Despicable Arrogance

Chapter 4

“You work with him?” Lola’s eyes were wide. She brushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear as she leaned forward. She licked the remaining pasta off of her lips as she listened to my words.

“Yeah, and he’s terrible. I hate him so much,” I explained as I cracked my knuckles.

Sandra shrugged as she looked over my shoulder. “Yeah, but he and his friends are hot.”

I looked out the window to see him and his teammates playing football. They had a game this Friday, just like every Friday, and like usual- he and his teammates are incessantly practicing. I think it’s just because they want to show off to the girls who stare out the windows rather than eat lunch.

I moved my food away from me and Lola was quick to pick up my untouched sandwich and start to eat it. I wanted to vomit. I stared at my two friends, shaking my head. They were in a trance as they stared over my shoulders, their mouths slightly agape and their eyes opened fully, unblinking, afraid they’ll miss something.

“You guys are almost as annoying as they are,” I snapped. The two girls looked at each other but didn’t say anything. “You know, there are other ways to find entertainment during lunch- you know, like, talking to your best friend of 7 years!”

“Sorry, Kyle is just so cute,” Lola excused as she chewed with her mouth open. I wrinkled my nose. Kyle was Grayson’s equally annoying and arrogant best friend, or at least I'm assuming so.

“Kyle is nothing when compared to Carson,” the girls argued about the brothers who, in my opinion, are too arrogant to see past it. I know they’re handsome but it’s hard to notice that while they’re winking at girls and making out with random girls whenever they get a chance.

Instead of staying and listening to their bickering, I got up and grabbed my bag. I exited the cafeteria with steam coming out of my ears. I may seem like a… to put it simply, a jerk, but I’m not. It’s just exasperating to have your best friends obsess about the guys who technically rule the school.

My school isn’t the least bit cliché, sure there are cliques but none of them exclude people. I like to think of my peers as accepting individuals. But even though they’re accepting doesn’t mean they don’t have favorites. Most of the student body's favorite people are the football players, maybe it’s because they led the team to victory for the past four years at the championships.

It’s not like every single player on the team is attractive, that’s highly improbable, but most of them are. The ones that are attractive are jerks and users; my stomach churns just thinking about it. I kicked the trash can out of anger. It’s like everyone is under a trance that Grayson and his friends have caused.

Maybe I underestimate the female population at Rodencia Academy, but it seems as if most of them are in love with a player on the team. I, myself, had a crush on a player of the team. No, it’s not Grayson if that’s what you’re assuming. I honestly can’t see how you would, though, I constantly complain about his presence. But no, his name is Shane.

I liked Shane a lot in sophomore year and junior year. I got over him in the summer, though, when I realized that I had no chance with him. Of course I still think he’s cute and I get butterflies when he looks at me; it’s just that I know I have no chance with the guy- so why think about him all the time?

Instead of focusing on guys, I focus on schoolwork. Most of the seniors are ‘giving up’ and focusing on partying and having fun with their friends because it’s their last year together but Lola, Sandra, and I have a plan already. We all have similar interests so we are all applying to the same colleges. If we get accepted into different ones, then we’re not going to live on campus unless we absolutely have to. Hopefully, the plan pulls through. If their parents don’t interfere then we should be alright.

I aimlessly walked around until I heard the bell; I looked up and saw that I was beside my classroom. I unknowingly made my way to the third floor. I entered the classroom to see a substitute teacher. In Rodencia Academy, a substitute teacher means that there will be no work. We’ll get our work emailed to us by the teacher. We have the option to: Go to a class where we need extra help, go to our school’s library, or stay in the classroom and do the work that the teacher emailed us on the computer. If you choose the first two, you’re to do the work at home.

The substitute read out the options, as stated recently, and allowed us to choose for ourselves as he sat at his desk and started on his new book. I got up and walked towards the door, prepared to go to the library when I noticed that everybody else was seated at their desks with their computers on their tables. The majority of the classroom was filled with nerds. That’s what I get for taking Forensic Science.

I sighed and exited the classroom, closing the door behind me. Hopefully no administrators are out roaming because I’d be dead if I get caught without a pass. I noticed other students in the hallway, most likely skipping class. I tightened my grip on my bag as I walked in the direction of the library.

“Ooh! Someone is skipping class,” I turned around to see Grayson standing there, casually leaning against the wall. I glared at him.

“I’m not skipping. If anyone is skipping, it's you,” I snapped before hastily trying to walk away. He skipped AP English Literature and Composition this morning; I was very thankful. He just followed me, his long legs walking slower than mine but he managed to keep up.

“Actually, I have a free period. And if you aren’t skipping, where’s your pass?” he mocked.

“What are you? The hall monitor?” I scoffed as I walked down the steps. I kept my hand on the railing in fear of falling but Grayson, no, he was too cool for that. He was walking down the middle of the steps with his hands in his pockets.

He laughed. “No, I’m just bored.”

“Be bored around somebody else; I’m going to the library. I bet you didn’t know our school had one of those,” I retorted.

I felt him glaring at the side of my head. “Actually, I did know we have a library. I just don’t spend every waking minute of my life around books.”

I glared at him before replying. “Books are better than idiots.”

“What are you trying to say?” he retorted.

“Sorry, forgot to dumb it down. You- i***t, books- better,” I barked and he glowered at me, eyes narrowed.

“I’m not stupid," he snapped, stopping.

“You sure act like it,” I called as I exited the stairwell.