KATIE MILLER
“CLASS!” Mr. Hill’s fist came down the table hard, instantly silencing the blabbering mouths of the students in his Trigonometry class, the last one for the day.
He stared at us for a little while before finally announcing, “I just finished checking yesterday’s pop quiz.”
The students groaned loudly. I had to groan along with them. That pop quiz was freaking hard! Well sure I managed to remember all the formulas, but that doesn’t really promise a good score.
“Quiet!” Mr. Hill’s gray mustache twitched. He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses and rustled the wad of papers in his hands. “If these test scores are a reflection of your finals next week,” His voice boomed against the four walls of the classroom. “I’m sorry to say that you may not make it to College.”
More groaning. Louder this time. As seniors, we were expected to give our best for the last stretch. After all, we only have a few months to go in this place.
Mr. Hill started distributing the papers while roving on and on about how education is important and how students valued it during his time. I really didn’t care about what the kids of the seventies valued. I just wanted to know my score.
The old man hands me my test paper. “Well done, Ms. Miller.” I didn’t know whether he was congratulating me or mocking me. With that ever-present sarcasm in his tone, it was hard to tell.
I let out a gush of air and peered at my test paper.
Holy smokes. I got ninety-one out of a hundred. NINETY-ONE. Out of ONE HUNDRED.
For the first time in a very long time, I couldn’t help but feel real proud. So proud I felt like bursting into tears. Seriously. This was probably the first good score I got this year.
Take that, Jack. Look who’s smart now. Ha!
“Given the unacceptable grades you turned in, it seems like we have a lot of work to do if you want to pass your Trig finals.” He ogled at us with arms crossed. “I will be giving each of you a review quiz which you will pass later today. In order to prevent this kind of disaster again, I will be assigning you a study partner.”
Sigh. Great. Now I have to interact with someone in my class. I guess I could take that. As long as I won’t be doing all the work.
Our teacher started reciting the names of the partners. I tuned him out. Instead, I continued to stare at my paper unbelievably.
He was still calling out names. I wasn’t really paying attention, but it’s like my ears perked up when he mentioned my name.
“Miller and Moore.”
Wait, WHAT?
My blood ran cold and I froze in horror. I swear I nearly snapped my pencil in half.
No. This just cannot be. I cannot work with her. I don’t want to work with Cameron Moore. Why would I help the girl who took my boyfriend away from me?
Mr. Hill finished assigning all the partners and still I’m frozen. He looked at his wristwatch. “Alright.” He passed sheets of paper around the room. “Now scurry on to the library and pass me the quiz immediately.”
People started meeting with their partners and disappearing to the hall.
I was left dumbfounded on my seat. I couldn’t move my legs.
“Um,” came a sickly-sweet voice in front of me. “Hello? Are we going or what?”
I really wanted to just go home early and let her do everything. But I couldn’t do that. To her, maybe. But to me, it would kill my grade.
I got up, completely ignoring her, and just stalked out of the room with her following behind me. I know, cause I could hear the little clak clak clak of her wedges.
She caught up with me, so we just continued to walk in silent towards the library. I could feel hate waves emanating into the space between us. It would be very obvious to anyone that we were not too fond of each other.
But then, this is a very important quiz. And I can’t let my hatred of her get in the way of getting a good grade. Plus, I really shouldn’t let her affect me just because he’s dating Jack. I guess that’s also one of the things that I have to work on.
I opened the double doors of the library and proceeded to a table way back. Before sitting down, I turned to Cammie hesitantly and said, “Look, we should really be civil about of all of this if we want it to work.”
“I agree, Katie.” She replied in a smug tone. She sauntered over to the chair and sat down gracefully. “Now, get started on the test and tell me when you’re finished so I can write it down.”
“Excuse me?” I asked her. I went to sit in front of her—there is no way that I am going to sit beside her and smell like strawberry and peaches forever—and gawked at her.
“I said, get started on the test.” She commanded, completely unbothered.
“Um, there’s a reason why Mr. Hill made us partners…so you could help me.” Why do I have to do all the work? Who does she think she is? I mean, just because she’s pretty and popular doesn’t mean she can boss me around just like that.
“I will.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be writing the answers.”
“Look, there’s two pages,” I said as calmly as I could even though I was so close to pulling her hair out and dragging her around on the floor. “I’ll do the first one, and you do the second.” I detached the staple and handed her the second page—which had only had half the number of items on the first.
Cammie stared at the paper and then at me all viciously, looking like she wasn’t going to do it.
“Now!” I half-screamed. Such a nasty little brat. She snatched the paper from me.
I began working on the test for the next half-hour. It was all about logarithms. It wasn’t very complicated as long as you had a calculator. I was actually enjoying myself. I’ve always found Math on the average scale when it came to the difficulty. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t that hard either. I know that sounded really nerdy, but I guess I kind of am a nerd. Although not as big as a nerd Ryan is.
“I’m done. How are you doing?” I peeked over at Cammie’s paper.
She hasn’t gotten one answer yet.
“Cammie!” I was already panicking. We only had about fifteen minutes left and over ten items to go! “Why haven’t you answered anything yet?”
“Shut up.” She said, not looking up from her paper. “I’m trying to figure out what the log of thirty-two is.”
“You were supposed to use a calculator!” I was on the verge of breaking down. How can she be so stupid?
She stared at me innocently before she grabbed the calculator. “Of course. I knew that.”
Cammie examined the calculator, her pointing finger posed in the air. “How do you use this again?”
“Oh my God.” I threw my hands in the air. This girl was hopeless. “How are you in the twelfth grade right now? Seriously.”
“Why don’t you do it then? If you’re such a smarty pants” She snapped back at me. She turned away with her arms crossed on her chest.
“What other choice do I have?” I muttered under my breath. I grabbed the paper angrily and began to work on the numbers as fast as I can while Cammie toyed with her cellphone. “Knows how to use a cellphone but not a calculator. Tell me why I’m not surprised.”
“I can hear you.” Cammie said in a sarcastic singing tone.
“You were supposed to.” I said in the same tone, not looking up from the paper.
I was down to the last two items when Cammie stood up.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked her angrily.
She turned around to face me and said, “I’m just gonna go meet up with Karen over at the fiction section.”
“You can’t just leave me here!” I complained.
She lowered down and stared me in the face. “Watch me.” Then she turned around—hair flying and everything—then walked away, her skirt bouncing with every step she takes.
First she lets me do all the work, and now she’s going off for gossip hour with someone. Seriously. Who even does that?
It was really mind-boggling how someone as nice as Ryan can put up with a girl like her. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. That guy cannot see one wrong thing about Cammie. He’s too enthralled by her that he lets everything she’s doing pass. I really hope that one day he would see how wretched her personality really is.
I held the two sheets of paper closer and reviewed my answers. I considered erasing Cammie’s name off the paper. But that would be too Cammie-like. And I sure as hell don’t want to be anything like her.
It was at that moment that I suddenly saw Jack walk into the library. His head was swiveling from left to right as he walked, as if he was looking for something or someone.
For a second I had hoped that he was looking for me. But that would be impossible.
As he got nearer to where I was sitting, I considered making a run for it.
No. That would be too cowardly. I wouldn’t want to run away again like I did yesterday at the parking lot.
Our eyes met and I quickly looked away. I didn’t know if he saw me or not. He hesitated, but he walked nearer towards me.
“Hey.” It sounded forced.
My heart stopped beating. I took a big breath and lifted my head. He was standing a few feet away from me.
“Hi.” This was probably the first time we ever talked after the, you know.
He scratched the back of his head. I could tell that he was just pushing himself to make small talk.
He stood there and I sat here for quite a moment. I played with my pencil, making scribbles and lines on the back of the paper.
“So have you seen Cammie somewhere?” He asked, shaking his head immediately as if he regretted it.
Of course. How could I be so stupid to think that he wanted to see me? “She’s in the fiction section.”
He took his hands out of his pockets. “Great.” Then he walked off and left me there, just like before.
He didn’t even thank me.
RYAN MITCHELL
“What about that girl?” Will pointed towards a girl with curly dark hair and brown boots.
I heaved a big sigh. “Why are we doing this again?” We were hanging out on one of the benches inside the mall after school. Dan and Will decided to play wingman for today because they wanted me to meet a new girl. I guess it would be weird for a couple of guys to be sitting in front of a Forever 21 store, but they claim that it’s easier to find girls in here than anywhere else.
“Come on,” Will prompted me even though I was about to run out of here. “What do you think of boots girl?”
“I guess she’s okay.” I finally answered.
Dan smacked me in the head with his hand. “Dude, you’ve been saying that for every girl we’ve pointed.”
“Don’t you think it’s still early to start dating again?” I asked. I appreciated what they were doing. But I just felt that the wounds should heal first before I could take another try. “It’s only been three months.”
Will got a hold of my shoulders and stared at me. “Ryan, it’s been three months. You have got to start a new life, buddy.” Then he hit me lightly with his fist.
“I know, okay?” I replied. “And stop with the hitting!” I whacked each of them in the arm.
“That is to shake you out of that depressed mood you’re in!” Dan was about to take another hit at me but I quickly stood up and got out of the way just in time. Unfortunately, I collided with someone from behind in the process.
“I am so sorry!” I apologized quickly. A girl around my age was on the floor along with a dainty hand bag and couple of paper bags around her. I recognized her immediately—Dan had already nicknamed her Goldilocks because of her curly red-blonde hair and the bear on her sweater.
“I’m sorry.” She was staring at me without any emotion I could recognize on her face. “I didn’t mean to knock you down.” I held up a hand and helped her up.
“It’s alright.” She smoothed the back of her skirt. I crouched down and gathered her stuff. “Oh, you don’t need to do that.”
“Too late.” I handed her things back to her.
“Thanks.” She took them from my hands and began to walk away.
“Hey! His name’s Ryan, by the way!” Dan called out at the top of his lungs.
The girl turned around with an amused smile on her face as she walked farther away.
“Why didn’t you ask her name?” Will asked me in disbelief.
“Or her number?” Dan asked in the same tone.
“I told you.” I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. “I’m not ready yet.” Plus, I left my phone at home, so there was no use getting her number now. I started to walk.
“But when are you going to be ready?” Will cut in front of me, which made me stop walking.
“I really don’t know.” I replied honestly. It’s not just because I’m not ready. I just didn’t want to meet the girl because I was looking for her. I wanted to meet the right one because I was in the right place at the right time. And now doesn’t seem to be the right time. Nor is the right place here.
“I guess we’ll just have to try again next time, Will.” Dan said as we continued to walk.
“Yeah,” I laughed. “Just keep trying. Maybe one day you’re going to give up.”
* * * *
That night, I turned on the computer and grabbed my forgotten phone by my nightstand. It had six text messages from Katie.
1. 911 library asap! p.s. ur ex-gf is such a pain
2. ryaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!
3. save me. pleaaaaaaseeeeee
4. y. r. u. not. answering.
5. hello? ur fone dead or wat
6. wer r u?
Her texts seemed very alarming and desperate. I felt guilty for having left my phone at home. I tend to do that a lot. See, I’m not really that into texting anymore. I say “anymore”, because the only time I’ve constantly used my phone to text was when I was still dating Cammie.
I decided to just IM Katie. It was easier and faster.
rynstein: I got your texts. I left my phone at home. What happened?
k8ie_m: u left ur fone again?
Rynstein: I’m sorry okay. What happened?
k8ie_m: y do u even own a fone if u dn’t brng it 2 skool?
rynstein: Could you just tell me why you sent me 6 text messages with 1 minute interval?
k8ie_m: bcos, i got partnered w/ cammie then jack came along & it ws vry awkwrd esp wen cammie wnt 2 get her stuff & ws lyk, “omygod, isn’t it wrd that u 2 usd 2 d8?” & jack ws jus lyk, “totally” & i ws txting u d whole tym to come ftch me so dat I wldn’t luk like a pathetic single person—
rynstein: But you are a pathetic single person.
k8ie_m: LEMME FINISH. so i figured dat mybe if jack saw me w/ a guy (even if d guy is you) he wldn’t think dat but then YOU dn’t hav ur fone so i had 2 luk evn mor pathetic. i had 2 run out of der
rynstein: You ran. Again?
k8ie_m: not running is not as ec as it sounds
rynstein: How was Cammie?
k8ie_m: u rly care mor abt her than my ncounter wid jack?
rynstein: I do care about your encounter with Jack…
k8ie_m: orly?
rynstein: Of course…so how was she?
k8ie_m: fine. since u askd. SHE’S D WORST.
rynstein: You’re overreacting.
k8ie_m: she let me do all d work, she dsn’t knw hw 2 use a calq, she left me 2 do EVERYTHING 2 gossip w/ her bff, AND she took all d credit 4 all d wrk i did
rynstein: Oh come on. She wasn’t like that.
k8ie_m: i hav witnesses
rynstein: I reckon you do.
k8ie_m: so dat ws my aftrnun. hw ws urs? & wer did u disappear 2? (I tryd luking 4 u in d prking lot)
rynstein: Dan and Will dragged me to go girl hunting at the mall.
k8ie_m: ooooh. fnd anyone u lyk?
rynstein: No. But I did bump into a girl who looked like Goldilocks.
k8ie_m: was she pretty?
rynstein: Yeah. But I don’t really go for blondes.
k8ie_m: excuse me? (blondie ovr hir, in case uve 4gotten)
rynstein: It’s just, I’m already blonde (kind of) and if I end up with a blonde girl, our family will be like the Brady Bunch.
k8ie_m: d boys in d brady bunch r brunettes
rynstein: You get the point. And blondes aren’t usually my type.
k8ie_m: oh? & wat is ur type? conceited & full of hrself all d tym?
rynstein: Um, those two mean the same.
k8ie_m: I knw. 1 wrd isn’t enough 2 dscribe hw vain cammie is.
rynstein: Oh, you’re too smart.
k8ie_m: y thank u!
rynstein: I was being sarcastic. It’s hard to convey sarcasm through IM.
k8ie_m: ur ryt. it’s so hard (sarcastic)
rynstein: And you’re so smart (even more sarcastic)
k8ie_m: cn’t u think of a btter comeback dan dat? *hits u in d arm*
rynstein: *dodges just in time* Missed me. :P
k8ie_m: *ninja kicks u & sends u flying in2 d air*
rynstein: *defies gravity and does a triple flip in the air while shooting you with my freeze ray*
k8ie_m: *runs away while ddging ur freeze ray*
rysntein: *chases after you*
k8ie_m: *flies away 300 ft up n d air*
rynstein: *catches you and puts handcuffs on you*
k8ie_m: *bites ur arm and brks out of d cuffs w/ my superpwrs*
rynstein: *chases you again Superman style *
k8ie_m: *brngs out my lyt sword *
rynstein: I think you mean light saber.
k8ie_m: fyn. *brngs out LIGHT SABER*
rynstein: *brings out my light saber and takes a plunge at your heart*
k8ie_m: *turns out fine* i hav no heart
rynstein: *follows the yellow brick road and gets you one*
k8ie_m: *fils alive 4 d first time*
rynstein: *stabs your back (literally and figuratively)*
k8ie_m: *spirals dwn w/ d sword stuck on my back*
rynstein: *follows after you*
k8ie_m: *still falling*
rynstein: *catches your fall and lays you on a bed of rocks*
k8ie_m: *grbs ur collar & makes u promise 2 honor my death*
k8ie_m: *dying*
rynstein: *screams* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
k8ie_m: cut! *rolls eyes* we hav got 2 get a lyf
rynstein: Agreed. *hi-fives you*