MARA'S POV
If I want to be valedictorian, I have a lot of work to do.
I am checking the new girl Cassidy's grade records, and she has received grades I've never even heard of. Her GPA is almost a 5.5.
The worst part is she's only 13.
If I can't catch up to a 13 year old self-proclaimed braniac, then I have no chance of getting anywhere in life.
When I come to the decision that I need to study harder, I march diligently into the hallway where three empty classrooms are permitted for study purposes. For a half hour or so, I am completely along, working on some chemistry assignments. When the half hour is up, a boy strides into my previously solitary classroom who I recognize as Callan Holmes, one of three new boys at Anubis.
Callan walks in with a perfect posture and a smirk painted on his face as if he feels he's the most important person in the world. His silky brown hair was sleeked back which made his irritatingly green eyes pop. I am not a fan of guys who think that there's nothing more important than impressing people with their looks instead of brains. Callan was the definition of that type of guy.
"Oh, you're Jaffray, aren't you? That total braniac nerd girl from Anubis?" he says.
My jaw drops open. What did he just say?
"Uh, the name's Mara. And I'm not a 'total braniac nerd girl.'"
"So what do you consider yourself to be?"
"Are you serious right now?"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"I hate guys like you."
"Guys like me?"
"Yes, guys who think they're so perfect and special and handsome who are truly just arrogant and stuck up and snotty. Guys like you."
"That's hurtful. You hardly know me!" he says with a fake smile.
I groan and roll my eyes. "I'd like to get back to studying. So if you're lost, the mirrors in the men's lavatory are that way."
"Actually, contrary to what you might think, I'm also here to study. I was top of my class back at my old school, and I intend to keep that reputation and become valedictorian."
I stare at him. "You? Top of the class? Valedictorian? HA!"
"Well, that's rude. See, you don't really know me."
Callan sneers at me with a smug grin.
"Yeah, well…" I begin, searching for a comeback. "Just shut up and let me work."
"Or, how about we work together?" he proposes slyly. "I have some interesting insights on some topics that you never would've theorized."
"Oh, you do, do you?"
Callan sits in the chair next to me, even though he knows he's unwelcome. He gets exquisitely close to me, which just makes me angrier than I already am.
"Oh please," Callan says, pointing to my chemistry paper. "Non, non, non. C'est ridicule!"
"What?"
"You don't speak French, Jaffray? Remind me how you intend to win valedictorian again?"
"I know what that meant!" I snap harshly. "I said 'what' as in what do you mean this is ridiculous?"
"Listen, Jaffray. Chemistry is my best subject, and it obviously isn't yours. Let me help you out with this." He's extremely close; when he talks, I can feel his breath on my face.
"Fine." Something about him makes me uncomfortable, and I don't know why I relent to letting him help me.
"Good. Let's start with this first paragraph. I've seen slugs write better than this."