Chase

"Chase?" My eyes shot open.

"Wh-What?"

"You're drooling all over my Chemistry book."

I blinked, and lifted up my head from the desk. I wiped the drool from my mouth with the back of my hand, and heard a faint murmur of 'gross' coming from Adam. He stared at me like I've grown a second head. "Sorry." I apologized.

He studied his book and shook his head. "Ugh, that's nasty."

"Look, I'm sorry. I was up all night wondering how to confront Bree."

A smile stretched across Adam's face. He poked me in the arm. "You like her, don't you?"

I sighed. "Adam, I thought we went over this yesterday."

He poked me a few more times, and sang, "You like her," in an annoying melody.

"Stop." I hissed. He didn't. "Dude! Shut up, she's in the room, stop—!"

He gasped, "You like her a lot!"

"No—!"

"Is there a problem back there, Mr. Costello?" Mrs. Klyd asked. She was my Chemistry instructor, and I knew from the moment the year started she hated my guts.

The feeling's mutual. I despised her as much as she despised me. Her and her wrinkly skin. And the glasses that always sat at the bridge of her nose. So close to the edge of her nose, one jerk of her head and it would become airborne. She also had this large wart just below her cheekbone that always made me want to gag at the sight of it.

Her glare was beginning to burn a hole in my head. More like my soul.

Adam whispered, "Sucks to suck."

All eyes were on me, and a pair belonged to the girl I was currently crazy about. For a moment, I felt like talking back to Mrs. Klyd. I stopped myself, though, knowing it was a stupid and embarrassing idea to attempt and it wouldn't haul me out of this situation any sooner. It wouldn't make me look any better. So I decided to cater to her, no matter how hard it was going to be.

"Nothing." I stated, hoping I sounded somewhat confident, so she would leave me alone.

"Are you sure—?"

"Yes, I'm sure." I responded too fast. She stared for a moment too long, hoping I would shrink back in my chair. But I didn't. I stood my ground, returning the glare from her tiny eyes. Return to your boring lecture, Mrs. Wart.

She gave up, probably knowing its a waste of class time, and I let out a small sigh of relief. I glanced over at Adam, and from the way he cowered in his seat, I'm pretty sure I looked like I was about to kill.

As the period went on, Mrs. Wart called on Bree. Bree didn't know the answer, and Mrs. Klyd being the wart she was, she said something that I felt was unprofessional. Bree called her out on it with the thickest sarcasm you could ever imagine. The room rippled with snickers. She never ceases to please.

Bree

That bitch. I wanted to choke her for calling on me and embarrassing me in front of the class. Who does that to a new student? Then, as if to add on to my hatred for her that was currently building, she decided to assign a project. She also assigned me to be Chase's partner.

"Well, would you look at that. The two, well-known, students that have shown attitude today. Their perfect for each other…" Mrs. Klyd mumbled, but it was loud enough for me to catch it. I hope that Chase didn't hear any of it. The only way he could've heard it is if he had super hearing of some sort. I glance back at Chase, and turns out he was already staring at me. His eyes held a look of pure anxiety, pure worry. What the hell?

What is he worried about?

Chase

Bree? No, please no. I'm not ready.

Ready for what, you idiot? This is your shot. To confront her. Use this project as an advantage.

I looked up to stare at the back of her head like before. It startled me her back wasn't to me.

No, she was looking at me. Bree frowned in confusion, and my anxiety switched to match her confusion, leading her to awkwardly turn back in her seat. I am not ready.

Adam randomly patted me on the back. He sensed my tension and he just chuckled.

"Relax, she'll warm up to you. It'll be just a matter of time," he said, but I caught the slither of sarcasm in his voice.