Chapter 23: 17 - I'll ride with you guys

●●●

"Surprise test?"

"Surprise test!"

I groan, banging my head against the table. Why does this happen to me all the time? It's Monday, for god's sake. "Ugh, my life sucks. Chemistry sucks. Mrs. Wilson sucks. Everyone sucks."

"Aren't you a ball of sunshine this morning?" Ridge snickers from beside me, ruffling my hair. "Come on, banging your head on the table won't do you any good except for a giving you a headache."

Slowly, I lift my head up and look at an amused Ridge. I push my hair back from my face and glare at him, "You are happy because you already know everything that's going to be asked in the test. Me? I don't even know why I took chemistry in the first place!" But then realization strikes. "Wait, how do you even know that we have a chemistry surprise test today?"

"I heard Mrs. Wilson talking to the receptionist about some printouts. She was telling her that she's planning a surprise quiz for her favorite students." Ridge scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Favorite students my ass."

I chuckle at his expression, patting his cheeks softly. "Why? Isn't she your favorite teacher?"

His expressions turn into one of disgust, nose scrunching up in annoyance, eyebrow furrowed. "I'd rather die than spend an hour in her class. She's a devil! "

"I get your point. Now why don't you teach me that chapter. I don't wanna fail this test." I plead, pursing my lips. "We have an hour so we can cover the major parts of the chapter to at least pass the test." We had a free period this morning because our History teacher is absent. So Ridge and I decided to come to the library and get our work done.

He nods, then picks up his bag from the floor. Digging through it, he takes out a pen and the chemistry textbook. "So, we'll just do some important questions right now. And when school's over, I'll explain you the chapter in detail. That okay with you?"

"Fine by me." I reply, taking out a notebook to make notes. And we spend the next hour preparing for the not so surprise test.

●●●

"Lydia Herrington! There you are!"

I turn around when I hear a familiar voice yelling for me. Bruce stands at the end of the hallway, a big grin on his face, his hands in his pocket. I smile back at him, waving.

He makes his way towards me, pushing past the crowd of people who are scattered in the hallways, getting ready for their next class. As soon as he's right in front of me, he engulfs me in a hug, lifting me off the ground. "I missed you and your stupid face."

"Why are we hugging?" Before I can reply, Ashton pipes in. "You know what? I'm joining too." And another pair of arms come around me, squishing me between Bruce and Ash.

I wriggle in their grip, trying to breathe properly. "Guys, I need to breathe." I try to say, but it comes our muffled. They both let go after a few seconds after I protest. Smiling like crazy, they both wrap one arm around my shoulder, dragging me towards the gym area.

Oh yes, I have gym class with these goons and Ridge and Em and Tanner. I roll my eyes at them, removing myself from their grip. "Are you both crazy?"

They look at me like I'm the crazy one. "You don't know that yet?"

Face-palm

Why do I even bother with these people? They are crazy! CRAZY!

Huffing, I walk faster and away from them! But of course, they catch up. "Don't be like that Lydia. Didn't you miss your best friend?" Bruce mutters, pouting like a small kid.

Ashton hits the back of his head. "You look like a pig doing that thing with your lips. Don't ever do that again."

"Really, see this then." Bruce says, puckering his lips more, making kissing faces at Ashton. Ashton pushes him away, but Bruce comes back to do the same again.

"Guys! Gym class? Coach angry? No late? Remember?" I try to get their attention. But they are still busy in their own world, fighting like kids. "Boys!"

They snap their heads in my direction when I yell. I point my finger towards the gym and glare at them! "Gym, now!" I stomp my foot on the ground and walk away, making sure that my feet thump on the floor loudly. They both follow quietly, and then we separate when we reach our respective locker rooms. I get inside the locker room, and head straight to my locker to find Em already waiting for me, wearing her sports uniform.

"Why are you so late?" She asks me, sitting on one of the benches, tying her shoe laces.

"Ugh, don't ask." I mutter, putting in my locker combination to get my uniform. I take out my clothes, and shut the locker. At least they have good taste when it comes to choosing the uniform. Black school jersey, boy shorts and Nike sports shoes.

Just what I like.

Quickly, I change into them, not bothering to get into one of the cubicles or the washrooms because I really don't have the time to do so. I crouch down to tie up my shoe laces, looking up at Em. "So, how was your first day here?"

She shrugs her shoulders, throwing her hair in a ponytail. "Not that bad. People know that I'm already friends with the popular crowd, courtesy of Bruce's funny introduction in the morning, so they have tried approaching me, trying to offer help in any way possible."

"Any way possible?" I raise an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, study dates." She scoffs, shaking her head. "People don't get the hint that I'm fine on my own."

I snicker at her expression, standing up. "Come on, let's go."

"Yeah."

●●●

"So, are you up for our study date today?"

I tilt my head up in confusion. Ridge blinks at me when I give him a look that says I don't remember anything related to that matter. He shakes his head at me, muttering something before looking at me with amusement. "You wanted me to teach you chemistry, right? How did you forget that?"

Oops. "Sorry, it slipped my mind." I press my lips into a thin line, mentally scolding myself for forgetting something important.

"Clearly." He retorts, rolling his eyes, then speaks up again. "So, your place or mine?"

I think about it for a moment. My place will be free because neither dad's home from his trip, nor Martha. Tanner and Em decided to go shopping because they need to get some school supplies, so they will be back late. I refused because I was not in the mood. "How about my place? No one's there to disturb us."

"What will you guys be doing alone, huh?" Tanner's voice comes from behind me. He comes in between Ridge and I, swinging his arms around our shoulders. "On a second thought, I don't wanna know."

His facial features twist into one of grimace and disgust. He shakes his head repeatedly, groaning. "Images, go away!"

I swat this arm away, elbowing him in the ribs in the process. "Go irritate someone else, we are busy."

"Busy doing what?" Erica skips towards us, Trish and Kiara trailing behind her, snickering about something quietly. She them stops suddenly, her eyes going wide. "Never mind, I don't wanna know the details. Share them with Bruce."

"What about me?" And here comes the curious voice of Bruce, from my right side.

What's with everyone popping out of nowhere today?!

"Erica will tell you." I jut my chin towards her. Soon enough, Trish, Kiara, Eric, Ashton, Neil and Em join us.

"So, what are your plans for today?" Neil asks, raising an eyebrow at Tanner. "You were saying something about getting a few things from the mall, right?"

"Oh yeah." Em replies, before Tanner can say anything. "We need to get a few things for school. Why?"

"Nothing, I just need a new binder for my music class. Mind if I join you guys?" He asks, scratching the back of his neck, biting his lip.

"Of course." Tanner pats his back. "You can show us around then."

Neil gives them a grateful smile. "Cool. We'll head to the mall now, then?"

"I'll join you guys." Trish states. "I need a few things too."

"Me too." Bruce adds.

"Why do you wanna join us?" Trish turns towards him, frowning.

"I don't wanna feel left out, that's why." He responds, puckering his lips up in a pout.

"You say left out as if everyone's going." Ashton mutters, rolling his eyes. "Drama queen!"

"Queen?!" Bruce gasps, his eyes widening dramatically. "Do I look like a fucking woman to you? Do I have long hair? Do I have boobs? Do I--"

Eric clamps his mouth shut with his hand, dragging him a little away from Ashton, who's laughing along with everyone else.

"How about Lydia and I meet you at the food court at six?" Ridge suggests. "It's only three right now so we'll finish studying in the mean time and meet the rest of you in the mall?"

"That's a great idea." I agree with a nod.

"Then, Kiara and I will also be there." Eric affirms, looking at Kiara in confirmation. She shrugs, smiling.

"And I'll ride with you guys." Erica says, before pausing to look at Ashton. "Ash, you in?"

"Hell yeah. Who says no to food?" He smirks, nodding.

"Great!" Bruce claps his hands together. "It's gonna be fun, guys!"

●●●

"So, what do you wanna do first?" Ridge asks, propping down on my bed, folding his hands under his head.

"First, I need a break. Some food and music." I reply, throwing my bag on the couch. I head inside my closet to get my Bluetooth speaker. When I get it, I head out to find Ridge sitting up straight, a book in his hand.

"I figured you wouldn't wanna study." He pauses, then continues, "But we will study or you'll fail chemistry. And you don't want that, do you?"

I ignore him, connecting my phone to the speaker. Going through my Spotify, I put on a random song.

"Lydia?"

"What?!" I snap my head towards him.

He gives me a bored look. "You have five minutes."

I ignore him yet again, singing along the song. "Cause it's too cold whoa, For you here and now,"

"Then turn on the heater."

"So let me hold whoa, Both your hands in the holes of my sweater."

"For your information, you're not wearing a sweater."

"Oh, would you just let me sing in peace?!" I glare at him, hitting the pause button of the song. Songblocker!

"Uh no. Because we are supposed to study, not have a house concert where the lead singer completely sucks." He comments, opening his chemistry textbook. "Now get here, and do as I say."

I smirk, walking towards him slowly, swaying my hips. "Okay, daddy." His eyes darken slightly, lips parting in surprise but he doesn't react.

Giving me an eye roll, he says, "You're impossible."

I chuckle at him, sitting down on my bed, right in front of him. "Sorry, won't distract you again."

"Good girl."

Two words. Two fucking words and I feel myself crumbling. It makes me feel all sorts of things I shouldn't feel. I shake off the wild thoughts and look at him to find him already looking at me with dark, hooded eyes. "Focus here now."

"Yes sir," I whisper.

He hisses quietly, adjusting himself on my bed to get more comfortable. I know what he's trying to do. But I refrain from saying anything. He grumbles something along the lines of self control and patience, before looking at me again.  I bend a little forward, pecking his lips. "Let's just start studying please."

He rolls his eyes, but I see a trace of smile on his face. Satisfied, I pull away and sit up straight. "Right, what do we have to do now?"

He opens the book and then starts explaining the chapter, topic wise. In the next hour and a half, we finish the chapter, and then he given me another thirty minutes to mug up all the important questions. I take my sweet time, learning all the important details.

"Done." I close the book with a loud thud, proud of the fact that I covered an important part of the syllabus in a matter of two hours.

Self pat on the back, Lydia.

"You're not done yet." Ridge declines with a shake of his head. "Revision first."

"Ugh, no please." I whine, throwing my head back in annoyance.

"Yes please." He gives me a sarcastic smile. "So, give three uses of Histamine."

I huff, but answer anyway. "Histamine is a potent vasodilator. It contracts smooth muscles of bronchi. It is also responsible for nasal congestion associated with common cold and allergic response to pollen."

"Good. Give two examples of antidepressant drugs."

"Phenelzine and Iproniazid."

"What is tincture of iodine?"

"Iodine's 2-3 percent solution in alcohol is known as tincture of iodine."

"Okay, you know most of the stuff. Now, give an example of a substance that acts as both antiseptic as well as disinfectant."

I close my eyes and try to recall the answer to this question. The wheels run in my brain, visualizing the answer. "0.2 percent solution of phenol is an antiseptic while it's one percent solution is a disinfectant."

"Last one, and then you're free. Define an antibiotic."

Easy. "An antibiotic refers to a substance produced wholly or partly by chemical synthesis, which in low concentrations inhibits the growth or destroys microorganisms by intervening in their chemical processes."

"And, you're a genius!" Ridge closes the book, flashing me a big grin. "I'm so proud of you sweetheart."

"Thanks." I grin at him cheekily. "Now let's go, or we'll be late to meet everyone else."

●●●

Hope you liked the chapter! And if you did,

Don't forget to vote and comment :)

It makes my day!

Next update soon!

Till then,

Stay Happy!