Chapter Two
Nicky looked from Milo to Pepper Ann in confusement. Why was Milo blaming Pepper Ann for something she didn't do? Why was Pepper Ann going crazy whenever Milo paid even the slightest attention to Gwen Messrow, or any other girl for that matter. Nicky shrugged. High school must have fried their common sense or something.
"I did not!" Shouted Pepper Ann angrily. "You did too!" Shouted Milo in return, pointing an accusing finger at her. Pepper Ann pointed to herself in exasperation and laughed. "Me?! ME! Milo, YOU were the one that pushed ME into it in the first place! So don't go blaming me, pretty boy!" Milo's face turned red with anger as he clenched his fists. " I didn't push you! I.I." "HA!" Shouted Pepper Ann. "You see Milo? You can't even think of a get back. You know why? Because you know I'm right! But, you've grown too self-obsessed to admit you're wrong!! You don't care about anybody but yourself!!" Pepper Ann shouted with all of her strength, trying desperately to hold in her tears. Why was Milo being like this? Why was he acting like they had never been close friends? She wished she could just fall into his arms and cry, explaining to him that it was all her fault. That she cared for him too much to argue with him. But her pride kept her from doing so. Instead she lifted her chin stubbornly and tried to be brave. Yet.the thing was.it WASN'T her fault at all. It was Gwen Messrow's.
*Flashback*
"All right class. Today, as you know, is the day we dissect our frogs." Their teacher, Mr. Hodos, announced. The class groaned, including Pepper Ann. She remembered all too well what had happened last time she was going to dissect a frog. It wasn't a very good ending for her sea monkeys.She shook her head. That was the past. Right now she had to pay attention to the future. Beside of her she heard Nicky make a sound of disgust. Pepper Ann looked at her. "Nicky?" She asked. Nicky looked over at her, her nose wrinkled. "This is going to be messy." Pepper Ann smiled. "Why do you say that?" Nicky shivered. "Remember seventh grade?" Pepper Ann rolled her eyes. She'd been trying to forget.but she nodded just the same. Nicky shivered again. "That's why I say it's going to be messy. It was then, so it probably will be now." Pepper Ann smiled as she shook her head. Nicky.you could always count on her to point out the negatives. Mr. Hodos, however, cut their conversation, short. "Class, I will be assigning you partners for this assignment." The class groaned once more. Pepper Ann and Nicky shared a look of horror. They knew all too well that they wouldn't be made partners. The teachers were too cruel to do such a good deed. Mr. Hodos frowned. "Groans??! You're Groaning! SIEZE!!! If you complain I'll have to make you work out of text books!" The class immediately straitened up and seized their complaining.
"Ok, Nicky Little you will be partnered up with Joanne Darner." Pepper Ann and Nicky sighed. Yet again their predictions were correct. That didn't seem to bother Mr. Hodos. He just continued to read his list. " Jordan Rock, your partner will be Gary McKlintock." Mr. Hodos continued to read his list until he came to the last two partners. " Pepper Ann Pearson will be partnered with Milo Kamalani." Pepper Ann's head shot up from the desk. She was partnered with Milo? She was actually partnered with one of her friends? Pepper Ann smiled. She looked over at Milo, who smiled shyly at her. Pepper Ann felt herself blush. He had a cute smile.Her eyes widened at her thoughts. Was she crazy?? This was one of her BEST FRIENDS! A boy she had known since kindergarten. She wasn't supposed to blush when he smiled at her, or let her heart flutter giddily when she saw him, or feel her knees go weak whenever she looked up into his eyes. Pepper Ann smacked herself mentally. She had to break out of this.whatever *this* happened to be.
"P.A.? P.A., are you ok?" Milo asked worriedly. He knew something was wrong with his best friend. That much was obvious. HE just didn't know what. When she still wouldn't answer his calls, only stare dreamily into space, Milo touched her hand. Surprising him, she came back to reality the minute he touched her. He blushed and yanked his hand away. What had possessed him to do THAT? Pepper Ann shyly looked at him, her cheeks tinted pink. Milo looked away, returning the blush.
Pepper Ann shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "Ok, let's get started." She said, trying to be cheery. "I'll read the ingredients while you collect them, Kay?" Milo nodded while giving thumbs up, "Got it P.A."
When Milo returned he had a jar of blue liquid, a dead frog, two kinds of knifes, and a handful of other supplies that would be needed to dissect the frog. Pepper Ann walked toward him and helped him carry the supplies. Their fingers brushed lightly, yet briefly, together. They both blushed furiously as they turned away. "So, uh.what's first P.A.?" Asked Milo, trying to cover up his embarrassment. Pepper Ann gladly tool the instruction sheet and held it in front of her face, hoping he wouldn't notice her face was turning a dark shade of crimson. "Uh.well.um.first lie the frog onto it's back." Milo did just that. "Then?" Pepper Ann continued to instruct Milo on how to dissect the frog. Occasionally they would switch off, so it was fair.
Soon the dissection was finished and Mr. Hodos was going around grading how well each group did. Pepper Ann and Milo shared a smile. They just knew they would get a good grade. But that's when it all went down hill. Gwen Messrow, that blonde brat, had to pick that time to walk over. Pepper Ann instantly looked over at Milo, which caused her fists to clench in anger...or was it jealousy? No matter what this feeling was. Milo was still flirting with that blonde! To make it worse, he was blushing!! Pepper Ann clenched her fists once more. Why was he blushing for that.that.thing?! Why didn't he ever blush for her?
Jealousy taking its toll, Pepper Ann stepped in front of Milo. Her arms were crossed across her chest. "Hello Gwen Messrow." She hissed, trying to control her temper. The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Whatever." She mumbled before batting her fake eyelashes at Milo. Pepper Ann narrowed her eyes at Gwen. " Don't you have a frog to dissect?" She grumbled. Gwen Messrow flipped her braids. " I'm finished." "Well, go bother someone else." Gwen pouted at Milo. "You don't want me to leave. Do you Milo?" "Uhh." Gwen giggled. "You see Pepper Ann? I'm wanted here." Pepper Ann grumbled angrily. But, it was obvious there was nothing she could do to stop their flirting. She just had to sit and watch. Pepper Ann furrowed her brows. Why did she care that they were flirting anyway? It wasn't like Milo was her boyfriend. He was just a close friend. Pepper Ann blushed at the thought of being Milo's girlfriend. But she pushed the feeling aside. Milo was just her friend. Nothing more, nothing less. She looked over at the two teens flirting and clenched her fists in pain. It hurt. It hurt to see them flirt so shamelessly. She didn't know why it hurt, but it did. Suddenly Gwen stood on her toes and kissed Milo on the cheek. Pepper Ann didn't notice that she had tried to kiss Milo on the lips, but he had turned his head to avoid it. It didn't matter. All Pepper Ann knew was that blonde had kissed Milo. Her Milo! There was no way of holding her anger and jealousy in now. That was the last straw! Grabbing Milo's arm, she pushed him to the side. Then she did something she thought she'd never seriously do. She slapped her. Pepper Ann slapped Gwen Messrow so hard her head flung to the side with a loud *smack*. "YOU SLUT!" She shouted.
The whole class turned to look at her in shock. Nicky gasped as Milo's eyes widened in shock. Mr. Hodos held up a hand before shouting. "SIEZE!!" But.that didn't seem to help.Then Milo did the one thing he thought he'd never do in his entire life. But he did it. He went against his heart and pushed Pepper Ann into their dissected frog. Pepper Ann fell backwards. She winced in pain as she felt a shock of pain start from her back and spread through her body. She had landed on one of the knives. Nicky covered her mouth in horror. Then she ran over to her redheaded friend. "Pepper Ann!" She gasped. Pepper Ann looked up at Nicky and mouthed. " I landed on the knife." Nicky squealed in horror. She was about to tell, but Pepper Ann caught her. She shook her head before she mouthed. "Please don't tell anyone.just lend me your sweater." Nicky nodded frantically before she handed Pepper Ann the blue sweater that once hung around her waist.
Pepper Ann held in her tears. She was in so much pain. But it wasn't only the physical pain that the knife in her back was giving her. It was the emotional pain. The pain that Milo had brought to her. How could he do this to her? They were best friends. Pepper Ann winced. Key word.WERE. Biting her lower lip, Pepper Ann sneakily pulled out the knife that was piercing her back. No one could know she had gotten hurt. Physically or emotionally. Just then Mr. Hodos ran toward them, blazingly furious. He was so angry steam could be seen coming out of his ears. " KAMALANI! PEARSON!! SIEZE! Both of you are suspended for three days!!! Now leave at once!"
*End of Flash Back*
Nicky looked from Milo to Pepper Ann in confusement. Why was Milo blaming Pepper Ann for something she didn't do? Why was Pepper Ann going crazy whenever Milo paid even the slightest attention to Gwen Messrow, or any other girl for that matter. Nicky shrugged. High school must have fried their common sense or something.
"I did not!" Shouted Pepper Ann angrily. "You did too!" Shouted Milo in return, pointing an accusing finger at her. Pepper Ann pointed to herself in exasperation and laughed. "Me?! ME! Milo, YOU were the one that pushed ME into it in the first place! So don't go blaming me, pretty boy!" Milo's face turned red with anger as he clenched his fists. " I didn't push you! I.I." "HA!" Shouted Pepper Ann. "You see Milo? You can't even think of a get back. You know why? Because you know I'm right! But, you've grown too self-obsessed to admit you're wrong!! You don't care about anybody but yourself!!" Pepper Ann shouted with all of her strength, trying desperately to hold in her tears. Why was Milo being like this? Why was he acting like they had never been close friends? She wished she could just fall into his arms and cry, explaining to him that it was all her fault. That she cared for him too much to argue with him. But her pride kept her from doing so. Instead she lifted her chin stubbornly and tried to be brave. Yet.the thing was.it WASN'T her fault at all. It was Gwen Messrow's.
*Flashback*
"All right class. Today, as you know, is the day we dissect our frogs." Their teacher, Mr. Hodos, announced. The class groaned, including Pepper Ann. She remembered all too well what had happened last time she was going to dissect a frog. It wasn't a very good ending for her sea monkeys.She shook her head. That was the past. Right now she had to pay attention to the future. Beside of her she heard Nicky make a sound of disgust. Pepper Ann looked at her. "Nicky?" She asked. Nicky looked over at her, her nose wrinkled. "This is going to be messy." Pepper Ann smiled. "Why do you say that?" Nicky shivered. "Remember seventh grade?" Pepper Ann rolled her eyes. She'd been trying to forget.but she nodded just the same. Nicky shivered again. "That's why I say it's going to be messy. It was then, so it probably will be now." Pepper Ann smiled as she shook her head. Nicky.you could always count on her to point out the negatives. Mr. Hodos, however, cut their conversation, short. "Class, I will be assigning you partners for this assignment." The class groaned once more. Pepper Ann and Nicky shared a look of horror. They knew all too well that they wouldn't be made partners. The teachers were too cruel to do such a good deed. Mr. Hodos frowned. "Groans??! You're Groaning! SIEZE!!! If you complain I'll have to make you work out of text books!" The class immediately straitened up and seized their complaining.
"Ok, Nicky Little you will be partnered up with Joanne Darner." Pepper Ann and Nicky sighed. Yet again their predictions were correct. That didn't seem to bother Mr. Hodos. He just continued to read his list. " Jordan Rock, your partner will be Gary McKlintock." Mr. Hodos continued to read his list until he came to the last two partners. " Pepper Ann Pearson will be partnered with Milo Kamalani." Pepper Ann's head shot up from the desk. She was partnered with Milo? She was actually partnered with one of her friends? Pepper Ann smiled. She looked over at Milo, who smiled shyly at her. Pepper Ann felt herself blush. He had a cute smile.Her eyes widened at her thoughts. Was she crazy?? This was one of her BEST FRIENDS! A boy she had known since kindergarten. She wasn't supposed to blush when he smiled at her, or let her heart flutter giddily when she saw him, or feel her knees go weak whenever she looked up into his eyes. Pepper Ann smacked herself mentally. She had to break out of this.whatever *this* happened to be.
"P.A.? P.A., are you ok?" Milo asked worriedly. He knew something was wrong with his best friend. That much was obvious. HE just didn't know what. When she still wouldn't answer his calls, only stare dreamily into space, Milo touched her hand. Surprising him, she came back to reality the minute he touched her. He blushed and yanked his hand away. What had possessed him to do THAT? Pepper Ann shyly looked at him, her cheeks tinted pink. Milo looked away, returning the blush.
Pepper Ann shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "Ok, let's get started." She said, trying to be cheery. "I'll read the ingredients while you collect them, Kay?" Milo nodded while giving thumbs up, "Got it P.A."
When Milo returned he had a jar of blue liquid, a dead frog, two kinds of knifes, and a handful of other supplies that would be needed to dissect the frog. Pepper Ann walked toward him and helped him carry the supplies. Their fingers brushed lightly, yet briefly, together. They both blushed furiously as they turned away. "So, uh.what's first P.A.?" Asked Milo, trying to cover up his embarrassment. Pepper Ann gladly tool the instruction sheet and held it in front of her face, hoping he wouldn't notice her face was turning a dark shade of crimson. "Uh.well.um.first lie the frog onto it's back." Milo did just that. "Then?" Pepper Ann continued to instruct Milo on how to dissect the frog. Occasionally they would switch off, so it was fair.
Soon the dissection was finished and Mr. Hodos was going around grading how well each group did. Pepper Ann and Milo shared a smile. They just knew they would get a good grade. But that's when it all went down hill. Gwen Messrow, that blonde brat, had to pick that time to walk over. Pepper Ann instantly looked over at Milo, which caused her fists to clench in anger...or was it jealousy? No matter what this feeling was. Milo was still flirting with that blonde! To make it worse, he was blushing!! Pepper Ann clenched her fists once more. Why was he blushing for that.that.thing?! Why didn't he ever blush for her?
Jealousy taking its toll, Pepper Ann stepped in front of Milo. Her arms were crossed across her chest. "Hello Gwen Messrow." She hissed, trying to control her temper. The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Whatever." She mumbled before batting her fake eyelashes at Milo. Pepper Ann narrowed her eyes at Gwen. " Don't you have a frog to dissect?" She grumbled. Gwen Messrow flipped her braids. " I'm finished." "Well, go bother someone else." Gwen pouted at Milo. "You don't want me to leave. Do you Milo?" "Uhh." Gwen giggled. "You see Pepper Ann? I'm wanted here." Pepper Ann grumbled angrily. But, it was obvious there was nothing she could do to stop their flirting. She just had to sit and watch. Pepper Ann furrowed her brows. Why did she care that they were flirting anyway? It wasn't like Milo was her boyfriend. He was just a close friend. Pepper Ann blushed at the thought of being Milo's girlfriend. But she pushed the feeling aside. Milo was just her friend. Nothing more, nothing less. She looked over at the two teens flirting and clenched her fists in pain. It hurt. It hurt to see them flirt so shamelessly. She didn't know why it hurt, but it did. Suddenly Gwen stood on her toes and kissed Milo on the cheek. Pepper Ann didn't notice that she had tried to kiss Milo on the lips, but he had turned his head to avoid it. It didn't matter. All Pepper Ann knew was that blonde had kissed Milo. Her Milo! There was no way of holding her anger and jealousy in now. That was the last straw! Grabbing Milo's arm, she pushed him to the side. Then she did something she thought she'd never seriously do. She slapped her. Pepper Ann slapped Gwen Messrow so hard her head flung to the side with a loud *smack*. "YOU SLUT!" She shouted.
The whole class turned to look at her in shock. Nicky gasped as Milo's eyes widened in shock. Mr. Hodos held up a hand before shouting. "SIEZE!!" But.that didn't seem to help.Then Milo did the one thing he thought he'd never do in his entire life. But he did it. He went against his heart and pushed Pepper Ann into their dissected frog. Pepper Ann fell backwards. She winced in pain as she felt a shock of pain start from her back and spread through her body. She had landed on one of the knives. Nicky covered her mouth in horror. Then she ran over to her redheaded friend. "Pepper Ann!" She gasped. Pepper Ann looked up at Nicky and mouthed. " I landed on the knife." Nicky squealed in horror. She was about to tell, but Pepper Ann caught her. She shook her head before she mouthed. "Please don't tell anyone.just lend me your sweater." Nicky nodded frantically before she handed Pepper Ann the blue sweater that once hung around her waist.
Pepper Ann held in her tears. She was in so much pain. But it wasn't only the physical pain that the knife in her back was giving her. It was the emotional pain. The pain that Milo had brought to her. How could he do this to her? They were best friends. Pepper Ann winced. Key word.WERE. Biting her lower lip, Pepper Ann sneakily pulled out the knife that was piercing her back. No one could know she had gotten hurt. Physically or emotionally. Just then Mr. Hodos ran toward them, blazingly furious. He was so angry steam could be seen coming out of his ears. " KAMALANI! PEARSON!! SIEZE! Both of you are suspended for three days!!! Now leave at once!"
*End of Flash Back*