A/N: Ever write parts of a really good story and can't wait to get there, but you're not sure how to get there? That's how I am right now. Don't worry! I'm not giving up on this story. I once read in a writing guide, "Writing is 5 inspiration and 95 work." I ought to put that in the quotes in my bio. Ha-ha!

Disclaimer: If I owned Ronin Warriors, would I really be writing this?

A Fine Line Between Love and Hate

KiahWMConnie

Chapter Four: Tensions Increase

Rhonda looked out the window of the chemistry room and sighed. Oh, how she wished she could be home right now. True, school was easy. Class was easy. Homework was easy. Schedules were easy. P.E. was easy. There was only one problem: it was boring.

"Okay class, listen up. This is very important," Mr. Kantu announced, "In one week, we will be doing a class project. You will all be put in groups of two, one boy and one girl. In this project, you must pretend that you are married."

Several laughs and giggles were heard in the class.

"Yes, yes. I know, it's very amusing, but you need to work together with your partner in order to accomplish this. More details will come later this week."

Rhonda scanned the room for possible 'significant others.' This was just great.

'I'll bet not a single one of these monkeys can pass this class,' she thought. She laid eyes on Rowen who was seemingly uninterested. A funny thought came to her mind.

'That would be the end of the world…' she almost laughed out loud.

"I'm still deciding," Mr. Kantu continued, "On who the partners will be. And NO, you cannot request who your partner will or will not be. With that said, I will now pass back your tests."

Groans came from the students like they so often did.

"Now these test scores were better than the last ones'," he slowly went around giving various comments to students. He came to Rhonda, "Not bad for your first test in here, Miss Maxwell."

Rhonda picked up her test and looked at the score. A 97. This was great! Mr. Kantu's class wasn't the easiest class, that was for sure. Rhonda felt proud of herself.

He came to Rowen, "Mr. Hashiba, It's to be expected…"

Rhonda's curiosity was stirred a bit. What kind of a student was he? Rowen sheepishly put his test away, but Rhonda was able to see the grade. Her eyes bulged.

'A 108? How is that possible!' her mind screamed, 'He doesn't seem like the studious type at all. How the heck could he land a grade like that?' Rhonda thought hard for a moment, 'He probably cheated. But, Mr. Kantu said it was expected. Does he usually cheat? No, Mr. Kantu would never allow that.'

"Miss Maxwell, I'm sure you like staring at Mr. Hashiba, but could you please concentrate in class?"

Everyone laughed. Rhonda was utterly mortified. She ducked her head slightly to hide her tomato-red face. She didn't notice Rowen's expression as she dared not to look over there.

Rowen was blushing as well. What the hey was she staring at him for? He thought she hated him.

'She was probably glaring at you,' his little voice told him. That was most likely true. She seemed to hate anyone who came within two feet of her…well, except for Maria.

Rowen got a funny look on his face, 'Those two have been inseparable from day one.'

The bell rang and Rowen scurried out to avoid contact with Rhonda.

"You okay, Rhon?" Maria asked at the lunch table. She developed a nickname for her friend.

"You mind if I ask you a question?" Rhonda whispered.

"As long as it's not about my criminal records, go ahead."

They giggled and Rhonda asked, "Well, yesterday I found out that on Mr. Kantu's test, I made a 97."

"Wow! That's great. I only made a 91."

"That's not the point. I have that class with Rowen and he made a 108! How could he do that!"

Maria stared for a second, and then laughed, "I guess I should've told you about him. He's, well…he's not an average student. In fact, he's way above average!"

Rhonda was skeptical, "What's his I.Q.?"

Maria looked around then said quietly to Rhonda, "You didn't hear this from me but…" she leaned forward and whispered a number in Rhonda's ear.

"What!" she jolted back, "250? That's impossible!"

"Rhonda, sshhh!" Maria said.

"There's no way," Rhonda stated, firmly.

"I know it's hard to believe, especially for a guy like him, but it's true."

Rhonda looked over to where he was eating with his friends. He was fighting for a sandwich with an ash-haired boy. Kento, was his name? There was just something about Rowen that made her irritated, almost angry.

"I think I know why you don't like him," Maria seemed to read her mind.

"And what's that?"

Maria chuckled, "You don't see it? You two are a lot alike!"

"What!" Rhonda exclaimed.

"Think about it," Maria gestured with her fingers to count, "You're both incredibly smart, you both have weird hair, you like to sleep, you always think things through, and you live in apartments."

"There's no way I could be like him!" Rhonda almost sneered.

"Yeah, well I gotta admit," Maria replied thoughtfully, "Y'all have a lot of differences too. But still, the reason you two don't get along great is because you seem to clash."

"Tch," Rhonda shrugged, "Yeah, right."

'250! It's not possible…especially for a male.'

The normal conversations went on at the boys' table. Rowen looked around the room, uninterested. He spotted Rhonda and Maria talking. They seemed to be whispering; Rhonda was shaking her head a lot.

Rowen felt uneasy. He didn't know if it was the food or that he had Rhonda in his next period. He was still mortified from yesterday's indecent and the event in the lunchroom. He was sure of one thing though: he would try to avoid her for the rest of his life.

Unfortunately for Rowen, fate would work against him as it so often did.

A/N: This chapter seems a lot shorter than others. Oh, well. Life goes on.

I'm really having fun with this fic. BTW, there will be a lot more Rowen in the story. I just wanted to give a general view of Rhonda before I go in-depth with Ro.