Chapter 7: Chapter 7

I was never so mean – let alone crazy. At times, I would just go to my brother – expecting him to deal with my problems for me. Which was why boy problems were never such a big deal, but now since he's in college, I'm doomed.

Glancing down, expecting to see notes, there were small words – words I didn't even know I had wrote. I frowned, seeing only 'Jesse' along most of it, with the adding of extra letters, so that it was more like 'Jessica'. On the side of the paper, there was also a rocket, with a stick figure attached to it...

After I saw that, I knew I had problems.

The history teacher droned on, talking most about the Civil War and famous documents that made impacts – though, in the back of the room, I was in my own bubble. While everyone wrote notes, I was drawing, conjuring up ways to get away with murder.

I heaved a sigh. I was never going to get through high school like this, with a short temper and maniac mind taking over my life.

Then again, I was never like this. Ever since Jesse enrolled in this school, I started to feel hate. Not the kind that someone would direct to a person who ditched them for new friends, but one that I was empowered to feel. Especially towards someone who didn't have a care in the world for the people they hurt– someone who had no worries, and got by easy.

Jesse had it made, I give him that much, but that didn't mean he didn't have to feel.

Minding my own business was far off now, since he was determined to bug me. And I couldn't bug him back, since he'd obviously take it the wrong way – a way I wasn't planning on heading.

As weird as it sounded, I felt like the oddball – the only girl who resisted him. But that was off, since I knew more girls hated him like I did, they were just smarter, and kept a distance away from him.

I felt idiotic, in the short two seconds it took for the bell to ring.

When I walked out, I almost made an illegal U-turn in the hallway, determined to go back into class – any class.

"You have a lot of nerve, don't you?" I asked, clutching my binder so I wouldn't attack.

He smiled – one that made me think he was going to shove me against the lockers and go for the kill – and shrugged, almost as if my actions were no surprise to him. If he kept this up, my actions would sure surprise him – as well as the authorities...

"I thought I'd be a gentleman for once, and walk a pretty girl to class."

I snorted, knowing he was as far off to a gentleman as there was. He noticed my reaction and tilted his head, stepping in front of me to stop me from trying to bypass him. "You do think I'm a gentleman don't you?"

"I would say yes, but...then I'd be lying."

He didn't let me go around him, making me grow worried. "I think we would be great friends if you weren't so stubborn."

I paused, eying him doubtfully. "Elaborate on the 'great', since you and I obviously have different meanings."

His curious expression fell, making it seem like he was more annoyed than I was. "This is why you don't have much friends."

"This is why I hate you."

He squinted his eyes, leaning forward – speaking fluently, since the halls were crowded and talking was hard to do. "I doubt that."

"Doubt all you want, it doesn't change the fact that it's the truth."

For the first time since I actually started talking to him, he was the one showing impatience. "You know, 'hate' is such a strong word."

"Which is why I used it. Unless...I could use, despise or loathe."

Something sparkled in his eyes – a shade that resembled a sapphire, a darkened one that was a rarity to see. "Loathe sounds a lot like love, if you ask me."

"To think you were smart enough to actually know what they meant..."

Before he could muster up a comeback, someone grabbed my arm – making me jump in surprise. "Carson, come on we have class."

Katrina looked cautiously at Jesse, unsure and confused as ever. The look in her eyes screamed that she was thinking the worst – I couldn't blame her, since in reality, I was spending more time with Jesse than I hoped for. Restraining orders never tempted me to fulfill before this moment.

After a short thought, Jesse moved to the side to let us pass him – and I stared at him, clutching onto Katrina. Who knew what he was planning? Maybe he wanted to shove me into a janitor's closet – the outcome would be deadly, surely I would rather be burned alive than be with Jesse in a closet for two minutes. Knowing him, he'd find loads to do in the short time...

To my great fortune, he didn't make an effort to argue about walking me. He just gathered his bearings, watching us walk out of sight, and disappeared. Katrina looked at me, as if I had the words 'guilty' in bold letters on my forehead.

"What?"

She sighed. "You made it clear that you hated him."

"Yeah, that hasn't changed."

My answer didn't seem to be enough to convince her. "That's getting hard to believe, you spend more time with him than me nowadays."

"Don't blame me, he's the one following me around," I said, growing irritated.

"Well then...be smart and run away from him. You know he's with Lauren, don't you?" Being the concerned friend she was, she could be bipolar when she wanted to be. At times it was as if all she wanted was for me to actually be with someone – regardless if he were Jesse or not – and at times she could be the older sister I never had, and not allow me to be with anyone at all. As a best friend, it was a miracle I hadn't slapped her already.

"I might be dumb – but I'm not that dumb." Of course, I was no genius, but I knew what was bad and what wasn't. I didn't even need to know Jesse, to at least acknowledge that he was bad news.

Then again, it was tougher to reach the level of smartness I had and avoid him – being that the psycho seemed to be stalking me. An action I wasn't too fond of.

After the class with Katrina, time passed faster than I desired. While I was sprinting to my car as if the school was on fire – I realized, that I was really running because I didn't want to run into Jesse again. So before I actually got into the car, I peeked in the backseat first. When I saw that there was nothing but empty bags, I went for the door.

I almost screamed though, at the sight of someone leaning casually against the hood.

"Hello, gorgeous. Need a ride?"

My bag was just screaming for me to whack him with it. "Do you need glasses, or do you not see the car in front of you?"

"Why drive home in a junk wagon, when you can come with me?"

"Because, as a boyfriend you're obligated to drive your girlfriend home. Am I your girlfriend? No. So go away," I opened the door, but Jesse shifted so that it slammed back shut.

"Please?"

My temper was rising, which made me clench my fist – preparing to strike, and make the imagination of the stick figures I drew come true. "No."

"Come on, Carson. Please?"

I froze, analyzing him thoroughly. "You know my name." It wasn't a question, but a fact I was too shocked to process.

"Duh, I might as well learn the name of the girl giving me migraines." His expression eased, but I could tell I was still on a level where I was on the borderline edge of annoying him. Rejection was probably something new to him – scratch that, it was new to him.

"I shouldn't be giving you migraines, I shouldn't even be of your concern," I noticed a small spot he wasn't blocking, and went for it. The door opened slightly, but he leaned against the car – shutting it with equal force.

"Just once. Just one ride, and I'll leave you alone."

I stopped, taking in the words slowly.

Leave you alone. That has to be one of the nicest things he's offered since I met him...

"How do I know you're not lying when you say that?" Even if he was indeed lying, there was nothing stopping me from getting Katrina and using her as a shield to get in the car. Just as I thought that, it seemed like he was stalling, making sure more and more people left the parking lot before he talked.

"You have trust issues – besides, what's so wrong with hanging out with me?" I could have sworn he looked offended. A smile wanted to show badly on my face, but I wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of making me do so in the first place – even if I was just smiling because he was a moron.

"I could think of so many, but to be honest I really have to get home." I made another attempt at going for the door, but like before, he moved so that I couldn't.

"Then why fight it? You're just wasting more time by arguing with me," he said, smiling in a way that made me worried – and quite infuriated at the same time.

I realized I had my keys in my hand, and the windows looked locked enough – so I tightened my grip on the bag and backed away from him. "Fine, I'll just walk."

Five steps, I only got in five steps before he was in front of me. "If you walk now, I'll act like a psycho and follow you."

"Pfft, it's too late for that. Besides, if I go with you – what about my car?"

He straightened up, looking around the parking lot – when he did this, I noticed his shirt tightened...as if he did it on purpose...

"Zack!" He yelled, waving his hand.

To my dismay, a boy who looked oddly familiar was by my side. "Yeah?"

"You take her car home? I'm driving her." He snatched the keys out of my hand, and tossed them to him.

Zack smirked, and I knew he got the wrong idea. "Where does she live?"

Both of them looked to me, and I felt my face go red with anger. Zack gawked, and lifted a finger and pointed at me. "You're Darren's sister, aren't you?"

Damn.

"I know where he lives, I'll bring it there later." He walked back to a group of friends, too caught up in their conversation to realize that school was over.

I turned back to Jesse, glaring at the smile on his face. "After you, my lady."

"Don't call me that." I stomped toward his car, with a deadly scowl engraved on my face. I had to admit, my car was far more efficient than his. But it was hard to keep thinking it, since his wasn't actually that bad looking. I wouldn't call mine revolting – since it wasn't, but his made mine look like a remote control car just by looking at it.

He appeared at the door, holding it open and gesturing inside. I hesitated, staring at him and then at the door.

"I have all day..."

I rolled my eyes and shoved the door, making him stumble backwards. The look on his face was priceless, so I scooted into the front seat and shut the door on him.

On the way to my house, I stayed silent – nodding here and there, but never trying to prolong any conversation. It was tough to say the same for him.

"You have a brother?"

"No."

He glanced at me, confused. "So...you don't even know Zack?"

"No."

"Are you lying?"

"No."

"Do you hate me?"

I turned to him, smiling. "Yes."

Catching on, he sank back in his seat and gripped the steering wheel, frustrated. When we reached the street to my house, he turned to me. "Which one?"

Telling him exactly which one would be a fatal mistake, so I lied – something that was growing easier to do. I pointed to the aged house beside mine, grateful that the people who lived there weren't present.

I opened the door, planning on escaping quickly, but I heard Jesse's voice before I could flee. "So, can I pick you up tomorrow?"

"No." My new favorite word...

He grimaced. "Why not?"

"Because your girlfriend needs the ride." Before he could protest, I slammed the door, and walked as slowly as I could to the neighbor's front door. Once I was on the front steps, I made a sharp turn - back to my house - when his car disappeared.

This was easier to do than I thought, but I was determined not to make it a habit.