I walk into my language arts class and head straight to the back of the room. I sit on the right side of the classroom because honestly, I don't feel like getting yelled at today by a certain boy. 

The bell rings and the rest of the students file into the room. Halden and his friends walk in and they head to the back row. They sit down at the desk across from me where I had sat yesterday.

None of them look my way and I pray they don't. It's bad enough that I have classes with them but to be friends? Uh uh. No way in hell. Over my dead body.

"Okay students. So today we are starting a project and you will be in pairs. You and your partner will have to write the opening scene for an original play. I suggest you study the structure of the script you choose. The script will include opening stage directions, character introductions, and dialogue. Then you will write an analysis. This project is worth half your grade so I suggest you do your best. Any questions?" Mr. Harley says.

A guy in the middle row raises his hand.

"Yes, Simon?" The teacher asks.

"Can we choose our partners?" He asks.

"No, I will be assigning you, partners."

The class groans and some people mutter profanities under their breath.

Whoever I get, I hope the person isn't stupid or annoying. The person better not expect me to do all the work either.

"Ok so now I will be assigning you, partners. Layla and Kevin, Simon and Emily, Rose and Madison, Luke and Julian, Samuel and Issac, Ava and Kaiden, Skylar and Grayson, Anna and  Hailey, Aaliyah and Halden."

You gotta be kidding me.

Out of all the people in this class, I get stuck with this motherfucker. Oh, how the universe hates me.

People start moving around the room to their partners but I just stay seated because honestly, I don't feel like getting up and sitting by him is a disaster waiting to happen.

The chair beside me slides out and Halden sits in it. He glances at me for a moment and then looks straight ahead with his arms crossed over his chest. Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

I notice that he's wearing a white t-shirt that fits him tight across the chest and ripped-back jeans and white Nike air forces. His hair is messy like he'd ran his hand through it a million times or didn't bother to brush it this morning. He also has this blank look on his face so I can't tell if he's pissed or annoyed at me.

"Now that you guys are with your partners, get started on your project," the teacher said and then he sits down at his desk.

"Ok, so what play do you- "Let me stop you right there," Halden interrupts me.

"You're doing this by yourself. I'm not doing anything nor do I have to. Just do the project and I'll pay you next week. Okay?"

I stare at him like he's crazy. I know this boy did not just say he will pay me for doing the whole project.

"Yeah, no thanks. I'm not your maid which means I'm not about to do your work. How stupid do you think I am? And paying me? Please. That might've worked on other people but not me. This is a group project which means we're both gonna do it so I'd like to get started thank you very much.

He just smirks like this is funny to him. "And what makes you different from other people?"

I raise my eyebrow. "Well for one I know my worth and two I'm not a pushover."

"And here I thought you were a stuck-up person," he says to himself.

"You thought I was stuck up? How?" getting pissed off.

He just shrugs. "You walk around the school acting like your better than everyone."

I glare at him. "Ok I don't know what gave you that idea but I just started at this school a day ago and people have already assumed things about me. Like they don't even know me and neither do you. So instead of calling me names and shit, why do you get your facts straight first."

For a moment he looks stunned but then quickly covers it up with a mean glare.

"Aww, you're mad? I honestly don't care. It sounds like a personal problem anyways." glaring and putting my AirPods in my ear.

I listen to some music and just play a game on my phone. Halden and I don't say a word to each other for the rest of the class period. I don't even look at him and he doesn't look at me at all.

When that bell rang, I rushed out of there so fast, not wanting to be near him anymore. Putting my notebooks in my locker, I head to the bathroom before I go to class.

I go into a stall and close the door. I hear the bathroom door open and I can tell it's three girls because their heels are clicking on the floor.

"So are you and Halden together or what?" One of the girls asked.

"I told you this already. We've been together and always will be together. We are in love," another girl says, her voice sounding very familiar.

"Y'all are the cutest couple. You gonna win prom king and queen," the first girl who spoke says.

"Wait but prom is months away. And that's if you win," another girl says.

"Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. Don't you know I win everything? I'm the most popular girl in this school. People want to be me and guys want to date me but they can't? Can they? Because I'm better than everyone and I always will be," the girl with the familiar voice says who I now recognize as Brittney.

They leave the bathroom and I open the stall and walk up to the sink. I wash my hands and leave the bathroom. The hallway is mostly empty so I hurry to my class.

*******************************************

"He called you what?" Kinsley shouted, getting some looks from the other tables.

We're at lunch and I told Kinsley and Jocelyn how I'm partnered with Halden for a project and that he called me stuck up.

"He said he thought I was stuck up because I walk around acting like I'm better than everyone," rolling my eyes.

Kinsley scoffs. "Wow, the nerve of that guy. I should go and slap him upside the head."

"Nah don't do that. He's not worth it," munching on my fries.

"Yeah she's right Kinsley," Jocelyn agrees.

Kinsley huffs. "Ok but if he says anything else to you, you tell me and I'll deal with it."

I smile at her. "Thanks."

"No problem. That's what friends are for," she smiles back.

The doors of the cafeteria burst open and a boy comes running in sounding out of breath.

"THERE'S A FIGHT IN THE GYM!" The boy shouts.

The girls and I look at each other with wide eyes and we run out of the cafeteria along with everyone else.  We get to the gym and there's a large crowd, blocking the doorway.

"How are we gonna get through?" Jocelyn shouts.

"We just push through," I say. 

I push through the crowd earning some glares but I pay them no attention.  I get through the crowd and the sight before me is shocking.

Halden is on top of the other boy, punching the shit out of him. Blood is flying everywhere and the boy on the ground isn't even fighting back.  The boy on top has lost control and he is not stopping at all. 

"Holy shit," is all I say.

Nobody seems to want to stop the fight. Most people are either recording from their phones or cheering on the fight. 

Two people break through the crowd and it's Kaiden and Grayson. They run up to Halden who's still punching and try to pull him off but he pushes them away. They try to pull him off again and they finally get him off but he's still struggling in their arms. Kaiden whispers something to him and he stops struggling. He looks up at the crowd and his eyes meet mine before looking back at the boy who's still on the ground, unmoving.

"GET HIM OUT OF MY SIGHT NOW," Halden shouts.

Three guys with football jackets walk up and grab the guy from the ground and leave the gym.

"SHOWS OVER NOW. LEAVE!" Kaiden shouts and everyone quickly leaves the gym.

"Oh my god. Did you see the way Halden was punching him?" Jocelyn says as we walk back to the cafeteria again.

"Yeah I know but this time it was worst. I wonder what Elijah did this time," Kinsley says.

"Wait what do you mean this time? And who's Elijah?"

"Elijah was the guy getting beat up," Kinsley tells me.

"Ohhh. So this is not the first time he's gotten beaten up by him?"

Kinsley shakes her head. "Nope and the last time he ending up with a broken arm and leg."

"Damn. Seems like this Elijah guy has a death wish."

"Oh definitely," Kinsley agrees.

We throw our trash away and grab our stuff because lunch just ended. Everyone's talking about the fight and nobody knows how the fight started.

I promised my brother that I was gonna stay away from Halden and I was going to do just that but now that we are paired for a project it's going to be a lot harder than I thought. Lord, give me strength because I am going to need it.

A/N:

I'm back guys after like two months!! I'm so glad to be back updating this book and I'm sorry it took me so long to publish this chapter but I hope you guys enjoyed it.

What do you guys think of that fight?
Do you have any theories of why Halden and Elijah fought?
This was my first time writing a fight scene so I was nervous lol. Do you think I did well?

Also, Halden calling Aaliyah stuck up was so uncalled for am I right?

Make sure you Vote, Comment, and Share this book!!

Love you guys!