Page 38 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“I know enough not to mistake Jamie for my girlfriend.”
“Okay,” Milo grunts, swirling his milkshake straw. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“You should be,” I say at a higher volume than I meant.
“Boys.” Maddy’s voice is full of concern as she moves over to our booth. “What’s the matter?”
I fling a hand at my brother. “Boy-wonder here asked if there was something happening between me and Jamie.”
As Maddy cups a hand over her mouth and shoulders shake in a silent laugh, in the background, Jamie’s disgusted voice yells, “Eww!”
Maddy turns around, padding the air with her hands. “Jamie, volume.”
“Sorry, Maddy,” Jamie replies. “Just vomiting last night’s dinner.”
Maddy rolls her eyes. “Charming.”
“See,“ I tell Maddy. “You think my brother’s a genius, but he’s not. You shouldn’t want us to be more like him.”
Maddy smiles kindly at Milo. “Maybe he’s just a born romantic.”
Again, a guttural groan comes from Jamie. “Eww.”
Maddy leaves us, and I can’t help smirking at Milo. “Idiot.”
With an eye roll, Milo sucks from his straw and then mutters, “Good one.”
8
Thisisridiculous.Ugh.Why did Cammy and I have to beso loudwhen we talked in class? Although, I doubt we disruptedeveryonefrom learning what Mrs. Field was droning on about.
I mean, is it really our fault that other kids can’t concentrate? Isn’t it up to them to pay attention to their teacher? I can’t force them to learn this gibberish. Besides, shouldn’t Mrs. Field take some responsibility? Or is this part of her game? She can’t admit she’s a bad teacher, whose whole class has zoned her out.
Oh my gosh, this cow has made every single student switch seats just because she can’t control her classroom. And even worse, she’s blaming me and Cammy for her shortcomings. Should we report this? Our principal should probably know about this appalling behavior.
Ugh. Mrs. Field has likely already brown-nosed Principal Harvey and blabbed about her allegedly unruly students. I wouldn’t put it past her. She did tattletale to my mom, for crying out loud.
So, here I am, sitting next to Kai Freaking Nelson, of all people. Truly, I should be worried about my wellbeing. Without warning, this guy goes nuclear, taking out anyone in his vicinity. Worse, he has no problem with browbeating women. How is he still enrolled at Ashworth Academy? I betit would appal the Ashworth family to find out a guy like this roams their namesake school halls.
I clear my throat, staring at the page corners of Kai’s textbook stabbing through the pages of mine. “Umm, your stuff is on my side of the desk.”
Kai picks up a metal ruler and slides his book away from mine. “Wouldn’t want that,” he mutters. “I don’t know what kind ofdiseaseI could get.”
I sit back, offended. “Disease? From me? As if.”
He glares at me. “Oh, you don’t like when other people say such nasty things?”
I cross my arms. “Why should I be surprised? You say nothing but nasty things.”
He taps the metal ruler against the desktop. “Only when provoked.”
I click my tongue. “Is that a threat?” I toss my curls off my shoulder. “Anotherthreat?”
“I shouldn’t be surprised you ditzes have to twist my words to fit your narrative.”
“We don’t have to do anything. Your actions speak louder than words.”
He smirks. “So you confirm you’re all legit ditzes?”
