✾

"So you finally understand it now?" I sigh, leaning back and crossing my arms. Who knew I'd be teaching the bad boy some of the easiest math in the class? "After one and a half hours?"

"Yes," he answers, nodding once in confirmation. "And hey, Princess, at least I learned."

"Right, so at least I can go now."

"You sure? I'm just saying, it doesn't look like you get a lot of action... If we both stay at my place—"

"I'm going, right now!" I shout, putting my hands over my ears. "I don't want to hear the rest of that sentence!"

"You need to lighten up," he informs me before smirking. "But sure, go. Feel free to change your mind if you get lonely tonight." Before I have a chance to respond, my legs are carrying me out the door.

Go me.

✾

"I would've taken him up on that offer," Sophie says, no shame in her words as she shrugs. "You're insane. However, I guess I'll have to forgive you because you're my best friend. Also because there's a party next Friday, so as my best friend, I have to drag you with me."

"Sorry, can't go," I immediately blurt out. When Sophie gives me an incredulous look, I just sigh. "Tutoring, remember?"

"Oh, puh-lease!" she scoffs. "For like, what? An hour? Hun, I know you're not that busy. I'll be at your house at six, 'kay? We'll spend an hour getting ready tops, then we're heading over to Amelia's."

"Amelia?" I echo. "But she's the devil's spawn."

"Yeah, well, the devil's spawn also throws f*cking awesome parties. Speaking of which, did you hear about Pierce and Amelia's affair last month? Rumor has it that he left her after he found out she was pregnant with twins. But—"

"They say he gets the girl pregnant after every one-night-stand. Does anybody even have any proof he was with her?"

"Wow, Iris. Are you actually interested in my gossip for once? Also, has anybody ever told you you have a problem interrupting?"

"Maybe a couple times. Anyway, how many girls has he admitted to... well, you know, sleeping with?"

"Why do you suddenly care now, Iris? Does somebody have a crush?"

As I open my mouth to tell her I'm going to dump my hot chocolate all over her golden locks, the bell rings. Great, first period. Before I can even object Sophie's accusation, she's dashing towards the halls of Goalmont High.

✾

When the bell rings for the thousandth time today, I feel like I've been waiting so long that I can't even get my feet to push me just a bit further. And, as if my pessimism isn't enough for everyone, Sophie slaps my shoulder and screams in my ear. And it's a shrill scream.

"Julian and Pierce are coming towards us!" She gets a grip on my shoulders, shaking me so hard that I feel my brain actually shatter into a thousand little pieces.

"That's great and all," I reply with exasperation, peeling her hands off of my shoulders, "but I don't really care. Pierce is probably just going to ask me if he can skip tutoring for the next month without me telling anybody. It would be really stupid if he did ask that though, because he knows the answer is absolutely not. Teacher's orders."

"You guys are going to make the prettiest couple," she gushes, not listening to an actual word coming out of my mouth.

"Nope." I shrug one shoulder, getting a strange feeling that we've had this conversation before. "He's not my type."

"Opposites attract, darling."

"I won't believe it till I see it."

"Just wait. When you two are getting married and I'm the maid of honor, you'll see. By the way, I'm going to be the maid of honor when the time comes. I'll even sing the song! I take two steps forward, I take two steps back. We come together, 'cause opposites attract—"

I open my mouth to tell her that she's wrong again because I don't believe in marriage, but I'm stopped when Pierce interrups with, "So who's getting married?"

"No one!" Sophie freezes, looking just like a deer in headlights.

"What do you want, Pierce?" I start.

"You're smart, right?"

"Definitely!" Sophie nods. "She won't tell you that, but she has a 4.688 GPA and she's been in— Ow! Don't hit me, Iris!"

"Don't tell people things I don't want them to know," I refute. "Anyway, I probably seem book-smart to an imbecile like you. Why?"

"That hurts, Princess." He pouts, sarcastically putting a hand over his heart. "And it's because I'm having trouble with my anatomy class. We have to draw skeletons and I'm artistically impaired."

"Oh please," I scoff again. "I know skeletons like the back of my hand, sure I could draw one." I pause for a moment, then shake my head vigorously. "Wait a second, absolutely not! You're not using me for homework. Do it yourself."

"You can't even help?" He frowns. "C'mon, Princess. I thought you were better than that."

"Well, you thought wrong."

"Just help me with this one assignment. Then I'll leave you alone, alright?"

"Fine. Right after school again. But I don't want to stop and bicker and waste time, clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good."

I turn to Sophie, who catches me off guard when she checks Julian out. He notices her, and she quickly looks away while her cheeks are dusted pink. Julian smirks at her, but he doesn't say anything. They seem like they're in their own little trance right now.

That is, until Pierce flicks the side of Julian's head and I take Sophie's arm before storming off into the cafeteria.

"What was that?" I ask her. "Did you, Sohpie Williams, just check out Julian... whatever-his-last-name-is?"

"No!" She shakes her head. "I don't even know him, okay? And his last name is King, by the way. But it's not a crime to look at someone with a pretty face, is it? Blue eyes, Iris. Such blue eyes. And anyway, I check out plenty of boys."

"That's well and fine, but—"

"Also, Iris, you suck at flirting. You don't insult them like that, that was like... the worst possible thing you could've done."

"Sophie, let's get one thing straight, okay? Don't try to make me look better than I am in front of Pierce. I can assure you that we're never going to date."

"How about we remember this exact moment? And then, when you tell me that you're dating him, guess what I'll say? 'Told ya so!'"

"Not gonna happen."

"It totally is, dear. Anyway, since you're going to his place tonight, you should—"

"Nothing suggestive, okay?"

"No, dummy! Get your mind out of the gutter. I was going to say, before you so kindly interrupted me again, that you should see if Julian is there since I think they could be roommates. Tell me how clean they are, what the place smells like. You know, since you did a sucky job of remembering last time."

"Fine, whatever. But I think Pierce lives by himself."

"Don't, 'fine, whatever,' me, missy. These things are important to know. And that's why you're going over there, to take a look for me."

"Right..."

✾

Opposites Attract