Play With Fire
944 Words
Katie“So, I didn’t find any issues with your part,” I say as I hand Colin back his USB at his locker. “And I put my updated part on there as well and combined it all.”
Colin takes the USB and puts it in his locker. "Thanks, Katie. I'm sorry again."
“I forgave you, Colin,” I say.
“I know. I just…I guess I assumed that you were probably annoyed that you have to work with me, and I thought I could just make it easier if I just did everything,” Colin says.
“Why wouldn’t I want to work with you?” I ask.
“Come on, Katie,” Colin says. “You are this beautiful hotshot hockey star that has all these guys lining up for her. And you are in Grade 12. I’m just this Grade 11 science nerd that is trying to get high school done as fast as possible.”
“That’s why you’re taking all these Grade 12 courses,” I say. He nods. “Doesn’t explain you being so rude to me.”
“I know,” Colin says. “I looped you in with the rest of the jocks and how they act, it wasn’t fair of me.”
“Well,” I say, “now that you have learned your lesson, I guess we can be friends.”
“Really? Friends with Katie Ryder?” Colin says in mock surprise. “This is such an honour!”
“Shut up.” I slap him on the arm.
“What book were you reading the other day when I came over?” Colin asks.
“What?”
“I saw a book on the table,” Colin says, “I assume it was yours.”
“Dunstan,” I say, “by Conn Iggulden. He’s my favourite author.”
“Don’t know him.”
“Historical fiction,” I say.
“That’s why,” Colin says.
“What do you read?” I ask.
“I like sci-fi and mystery mostly,” Colin says.
“I hate sci-fi,” I say.
“What?!”
“What?”
“You can’t just…hate sci-fi,” Colin says, clearly offended. “You just haven’t read the right book.”
"Fine," I say, "You give me your best sci-fi and I'll give you my best historical fiction, and then we can talk after."
“Deal.” Colin holds out his hand and I shake it.
“Lookin’ good, hockey captain!” a guy calls out as a group of them walk by and one of them whistles.
“Ignore them,” I say.
“Told you they’re lining up for you,” Colin says. “What’s going to happen when they see you talking with me?”
“Charity case?” I shrug my shoulders and then smile at him.
“Funny,” Colin says and shuts his locker. “I’ll see you in class.” And then he walks away.
After breaking away the annoying, arrogant shield Colin keeps around himself, he’s actually a nice guy.
I go to my locker but see that it is currently blocked by a hockey player. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Thought you might miss me,” Jared says and grins at me. He has messy brown hair and blue eyes, and his hockey player body attracts a lot of girls.
“I need to get to my locker,” I say.
“What are you doing this Saturday night?” Jared asks.
“Hockey game,” I say.
“Which is right before ours,” Jared says. “You’re free after that.”
“Jared, can you please just…” I start.
“We’re having a party at one of the guys’ place after. Come. Bring the girls on your team. It’ll be fun,” Jared says.
“’It’ll be fun’ he said,” I mimic Jared’s voice.
“Come on, Katie,” Jared says. “You know the girls will want to. And I know that you want to as well.”
“If I say yes, will you move away from my locker?” I ask. Jared nods. “Then yes, I’ll be there, and I’ll bring all the girls so they can fall all over your guys.”
“Katie.”
"It's not a party unless we're there, right?" I ask. "Just a bunch of dudes getting drunk isn't nearly as fun."
“I’ll see you at the rink,” Jared says and walks away, but then turns back around. “Why were you talking to that Grade 11 kid?”
“Colin? He’s my lab partner,” I say.
“Looks like he wants to be more than lab partners,” Jared says.
“We’re just friends,” I say.
“Maybe to you. Make sure he doesn’t start getting the wrong impression,” Jared says.
“Please leave,” I say.
“Fine,” Jared says, walking away, but then calls over his shoulder, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
“What was that about?” Liam asks as he comes up behind me.
“Just the hockey guys being hockey guys,” I say.
- Writer
