Chapter 16 - Everyone Hates Math

"If there's somethin' strange in your neighborhood

Who you gonna call (Ghostbusters)

If there's somethin' weird and it don't look good

Who you gonna call (Ghostbusters)

I ain't afraid of no ghost."

I encountered Dylan and Ellie sitting at a table talking and went to sit with them.

"Where have you been?" Dylan asked, a worried expression on his face.

"Just hanging around." I replied. I preferred to omit the fact that I had been talking with Matthew. Dylan 's eyes narrowed.

"You are not someone to just hang around, Kiara." He noticed. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't hide things from him. He just knew me too well. 

"I have also been searching for you. Did you have fun dancing?" I asked, quickly changing the subject, though I noticed how Dylan was still intrigued. 

"We did!" Ellie answered with a smile but Dylan kept his serious face. I rolled my eyes playfully at him.

"Oh come on, Dylan! It's Halloween, let's have fun!"

Dylan then made a small smile.

"Have you been drinking? Because you're usually the last person wanting to have fun at school dances." He stated.

"Duh! They're playing Ghostbusters! I ain't afraid of no ghost!" I sang along, the energy bubbling inside of me. Ellie and Dylan smiled and rose from their chairs. We walked towards the dance floor and started dancing, doing zombie moves, and just having fun and enjoying ourselves.

It was fun, until I was spinning around and felt someone's hands grabbing my waist, while Ray Parker Jr sang 'Don't get caught alone, oh, no (Ghostbusters) When it comes through your door, unless you just want some more...'.

"I'm guessing you want some more." I heard Aiden chuckle in my ear and I could hear his teasing smile in his voice. 

I turned around to meet Aiden dressing as usual: a leather jacket and combat boots. I guess he was just too badass to wear a costume. Or maybe he thought he was scary enough in his normal clothes, which was true for most of the school people.

His eyes checked me out and I saw Dylan stop dancing and glaring at us.

"You look rather hot, Kiara." Aiden told me, winking. Dylan got closer to me and crossed his arms over his chest. Aiden rose an eyebrow at him.

"She doesn't need her bestie to protect her, dude." 

"I know she doesn't. But I just want to make sure you keep your hands to yourself." Dylan dryly replied. Ellie finally noticed neither me nor Dylan were dancing and came towards us.

"Is everything alright?" She questioned, sensing the tension between Dylan and Aiden.

"Everything is fine." I responded, smiling reassuringly at her. "Keep dancing with Dylan. I need to go to the bathroom."

Dylan looked at me as if asking 'Are you sure' and I nodded. Giving us a final stare, he and Ellie went back to dancing, while I crossed my arms over my chest and walked off the dance floor, followed by Aiden.

"I must say you look hotter than the girls wearing Cat Woman costumes." Aiden told me.

"I already know that." I snapped, eyeing his outfit, not really knowing where that statement came from. I wasn't usually over-confident, and neither did I like being cocky. But after all, I had to play Aiden's game. And I was starting to see that I was actually good at playing it. "I'm guessing you think your bad boy looks are daunting enough to bring to a Halloween dance?"

Aiden smirked.

"I love how smart you are, Kiara."

"Yet I thought Halloween dances were too stupid and immature for someone as bad as you, Aiden." I continued.

"It's never too late to behave like a child again." He stated, sitting on a chair in one of the many tables. I sat in front of him, not really knowing why I was doing that. But then again, this night had been really strange so far, so it couldn't get any stranger, right?

"You never stopped behaving like one, Aiden." I stated. Aiden's smirk grew wilder.

"In that you're wrong, little Kiara. Children don't exactly do what I do, if you know what I mean."

I rolled my eyes.

"You are so gross. I don't know how anyone can stand you, really." I didn't say it as an insult, more like in a teasing tone. But it should have come out as an insult. Right?

"Yet here you are. I guess you just can't resist me." Aiden's smirk turned into a grin and I could see how he thought he had already make me fall for him. Poor guy. Just not. 

This time I was the one to smirk.

"No. Yet here you are, talking with the antisocial girl. I gues you can't resist me."

Aiden leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, coming closer to me.

"I must admit you are hard to resist, Kiara." His voice came out seductive and I didn't like that tone at all.

I frowned.

"What do you mean?" Stupid question, Kiara. You know very damn well what he means by that. Focus, girl. You have to win this.

Aiden then leaned back on his chair, crossing his arms on the back of his head. 

"I don't know... you are just so different from everyone else." Well, I certainly wasn't expecting this answer. "So discreet, yet so determinated. So fierce, but with such an innocent face... I guess what I love about you is that you seem so untouchable."

"Well, that's a wonderful thing to say." I sarcastically declared. He had ruined everything with that last sentence, not that I had big expectations on him.

"I mean it. You look pure."

"Why do I have the feeling you are talking about it?" I interrogated, getting annoyed. 

Aiden smirked.

"I didn't thought you were that pervert."

"Oh, save it. You really were talking about that. Gosh, do guys only talk about that?"

Aiden's face got serious.

"Actually, I wasn't talking about that. I was honestly just saying that you are pure, both physically and mentally. That's a good thing."

I didn't know what Halloween made to them, but Aiden and Matthew were both acting really strange this evening. Did they decide to change the plan because whatever they were doing so far wasn't working? Did they decide to lie and show me their apparent soft sides because their flirting and tough exteriors weren't working, weren't making me fall for them?

At this point I didn't know what to think. I wanted to believe them, but I couldn't. I wanted to be sure they were lying, but I couldn't do that either.

So, were they lying? Were they being honest? The first option seemed more plausible, but yet they seemed genuine. And they were either great actors or they really had a soft side.

The question was: did I like it? 

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November was a month full of tests, so I decided to focus on that instead of worrying about Matthew, Aiden and the bet. After talking with Aiden at the Halloween dance, I returned to the dance floor to hang out with Dylan and Ellie. Of course when the dance finished and on our way home, Dylan bombarded me with questions about Aiden and about where I really was since he knew I had lied to them. I decided to told him I had been talking with Matthew and Aiden and defended myself telling him I was only doing that because it was part of the plan.

Not that Dylan agreed with it, but he also knew I wasn't going to change my mind. I didn't told him about my doubts in whether or not the guys had been honest with me though.

The rowing competition was also this month, which was starting to make me nervous. I had to practice a lot more, but I also had to concile the workouts with study and school, which sometimes was something very hard to do.

Tuesday, I was studying at the library for a Maths test that I would have the next day when Matthew came in. I hadn't talked to him since the Halloween dance and I didn't really know what to say to him after our conversation. I already knew Matthew was a lot smarter than what he made people believein, but I hated the fact that, if he was really what he had showed me in the dance, he didn't let it show because he preferred to be someone he was not just to be popular. I didn't like the fact of someone pretending to be someone else. But of course I wasn't sure if Matthew really had a soft side.

I tried to hide behind my Maths book but Matthew spotted me anyway. He approached me with a smile and sat in front of me.

"Hey." He said smoothly.

"I'm busy." I immediately replied. "I'm going to have a test tomorrow and I need to study, so if you--"

"Maths test?" He asked, pointing at my calculator and my Maths book.

"Yes."

"Poor you. Maths is everyone most hated subject."

"Not really. I don't dislike it, actually."

"Of course you had to have a different opinion, because that's just how you are."

"Matthew, can you please let me study?"

"I'll help you, if you want."

I frowned.

"You just said you hated Maths, and I just said I didn't actually disliked it."

"No... I said everyone hated Maths, but I never said I hated it. And you never said you liked Maths either, despite the fact you said you didn't dislike it. So if you don't like it nor dislike it it means you're indifferent to it, which is probably the worst way to feel about Maths."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, a little angry by what he had just said to me.

"I mean that I actually happen to be good at Maths and I'm offering you my help."

"You're good at Maths?" I inquired in disbelief.

"Well, well, Kiara, don't judge like society. Can't the captain of the football team like Maths?"

"You can love it, if you want! It's none of my business as long as you don't keep me from studying, which is, by the way, what you're doing. So--"

Matthew interrupted me again.

"Kiara, I'm serious. I wanna help you." The look on his face made me realize he was not going to give up. And maybe some extra help would be nice, as long as we kept it that way.

"Fine. But if you start flirting, or joking, or if you make me lose my time, I--"

"I know, I know... you'll kill me... but seriously... could you really kill a face like mine?"

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It sucks when you're wrong, doesn't it? Studying with Matthew made me realize I was indeed wrong about two things: he was actually good at it and it wasn't exactly a waste of time. To be completely honest, it was fun. There, I said it. No, I'm not going to repeat it.

"So, if you divide the first number by this one..." Matthew incited me to continue.

"I'll solve the problem." I happily stated. Over our studying afternoon I had long gone passed the state of growling everytime he was right and I wasn't. Now, I was just really happy and satisfied with myself because I was finally able to do all the exercises.

Over the afternoon some people had come to greet Matthew or talk to him for this and that, and even if he had always been nice to them he hadn't prolonged the conversations in order to continue to help me.

I looked at my watch and swore under my breath.

"Well, that isn't very nice, Kiara!" Matthew said, grinning at me.

"I'm late." I stated, starting to pack my things back in to my bag.

"For what?"

"Rowing practice. It starts at 5.30 and it's 5 o'clock."

Matthew made a surprised face.

"You row?"

"Yup." I answered him, finally finishing packing. I slipped my bag onto my back and started to storm ouf of the library, but Matthew came along.

"That's pretty cool!"

I glanced at my watch again.

"Shit! Ellie isn't going to the practice today because she's not feeling well, Dylan isat his basketball practice and my parents are both at work!"

"What do you usually do when you have no one to drive you there?" Matthew efficiently asked.

"I usually catch the bus, but I'm already late, as the bus passes near here at about 4.45."

I didn't quite get it when Matthew made a cheeky smile.

"I'll drive you."

I was so focused on walking fast that I didn't even hear him the first time, so he made me stop by grabbing my arm and turning me so we were facing each other.

"Kiara, where are you going? You said it yourself that you have no one to drive you there and you're already late for the bus."

"I... I don't know... and you might be thinking I'm crazy for freaking out for some practice, but damn, it's not just some practice... if I want to have a good result at the competition I can't miss any of the workouts, and If I do my coach will kill me!"

Matthew was still grabbing my arm, but his patient eyes managed to calm me down.

"Kiara, it's fine, I know how that feels. And I'll drive you."

"Really?" I asked, taken aback.

"Yes." He answered with what he appeared to be a sincere smile. He passed his hand through his hair. "But you'll have to give me the directions."

"Sure! Let's go! And thanks!"

I was too worried about getting late for practice to actually think about being driven there by Matthew. But, honestly, after a good afternoon with him studying Maths, it didn't seem that bad to get a lift from him.

I thanked God the fact that I had brought to school my rowing suit, so I didn't need to pass by my house to get it. Me and Matthew got into his car, which was a pretty fancy one, and I started to instruct him on where to go.

He happened to know where the rowing club was located so he started talking instead.

"So, for how long have you been rowing?"

"Since I was twelve." I answered him.

"I bet you are a master at it."

"I'm not bad." I stated. Matthew looked at me by the corner of his eye and smirked.

"How many competitions have you won?"

"Some." I vaguely answered him.

"See? You're too humble, Kiara." Matthew smiled, and it seemed such an authentic smile...

"And you're too cocky." I snapped, but not in an angry or sarcastic tone. I was starting to see that I could really get at practice on time, so I was starting to relax.

"So, that competition you were talking about at school... when is it?"

The answer came before I could think about it.

"15th November." Once I said it I wasn't sure if I wanted Matthew to know that, but oh well.

"Is it open to the public?"

I hesitated. "Yes... but--"

"Good, then I'll go see you!"

"No, you're not."

Matthew made a fake offended expression. "Why not?"

"Because the last thing I want is to have people from school ruining my rowing events." I bluntly and honestly replied.

Matthew narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that rowing is suppose to be something to make me and all the other rowers forget about school, and, in my case, to make me forget that in our school there's hardly someone with brains. I simply don't want the popular people to come to the competition because they'll ruin it. They always do."

I wasn't sure if Matthew was faking his insulted expression anymore.

"That's not true. You shouldn't be so judgmental."

"Matthew, beleive it or not, it is true. All you care, and by you I mean the popular people, is hooking up, having the best looks and clothes, making fun of others, partying and drinking. And of course I do not want that in something that's so intimate and fun as rowing."

Matthew grunted but he didn't deny what I was saying. Instead, he questioned "Well, what if I keep this to myself? I won't tell anyone that I'll come see you, so that way no one will know."

I bit my lip.

"I don't know if that's a good idea."

Now Matthew was definitely offended.

"I see. You don't trust me."

"It's not... fine, maybe I don't." God, I can't believe what I'm about to say. "But you know what? You're asking me to stop being judgmental, so that's what I'm gonna do. Come. You're officially invited. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. You can come, as long as you keep it to yourself. Then you no longer can accuse me of judging you."

Matthew's face turned into a big smile.

"Thanks! I promise I won't tell anyone. It will be our secret." He winked and I rolled my eyes, hoping I wouldn't regret my decision.

"Yes." I ended up agreeing with him. "It will be our secret."

"I bet it's going to be awesome!"

"You're almost as excited as I am." I laughed. Matthew gave me a quick glance, his face turning more serious.

"I'm excited because I'm guessing that if rowing is that intimate to you, you don't let many people know about it, let along go and see your competitions, so I'm proud I'm part of that minority."

"Pff, Matthew, don't brag to much." I said in a mocking tone.

"Hey!" He playfully replied. We were approaching the rowing club and Matthew was looking everywhere, visibly excited.

Seeing him that enthusiastic made me say something I thought I'd never say.

"Come on, Matthew, you can come along. You can sit and watch the practice, if you want."

Matthew parked the car and then stared at me.

"Kiara Raven. I don't think I can thank you enough."

"Well, you did drive me here safely and on time, plus, you helped me with Maths, so I guess it was the least I could do--"

"Thanks." He declared and then he did something I definitely was not expecting. He came closer and gave me a quick kiss on my cheek.

Music is "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.!