Raven was rarely this desperate in class as she had been today and the last few days.

  Her head was already pounding and got worse by the minute,

  her ears slightly tingling, the heavy smell of bitter-sweet sweat pressing down on her forehead.

  Raven assumed the ache she currently experienced was a parting gift from yesterday’s occurrence rather than her current predicament.

  The tingling sensation around her ears sharpened, and Raven heard a little new humming, mixing in with the older sounds.

  ‘Just one second—‘ groaned Raven inwardly. ‘Just one second of peace,’ she silently repeated, exasperatedly.

  However, the outside noises didn’t seem to cease.

  Raven hastily sucked in a breath, her teeth faintly grinding. ‘That’s literally all I am asking for.’

  Raven added more pressure on her pen, the tint seeping through the paper,

  her black doodles creating, progressively, a harsher contrast to the white page.

  It appeared that Raven had run out of luck once again—not that she had much to begin with.

  The constant, relentless voice of her seatmate was like a dull, static nagging in her ear,

  resembling more a tinnitus than a human voice, driving her almost insane before class even started.

  Raven was sure any kind of nice feelings or guilt she ever had toward that boy ran dry the moment he opened his mouth again and again, yet sadly never closed.

  He started simple with,

  “Hello Raven, how are you?

  I’m Adrien Anarché, and hopefully soon your new friend

  —but you probably already figured that out, so yeah “

  laughing in between to fill the the still gap's.

  A few questions here and there over the past days. Sure, the amount was above average for her,

  but put in comparison, it was in the normal range of someone who was trying to converse with another or befriend a person.

  Even so, all attempts were left unanswered on Raven’s side, giving the illusion he would keep it at that, realizing it wasn’t worth it and sparing them more awkward, unnecessary interactions.

  By now, it was clear he sadly didn’t share the same sentiment, so Raven simply stopped trying to listen after that.

  Was it considered rude? Maybe. Did she care? No.

  That boy could try out his preppy attitude everywhere she wasn’t.

  It wasn’t like she didn’t like him. She was sure he was a nice boy, and anybody would jump at the idea of being his friend;

  she just couldn’t be bothered enough to try. These luxuries weren’t reserved for her.

  If she slightly wavered before, she for sure knew now, after yesterday:

  ‘I couldn’t even just stay yesterday.’

  The tone dripping with contempt, bristling heat awaking inside the depth of her stomach, little spikes burning her heartstrings.

  ‘It was a pathetic sight,’ exhaled Raven softly, inhaling a small amount of cold breeze that swept through the open window, trying to cool her insides.

  ‘I am surprised he is still willing to talk to me. Just why? Why tolerate such behavior?’

  Raven felt an icy, featherlight pull on one of her charred heartstrings.

  She was unsure about a lot of things concerning him, but there were a few things she knew—could at least already surely assume:

  Everything about that boy screamed trouble.

  From the bright but somehow deep blue eyes to the shiny golden blond hair that was surely as fluffy as his body’s firm build, entrancing enough to walk into your own chaos to disrupt your order.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Being iced by his welcoming yet charming attitude, like icing on a cupcake.

  Adrien Anarché was dangerously sweet.

  Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she wasn’t.

  And maybe she was reading too much into him. Maybe she was right on him.

  But honestly, did it really matter?

  That boy could be a genuinely nice guy trying to really befriend her—for all she knew. And maybe that was even worse.

  The less he was associated with her, the better for him. She was sure he would see it soon.

  She was just sparing their time and pushing him in the right direction.

  To the place he belonged, to the place he could shine bright, beside all these popular yet pretentious people.

  After all, even in such groups, there were once in a while genuine people like her. Born to be adored and admired.

  This way, he had it simpler: hating her, or at least treating Raven the same as everyone else.

  Finding an easier connection to the others—not that he needed her help; only a fool would deny it. Their presence had a similar effect.

  She had no idea why she wanted to make it so easy for him, or at least make sure he had a real chance.

  Perhaps it was for her. Perhaps it was for him. Perhaps she would never really fully understand.

  Yet this didn’t change anything.

  Because, as annoying as he was, he didn’t deserve to get wrapped up in her shit just because he was trying to be nice or something.

  Being unknowingly beside her would cause him—or anyone else—more trouble than anybody ever signed up for.

  And even she wasn’t that cruel.

  So it was win-win for everybody, wasn’t it?

  Raven cleared her throat at the sudden dryness. Her mind was already wandering off again, ignoring the spreading soreness.

  Raven would have her peace, and he would be where he belonged, and she would be just a forgotten obstacle at the beginning of his high school year.

  Raven swallowed hard again.

  Meanwhile, the outside noises pressed harder.

  The sore throat silenced under the turned-up ringing, her mind clouding further.

  Unable to attend to either, the ache of her lungs combined with her brain.

  She was doing him a favor by how she was treating him. She was sure of it, but God help him if he didn’t stop soon;

  there was only so long her patience would hold.

  Well, at least she even tried the nice way.

  ——————————————————

  When the teacher came in, he brought with him the desperately needed quietness.

  It hung around him like a coat, radiating over the class with every movement he took.

  ‘ Bless him,’ resonated a low tone inside Raven.

  As the class started, Raven let out a sigh, rubbing her eyes, letting go of the pen.

  Her teacher would never know it, but he had stopped a coming bloodbath.

  Raven was at the end of her wits and ready to put the boy in his place while telling him to keep his annoying and irritating trap shut.

  Yet who knew she would have rather heard the boy talk her ear off than hear what the teacher had to say next?

  Mr. Mettwevs was known to be a strict, coldhearted, blank-faced teacher.

  Always unbothered but annoyed at the same time. In one sentence, he was a man who took no bullshit.

  “Well class, your last test results were below standard, but given your current pace, I didn’t expect any less. ”

  He waved his hand as if he was shooing away an unnecessary thought.

  “Anyway, despite my clear argumentation, the school made me ensure you graduate

  — in other words, it’s my problem, so I make it your problem.”

  His voice rough and tense, he continued after letting his eyes roam over their faces.

  “In favor of that, you will get to do an assignment—or call it a project; I couldn’t care less.

  It is considered teamwork, so work in a team; if you find yourself incapable of doing so, points will be deducted.

  I don’t tolerate that kind of nonsense.

  Am . I . clear? ”

  Pinching the brim of his nose, his tone took a sharper edge.

  “And as we are at that point, get your act together. I can hear your groans and see your eye rolls quite clearly.

  I am not thrilled to do this either, but you have only your results to blame.”

  Raven didn’t need to look around to know that a few students were already, ready to object —the last sentence weighing heavy on their tongues.

  “Furthermore, your partner will be your seatmate, so logically your current seatmate will become your permanent one.

  And no, you cannot change it.”

  a row of grunts made themselves heard, stopping Mr. Mettvews briefly.

  “And yes I couldn’t care less if you like them or not—without a valid reason, it stays.”

  His eyes roamed again through the class as if he was giving out a silent warning rather than a statement,

  and based on how Mr. Mettwevs usually behaved, it was exactly what he intended.

  “The project is to find out a way to help future students. I don’t care how you do it; just get the job done.

  This includes weekly reports presented to me on paper, a plan that includes all important planning steps, execution, and results written on paper.

  These papers are what I am going to grade. Feel free to mess up.

  I did my job anyway and gave you a chance to improve, and God knows more than half of you need it.

  You have the rest of the year to finish it. You can use the homeroom teacher class to work in school for it, but in math we are going to do math .

  Also, before I forget it, this project is going to count for half of your points in this class.

  Any questions? No? Great, let’s move forward.”

  At that, Raven, still in a haze, started looking around, trying to make sure that she wasn’t the only one who heard this nonsense.

  To no one’s surprise, she sadly wasn’t. She saw many raised hands presenting the students’ positions against the teacher,

  which were getting swiftly ignored, resulting in them slowly but surely putting them down to not miss the rest of the lesson.

  She would lie if she said she didn’t feel the same, and she wasn’t in utter disbelief.

  The warm room felt icy cold, the little hairs on her body standing.

  This was exactly what she needed: more work.

  For sure, they did badly, but they could manage. They still had some tests left.

  There was no reason for this other than to screw them over .

  And as if life wanted to show her how bad it was going to be, the moment she glanced at her seatmate,

  he—of course—had to already be looking at her.

  ‘He just couldn’t stop, could he?’ mumbled Raven inwards, the tune carrying a wistful tinge.

  The second their eyes locked, it was just like before

  —the intensive feeling of the need to continue watching and be watched, the mere act of being seen.

  This time, though, there was something else in his eyes—a spark of excitement, sharp and wild, like he had just found a new game worth playing.

  A new row of goosebumps rattled through her. She bit the inside of her mouth, awaiting the familiar pain before releasing it.

  She couldn’t keep looking. She shouldn’t keep looking.

  ‘Stop. Ignore him. Don’t react. Don’t give him that satisfaction. Don’t you dare,’ scolded Raven herself, over and over again,

  the tone harsh and steady, her face devoid and eyes darkening.

  Nevertheless, the warning came too late,

  dread settled over her as she deliberately pulled away, noticing the small satisfaction—the smirk that sat perfectly on his lips.

  ‘This asshole. This…—fuck. Just fucking great,’ Raven sensed a hard fast passing vibration on her right temple ,

  making her still for a sequence her body stiff, before straightening her shoulder, neck, legs and back .

  Breathing out, Raven focused her eyes on the teacher.

  After a while Raven gave up, she really tried to concentrate there was just this little nagging voice inside her .

  An unsatisfied voice. A daring one. It wasn’t loud but she could agree the smirk left a sour aftertaste in her mouth .

  The victorious smirk . It was blending enough to leave a lingering mark .

  It made Raven stomach twist and mind reeling.

  she just couldn’t leave it like that, based on what she knew she could still play it right.

  Give him a little help in exchange for her peace but with her little twist.

  Adrien Anarché thrived in being seen, whereas Raven thrived in being unseen.

  So what if she used the tool to keep him away also as one to deliberately way him down a little—as long as his interest lasted?

  Raven’s eyes sharpened and the sour taste wasn’t that bad anymore, as the idea formed, her lips fleetingly wavering.

  ‘What happened is done. That being said,

  game on, pretty boy.

  After all, we reap what we sow.’

  See you next Sunday!

  Teaser:

  “If treachery was a human, it would be Tyler.”

  — Love, (N.N)