CHAPTER 2: DON’T SIT NEXT TO ME
414 Words
The library was super quiet, the kind of silence that makes your ears feel weird. I was just sitting there, leaning over my notebook. I was trying to look like I was working so I wouldn't keep looking at the clock.
Then, Derek finally showed up.
He didn’t even try to be quiet. He just slammed his bag onto the table. It was so loud it basically told everyone in the library that he was there. I’m pretty sure every single person in the room looked up at us.
"I didn't exactly want to be partners, you know," he mumbled. Typical Derek.
I didn't even look at him. "Good," I said. I flipped a page in my book just to keep my hands busy. "I didn't ask for this either."
He let out a short, mean laugh. It wasn't a nice sound; it was like he couldn't believe I was talking back to him. He leaned over the table, getting way too close to me. "You’ve got a lot of nerve," he said. "You look like you’re afraid of your own shadow."
I finally looked at him then. Straight on. "And you look pretty expensive for someone who seems completely useless."
The whole room went dead silent. A few kids at the next table stopped talking right in the middle of a sentence just to watch the fight. Derek leaned back, and his eyes got small and scary. "Watch it, Amara," he said. "You should be careful how you talk to me."
I didn't blink. I started shoving my books into my bag as fast as I could. "Or what?" I asked.
He didn't say anything at first. He just sat there staring at me for a long time. It felt heavy and weird. Then he leaned in and whispered, "You’ll find out."
I got total goosebumps, but I wasn't about to let him see that he’d creeped me out. I stood up, told him I was finished for the day, and headed for the door. I was almost at the door when he spoke again. He was being really quiet, but it still caught me off guard.
"This project isn't the only reason we met, Amara."
I just froze. I turned around, and I could seriously feel my heart racing. "Um, what does that mean?"
But Derek was just messing with his backpack, acting like he hadn't said a word.
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