The Tumultuous Dana Clarke

chapter 7 • hey, partner.

Dana walked into her Economics class, her entire body tense. Students were scattered all over the room, some in pairs, others, solitary. Hushed whispers and mellow conversations were the only sounds to be heard. 

Dana made her way to a seat two rows to the back, all the while surveying the entire room. As had been the case for the past two days, Leila looked up and no expression crossed her face when the eyes met. Dana's stomach curled. 

When she had settled into her seat, she glanced at Leila whose gaze was on her platinum blonde friend. She had turned her chair to face the back, laughter spilling from her lips. 

Dana wished she should have spoken to Leila the very day they'd been paired, if only she hadn’t been talking to her friend all through to the end of the class and even as they walked out the door. So Dana decided, after the weekend. 

However, when their eyes met on Monday, Leila's were on her for barely a second before they flickered away. Dana had cringed. How was she supposed to walk up to Leila now? She was probably mad at her about Avi. Who knew what sort of treatment she would get?

"Good morning, class. Sorry I'm late... let's begin right away." Dana turned to face the front of the class as Ms. Farrah spoke. 

Dana’s eyebrows dipped as a single thought crossed her mind. Goodbye, ninety percent. 

•••••

Once the bell for the end of the day went off, Dana was out of her seat. 

She finished clearing her things and hung her bag over her back, beginning her walk to the exit. When she rounded the corner, she came to a halt, her sneakers squeaking against the tiles. 

In her usual black leather jacket and skinny jeans, Leila was leaning against a locker, her ear buds in her ears as she laughed at something on her phone. 

Just her.

No Avi and no friend. This was Dana's chance to talk to her. Maybe they'd even be able to manage some studying today. Hello again, ninety percent!

It's now or never.

Her legs were carrying her to meet Leila without a second thought. 

"Hey," Dana grinned. Leila looked up at her, her laughter ceasing. Dana felt like her brain had hibernated, it was the only reason she could give for continuing to smile like a fool.  

"S-so I was thinking we could get some work done today." 

Leila quirked an eyebrow. "What work?"

Dana frowned. "We were partnered in Econs class." Of course she'd forgotten. That's how irrelevant it was. Meanwhile, Dana had been killing herself over it. 

"Oh right," Leila yawned. "I was just out late the nights before the damned quizzes. We don't have to study or anything." 

Her eyes flitted over Dana's head. 

"But... " Dana began but Leila's eyes continued to scan the hallway. 

Dana got on her tiptoes as she spoke to get her attention. "But," she smiled when Leila looked back at her. "It won't hurt to just share notes." 

Maybe if they worked together, Leila would be too busy and then too tired to go out. Then they'd both pass. 

Dana grinned at the thought. Leila watched her for a few beats before a smile spread across her lips  

Dana's grin grew even wider. Leila was smiling at her! 

She watched as the dark haired girl tapped at her keyboard several times appearing to be sending a text. When she pulled her tall, slender frame off the lockers, she towered over Dana. 

After putting her phone in her jeans' pocket, Leila pulled out a car key from her bag and held it up. "Okay. Let’s go." 

Then she began walking to the exit, her ankle boots clicking against the floor. Dana blinked rapidly before rushing forward to match her fast pace. 

Not once did Dana have to ask anyone to move and no one shoved or bumped into her. She walked freely with no obstructions. The students hadn't parted like the Red Sea but they'd moved before Leila could even ask, some of them even jumping out of the way. 

She felt her chest swelling as yearning grew within her. If only she and Leila were real friends and not partners for a day. Tomorrow she'd be back to being tossed about. 

She followed Leila through the car park until they came to stand next to a sleek white Audi. Leila unlocked the car and slipped into the driver's seat. Dana hesitated for a moment before getting into the passenger seat. 

"Seatbelt." Leila said once she got in. 

This was too good to be true. Dana thought as she tucked in the seatbelt. She was going with Leila to her house. Dana doubted more than her three friends had been there. 

She bit down on her lip, trying to contain her huge grin. 

Her heart lurched in her chest when Leila suddenly revved the car, the guttural sound foreign to her ears. 

The girl chuckled, a light airy sound that made Dana smile. Even her laugh was beautiful. 

They were able to be out of the school building in a matter of seconds since the car was parked close to the gates. Dana watched as the speedometer needle rose from around twenty to eighty once they were on the free road, her heart beginning to pound in her chest. 

Leila abruptly turned a corner, sending Dana flying against the door, her head almost hitting the window. 

Even at that, Leila stepped on the accelerator, zooming down the boulevard. Dana felt herself beginning to lull into a state of mindlessness, bile rising in her throat. 

"Sorry," Leila smiled in her direction, her hands lax on the steering wheel. Dana's eyes bulged. 

"Please look at the road," she croaked out. 

Leila wanted to make her suffer for what she'd done to Avi. 

Minutes after the reckless turn, Leila slowed down as they entered the part of the suburbia adorned with large and lavish mansions. 

Dana began to relax when she stopped in front of the brass gates of one of the houses. The gates were opened and Leila stepped on the accelerator, again. 

Dana sank back into her seat, clutching the sides. 

At least they were in her house. It would all be over soon. 

When Leila suddenly slammed on the brakes, Dana's head went forward, banging against the dashboard. 

Leila snorted then chuckled. "I'm so sorry... Wow, you're so fragile." 

Dana rubbed at her forehead, a slight ache beginning to form around it. After opening the door and stepping out, her head spinning, Dana  leaned against the car door, focusing on inhaling and exhaling. 

"Through here." 

She craned her head around, watching Leila go to the left side of the huge Greek style home. Dana followed behind, casting a only glance at the tall white pillars and the steps leading to the front door. 

They crossed the lawn where a beach ball sat in the corner and a large trampoline in the centre. 

At the end of the lawn was a narrow white metal gate. Leila pushed it open to reveal a pool about the size of their own class room. A small stocked bar was opposite the gate, a gleaming red grill set up next to it. 

Leila shrugged off her jacket leaving only a thin, grey v neck. "Sorry about the drive by the way. I half hoped I'd put a dent in Archie's car but I didn't put you in the mix." 

Dana frowned at Leila's back when she went to the bar. Why would she want to be in an accident? 

"It's okay.” Dana sat on one of the brown woven pool chairs. 

Leila tossed her a can of coke before sipping from her own bottle of water. 

"I hope you have your books here. I can't be bothered to go upstairs," she said as she sat on the chair next to Dana's, their knees almost touching. 

"I do, actually," Dana pulled out her textbook from her bag, leaning in closer to Leila. 

Her partner bit down on her thumb, flipping through the pages. Dana twiddled her fingers as she waited for her to speak. "She pulls her questions from the keynotes. We don't need to read everything right now." 

She held her hand out, "your notebook?" 

Dana handed it to her. 

"Just write them out and we'll focus on that." 

Dana began writing, while Leila sat back in her chair, typing on her phone. 

If she knew where the questions would come from, why had she let her come?