Chapter 5 PARTNERS IN CHAOS.
1114 Words
"You're frowning at your cereal."
I had spent the previous night tossing and tumbling that i forgot to sleep and by morning, my head burned so much. I looked up and Mom was standing by the coffee machine.
"You say that like it's unusual."
"It is."
"No, it isn't."
I pushed my spoon around the bowl and she studied me for a moment the way mothers do when they know something is wrong but aren't sure how hard they should push to avoid being shut out completely.
"Bad day?"
"It's seven in the morning." I said amused.
"So yes."
I sighed.
"Fine…Something like that."
She nodded slowly and said nothing. Just letting me have space and I appreciated that more than I could explain.
School was school again. At this point I was beginning to suspect that was Ashbourne Academy's specialty. Everyone still treated me like an outcast amd the video from orientation had already reached over fifty thousand views. Fifty thousand. For what? Such a public emotional breakdown, exactly the legacy I'd always dreamed of.
I was halfway to my locker when Sophie appeared beside me looking all squirmish. I was totally convinced she appeared out of thin air.
"You look awful."
"Good morning to you too."
She grinned.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I know."
I rolled my eyes and she linked her arm through mine anyway.
"We have English first."
"I know where my classes are."
"I wasn't helping."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because you look like you're about to commit a crime."
I paused and stared at her and we surged further.
–––––
English started normally which was great but it should have been my first warning because nothing in my life was normal anymore. The teacher, Mrs. Hartwell, spent ten minutes discussing the semester project–Research. Presentations. Partner work.
Then she smiled. The kind teachers smile right before ruining lives.
"As part of this semester's curriculum, you'll be completing a partner project."
She paused briefly, scanning the room. A collective groan filled the room, mine included but Mrs. Hartwell ignored us.
"To encourage teamwork, partners have already been selected."
More groans erupted and Sophie actually hissed. I respected that…rebellion.
"Partners," Mrs. Hartwell continued, "will remain together for the entire semester."
The room somehow groaned louder this time and I already knew that this was definitely going to be terrible. Mrs. Hartwell began reading names. Students were paired, friends celebrated and enemies complained.
Normal classroom behavior. Then—
"Isla White."
My heart dropped, beating so fast that I could hear my heartbeat loud and clear. Please no!! I said like that was supposed to stop the tornado that was approaching.
"Mason Ryder."
The room exploded, like it actually exploded. Gasps, laughter, whispers followed. I was red in anger.
“This can't be happening.”
Across the room, Mason looked just as horrified as I felt.
“Well, that was something.” I muttered under my breath. The feeling was definitely mutual. Mrs. Hartwell glanced up.
"Problem?"
Yes, about six hundred problems. I raised my hand immediately.
"Yes, Isla?"
"I'd like a new partner."
Several students laughed but Mrs. Hartwell's face didn't flinch.
"Why?"
Well for starters, he ruined my life and I hated him and this was clearly a personal attack but Instead I gave a diplomatic answer,
"We don't work well together."
Mrs. Hartwell smiled.
"Perfect."
I blinked. "What?"
"The purpose of partnership is growth."
I stared at her. She wasn't joking, at least her face didn't say she was. This woman definitely enjoyed my suffering because there was no other explanation to what she just did.
"Mrs. Hartwell—"
"No."
The answer came instantly before I even finished speaking and the class laughed. Mrs. Hartwell continued.
"The partners are final."
Yupp… my fate was sealed.
The bell rang twenty minutes later and students gathered their things. Conversations continued like tuey were lurking, pleading to be freed. Most of them about me. I was slowly getting used to it.
I shoved my notebook into my backpack and then stood up. Biggest mistake because the second I turned around— Mason was there, close enough to make my pulse misbehave and to remind me exactly why I hated this project. For a second, we just stared and then he rubbed the back of his neck. A nervous habit that I still remembered, unfortunately.
"Looks like we're partners."
I stared angrily.
"Your powers of observation are
incredible."
His mouth twitched and I rolled my eyes. I really wished he'd stop doing that, it made him harder to hate.
"Isla—"
"No."
His expression tightened.
"We have to do the project."
"We absolutely do not."
"We literally do, it's half our grade.”
He was right,we had to. At that point, I needed the extra grades to boost my credit for college. Mason exhaled slowly and then said something unexpected.
"I'll make it easy."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means we don't have to pretend we're friends."
And that was honest.
"We finish the project," His voice remained steady and calm. "That's it."
"Fine."
A small part of me relaxed and relief flashed across his face almost immediately.
"We can meet tomorrow after school."
I nodded once. "Fine."
"Library?"
"Fine."
"Four o'clock?"
"You're pushing your luck." I rolled my eyes.
He smiled briefly and then he walked away and I waited until he disappeared around the corner before moving. The hallway outside English was packed. Students moved around in packs, chatting loudly about assignments, hockey, parties, and apparently everything except minding their own business. Sophie finally caught up with me.
"You look grumpy."
"I am grumpy." I scoffed.
"Project-related grumpy?"
"Very project-related grumpy."
She laughed.
"I could fake my death."
"That's a lot of effort for homework."
"Not if it's convincing."
Ughhhh….. I adjusted my grip on my backpack and started moving toward the staircase and then, a shoulder slammed into mine. Very hard that my balance disappeared on me instantly. The edge of the staircase caught my foot and suddenly— I was falling.
Everything happened way too fast. One second I was standing and the next I was bending forward violently. A gasp escaped my throat and my heart jumped into my mouth. I shut my eyes tightly, waiting for the worst to happen.
Just then, a strong hand grabbed my arm and immediately another arm wrapped around my waist and the fall stopped. Just like that. The entire world seemed to freeze for one impossible second. I wasn't moving and I wasn't falling either. I was suspended somewhere between fear and relief.
And Mason Ryder was holding me.
- Writer
