Three.

"Just admit what you did yesterday was wrong and go apologise to him." Principal Myers said in a bored tone, pushing his rectangular rimless glass up his nose as he read the school's reports.

I gave the short man a bewildered look.

"I could have gotten a concussion!" I said in exasperation. 

"But you aren't concussed are you? Look Alexandra, we've been at this for ten minutes and that's the longest interaction I've had with a student from this school. It's either you go apologise or a months detention for you." He said without looking up.

I knew he'd have my ass for that stunt. The swimming team had attracted many people towards this school and the scholarships too. He's making me apologise because he's scared that Ryder might quit the team.

I would've chosen detention easily, I swear I would, but if it's a months detention? I have no chose but to bruise my non-existent ego.

"Fine. I'll apologise." I managed to choke out.

Principal Myers lifted his head from the sheets and gave me a somewhat thankful look.

"You know what's best for you Ms. Summers," he said. "Now please get out of my office, I'm busy."

I sighed and fixed my glasses before standing up. I rubbed my hands together as I exited the office. The bell rung the exact moment I had taken out my chemistry tab, the last period before lunch.

My feet tapped against the tiled floors in a fast manner, trying to make it to class on time. My chemistry teacher, Mr. Richard, is a really nice guy. He's in his early twenties. Like, he never complains when you're late or anything. He just says; if you knew what was best for you, no one would tell you to come to class on time.

Those words are deep. 

After two minutes of twists and turns, the classroom came to view.

I throttled inside the room without a second thought. As expected, half of the class looked up to see the late comer. 

My eyes scanned the class, my eyebrows pinched together when I saw everyone was in three pairs. 

I made eye contact with Oliver, he smirked and raised a test tube in the air shaking it lightly, making the bluish mixture inside it swirl before mouthing 'you are fucked' to me.

I rolled my eyes and looked at my nice chemistry teacher. He raised an eyebrow, expecting an explanation. 

"Principal's office, I'm sorry I'm late." I said shortly.

Mr. Richard didn't say anything, instead, he just smiled and nodded his head. 

"It's okay, the lesson hasn't started yet infact, I was waiting for your arrival. The acidic principles, I have decided to make it a project. I know you have noticed that the class is in pairs, and there's only one group lacking a pair. Feel free to join Kiki Roderick and Ryder Anderson at the back please."

I think I felt my heart paltipate. Apologising to Ryder was one thing but pairing up with him was another. 

Oliver was right, I am fucked.

~*~

"F, we are definitely getting an F in this project. I'd rather go to a months detention than finish that project with Ryder." I ramble as we walk through the exit.

"What can I say, life takes it's turns." Tyson says beside me.

"I'm afraid Tyson is right Alex, when life gives you lemon–"

I cut May off abruptly before she could complete that sentence.

"Fucking take it and squeeze them in Ryder Anderson's eyes." I gritted out.

"Yeah, that's an option too." She smiled warily.

"But you apologized for yesterday right?" Ruth asked and my hands immediately flew up to my beanie, tugging the ends that had already reached my eyebrows.

"I apologized," I mumbled, face red from upcoming embarrassment. "He barely acknowledged me but an apology is a fucking apology, right?"

There was a chorus of 'of course', 'sure', and 'right' from my friends.

They really know how to calm me down.

"Alright guys, see you tomorrow?" 

"Tomorrow." They all agreed and we all went our separate ways.

I walked up to my car and unlocked it, before I could even set my things inside the car, my eyes caught the sight of my tires.

They were slashed.

I scoffed and slammed my bag on the roof of my car. I sank my fingers into my palm, trying to make sense of all this bullshit.

Seriously, why me?

A low chuckle reverberated behind me and I instantly closed my eyes, sucking in deep breaths knowing that whoever was laughing was responsible for this. If this was Martin, a random dude that I broke his nose in sixth grade because he messed up with Ruth, I'll rip his nose right off.

"Got a problem there Summers?" 

Damn, I should have known, I should have fucking known that he was the only crazy person who would do such thing.

So much for thinking it was Martin.

I dug my heels to the ground and spun around to face him.

"Seriously Anderson? What is this, seventh grade? You fucking slashed my tires."

He was closer than I thought, barely four feet away. His blue eyes seemed to darken at my words.

"You literally disgraced me in front of the whole school." He fumed.

I scoffed with disbelief. Why is everyone ignoring the fact that I was the one abused.

"You threw a goddamn apple at me!"

"You slapped me!"

"Well you don't have to be a little bitch about it because you started it first. If it made you feel any better, I fucking apologized. Quit being a dick for once in your life." I kinda threw it in his face.

"Well, you don't get to have a say in all this fork head."

I felt my heart shimmer a little when he called me that.

"Please, call me anything but that." I groaned.

"Apple?" He offered.

I scoffed.

"You're supposed to be emotionless and shit faced, not here slashing my tires and giving me nicknames. Especially slashing my tires." 

He gave me what was supposed to be a bewildered look but he just looked like he was constipated.

"I said I'm sorry for what happened yesterday Ryder, you can stop being a pussy." I said in a normal tone and grabbed my bag from the roof of my car, looping the straps through my arms.

I took out my phone from my pocket. If I called home it would take approximately twenty minutes before a car arrives. 

Ryder was still staring down at me so I threw my hands in the air and gave him an exasperated expression.

"What now? You want me to go on one knee and beg you or what?"

He looked at me for a second before his lips curled up to a shit eating smirk.

"Do that and I'll give you a ride home." He said.

"What makes you think I need your help?" 

"None of what I said was a question." His smirk widened and I sighed knowing that there was no winning in this.

After I had embarrassingly and literally begged for Ryder's forgiveness he finally said we could go.

"I don't see any other car apart from mine. Where's yours?" I asked, mostly out of curiosity.

"I didn't bring a car." He stated blankly. 

"It will be so corny if you are thinking on walking me home. Plus, I'd die on our way mostly because I'm hungry and the walk is 40 minutes." I told him as a matter of fact.

"I brought that." He said and inclined his head towards the far end of the parking lot, allowing me to get a good view of the rusty two wheeled vehicle.

"You have to be kidding me." I said, mouth agape.

Ryder snorted and started making his way to the death trap.

Scratch being fucked. I am double fucked.

*****

•••

Maryam M.B ♥