Royal’s POV
“Oh FUCK NO!” I realize that my cursing wouldn’t change anything, but I still had to try, “I am not working with him,” ooh even I could taste the venom of my own words.
“Mr. Hawkson silence yourself while I continue on listing partners. Me, you, and Mr. Hugh will talk afterwards I can guarantee that.”
Cash raised his hands in a way that says ‘what did I do’ before sighing and waiting for the last few partners to be named. He was used to my shit at this point and also use to taking blame when often times it wasn’t actually his fault. Oops.
“This project will last for the rest of the semester and it is 50% of your overall grade,” great so now I actually had to try, “I will set aside one day a week in class for you to work on it, however, other than that this is a project between you and your partner,” we are going to kill each other, “during this project you and your partner will get to know everything about each other and then make different connections in any place around or out of town you go together. Finally, at the end of the semester you will make a presentation consisting of different factors that you have learned and made, which I will not tell you yet so you don’t look for only the specific things or places, and present it all in front of your classmates. Any questions?”
Why did you partner me with him.
“Yes, Ms. White.”
“Why is this project so big?”
“When you get older you will need to be able to get the right information out of people and make different connections easily. Sometimes with people you don’t know or like,” that felt targeted, “This project helps you learn how to do that. Any other questions?”
“Do you not like me?”
“What, Mr. Hugh?”
“Well Royal is going to kill me. I might kill him, but out of the two of us I think he’ll be more inclined to do it sooner.”
“There will be no murder on this project. That reminds me, however, Mr. Hugh and Mr. Hawkson let’s go have a chat outside. If anyone else had any more questions I can answer them when I get back. As of now you can use the rest of this class period to make a plan for you project with your partners.”
Then she walked out of class and we followed, “Mr. Hugh and Mr. Hawkson I understand that you two have your differences, however, you will try your hardest on this project and in this building you will act civilized. Meaning no more fighting on school grounds if you want to fight wait. My husband has already agreed if either of us catch you fighting again you both will be suspended from the football team. That is all. Do you wish to add anything?”
Before I was able to speak Hugh put his hand on my mouth, smiled, and shook his head. Honestly I don’t blame him cursing her out or protesting would not be the best thing to do in this situation.
“Good.”
We watched her walk back into class before I took his hand off my mouth, “don’t you ever fucking do that again,” he looked at me and walked back into class.
When we sat down together we just stared at each other for a long time, “what’s the plan?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“You may pretend like you don’t care about anyone or anything, but Royal you literally have straight A’s. So, what is the plan?”
“I don’t fucking know. I wing things and get lucky.”
He looked at me, sighed heavily, and put is forehead on the desk in front of him.
“Sit up,” I flicked his head which obviously annoyed him.
“Look, I don’t like you and you don’t like me that much is obvious, but will you please try to help me in this. It counts for both our grades.”
“Stop glaring.”
“Ya estoy tan jodidamente hecho contigo,” he told me to stop glaring so I smiled at him.
“What?”
“Nada.”
“For fucks sake Royal I can’t understand you.”
As I was about to reply, in more Spanish, the bell rang probably saving us from already breaking the no fighting rule.
He stood up faster than I’ve ever seen before, looking pissed, “goodbye.”
So I liked to annoy Hugh. That wasn’t the worst thing I’ve done to him. Finally standing up I walked to my next class which I did not have with Cash. Thank you whoever made our schedules. Now I wouldn’t have to see him till English, which, ironically, my mom teaches and was coming back in a week after her maternal leave was finally over. Not that she needed it saying I took care of Chicago more than she did.
Time skip to English
“Royal!”
“What do want, Jas.”
“To thank you for saving me the other day.”
“How is telling you to talk to Tristan doing anything?”
“I don’t fucking know shut up and take my thanks.”
“So… what did Ms. Black talk to you and Hugh about?”
“If me and Hugh fight again we’re both on the bench.”
“That’s bullshit. Why didn’t you speak up for yourself.”
“Mr. Perfect thought it to be a good idea to put his hand on my mouth.”
“The only reason we should ever thank him.”
“Why did you cancel yesterday, Ives.”
“Tell you in lunch.”
The bell rang not letting me question her any further.
“It’s a workday do whatever you want. I’m heartbroken.”
Ms. Lee, our temporary teacher till mom gets back, was a fucking mess. She always came here with one story or the other of her tragic love life. Half the freshmen and even some sophomores guys, lesbians, bisexuals, pansexuals, and whatever else there was, even I was losing track at this point, had a crush on her when she first came, however, her stories have driven most of them away.
“Hey…. Um….. Royal?”
“What do you want, Sasha?” Nice girl despite the fact that she is always fucking stuffing her face with something.
I don’t know exactly when she transferred here, sometime last month, but she was always talking about her farm back in Montana and it was starting to get annoying so I unashamedly started to avoid her. It didn’t work.
“You’re close with Cash… right?”
I spun to meet her eyes. “What in the fuck gave you the impression I was close to Cash?!”
Forget the farm this girl was oblivious she must be living under a rock.
“Oh, I’m… I’m sorry. I just thought with how you are with each other…”
“We are NOTHING to each other.”
“So… you don’t have a way to get me near him or even just his phone number?”
“No, of course I have his phone number, and why the fuck couldn’t you wait until tomorrow to talk to him about this.”
I knew exactly why. Cash had gotten called out for a Doctors appointment and if she didn’t want to confront him it was a perfect opportunity for her to confront me. That is if she really thought we were close.
“I’m really sorry for bothering you, but…”
“If you want his number talk to one of his actual friends or for fucks sake TALK TO HIM!”
“Sorry,” she turned to walk away, but fuck my curiosity.
“What made you think we were close.”
“Well… you’re always together and you fight a lot yes, but the fact that you will also defend each other and stop the other from getting into bad situations gave me the impression that you guys were actually close and had a weird relationship.”
Jasper started laughing like a maniac before I hit is arm to shut him up the hell up, “you’re delusional and I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.”
She sat back at her seat again before lighting up and yelling at me across the room. I put my head down and prayed that I wouldn’t have to listen to whatever she was about to say.
“I was praying that you weren’t, but I even thought that you might be dating, since when I ran into your ex I got the idea that you will let people you care about treat you like shit.”
“What?” I was confused now. I’ve had a lot of relationships, but I don’t think I ever let anyone treat me badly. Honestly, it was usually the other way around.
“You know, Max. The way you guy’s relationship was described I thought it was horrible and I never would allow anyone to treat me that horribly, but you know some people do kinky shit.”
Fuck… no… how the hell did she just ‘run’ into Max?
“Who is this Max?” No… no… no, “I thought you were better than letting some girl trample all over you because you had a small crush,” shut up Ivy… she of course turned her attention away from me, “maybe I know her. What is it short for Maxine, maybe, I know a lot of Maxine’s.”
“What are you talking about? Max….” I stared daggers into her which shut her up real fast.
“Max is my ex’s real name. Parents gave ’em a boys name so what.”
“Whatever, you’re no fun. I want to here the juicy details.”
“Shut your whore ass up.”
I walked over to Sasha sat on her desk and smiled as politely as I could.
“We need to talk.”
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