3-Only Miss Brooks, and No One Else
1235 Words
Who knew Jace Ryder, the boy everyone admired, lived a dual life? Living as a high schooler during the day and an underground street racer at night.
Last night was still fresh in my mind. Jace was in a leather jacket and a pair of dark pants. His dark hair was dishevelled from the harsh impact, and blood was rolling down his head from the accident.
While I had stopped to help the stranger, seeing him on the road, glaring at me with abhorrence, I did what no one would have done after seeing their classmate injured on the road.
I ran away.
“Brooks!”
I choked on the water I was drinking when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I was silently eating my lunch in the corner of the cafeteria when the storm, deadlier than last night, hit me— Jace Ryder.
God, please, why me always?
Swallowing down the nervousness and forcing a smile on my face, I looked up at him, pretending like last night I didn’t even recognize him.
“Oh, hey, Jace. It’s just one in the afternoon. The interview’s scheduled at four in the evening. Don’t worry, I’ll get to the hockey rink on time—” I was very rudely interrupted by him when he placed his hands on my table, leaning closer to me.
I gulped at the lack of space between us.
“Come with me.” He said, looking straight in my eyes.
His brown eyes were dangerously looking at me, promising me consequences of an accident that wasn’t even my fault.
When I shook my head in response, almost petrified, he mimicked my actions by shaking his head. As if he was mocking me.
“Trust me, Brooks, you don’t wish to create a scene here. Come with me. Now.” He said, and without waiting for my answer, he took the fork from my hand, placed it down on my lunchbox, and held my wrist.
“Hey, I wasn’t done eating!” I protested in annoyance. I had barely eaten this morning, and now he wasn’t letting me eat my lunch in peace.
“You can eat later on.” He said dismissively, making me glare at him.
“Who the f**k do you think you are—” I trailed off when he pushed open the door of the journalism room and pressed me against the wall, making my breath hitch.
“What you witnessed last night—” He started speaking, and I shook my head almost immediately.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said quickly. Way too quickly. And he scoffed, not believing me in the slightest.
“Do not interrupt me again, Brooks. And what you witnessed last night, you’ll never mention it to anyone. Do you hear me? You’ll forget what you saw yesterday, and if even a single word goes out, you’d regret your presence in Oakridge High badly.” He said, his eyes dark and scary, making my lips dry.
“Are you, by chance, threatening me?” I asked him, and I saw his lips twitching slightly.
Great going, Selene.
“Oh, I am doing more than just threatening you.” He said, pulling away from me.
It was only when he pulled away from me that I realized I wasn’t breathing the entire time he invaded my personal space. Licking my dry lips to provide them some kind of hydration, I looked at him, who had turned his back to me, leaving the classroom, like he hadn’t just threatened me.
“And see you at four in the hockey rink, Brooks. Make sure to be on time. I hate tardiness.” He said without once looking back, making me clench my teeth.
Oh, f**k you, Jace Ryder. I am not going to interview an ass like you.
***
“You want to quit being the school journalist?” Mrs. Carter asked me, uncrossing her legs as she stared at me with her pointed eyes.
“Yes,” I said, determined and unwavering, and she shook her head at me.
“You can’t.” She said, going back to marking the essays, making me look at her incredulously.
“But why?” I asked her, my voice sharp for the first time, and she looked at me disapprovingly.
“Exactly, Miss Brooks. Why? I can’t have the only school journalist quit being one without a proper reason.” She said, making me despise the woman even more.
“The reason’s a little personal, Mrs. Carter. And really significant, for that matter.” I said, trying my best to sound low and desperate, and she shook her head once again.
“There’s nothing personal in professionalism, Miss Brooks. You want to pursue journalism in college. And I hope you remember that school journalism adds in your application.” She said, and I closed my eyes in frustration.
“I’d manage just fine without being a school journalist too, Mrs. Carter. Please understand the severity of the situation. I can’t continue being the school journalist.” I said stubbornly, and she let out a sigh, placing her glasses on the table.
“Is it because you’re being called Hallway Hawk?” She asked me, and my cheeks burned red.
How the heck did the pathetic name reach her ears?
“That’s one of the other reasons. Yes.”
“Okay, you can quit being the school journalist once you have submitted me Jace Ryder’s biography.” She said, and I immediately shook my head.
“I am not going to write anything on him, Mrs. Carter,” I said, my voice carrying a subtle indignation.
“So, your reason to quit being the school journalist is Ryder, huh?” She asked me, and my eyes widened for a split second.
My expression must have given me away because the next thing I heard was a chuckle out of the poker-faced lady as she picked up her phone and typed something on it.
“I said the reason’s personal, Mrs. Carter. Jace Ryder has nothing to do with it.” I said, clenching my jaw, and she shook her head.
“How poetic, Miss Brooks. You came to me to resign from the position of the school journalist, and Mr. Ryder came to me this morning, promising me greater co-operation for the success of the upcoming school magazine.” She said, making me hold the hem of my sweater tightly.
Oh, did he?
And not even a minute later, the door of her office opened, and Jace walked inside, making my eyes widen like those of a kid caught stealing from the cookie jar.
“You called me, Mrs. Carter?” He asked her, flashing me a predatory smile, making me close my eyes tiredly.
God, why?
“Oh, yes, I did. Miss Brooks here wishes to stop interviewing you. Your personal vendetta shouldn’t hamper the school journalism. Please sort this out and start the interview from today itself.” Mrs. Carter said, and Jace’s eyes turned towards me.
His lips lifted in a dark smile as he looked at me.
“Of course not, Mrs. Carter. If I were to be interviewed, it would only be by Miss Brooks, and no one else.”
- Writer
