Exploiting Realities

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO - THE WORST DAY EVER

"Ah, Riley," he said in remembrance. "I remember her. She was a good student. She always payed attention."

The class laughed and I grinned back at him. His goal was probably to embarrass me, but that seldom happened. "Yeah, all of the teachers want me to be more like her. just wait till you get my little brother. Then you'll be wanting me back."

Pods laughed. "We'll see then, won't we?"

"We'll see."

"Let's get back to history then, shall we?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The remainder of the school day dragged on, and I was extremely relieved once the bell rang telling me that I could finally leave. I grabbed my homework and my coat out of my locker and walked outside where the frigid air hit me like a ton of bricks. I flung my coat on as fast as possible and pulled on a hat and scarf. It wasn't even winter yet...why was it this cold?

I met McKinzie by the big oak tree like I had done every day since we had started dating. She lived on the entire other side of town so we didn't walk home together, but we still made a conscious effort to see each other before taking off each day. Though she was as bundled up as I was, her cheeks were outstandingly rosy from the bitter air.

"You warm enough?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "I'll manage," she said, teeth chattering.

I laughed and gave her my scarf. "Here," I told her, "you need this more than I do."

"Aw, but I don't want you to get cold," she argued, but took the scarf anyway.

"I'll be fine," I laughed. "Be careful on the ice walking home, you hear?" She nodded. I leaned in and kissed her frozen cheek. "See you tomorrow, Kinz."

"Bye Al," she said, walking away.

I started off towards my house, trying my hardest not to slip on the ice that covered the majority of the sidewalk. I was about halfway there and focusing on where I stepped when a snowball smacked me in the back of the neck. Damn, I wished I had that scarf.

"Hey Bovino," a cold voice followed it. I swung around and saw Dillon facing me, not looking pleased.

My mind flashed back to the conversation that I had had with Lorelai a few nights ago. Surprisingly, I actually wanted to see Dillon today.

"What do you want, Harvey?" I snarled.

"You stay the hell away from Aria," he commanded, taking a step closer to me.

I scoffed. "I think we both know that that's not going to happen."

"But it is going to happen," he said matter-of-factly.

"Oh yeah?" I said, holding my ground. "And what if it doesn't? You don't have the slightest bit of control over me."