Disclaimer: Nope, don't own anything.
A/n: Officially back from my holidays!
Born to Die
Ten
/
Hilary stared at her locker. She felt like a zombie. She probably looked like one too. Did she even brush her hair this morning? Hilary ran her fingers through it. Ouch, there were knots. Hilary opened her locker and began pulling out her morning books. Hilary didn't even know if she had completed all her homework. God, she wished she had.
"Hey Hilary!"
Hilary turned around. Rachael was coming towards her. Rachael was too bad to hang out with. She wasn't like Megan or Emma, though Hilary didn't trust her as far as she could throw her. "Hey." She said, shutting her locker.
"Are you okay?" Rachael asked.
Hilary yawned. Oh god she was tired. All she wanted to do was go back and climb into bed and sleep for the next fifteen years. "Yeah, just tired." Hilary said as they began to walk down the hallway. "I didn't get much sleep. I spent most of the night finishing my French assignment."
Rachael groaned. "Don't even get me started. I'm pretty sure I'm going to fail."
Hilary rubbed her eyes. "I don't think I'll survive the year if I keep only having four hours of sleep a night thanks to homework."
"Me either. And I don't think I can handle any more late night outings. I don't care what Meg-." Hilary looked at Rachael whose cheeks went pink. "Nothing." Hilary knew Rachael was going to say something about Megan. Was Rachael scared that she was going to blab back to Megan? Hilary gave Rachael a small, awkward smile. "Well, I'll see you later." Rachael said, taking off down the hall fast.
Hilary stared at her retreating back. Would she ever make any friends here?
/
Hilary sat down next to Rachael. "Hey." She said, looking around. Why was the other world history class here too? Hilary noticed Tala and Kai sitting across the space at a different table. Tala winked at her. Hilary turned pink.
"Hey." Rachael said. "FYI, Madame Bonnaire is in a foul mood. Seven people in my class didn't hand in their assignments."
"Great." Hilary said. "The last thing I want." Madame Bonnaire was famous for her tempers and tantrums. So far, Hilary's class hadn't been on the receiving end of one. "I wonder why both classes are here."
"I heard that we will be doing an assignment together."
Ew. Hilary hated working with someone else to do assignments. She would end up doing all the work herself. Hilary looked back over at Tala. Though... she could end up with Tala... and that wouldn't be so bad.
"Alright, settle down!" Mrs Goldstein said loudly. "You're probably wondering why your here. For this unit, the two classes are going to be working together in a joint project. One student from each class will pair up with a student from the other class and do a presentation together on one of these topics." She held up a sheet of paper. "On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we will meet here, where you will work on the assignment with your partner." Hilary groaned on the inside. This sounded like so much work. Hilary looked at the other kids from the other class. She didn't know any of their names except for Tala and Kai's.
"And to make things easier, we picked the partners and there won't be any swapping." Mr Jackson, the other class's teacher, said. "When I call out your name, find a table with your project partner."
"Ew, this sounds so stupid!" Rachael said, looking around. "I don't like presentations."
Hilary nodded. She hated presentations. She hated public speaking, oral assignments; generally any kind of talking that was done before more than a bunch of people, who would be staring at her, judging her... oh Jesus. "Me too." She whispered to Rachael.
"Tala and Daniel." Hilary's head snapped up, she watched as Tala stood up and walked over to the other table area with a kid from her class. Damn.
"That sucks you won't be with your boyfriend." Rachael said. Hilary would be happy if she was partnered with anyone but Kai. They still hadn't spoken since that day where she half yelled at him. The world owed her some karmic justice.
"Hilary and Kai."
Hilary's eye twitched. What? What the hell? WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? Did she hear Mr Jackson right? Hilary looked over at Kai who stared at her. Hilary slowly stood up. "See you." She said glumly to Rachael. She followed Kai over to the tables and sat across from him. Hilary looked over at Tala who was talking to his partner. Why, why couldn't it just worked out that she wasn't partnered with Kai? Like, seriously? Maybe she shouldn't have said anything. Hilary watched Mrs Goldstein walk around handing out sheets of the presentation topics. Hilary saw Rachael sitting in the other area with a dark haired boy. A sheet was placed in between Hilary and Kai.
"I hope you live up to the standard of your last essay, Hilary." Mrs Goldstein said before walking away.
Kai quickly looked at the sheet before sliding it across to Hilary. "I think we should do number four." H e said.
Hilary picked up the sheet of paper, looking at the topics. Number four was world war two. Hilary put the sheet of paper down. "Okay." She said.
"Isn't there one you would like to choose?" Kai asked.
Hilary shrugged. "I'm happy to do that one." She said, pulling out her world history notebook out of her bag. "Where do you want to start?"
/
MARIAH! YOU GET ONLINE RIGHT THIS INSTANCE! I AM IN A CRISIS. EMERGANCY!
/
Hilary pressed start on the photocopier. She had spent the first half of her study hall class, photocopying stuff on world war two out of huge, dusty books. The photocopier stopped and Hilary opened the top up and pulled out the book, put a different one on, closed the lid and pressed start. Hilary really didn't like idea of working with Kai for this project. Kai was smart. Like, genius smart. Much smarter than she was. She was probably going to lower his grade. She yawned. Why did Mrs Goldstein have to make that remark about her last essay? It wasn't that good... Now Kai probably thought she was some kind of nerd and that they would get easy A's. Ah, that was a good movie. Hilary wanted to open the photocopier lid and shut her head inside. Her life was draining her energy.
/
Hilary sat down at a table at the back of the library and pulled out her notebook. She began separating the photocopies into two piles. She was extremely annoyed. Not only did she have to do this presentation but her algebra teacher had decided to tell the class that the mid-term final exam would count for half their grade of the year and algebra was the worst subject on the earth. Hilary slid one pile of the photocopies to the other side of the table. She pulled out her high lighter and began reading. She had highlighted one sentence when Kai dropped into the chair across from her.
"Hey." He said.
Hilary looked up. Kai was studying the pile of paper in front of him. "Hi." She said back, looking back down at her own pile.
"Thanks." Hilary looked up. What was he thanking her for? Kai pointed down at his pile. "I was thinking that we should get this done quick, so it gets out of the way."
Hilary shrugged her shoulders, watching as Kai, got out his own highlighter. "I guess so." She said, watching as he popped the lid off. He had the longest, thin fingers she had ever seen. And his hands were... beautiful. Pale with lots of veins. Hilary looked at her pile quickly. What the hell was she doing looking at Kai's hands? She had a boyfriend. She no longer had feelings for him.
"I was thinking that if you're not busy this weekend, we could start putting it all together?"
Hilary froze. Alone? She'd be alone with Kai? "I'm not busy." She said, highlighting a section. "As long as it's not in the morning."
Kai laughed a little. "That's fine with me." He said. "I'm not much of a morning person either."
/
On Friday, after lunch, Hilary went to her locker and opened it up to find a large, thick book, sitting there on the top shelf. Who the fuck had broken into her locker? Hilary opened the book. It was in bloody Russian. Hilary picked up the piece of paper that was sitting there. 'Tomorrow, six pm, my room. Also photocopy all the pages marked'. Hilary stared at the piece of paper. That jackass. Hilary stared at the top of the book where it had multi-coloured post-it notes hanging out the top. Did he think that was going to spend her whole study hall lesson this afternoon photocopying?! Hilary slammed her locker shut and stormed down the hallway. She was about halfway to French before she realized that she hadn't gotten any of her afternoon books. God damn Kai Hiwatari!
/
So, all alone on a Friday night?
So? So are you, if I'm not mistaken?
The only reason why I'm all alone is because you guys left me here, alone! So, where is lover boy?
Out.
Oooo, you sound angry. Is that why you're in a bad mood?
No, I don't really care if he goes out. I'm in a bad mood because all week I haven't gotten much sleep.
Who did he go out with?
Kai? Bryan? Spencer? I think?
You think?
I'm pretty sure?
You're pretty sure?
MARIAH! STOP!
Fine, fine, okay... so this project with Kai... ;)
Yes, what about it?
You'll be working alone...?
I have a boyfriend now. I have no feelings for him what so ever.
Really?
Really.
Are you sure?
OF COURSE I AM SURE!
/
After the first good night's sleep in a while, Hilary was ready. Ready to tackle her study daa- thing with Kai. Hilary made sure she had everything. Photocopied notes, pen, high lighter, notebook, stupid book that Kai had made her photocopy out of that took up her who study hall lesson literally. Hilary pulled on her hoodie and backpack and left. She pressed the up button for the elevator. Hilary couldn't remember the last time she was alone with Kai. Like, alone alone. Actually, it was that day when she was going to the doctors but she wanted to forget all about that. The elevator dinged and Hilary pressed fourteen. She wished she didn't have to do this. Why did she tell him she was busy? Like, how stupid was she? Hilary felt like mentally punching herself as she walked towards Kai's room. She took a deep breath and knocked.
The door swung open. "Hi." Kai said, taking a step backwards to let Hilary in.
"Hi." Hilary said, walking inside. She looked around. Looks like Kai was still finicky about being a neat freak. Hilary went over and sat down at the table. She pulled out the book Kai had given her and the photocopies she had made from it. "You could have said please, you know." She said as she pulled out her other stuff. "Or done it yourself."
Kai sat down across from her. "I had a physics exam. It's not like I could do it myself."
"You could've done it during lunch."
"I was busy."
Hilary snorted. "Yeah right." She said. "How long do we have to talk for?"
"Eight minutes." Kai said. "And there has to be a minimum of twenty-five slides."
Hilary crinkled her nose. Eight minutes was a long time. Perhaps she could get Kai to speak most of them... "So... how do you want to do the speech?" Hilary asked as she watched him write. "I have to admit I'm not the best public speaker."
Kai looked up. "You know we're only doing it in front of the teacher's right?" He asked. "I'm sure you'll do fine."
Hilary resisted the urge to smile. "I almost threw up last time." She said, remembering how Mr Lewis had thrown the garbage bin at her when she ran towards the classroom door. "And my teacher almost knocked me out with a garbage bin."
Kai stared at her. "Serious?" He asked. "That's crazy."
For the next two hours they worked in silence. Hilary resisted the urge to stare at Kai as he worked. It just amazed her how he could twirl his pen in his hand. If she attempted it, she'd probably end up with the pen in her eye. Her phone began vibrating in her pocket. She pulled it out. It was Tala. "Hello?"
"Hey, what you doing?"
Hilary looked over at Kai, who had looked up. "Um, still working on this speech thing with Kai. Why?"
"Want to go to a party?"
Hilary looked down at her work. She did need a break. "Yeah, okay. Where?"
"Well, Kai's meant to be coming so he can bring you too."
Hilary watched as Kai got up and walked over to the counter. "Uh, okay. I'll come."
"That's great; I guess I'll see you soon."
"Yeah, bye."
"Bye."
Hilary hung up her phone and put it down. Kai came back, carrying a glass of what looked like whiskey. "Sorry." She said.
Kai shrugged. "You don't have to apologize for taking a phone call from your boyfriend." Hilary stared at him. Why did he sound angry? Why did he say boyfriend like that? Kai downed the whole glass. "I guess you're coming tonight."
Hilary nodded slowly. "Yeah." She said. She watched Kai get up and pour another glass. It looked like studying was over. Hilary began to pack all her stuff away. She sighed.
Kai came back with two glasses this time, placing one in front of Hilary. "I never thought you two would get together."
Hilary looked over at him. "What?" She asked, picking up the glass and taking a sniff. Jesus, how did he drink this stuff? She took a sip. Ew, it was ghastly. Hilary drank the rest. Honestly, how could he drink this shit? "Um, I'm going to go take my stuff downstairs... I'll meet you in the lobby?"
Kai stood up. "No, I'll come with you." He said, walking over to his closet and pulling out black jacket.
Hilary walked over to the door and walked outside into the corridor. Things were back to being awkward between them. Hilary looked over at Kai as they stepped into the elevator. Why was he so hard to talk to sometimes? Sometimes she didn't even know how she had feelings for him. Hilary pressed '8' for her level. She was back to thinking that he was angry at her. It did sound it before when he said, 'you don't have to apologize for taking a phone call from your boyfriend'. Ugh. Boys. Stupid, stupid boys. Hilary stalked down the hallway to her room, not caring if Kai had caught up to her or even got out of the elevator. She jammed her key card in and pushed her door open and flicked on the lights. Hilary froze. Holy shit! Her room was... oh lordy Jesus. The door swung back into her, causing her to tumble sideways.
"You okay?" Kai asked from behind her.
"Yes!" Hilary said, sliding her backpack off and flinging it into the unknown. Her room was messy. More messier than normal and oh my fucking god, Hilary picked up the hot pink leopard print bra that was hanging over a chair and threw it over to where Kai couldn't see it.
"Is your room always this messy?" He asked, looking around.
Hilary stared at him. "Um, not normally." She said, looking for a warm jacket. She wasn't fully adjusted to the freezing cold weather yet. Hilary pulled on her red plaid jacket. This would have to do. "Okay, we can go." She said, patting her pocket to make sure she had put her key card back there.
/
Twenty minutes later, Hilary was standing in the loudest, darkest living room she had ever been in. She could barely hear herself think, let alone anything anyone was saying around her. Hilary followed Kai to the side of the room where Tala, Bryan and Spencer were standing. Tala wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned down and kissed her. Hilary rubbed the back of her neck. "Hi." She mouthed.
Tala leaned down to her ear. "You look very lovely in red." He basically shouted in her ear.
Hilary felt her cheeks grow warm. She caught the look on Kai's face and turned away. It was definitely looking like she was the problem. He probably thought that she wasn't good enough for Tala. A part of her wanted punch him and the other part wanted to know why. Why was he acting that way towards her? Stupid, stupid boys.
/
A/n: Second half of this chapter should be up soon! Thanks for all your lovely reviews for this chapter and A Rush of Blood to the Head, which you should read if you haven't already! I think in previous chapters I said Tala/Kai were in the grade above so I'm gonna change it that they're all in the same grade so I can have this bit work out. Please review! Also, if you didn't noticed I referenced my other one-shot, Red, there ahahah! Also Today marks my ninth year here on !