I don’t know which vengeful god I angered this morning, because they were definitely out to get me. The universe was like; “Okay, Ellie, it is your time to face unpleasant situations for no apparent reason.”

When I got to Chemistry that morning, I was particularly early. Mr. Dobrin glanced at me with a little nod of approval and satisfaction that I wasn’t late to his class, before going back to searching for whatever he was searching for in his drawer.

There were only a handful of students, and ignoring the looks they were still giving me, I snaked through the chairs and tables to my seat and got out my textbook and notebook. Even though it made me feel disorganized, my backpack had to go into the little space under the table, since my locker was now ruined.

The other students filtered in quickly, and Tamie, almost late and looking a bit disoriented, walked in last.

She made her way, slightly wobbling to her usual seat next to me, and sat down without a word, only offering me a tight smile and placing her textbook on the table with a loud smack.

“Are you okay?” I asked in a whisper. Mr. Dobrin had already started the lesson, so I didn’t want him calling me out on not focusing in his class again.

Tamie glanced at me, her face scrunched up in pain. “Period.” She gasped out, lowering her head on to her textbook and placing a palm to her lower abdomen with a stifled groan of pain.

I wanted to tell her to get a pass and go to the nurse’s office, or even go home because cramps were no joke and there was no way in hell she would be able to focus on what Mr. Dobrin was teaching.

I mean, I couldn’t focus on what Mr. Dobrin was saying and I wasn’t in severe pain, or on my period.

Whatever I had in mind to say to Tamie, it got lost into the void of forgetfulness, where nothing could be remembered and words were just letters floating around defying graving.

He walked in.

Yes, douchebag. The guy I spilled coffee on, and the one I was currently dying to punch in the face.

I’m gonna enjoy this. I quietly thought to myself.

He was late and would inevitably get at the very least a scolding from Mr., Dobrin, if not a tardy slip. However, I watched dumbfounded, as he sauntered straight past the teacher, without even sparing a glance at him and Mr. Dobrin pretended to not see anyone come in.

My jaw was hanging open. I know that for a fact.

Douchebag headed straight for me, and the students’ gazes followed him. The cocky smirk was still there, and for a moment, I almost expected him to slam a hand on my table and usher a threat.

Almost.

He pivoted at the last minute and plopped down in the empty seat next to me.

That was when Mr. Dobrin finally cleared his throat to get the class’s attention back, that was when I finally closed my mouth that had been ajar like an idiot, and that was when the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place.

For a full minute, I stared at my chemistry textbook, eyes wide, zoned out of existence and solving the mystery like I was Sherlock Holmes, while awfully aware of the presence next to me.

I stole a glance at him and he raised one eyebrow, his face now stoic and mouth set into a thin line that almost looked like a frown.

This douchebag right here, is Carter Dane Hawthorne, aka the King of Aces, aka my assigned lab partner.

Now, I’m not even gonna lie about this. In that moment of realization, I felt chills creep down my spine, and a horrible feeling that felt like being trapped under a ditch and realizing there wasn’t anything to bring you up. What sort of shitty luck am I having these days? Who did I offend for karma to come and bite me back with no warning?

I still wasn’t completely able to process how he didn’t even get a scolding from Mr. Dobrin, after being so late to class. He walked in like the class was his bedroom, and nobody even questioned his behaviors.

I stole another glance.

“Take a picture, it lasts longer.” He murmured, playing around with a ballpoint pen and tapping his leg impatiently, like someone eager for the class to finish so he can go make mischief and destroy lockers.

“It wouldn’t be the same without coffee dripping from your hair.” I shot back, straightening my spine and turning away from his general direction.

I wanted to hit a nerve and get a reaction, and I did, because his leg stopped bouncing and he dropped the ballpoint pen. Doing a ninety-degree turn, douchebag faced my chair, his face quickly contouring into a scowl.

My heart rate increased, and I prayed he wouldn’t lean in any closer than he already was. Mostly because I didn’t want to impale my pen into his neck. It’s a possibility if he penetrated my comfort zone. Like I said; I go into fight or flight mode. Sometimes both at the same time, sometimes one after the other.

For once, the universe spared me from impulsively murdering a person, and the douchebag didn’t get any closer.

“Did nobody warn you not to mess with me?” He gritted out, his British accent making the sentence seem unnatural to me. It was like hearing someone say ‘Chewsday’ instead of ‘Tuesday’ on tv.

“Did nobody tell you high school clichés are dead?” I snapped, also making a ninety-degree turn and facing him. My knee was bumping his, but I didn’t really care about my comfort zone bubble because 1. I was pissed at this asshole, 2. I needed him to know I was pissed at his behavior and that I wasn’t someone to mess with and 3. Like I said, I was pissed at this asshole.

He looked slightly taken aback, because it took a heartbeat or two to come up with his comeback. Or maybe he was just dumb.

“Don’t test me, sweetheart.”

Yeah, he’s a douchebag, an asshole, and has no cool insults.

Lame!

“I don’t give two shits about whatever hierarchy you think you’re ruling, asshole. And if you call me ‘sweetheart’ again, I’ll show you that there’s nothing sweet about my heart, douchebag.” I said.

I admit, at this particular point, I was getting confident. Maybe too confident. I was aware of the silence in the class, as everyone soaked up our exchange, not daring to breathe in case they might miss an expression or a slight change in tone. Even Mr. Dobrin had fallen silent.

I don’t like being in the spotlight, but if the light shines on me, you bet your life I’m going to make sure I give the audience a show worthy of their time.

“What did you call me?” Carter asked with disbelief, while slowly getting up, so he could tower over me.

I stood up too, stepping closer to him intimidatingly. My concept of comfort zone had disappeared like a wig yeeted into the large expanse of our universe. I flipped my hair with attitude, crossed my arms over my chest and stared up at him defiantly.

The height difference was kinda significant, and I contemplated standing on my chair to give my naturally tall height a boost so I would tower over him instead of it being the other way around. However, the thought of losing my balance made me discard the idea.

“Your rightful title; Douchebag. What are you gonna do about it? Print more childish papers and put them in my locker as a ‘threat’? Please, you’re in senior year, not in middle school, grow up and act like it.”

The students gasped, and a look of outrage made Carter’s eyes widen.

Unseen to the eyes but felt by me, the little angel Ellie on my right shoulder was freaking out and telling me to take it easy, to back down, to be the bigger person. What if he slaps you, or throws a punch? You can’t take him up in a fight…

Then you punch him right back! The little devil Ellie on my left shoulder replied, jumping up and down with the adrenaline and rush of excitement because for once, the spotlight was shining on her and she had the upper hand.

Don’t be ridiculous! Just ask to go to the bathroom… -angel Ellie.

At this point? Its already too late. You’re too deep in. Plus, everyone is going to think you’re weak if you do that. Stand your ground! I repeat, do not budge from your spot! He deserves it anyways… -devil Ellie.

Carter was about to say something when Mr. Dobrin cleared his throat.

“Kellerman, you’re disrupting my class. Detention.”

The adrenaline rush died away, and I whipped back in shock, staring at Mr. Dobrin who was in front of the class, slumping in his chair. My head had turned so suddenly and quickly, that my hair smacked Carter in the chest.

Devil Ellie gave a little dance of satisfaction and triumph one last time, before disappearing with a poof. Angel Ellie disappeared with a poof after a sigh and shaking her tiny head sideways in disapproval.

I continued staring at Mr. Dobrin in disbelief. I was still waiting for the second part of his punishment. If I got detention for disrupting his class, surely douchebag named Carter should also get one, right?

But Mr. Dobrin only pushed up his glasses higher on his nose and resumed writing on the chalkboard.

I stood speechless, as the students focused back on the teacher. I wanted to say something and point out how unfair the whole situation was, and argue that he should get detention too, but nothing came out of my mouth for a solid minute.

I huffed, defeated, and slowly sank back down into my chair.

“Mr. Dobrin, I want one too…” Carter said.

The students turned around again, like stupid automated machines, eyes wide and the whispers rising up. My eyes were wide too, and doubtful, as I looked from Carter to Mr. Dobrin.

“Settle down class. I’d only be too happy to include you too, Hawthorne. Detention after school.” The teacher replied, before going back to his work.

Was I dumbfounded? Understatement of the year. I was flabbergasted to say the least. What had made him ask for detention too? A feeling of guilt and righteousness knowing I wasn’t the only one guilty of disrupting the class? Highly unlikely. Why did he even have to ask for detention in the first place? It was obvious to everyone that we both deserved detention.

Something told me he wanted to finish what he started.

“Congratulations, you just killed yourself.” Tamie wheezed out, giving me a grin that appeared more like a wince, getting up and almost toppling to the ground, then getting a pass from Mr. Dobrin and heading out the door.

Like every wise person has said:

It is what it is.

P.S, Tamie had quoted what Minho from The Maze Runner said after Thomas entered the maze. So, in a way, she still acknowledged my bravery. And possible stupidity, but well, we’ll see.