My Best Friend's Brother

Trouble Is His Nickname

As I woke up to the very annoying sound of an alarm clock that we can all relate to, I turned over to turn it off before laying back down on my back and staring up at my ceiling dreading to get up and dare see what the asshole has in stock for me today.

Did he hire a group of guys to chuck raw eggs at me down the hallways again? Or possible trip me during lunch so I can wear my food instead of eating it?

What he did to me yesterday was the least he could do to embarrass me and make my life a living hell, which only tells me he has even more embarrassing things to do to me.

"Ryleigh!" My mother shouted from downstairs.

"I'm up!" I call back to avoid the endless other calls there were to come to make sure I was up. I suppose I should get up by now anyway.

I rolled out of my very comfy bed, bringing myself to stand up as I made my way to my closet, pulling out a pair of jeans, a flannel, and my dirty pair of black converse, like usual.

I brushed through my long, brunette hair and prepared myself for the rest of the day before heading downstairs where my father sat drinking his black coffee, reading the newspaper as my mother fixed us all a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast.

"Great! You made it down in time for breakfast."  My mother chirped as she made her way around the kitchen table, setting down all three plates.

"I'm not that hungry..." I lie, trying to avoid sitting down and conversing with both of my parents.

"Ryleigh, you're not leaving this house without eating, now sit." My mother demanded. I sighed before taking a seat. My mother sat down next to me. 

"Did you hear Dawson's kid is back in town?" My father questioned, taking a sip of his coffee before flipping through some more of the newspaper.

I take a bite from my toast to act like I had no idea what he was talking about, before taking a sip of some orange juice.

"That kid's nickname is trouble, I swear. Ooh! I know! Let's invite the whole family over for dinner to celebrate!" My ever-so-kind mother suggested, causing me to spit back up the orange juice into the cup. "Ryleigh! Watch your table manners!"

"I think it's a great idea." My father chimed in. "What do you think, Ryleigh?"

I'd much rather take two knives right now and stab myself in both eyes then have Hunter over at my house sharing dinner with me.

"Great," I said, taking a bite from my toast to hide the forced smile.

***

"So you can't make it?" I question again, looking over to Emma as she fixed her curled hair in the mirror on the door of her locker. She wore a crop top with high-waisted shorts and heels. The heels were almost her signature, I've never seen her without.

"No, I'm sorry. I've got cheer practice. I'm sure you'll be fine though." Emma reassures me. Great now I have to go to this dinner things without my best friend, but instead with her a*s of a brother.

"You can't skip it?" I question once again, trying to get her to change her mind.

"If I could, I would, but we have a big game coming up and I still don't know the choreography." She gives me a pitiful smile. "I promise I'll make it up to you."

"By doing what?" I look over to her with a small smile.

"I don't know yet, but I promise I will!" Emma smiles. "But right now I have to go to class before Ms. Morris throws a fit at me for being late." She rolls her eyes, slamming her locker shut. I couldn't help but laugh.

"See you later then?" I question, beginning to walk backward in the direction of my class.

"You know it." She smiles before readjusting her purse on her shoulder and walking the other way.

I laugh before turning my body the other direction to walk straight, only to end up ramming into someone. A tall figure.

"Look, I know you like me, but this is not the way to show it." A familiar voice said, and I look up to see Hunter's face. Out of all people I ran into Hunter.

I roll my eyes. "I'd much rather die than ever once think about liking you, Hunter."

"Ouch." He said, placing his hand on his heart dramatically. "I got to admit, that one hurt, Adams."

"Good, now can you please movie, you're sort of in the way of my class," I say.

"Our class." He corrects me.

"What?" I ask, raising my eyebrows.

"Looks like we have biology together." He winks.

"You've got to be kidding me," I say, pushing past him to enter the class. I took my usual seat in the back by myself and it wasn't long until the jock himself entered the class.

He received straight outstares from girls who had a crush on him. Especially when he waved in their direction they all let out little squeals and giggled with each other.

"Take a seat, Dawson." Mr. Reynolds, the biology teacher called out. I'm guessing he had this class before. 

Once passing the girl who straight up stared at him, he made his way closer to me. 

Oh, no.

Please don't sit with me, please don't sit with me...

And he sat with me. All the girls who were all giggling stopped and glared at me.

"Okay, class the person you're sitting next to right now will be your lab partner for the rest of the year." Mr. Reynolds said.

"Guess it's just you and me, babe. This is going to be fun." Hunter whispered over to me.

Kill me now.