Page 15 of Habits

“Get the fuck out of my personal space, Hill,” she hisses, not caring who hears her before she turns back to look at the teacher.

I catch some chuckles and catcalls from behind me, but I ignore my asshole friends.

For the rest of class, I don’t do anything to provoke her. I sit in my chair and listen to the teacher, although she’s boring me into an early grave. But before the class ends, I can’t help myself; I have to taunt her.

“You can say whatever you want, baby, but we both know you can’t escape the way I make you feel.”

She doesn’t reply, not that I expect it, but I know she heard me.

Just like I know she saw my message but decided to ignore it. Something I should do when it comes to her. This girl messes with my head like no other. If that’s not a clear sign to stay away, I don’t know what is. But no matter how hard I try, she pulls me in. Taunts me. Even in her silence, she demands my attention, and I can’t ignore it.

I can’t ignoreher.

The bell rings, drawing my mind out of the gutter. Jeanette collects her stuff and runs out of the classroom, not once turning to look at me.

I put my junk in my bag, listening to my classmates joke and talk shit.

When I get out into the hallway, I collide with Max.

“Hey! Is An…” But he doesn’t get to finish the sentence, because Jeanette’s voice travels down the hallway, making everybody stop and stare.

“Get a grip, girl. Just because my brother felt the need to arrange one play date doesn’t make us besties.”

Even from here, I can see the hurt flash on Amelia’s face as she takes a step back. Brook, on the contrary, wants to lash out at the girl hurting her best friend, but Amelia’s hand stops her from doing so.

“What the hell…” Max starts toward them, but I hold him back.

“Don’t.”

There is nothing he can do to make it better, and Jeanette is lost in the sea of students anyway.

Jeanette

Once the bell rings, signaling the end of class and the end of the school day, I grab my stuff in a hurry, not even bothering to close my backpack after I dump everything inside and run out of the classroom like my butt is on fire.

This guy will be the death of me.

Stupid Andrew Hill.

Who the hell does he think he is? Sending me those kinds of messages. Making me flustered and so not me while at the same time irritating the hell out of me. Coming into my personal space and demanding attention in front of the whole fucking class. If he wants to be the main clown, so be it, but he doesn’t have to drag me into his little show.

Just when I think I’m in the clear, I hear my name being called. Ignoring it, I continue down the hallway, but the footsteps soon come closer.

“Anette!”

“What?” I turn around abruptly, facing a winded Amelia. Her breathing is hard and her cheeks flushed from the exertion.

“Hi.” She smiles one of her sweet, innocent smiles, taking a deep breath in. “So I was thinking, maybe we could hang out this weekend? Go to the movies or …”

I tune her out, my eyes busy scanning the crowd for a mop of dark hair, an arrogant face and that over-the-top swagger that makes me want to punch something. Preferably him.

“Anette?” I guess I’m so preoccupied with trying to avoid Andrew, I don’t notice that Amelia is done. Her hand touches mine, a frown appearing between her brows.

Irritated, I pull away from her.

“Get a grip, girl. Just because my brother felt the need to arrange one play date doesn’t make us besties.”

Lia gasps loudly and Brook’s teeth clench hard as she takes a step forward, but I ignore both of them as I turn around on the heels of my feet and start walking toward the exit.

---