Chapter Nine Artemis
Chapter Nine
Artemis
Monday morning rolls around, the day I’ve been dreading all weekend.
Because I’ll have to face Ryan. I know it’s not a big deal.
It’s not like we dated or anything. But the more I think about it, the more it hurts.
We were having a good time, at least I thought we were.
And then he just left, like I meant nothing. Like the dance meant nothing.
Maybe I’m just hopeless, wishing to have this epic romance like the characters in my books. Real life isn’t like that.
I spend about an hour buried in my books and I’m not ready to face the real world. But when Mom calls me down for breakfast for the hundredth time, I know I need to get today over with. I need to forget about him. Maybe my best friend is right and he’s not the guy I thought he was.
But why do I feel deep down that there’s more to him? Ugh. I am hopeless. For my own sanity, I need to let him go.
“Artemis, you have two minutes to get down here!”
I slide my last-minute school stuff into my backpack and zoom down the stairs. The entire family is in the kitchen, munching on waffles. Dad’s on the phone, probably taking care of mayor stuff. Jason’s texting, most definitely Jenna. And Mom’s watching the news on TV.
“Morning,” I say as I sit down and cut into my waffles. They’re cold, but I guess that’s my fault for being late.
Mom turns to me. “Are you feeling okay, honey? It’s not like you to oversleep.”
Ha. If only she knew I overslept because I hardy got any sleep last night. I kept replaying everything over and over in my head. The good stuff and the bad.
Anyway, I’m done with him. If he wants to be rude, then let him.
But why can’t I stop thinking about him, wondering what he’s doing, if he’s thinking about me. Sure he is.
I force down more waffles with orange juice, then Jason and I head to his car, and he drives us to school.
The car is dead silent. I force myself not to think about He Who Must Not Be Named. Maybe I’ll meet someone special when I leave for college. Until then, I’ll try to live my life in bliss. I’ll find my Mr. Darcy somewhere else.
“You’re quiet,” Jason says after we’ve been sitting here for a few minutes.
I shrug. “Just got a lot on my mind.”
He nods slowly. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Ryan. He seemed like a cool dude.”
“Yep. We’re just friends,” I lie. “But I’m happy I went to the dance with him.”
“I’m happy, too.”
We’re quiet again. He keeps his eyes on the road and I stare out the window. Ryan still enters my head, but I blink him away.
Jason pulls up before the school building and we climb out of the car. My eyes automatically look for the guy with deep blue eyes, but I don’t find him anywhere.
Jenna runs into my brother’s arms and they kiss. With my arms crossed over my chest at the sudden cold, I follow them into the building.
The hallway is packed with kids talking and laughing. I’m still looking for Ryan like an idiot. Even when I go to my locker to grab some stuff, my head still whips around.
It seems like I’m not the only one. Brianne and a few other girls’ gazes keep flicking to the door, too.
When there are only a few minutes left before first bell, the door opens and he walks in. He’s bent over like he’s carrying the world on his back.
Brianne rushes over to him, leaning close to whisper in his ear.
I look away, not interested in seeing her giggle.
I’m pretty sure he ditched me for a pretty girl.
I mean, just look at me, with my lame T-shirt and jeans, no makeup, my hair pulled into a messy ponytail.
I don’t know why I don’t make more of an effort like most girls.
I guess I’m more comfortable this way and don’t need or want to change for anyone.
Mom always told me I’ll find a guy who’ll love me for me. I hope she’s right.
The bell rings and everyone scatters to their classrooms. I shut my locker and turn to head to my class, when I smack into something hard.
It’s Ryan, passing me on his way to history.
“Sorry.” I step away.
He hardly looks my way, eyes straight ahead as he marches down the hallway. What the heck? Why is he being so rude? What in the world did I do to him?
No. I need to forget him. He’s not going to ruin my day and I’m not going to spend the rest of my teen years crying over a guy who doesn’t deserve me.
So I stomp past him, practically running because I’m so short, and reach the classroom before he does. Plopping down in my seat, I take out my textbook.
He’s the last to enter the room and lucky me that the only available seat is the one across from mine. Shoot. We don’t have assigned seats in this class.
Awesome. Just perfect.
From the other end of the room, I catch Brianne watching him. She looks like she wants to tear his head off. I guess things didn’t go well between them?
The teacher, Mrs. Lee, enters and begins the lesson. Then she announces that we’re going to split into teams of two and work on a project.
“Everyone team up with the person on your left,” she tells us.
I slowly turn my head to the left, to the guy with long black hair covering his eyes. He twists to me and our eyes meet. His are hard and empty, but there’s also something else in there, something I can’t describe.
He tears his gaze away.
The project is to write a report about a time era in history that affects us today. The only thing affecting me right now is the cold guy sitting next to me.
But I won’t let him get to me. I told myself to forget about him and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I start working on the project alone, while he plays with his phone. It’s so much better this way, doing this at my own pace. Mrs. Lee told us to add more flavor to the project, make it more colorful. I’ll handle it all on my own. I don’t need favors from him.
Ugh. But why is it so hard to keep my eyes from shifting his way? No matter how many times I order my brain to forget about him, my heart can’t.
“What’s going on here?”
My head snaps up to find our teacher standing there, glancing from me to my so-called partner.
“Why aren’t you two working on the assignment together?”
I clear my throat. “Uh, we decided to work on it separately, then come together.”
She shakes her head. “This is a team effort. If I don’t see you working together, I’ll fail you.”
My eyes widen. “Fail us?!”
“Yes. And Ryan, I don’t allow cell phones in my class. Put it away before I take it away.”
He grunts so softly I’m not sure Mrs. Lee heard it, and stuffs it in his back pocket. He looks straight ahead.
The teacher walks off, leaving me alone with him.
Fine. Looks like I need to be the bigger person, or else I’ll risk failing this class. My grades are great and I don’t need him ruining this for me.
“Let’s just work together,” I say. “I know you hate me. I mean, I don’t even know what I did to you—”
“I don’t hate you.”
My mouth clamps shut as I turn to him. He still won’t look my way, busy with the walls at the front of the room like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.
I cross my arms over my chest. “It sure feels that way.”
He moves his eyes to me, and for a second, something flickers in them. But it’s gone so fast I’m sure I imagined it. “Sorry, but I don’t.”
I take in a breath, then let it out. “Was it the whole Yoda thing? Why did you run off?”
“Ryan, Artemis, are you discussing the project?” Mrs. Lee calls from the front of the room. Geez. It’s like she’s got super hearing or something. How does she know we’re not talking about anything school related?
The bell rings and everyone shoots out the door. I gather my things and make way to my next class, algebra.
Ryan has this class with me and my mouth nearly reaches the floor when he takes the seat next to mine. This desk belongs to another girl, but she doesn’t say anything, choosing his seat. Wow. I guess when someone looks like Ryan, he can get away with anything.
There are a few minutes before class starts. Ryan plays with his phone and I watch him like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world. Honestly, I still think everything about him is fascinating, which is really stupid because he’s been acting so rude and cold.
“I just don’t understand,” I blurt. “I thought we were having a good time. Why would something as silly as face art spoil that? It’s not like I think we’re together or anything. I mean, I see you as a friend.”
He snorts, thumbing through his phone. “Friend. Sure.”
“What’s wrong with friends? You haven’t made any since you moved her, have you? Why? What’s wrong with this town?”
He lifts his head to look at me. “Nothing.”
“Sure seems like there is. Do you want to be my friend or not?”
He shakes his head.
“Wow,” I say, trying not to let him know how much this hurts. It’s like a slap in the face. “Why not?”
“Just don’t want friends.”
I stare at him. “Who doesn’t want friends?”
He doesn’t say anything. So it’s not me he hates. It’s everyone? Why?
“I don’t believe you don’t want any friends,” I say after a few seconds of silence. “Everyone needs friends.”
His eyes flicker to mine, but he doesn’t react. And there’s not a speck of emotion on his face.
“You don’t know me,” he says, voice low and cold. “Don’t even try to understand.”
“Understand what? Why you’re like this? I thought…” I puff out some air. “I thought you had a good time at the dance.”
He doesn’t say anything, continuing to play with his phone. It’s a game, but he’s not concentrating because he keeps losing.
“Just leave me alone,” he says, voice even lower than before.
“What about the project? It’s due in two days. You expect me to do it alone? I mean, I could, but I’m not going to fail because of you.”
He squeezes his eyes shut like he doesn’t want to deal with it. Or me. I’m about to go on, but he says, “Fine, we’ll work on it.” Then he turns to his phone. Straining my eyes and neck, I notice it’s not a game. He’s got some kind of art app. He’s engrossed in it. Like he’s in his place.
“It’s so cool that you like to draw,” I say.
He totally ignores me. Of course it hurts, but I’m trying not to let it. I don’t know what it is about this guy that draws me in. And it’s so stupid because he clearly doesn’t want anything to do with me.
“Maybe we can go to my house after school?” I ask.
His head lifts, eyes narrow like he’s deep in thought. “Told you I don’t want to be your friend.”
“I meant for the project. The sooner we get it done, the sooner you can be free of me. Because you hate me,” I mutter under my breath.
He squints, then sighs. “Told you I don’t hate you.”
I open my mouth to argue, when Mr. Grant walks in and begins the lesson.