So back in school with my best friend, just the both of us alone in a classroom, talking and laughing at some random irrelevant jokes and generally anything that'd make someone else think we're mad.

Now that's the good stuff.

"Heard he actually posted a screenshot of their convos when she was desperately begging him to actually do it before they call it quits"

Shaking my head, I spoke with my mouth full "well that's one childish move he pulled" she nodded in understanding "But still I think we all saw this coming, they were never meant to last. I just wonder why she'll let him treat her like that, she deserves so much better"

Did I mention we're also gossiping? Hehe...... Girl time, gossip time.

"I expected nothing less from her, she's a sly attention seeking wannabe. I mean she should have-"

"Hello dame..... " I sighed in exasperation as the intruder walked casually to peck her cheek "and devil......" He nodded his head in my direction and threw a wink when I rolled my eyes.

Remind me to lock the door next time.

He sat cross-legged with us on the ground before opening the stink hole he calls a mouth "girl time huh?"

"Of course it was before your stupid ass interrupted"

Letting out a dramatic gasp with his hand on his chest, he feigned hurt making me roll my eyes.

"That's not such a nice thing to say Raven" he pouted and poked my nose.

Turning back to Liv, "I heard your party is next week?" She nodded truthfully, much to my dismay.

"And you're not invited" I quickly added. I can tell a mile away it will be one shitty party and with Liv hosting it, a crazy one and the last thing I need is him to worsen it for me.

He made a face at me "that's not for you to say"

I had my eyes the size of golf balls when he took not one, two or three but a handful of my fries! How dare he?!!

"You fry stealing fugly douchebag!" I practically yelled while trying to grab them from his hands which he kept above mine.

"Can't you just not be selfish this once?"

"So you're calling me selfish now?" I puffed in agitation when he nodded hysterically, clearly amused.

"Oh I'll show you who's selfish!" Without much thought, I hopped on him and began squeezing his cheek bones roughly to get my fries out his mouth.
His hands tried pulling on mine, so now we were both struggling and somehow he overpowered me and changed positions making me glare up at his stupid smirk while he pinned both my hands above my head on the tiled floor.

I stopped struggling in defeat but was oblivious to the compromising state we were in, Liv's presence also forgotten as we just stared at each other. I swear for a second I saw his blue orbs change a shade darker when he licked his lips. Everything around blurred when his once ocean eyes but now a darker sea of blue with green dancing around gave my pouted lips attention.
I sucked in a breath when his thumb brush my lips in the slightest yet sensual way.

"Oh my gosh! You guys look so cute"

As if electrocuted, he snapped back to reality and jumped off me but I couldn't help but spare him a glance questioningly but only got a wink.

Was that only me or was that weird?

Sure he insults and harmlessly flirts a lot but that felt I don't know..... Different?

I shook my head in denial. Maybe that's just a new move and two can play at that game baby boy.

I threw a wink at him to which he smirked at before turning to Liv who was still rambling on about the impossible. "Ugh....... Please you guys should finally get together! I'm tired of your games, it's getting really old"

We both scoffed "she wishes"

"He wishes"

"Seriously Hugo, I don't wanna lap dance Gabe for an entire week!"

Now that caught my attention.

I quickly put two and two together and my eyes widened in realization. "How could you bet on us getting together?!" I couldn't believe her right now. The chances of us getting together are as much as my love for broccoli which is zero point five and the thought alone is crazy. Ugh I'm now comparing my life to broccolis, this is really crazy. He can't even stay 4 seconds without spiting me for absolutely no reason.

"Not sorry but you'll have to endure your loss and it's not as if I have a specific taste in assholes"

Rolling her eyes at the tight smile I gave her, she persisted "You guys are being so difficult, if....."

What is that saying again? Yeah saved by the bell literally.

"Gotta go! Text you later!" I called out behind my shoulder and within a second I was out the door, not missing the sly smirk on his face.

Phew! That was enough drama for just lunch.

**

'So if it's God you believe in, bob your head and just nod in agreement
They say time's undefeated but I'mma be the first one who can beat it......'

Tapping my foot, I pretended to pay attention while watching Mr Rob's mouth move constantly but not understanding shit he was saying but was too busy jamming to rap to actually care.

Wait why is he looking at me? Maybe if I look away he would take his eyes off me.

Silently mouthing the lyrics, my eyes remain trained on my notebook when I felt an elbow dip sharply into my side. The butt?

Glaring at Alan who so happened to sit beside me cos we're biobuddies -Mr Rob's word not mine- but the look he gave me made me look around and guess what? The whole class now had their eyes on me, Mr Rob's glower didn't go unnoticed by me.

Oops!

As inconspicuous as I could, I tapped on the earpod and gave a sly smile.

"Huh.... Yeah of course" this had the whole class chuckling and from my peripheral, I caught a smile on Alan's face but Mr Rob's reaction was far from convulsed. In fact, he looked like an angry bull and look at me almost bringing out a red handkerchief.

"I didn't ask you anything Raven" yeah right.

His lips pursed in irritation by my silence before speaking up "as team leader in your group, you're to prepare a short preview of your research so far to show your progress"

What the fuck?

"Team leader?"

"Yes Raven, since it's now the both of you someone had to be responsible for these updates and you'd both decided that would be you so I'm waiting to hear the updates. Remember every part of this project no matter how miniscule has points"

We'd both decided? My eyes now slitted, landed on the only culprit as he gave a cheeky smile. Oh, I'd use a knife to increase that smile of yours.

But more importantly, what does he mean by the both of us? Has Nicole left?

My eyes landed on the shy smile she gave me from across the lab. Oh boy!

Clearing my throat, I smiled nervously at Mr Rob whose brows were raised in expectations.

I let out a pathetic laugh and looked around at anyone to help me out, even Alan but he only smirked wittily.

"Yeah right, of course. It's not as if I have no idea I was s'posed to do this because some thick skulled sap head wanted something mirthful in his sappy life" feel free to face palm because I felt the same way too but someone else was enjoying it and that wasn't Mr Rob of course.

"Enough Raven!" He adjusted his thick rimmed glasses that happened to be a trend among old people on his crooked nose.

P.S:This man hates me.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" His tone became menacing instantly commanding me to shake my head and keep my lip shut as I tried my best not to laugh at his failed attempt to scare me.

"Are you prepared for this, yes or no?"

"Of course I am, what kind of a leader would I be if I wasn't" I said through gritted teeth.

"Okay then cut the chase and get straight to the point so I can move on"

"Uh......" What was I even s'posed to say? Talk about the topic in general? Or talk about the research I'm supposed to have made concerning it which I clearly didn't.

"Sir, can I have a word?"

Mr. Rob nodded in confirmation. "if you must"

"Kindly pardon my friend here" I almost gagged at the word friend, we're anything but. "She was diagnosed of flu a few days after the project was given" now this had my brows raised in bewilderment. Who really was Alan Scott and what exactly does he have up his sleeve? He most definitely cannot go behind my back to create a mess and come out looking like a saviour without a reason behind it. "I take full responsibility for the review but trust me she's been of help in the little way possible" I think I just threw up in my mouth which was almost agape even when he flashed a devilish smirk my way.

I hate this boy.

"That's negotiable, I'd like to hear what you have to say" Alan talked animatedly as if he'd planned it all through-which of course he did-while I just stood there discombobulated.

"That was really unnecessary and immature" I wasted no time to lash out on him right after Mr Rob left us to work on the project.

"If that's your way of showing appreciation, you're welcome Barbie"

"Bet you were up all night tryna come up with that shit you pulled but really it was cute watching you talk about things you don't understand"

"I stayed up all night alright, but doing something more interesting" his smirk only increased when my eyes widened in realization, pink tint coating my cheeks. There he goes again with his sexual innuendo!

"Ew, don't hurt my imagination with your stupid activities" The sound of his hearty laugh reached my ears covered with my palms.

"Um........hi?" My expression immediately turned solemn as Nicole sent Alan a shy wave to which he just nodded "can I speak to you in private?" Nodding at the question directed to me, I led her to a vacant desk in the lab.

She cleared her throat before speaking "I'm so-sorry I-I didn't inform you on time about the change. Just that the-the transfer s-student was so unexpected a-and—"

Shaking my head, I cut her off with a wave of my hand "you don't have to be sorry, really it's not your fault" I had to reassure her, poor thing was already so nervous and stuttering in guilt. "Besides it's Mr Rob that'll feel sorry while reading Alan's eulogy at his funeral" I softly jabbed her elbow with mine while wriggling my eyebrows making her giggle.

"Here, I wanted to give this to you"

My brows drew together at her outstretched hand and I shook my head vigorously, pushing it back to her "you don't have to give us this-"

"I insist" she persisted and pushed her hands towards me again while I sat staring unsurely between the small camera and back at her. She didn't really have to do this because we're no longer in the same group and don't owe us anything but I still smiled genuinely at how sweet and kind she is.

"Thanks, I'll return it the second we're through with this stupid project" we both chuckled as I stood up to leave but her voice stopped my motion.

"Raven"

She tucked the loose hair which escaped her ponytail, pursing her lips and began tugging the hem of her blazer hand as if pulling it would make it longer and cover her palms. A gesture I figured she did right before saying something she was nervous about voicing out.

"I'm just saying but I really do think you and Alan would make a very good team. I don't know either of you personally but I do know no force is stronger than two unlike poles and in this case personalities" I was bummed at the gravity of her voice and in her eyes "-and please try not to kill him"

I barely reciprocated her smile and just stood staring at the camera in my hand, letting her statement linger a bit in my mind.

Sure Alan and I are basically like two dissimilar personalities altogether, we contrast in every single way, from the attention he draws without even batting an eyelash which I clearly despise, up to his annoying handsome features which I'm sure God blessed him with while everyone else dozed off.

All in all, the moral of the story is pray never to have anything to do with a popular jerk especially when you're highly unpopular.

Pls guys don't have my head for such a horrible ending 😂.

If you guys haven't figured, Hugo was that annoying boy Raven met at chapter 9.

Xoxo Ruth.