Chapter 9 Kai
Man, I can’t wait to get out of this place. Unless I have an excuse to get out onto the soccer field, coming to this school is a monumental waste of time. Especially as I sit in my last class of the day; English.
Boooring.
Unintentionally, I snort. My brother sits on the other side of the classroom, diligently scanning an open page of King Lear. I don’t get how he is so invested in this Shakespeare nonsense. Most of the dialogue makes my brain hurt.
My gaze continues to wander, landing on Tabitha Jones. Just her curls make me shudder. I swear, I’ll have a full on convulsion if I hear her speak. Ms. Jenkins better not call on her to read aloud any lines from this stupid play. I may get up and walk out, detention be damned.
Okay, scratch that. Parker was talking about driving out to Logan’s Point after school. I could really use the thrill of standing out on Dead Left Cliff right about now. Man, that’d make this dull day a whole lot better.
Jamie nudges me from the adjacent desk. “Dude,“ she whispers. “What’s up with you? You’re being all fidgety.”
“That devious cow is sitting over there,” I whisper back. “How can she act like she doesn’t ruin people’s lives?”
“Ugh. Don’t give her the time of day. It’s not worth it.”
“But she’s messing with you.”
“Right now she isn’t, and I prefer not to dwell on it.”
I lift my hands off the desk and exhale coolly. “Okay, fine.”
I run my pen along with the sentences of our class discussion questions. I even lean in, trying to focus on each word. But there’s a ringing in my ears. The words jump around on the page. Soon, all I can recognize is the fire in my belly.
I slam the pen down and huff in Jamie’s direction. “I can’t let it go,” I whisper roughly. “She’s gonna tank my grade in chemistry and my parents are gonna flip.”
“Why don’t you tell your mom to email the school and have you moved back with your original lab partner?”
“Since when am I a momma’s boy?”
Jamie snorts. “I dunno. I thought it would be a good option.”
“Mrs. Field already made a point about not rearranging students again. Like it would kill morale or something. I think she wants to save face. She’ll look pretty ridiculous changing the seating order again.”
“Maybe she’s just making her point? Tabitha can’t learn in class, no matter where she sits.”
“Yeah, she runs her mouth to hide the fact there’s nothing in that thick skull of hers.”
“Stop letting her corrupt your thoughts,” Jamie whispers. “You’re letting her win.”
I shudder at the thought. That chick is not getting under my skin. She’s not gonna live inside my head. And she is absolutely not gonna win.
I slink down in my seat and scratch my pen against the margin of my notebook. I slash my pen strokes up and down until there’s a noticeable indent on the page.
Our teacher then calls on students to read the next few pages from King Lear, giving them each a role to play. I pick up my copy, remaining slouched in my seat. As the voices fill the classroom, I whisper to Jamie, “Are you coming to Logan’s Point after school?”
“I gotta go to the café and help Maddy with inventory.”
“Boo. Can’t you skip it?”
She shakes her head. “Maddy’s heaps stressed. I can’t ditch her.”
“Boring. You want me to help?”
She smirks. “Not with that attitude.”
“What am I supposed to say? Oh wow, inventory. What fun?”
Jamie snorts, jiggling her shoulders with laughter.
“Kai,” Ms. Jenkins says softly. “Jamie. Hush, please.”
She has such a dainty way of telling students to be quiet. I can’t help zipping it when she asks so politely. Nothing like the foghorn Mrs. Field.
There’s another character joining the scene, and Ms. Jenkins volunteers Tabitha.
Freaking hell. Just when I decide to turn over a new leaf, I’m tested again.
Tabitha’s voice is the only sound in the room.
I drag my pen down the entire length of my notebook.
The tearing sound gains the attention of two adjacent students.
When my pen skids over the end of the page, my ears prick to a catch in Tabitha’s voice. I lift my gaze and watch her curls tumble over her face, leaning in as she reads a tricky word. This Shakespearean nonsense is hard to enunciate, I’ll give her that.
Wait.
I rub two knuckles against my chest. What’s wrong with me? Why am I feeling sympathy for her instead of reveling in her struggle?
Soon, another student takes over when the character changes.
Tabitha smooths a hand over her chocolaty curls, and from the side, I notice a poutiness to her lips.
Wow, her lips are really full. She usually goes full-on witch when she speaks, so I never noticed before.
Maybe she’d actually be pretty if she weren’t so vile.
My brother takes over King Lear’s lines and my mind goes back into blocking-out mode. Something about Milo reading Shakespeare is the best known cure for insomnia. I check the clock on the wall. Phew. Only ten more minutes of this crapola and I’m outta here.
After waiting out the clock, Jamie and I part ways in the hall because her ride is already waiting out front. Before I’m two steps away from the classroom, someone grabs my arm.
Shockingly, it’s Tabitha. “Hey, what was our homework assignment for chemistry?”
My eyebrows knit together. “Are you serious?”
She frowns at me, and for a moment, I get lost in the poutiness. “What? Mrs. Field only said it. She didn’t write on the board for me to copy, so I missed it.”
“It took two seconds to note the page numbers. Why are you hellbent on tanking my grade?”
She stomps her foot, hugging her books. “I’m not. I freaking asked you for the homework assignment. Why would I care if I wasn’t gonna do it?”
With a grunt, I look away from her. “I don’t have it off the top of my head.”
“So, you don’t remember either?”
“No. I wrote it down. I don’t hold that crap in my head.”
“Well, can you get it for me?”
I groan and scuff my way through the hallway. “Fine. I need to grab my stuff from my locker. I’ll find it before I leave this prison.”
“Prison?” she mimics, following me to my locker.
“Well, it ain’t Disneyland.”
“No, I guess not.”
“Well, wouldn’t you liken it more closely to a prison than a theme park?”
“Umm, no. We get to leave every day.”
“But we’re given a uniform, told when to exercise, and when to eat. We’re shut in small rooms with too many people, and we’re fed a bunch of garbage they force us to believe are facts.”
“Oh my gosh. I should’ve known you were a conspiracy theory guy.”
“What does that mean?”
“Goes with your whole defying authority and rebelling against social norms. I’ve seen you enough times in class, protesting against teachers and their rules.”
“Well, I’m not a sheep.”
She mumbles a laugh. “I’ll say. No one could ever accuse you of fitting into the preppy aesthetic.”
“And what makes you think I’d ever want to fit in?”
Tabitha clicks her tongue. “I don’t wanna keep arguing with you. I just need the homework, so Mrs. Field will stop riding me.”
I stop at my locker and turn the combination lock. “You know, it takes more than one night of homework.”
Tabitha leans against the adjacent locker and slouches on bended knees. “I know. But this way I’ll be less behind.” She hugs her books with one arm and massages her forehead with her free hand. “Geez, I’m drowning in work right now.”
My jaw rocks as I take her in. Part of me thinks I should offer to help her with the homework. It’d benefit me to give her a boost, seeing as we’re partners. But then all the vile things she’s said circle in my head.
I pull out my notebook and open to the last page I wrote on. “Take a photo with your phone. I don’t have time for you to copy it down.”
She fishes inside the pocket of her skirt. “Fine by me. I feel like I’m gonna catch something if I stand here much longer.”
Steam sizzles out of my shirt collar. “A disease, you mean?”
She takes a picture of my handwriting, gives me a scowl, and then pushes off the locker to move away.
“Oof.“ Tabitha bounces back after running into someone.
“Tab, are you okay?” her brother Freddy asks, grabbing her shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, juggling the books in her arms.
“We were checking if you were ready to leave,” Freddy says, and I gulp at the word we.
Behind him steps their older brother, Drew. “Looks like we caught an argument.”
Freddy is broad, with arms that bulge in his blazer sleeves from throwing all those footballs. Also, he’s the brother who fits the Tabitha-approved preppy aesthetic. Drew, on the other hand, scares something deep in my core.
Somehow, in this strict-dress-code school, he’s wearing a black button-down shirt under his blazer—when we’re supposed to wear white—and no mandatory tie.
I can’t even comment on the commando-style boots when his hair keeps stealing my attention.
It’s haphazardly tied into a topknot and amateurly bleached blonde.
Tabitha makes the comment before I do. “How are you allowed to leave school right now? Shouldn’t you be in detention for wearing that ensemble?”
“Never mind me,” Drew says, waving her off. He has Freddy’s height, not his build, but I don’t have the guts to turn back to my locker and pack my stuff. There’s a rumor Drew’s always packing a crowbar. “What are you doing over here, arguing with this guy?”
“It’s nothing. Just getting my homework.”
Freddy gives me a once-over. “Are you stealing his homework?”
“How could I?” Tabitha argues. “It was assigned today. I just didn’t have the page numbers.”
“I’m not bailing you out again,” Drew blurts.
Freddy gawks at his brother. “You did her homework?”
Drew shrugs. “That fight between her and Mom wasn’t gonna end until her homework was finished. She needed that signature, remember?”
“So?” Freddy’s expression hardens as he stares down his brother. “You never care when our parents are hounding you.”
“Sue me. I wanted to look out for my little sister.”
I edge backward to my locker. “Looks like a family matter. I’ll leave you all to…”
Freddy stretches his quarterback arm and snatches the lapel of my blazer, yanking me forward in a strong, fluid motion. “Is this guy your new lab partner?”
“He has a name,” I blurt, feeling Freddy’s grip tighten.
Freddy ignores me, turning his attention to his sister. “Tabby?”
She shrugs. “Yeah, he is. So what?”
“Good,” Drew cuts in. “You can study with him.”
“Excuse me?“ Tabitha spits.
“You don’t want Mom losing it at you again,” Drew says matter-of-factly.
Freddy releases my blazer. “You can come home with us, lab partner.”
“Ehck,“ I retch.
“Eww, no,“ Tabitha protests. “He is not coming into our house.”
“Fine, but I’m dropping you guys somewhere,” Freddy replies. “How about the local library?”
Another round of ewws rumbles out of us.
The brothers remain unimpressed. “Well, you've gotta go somewhere.”
“Oh my gosh, Freddy,” Tabitha complains. “It’s just some stupid homework questions.”
“You got a letter sent home,” Drew points out. “It’s another level of seriousness now.”
It’s hard to take him seriously when, besides the trousers and the blazer, he’s blatantly out of uniform. Although, I’ve heard he’s crazy smart, so maybe he does care about his sister’s homework.
“Don’t forget, we’ve already done your classes.” Freddy smirks. “We know you’ve got an overall experiment to work on together.”
“Not today,” I say, edging away from them.
Freddy cocks an eyebrow at me. “You’re nowhere near started, are you?”
“My previous lab partner was onto something.” I halt my next step with a sigh. “But, I guess—now that I’m now stuck with your sister—no, I’m royally screwed.”
“Freddy, I’m not spending time alone with him,” Tabitha says firmly. “I wouldn’t feel safe.”
Concern softens Freddy’s expression. “What are you talking about?”
“She and her she-devil friends are spreading rumors I hit women,” I cut in before Tabitha replies.
“Tabby?” Drew latches onto his sister’s arm. “Is it true?”
Tabitha pouts. “He basically said it.”
“He said words you twisted, or do you have cold hard facts?” Freddy asks.
Phew. Maybe they won’t pummel me against these lockers.
When Tabitha shifts her weight, huffs, and mutters a response, her brothers dismiss her.
Freddy jingles his keys. “I’m done listening to this. Let’s go.”
I give her a sarcastic wave. “Bye, Tabitha.”
Freddy snaps his fingers at me. “I wasn’t kidding. You’re coming with us.”
“Pfft. I have plans.”
Drew deadpans me. “Doing what?”
His stare causes icicles to sprout along my spine. “Logan’s Point?”
Drew takes a single step forward, his stare hardening. “Come again?”
I gulp. “Umm. Studying, I guess.”
“Great,” Freddy cheers with his trademark pearly white grin. “Where do you want to study? A coffee shop?”
As I pack my bag, my heart drops into my stomach. Not Morton’s Café. This witch can’t step foot into Jamie’s workplace.
Tabitha sighs in defeat. “Just drop us at Village Coffee.”
Phew.
I hoist my backpack over my shoulder and blink at the brothers. “We’re really doing this?”
Freddy tilts his head, grinning disarmingly. “You don’t want a big, fat F, do you?”
“No, but it’s only a reading assignment,” I reply.
Drew marches ahead of us. “Good. Shouldn’t take you too long.” Freddy ushers us to follow, and Drew continues with, “Once you’re done with your homework, you can start planning your experiment.”
Tabitha snickers to herself. “How am I supposed to take him seriously? He’s acting so high and mighty, yet dressed like that.”
I bite down hard, keeping my expression flat. Even though I was thinking the same thing. I can’t respond. I’d rather not find out whether the rumors about Drew are true or false.
“Hey, Kai,” Tyler calls out. “Where are you going?”
I spot him standing off to the side with Lewis. They double-take at me walking with Tabitha; Drew marches in front, and Freddy at the rear.
“I’ll catch up with you guys later,” I call out. “I’ll text ya, okay?”
There’s no way I can admit to voluntarily spending time with Tabitha Jones. But in this predicament, can I really call my actions voluntary? By complying, I’m saving myself a whopping from her brothers.