebook back and forth.
I death glare him. "My chemistry notes. You have them."
He laughs. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't." He drops the notebook to his side. Lovely.
"Look Jordan, I really don't have time to put up with your antics right now. Because unlike you, I actually take school seriously and I don't plan to stay here for the rest of my life."
An emotion flashes behind his hazel- green eyes, but it's gone as quick as it came.
"Oof," one of his friends, Aiden I think, grunts with a hand to his chest, "Man, you gonna let her talk to you like that?"
Jordan raises a hand, shushing his rat pack.
"And what would you do if I don't give them back? Hmm? Will you..." He grins stepping closer. Too close, too close. I try to step away but it's still too crowded behind me. "... beg?" he finishes innocently, leaning down towards me staring into my eyes through half- lidded green eyes.
"You asshole." I say through gritted teeth, shoving him back against the lockers.
There's a chorus of ooh's and damn's from his friends around him.
I snatch the notebook from his hands and mutter, "You make me sick." I turn around and head back to the classroom, not before giving him, let's just say an unkind gesture with a certain finger.
I don't look back. I don't need to. I already know that grin of his is back, stretched across his face like he's proud of himself. "Man, she really hates you," Aiden says behind me. "Yeah," Jordan mutters. "I noticed."
~~~~~
Harper slides into the seat next to me, brown eyes immediately narrowing. "Let me guess. Our favorite little playboy is at it again? Wanna talk about it?"
I sigh deeply. Harper means well, I know she does, and I love her for it. But it's already enough to go through it, I don't really feel like reliving it by explaining it. "It's not worth the oxygen."
"Okay," she says shrugging her shoulders, "Hey, to make it up to you why don't we go to Coco's after school?" Coco's was a frozen yogurt place that most of Central High's population is after school. "Sure," I say, already too tired to fight it. "Really? Great!"
The bell rings and everyone settles into their spots. Mr. Kepler starts explaining the role of enzymes in a chemical reaction and I furiously scribble down the diagram he draws on the board.
Harper taps her pen against my desk. "By the way, did you hear about the party this weekend?" she questions in a hushed voice. "No." "Well, apparently Jordan's throwing it. Or crashing it. Or maybe just showing up and making it his." I groan. "Of course he is."
"And guess who Kaylie says you are absolutely coming with?" "She's delusional." "You say that now…"
Just as I'm about to retort back, the door swings open and—surprise, surprise—Jordan strolls in like he owns the place. He tosses his backpack on the desk behind me. "Miss me already, Gates?" I don't even turn around. "Shocking, you can't even make it to class on time." "Oh, I just had some stuff to take care of."
"Yeah like what? Take a hit in the bathroom?" "Haha, very funny princess."
God, he's unbearable.
"Mr. Gallagher. Wonderful of you to join us." Mr. Kepler says, turning from the whiteboard.
"Well, you know, I just had to grace you with my presence." Jordan says cockily. There's a few hushed chuckles from throughout the room.
"Open to page 1105 in the textbook Mr. Gallagher."
I hear him shuffle behind me and open his book. "Anyway back to the lesson, enzymes are catalysts that act as..." He drones off, and I zone out. I don't know what's wrong with me today! I usually love this class, I mean naturally, wanting to be a biomedical engineer, but today all I could focus on was every scratch of his pen, every slight motion, every breath.
It infuriates me.
"Alright class, partner up for the lab experiment. You will have these partners for the rest of the semester." Mr. Kepler's eyes scan the room. "Elyse, Jordan — you two will work together." My stomach drops. Jordan grins like he just won the lottery.Oh no. No, no, no.
I stand up, "Oh, Mr. Kepler, you don't understand-" I'm cut off by his brisk voice.
"My decision is final Miss Gates, you two need to learn to work together." He sits down at his desk completely unaware that he just personally guaranteed the total destruction of my GPA—and my sanity.