[ C h a p t e r - F o u r ]

Chapter 4

"Maybe we should sit somewhere else," Jonah stated, causing me to jump. He laughed before approaching me. "It's snowing."

"Thank you, Mr. Weatherman," I retorted, biting into my burger. The flurries were falling lightly onto the table, melting before they could stick.

"Can we eat inside?" he involuntarily shivered. I raised my eyebrows.

"You can. I'm going to eat out here," I tipped my head back as I swigged my chocolate drink. Surprisingly, he sat down across from me and started eating his lunch. I gave him an annoyed look and he just smiled back. "I think something's wrong with you."

"What do you mean?" he asked, eating his burger. He drenched it in mustard.

"Well, first of all you keep sitting around me and talking to me when I told you I don't want to be your friend and two, you like mustard," I explained and he just shrugged.

"Mustard's good," he didn't acknowledge my first statement so I just continued eating.

It's Monday, his fourth day at this school. Since Wednesday, he's been talking to me and hanging around me, ruining my image to the school. I was going soft to them when in fact I'm not. "Did you make any friends?" I inquired.

"Just one," I glared at my plate but continued eating. "I don't know what's so bad about me hanging around you. You don't hang out with anybody else here, so," he sighed.

"I'm not looking for your pity," I snapped. "And I don't hang out with anybody else here because they're all idiots."

He frowned, taking this as offense. "I'm not an idiot."

"I'm pretty sure you are; you're sticking to me like glue," I hissed, finishing the rest of my chocolate drink.

"Maybe I just like your company," he shrugged again. I snorted, tipping my head back and letting out a laugh.

"And Channing Tatum will be sitting at my door tonight," I sighed. Jonah wrinkled his nose.

"I thought you were more of a Gosling type of guy," he tilted his head sideways and I shook my head.

"No, are you?" I smirked and he just rolled his eyes.

Although they've been here since Thursday, I hadn't met his sisters yet. I've seen them in the hallways but I didn't approach them. "When am I going to meet your sisters?" I asked, changing the subject.

Jonah furrowed his eyebrows before he smirked. "Why? Do you want to meet them?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to," I gave him a flat look and he shrugged.

"That's funny, they asked about you too," he sipped his Sprite. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"They know about me?" I questioned.

"They know about the girl that I talk to on the phone sometimes and who I hang out with at school, yes," he nodded.

"You mean the girl you harass on the phone and in person repeatedly?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The one and only," I blinked at his response before angling my head.

"Do you ever get angry?" I asked him and he glanced at me over the bottle he was chugging.

"Doesn't every human?" he replied once he placed the bottle back onto the table.

"I'm not quite sure if you're human," I countered.

"Why? Am I too hot to be human?" he turned his head slightly and ran his hand through his hair while biting his lip. Somebody say model?

"No, you're a bit creepy, though," I informed him, eating a Pringle.

He frowned, pouting out his lower lip. The guy was admittedly cute but I had a thing for bad boys like almost every other teenage girl known to man; the kind of guy that drives a motorcycle and wears leather jackets on a daily basis. "You're really nice, you know that?" he sighed.

I smiled at his sarcasm. "Thanks, I get that a lot," I muttered.

"I bet you do," he smirked. The smirk disappeared once he looked over my shoulder. I turned my head to see Shaw making his way towards us. I turned to look at Jonah. "Run," his voice was a whisper, but I heard it loud and clear.

Leaving our food at the table, (rude and disrespectful, I know) we quickly dashed inside the cafeteria, quickly walking towards the exit of the large room. I felt people's eyes trained on us and I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. We heard the same doors we entered a moment ago open and close loudly. I let out a whimper and before I knew it, the bell rang and everyone got up, walking to the cafeteria's exit.

"Thank God," Jonah sighed once we entered the classroom. I can't help but be a bit grateful that we actually have this class together today. We made our way towards the back of Mr. G's classroom. Francis was leaning back in his seat, although his chest was on the back of the chair and his hands were resting on my desk.

As I slumped into my seat, my eyes fixed on Francis. "What do you want, Franny?"

He just smirked at me. I raised an eyebrow and leaned back in my seat. "Arthur wants to know how you're doing," he told me.

I felt my teeth clench and my eyes narrowed. "What's your problem, Francis?" I bit.

He let out a loud laugh and as he sobered up; he threaded his fingers together and rested his chin on them. "My problem is-." I didn't let him finish. Instead, I kicked the chair's legs and he fell forward, his face connecting with my desk on the way down.

Jonah was bent over in laughter, his hand holding onto the desk to keep him from falling over. I heard a groan from Francis. "Ms. Harp!" I looked up at Mr. G.

"Yes?" I innocently asked.

"What happened to Francis?" he walked over to the desk and surveyed the area. His eyes darted back to me, then to Jonah, and back to me.

"I'm not sure, sir; it seems as if he fell when he was laughing," I frowned, looking down at Francis. I couldn't help but smirk down at him before contorting my face into one of sympathy when my eyes met Mr. G's.

"Well then, he needs help to the nurse. Savannah, please take this boy to the nurse," he instructed. My eyes widened slightly.

"But I can't carry him," I explained, watching as he struggled to get up. He looked disoriented. Maybe he was just a good actor.

"Then Jonah, can you accompany Savannah to the nurse's office?" Mr. G smiled down at Jonah who just sobered up from his laughter.

"Of course," Jonah smiled up at the teacher.

"Why can't he bring Francis himself?" I fought.

"I'm sure that Jonah can't find his way to the nurse's office on his own; it's only his fourth day here, Ms. Harp," Mr. G looked down at Francis before glancing back up at the two of us. "Get going now."

***

Jonah heaved Francis up, breathing heavily as he did so. Someone's unfit. "A little help here?" he said in a strained tone.

I glared at him as we exited the classroom. I had my bag over my shoulder. I was planning on ditching classes. "No, I'd rather not."

"Don't let that crazy witch touch me," Francis hissed, holding his jaw in his hands. I stared at him for a minute before snorting.

"I wouldn't touch you for a million dollars, Franny," Jonah lifted him up slightly. Francis stared at me before mumbling something. "What was that?"

"I didn't say anything, Ms. Violent," Franny snapped and I scowled.

"Anyway, I'm going to go to the bathroom," I started to walk away but Jonah stopped me.

"Who's going to show me to the nurse's office?" he asked, readjusting Francis's hold on him.

"He looks pretty conscious to me," I halfheartedly pointed to the boy slouching on Jonah's arm. "Besides, I'll only be gone a minute," I started walking again.

"You're ditching?" Jonah asked. I halted and turned around with a raised brow.

"No, I'm going to the bathroom," I lied, placing a hand on my hip.

"No, you're ditching," he retorted, mocking my voice. I glared at him.

"What's it to you?" I snapped.

"I could always tell Mr. G," he replied in a song-song voice. I wiggled my fingers in the air, feigning a frightened look.

"Oh, you're going to tattletale? I'm so scared," I countered.

"Aren't you the one that said you don't believe in ditching?" Jonah's eyebrow rose.

I shrugged. "I also said that Channing Tatum's my husband," I told him. Francis let out a snort at this.

"You're going back on your word," he convinced and I shrugged.

"I don't really care," I rejoined.

"We only have one class left," he told me and I sighed, running my hand through my hair before joining them.

"Fine," I sighed when Jonah smirked at me.

"He's your kryptonite?" Francis snorted and I punched his shoulder. "Ow, you're inflicting more pain upon me?"

***

"Well, you just hurt your jaw pretty badly. You'll need to ice it or it'll swell," Nurse Cadence smiled at him. She turned towards the sink to wash her hands. "How'd this happen anyway?"

He went to open his mouth so I nudged his side and he yelped rather girlishly. "I, uh, fell and hit my chin on the desk," Francis glared at me.

"Well, you're welcome to lie down or go back to class. There's only one class left and I advise you go but it's up to you. You two, get back to class- wouldn't want you to miss any valuable education," she smiled at Jonah and I and we nodded, exiting the room.

***

"You work today?" I nodded at Jonah's question. "When do you get off?" he asked again.

"At 8 o'clock. Why?" I asked.

"When do you have off?" Jonah casually asked, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"I work every day this week except for Sunday," I told him as we walked to my car. He was trailing behind me like a lost puppy.

"That stinks," he told me and I shrugged.

"I get paid so I don't mind." In all honesty, it's kind of a bummer. I do the homework I can in the 2 hour gap between the end of my school day and the start of work. I have no other time for anything. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you said you wanted to meet my sisters," he shrugged. "And I know you won't meet them in school because well, you don't even want to meet me in school."

"Maybe next week," I shrugged before getting into my car. He waved at me while he backed up. I smirked as my car roared to life. I don't even know what type of car he drives, if he drives.

***

"What's up with the hottie that you've been talking to lately, he ask you out yet?" Mere asked while flipping through her magazine. I shook my head, a look of disgust clear on my features.

"I'm barely the guy's friend never mind love interest, Mere. Besides, he's quite annoying if you ask me," I scoffed and she furrowed her eyebrows.

"But he's hot," she countered. I shook my head with a sigh. "As long as he's hot he can be as annoying as he wants."

"Not everything's about looks, Mere, personality is important, too," I informed her. "But his personality's saltines, too."

"And why is that?" she spit her gum into the trash bin.

"He can't take an insult if it's served to him on a silver platter. He brushes them off like fuzz on a shirt," I leaned on the counter, my arms folded.

"How's that bad?" Mere asked in confusion.

"He won't stop bothering me! Even if I tell him to 'lay off,' he keeps following me and sitting next to me," I placed my head on the counter.

"Maybe he just wants to be friends," she suggested. I looked up at her and scoffed, shaking my head.

"Why would he choose me to be friends with? Of all people?" I hoisted myself onto the counter, sitting beside Mere.

"You're funny and pretty," she smiled and I let out a bark of laughter. My glasses fell down the tip of my nose and I quickly adjusted them.

"You're funny and a liar," I countered.

"I'm being serious, Van," she rolled her eyes, closing her magazine and turning to me. "What happened to the guy at the library? You never finished that story."

"That's him," I told her.

"You mean the hottie is the library guy, too?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly.

"Jonah is the library guy," I clarified. She gave me a flat look before letting out a frustrated groan.

"You have it so easy with guys!" I gaped at her.

"Easy? The last boyfriend I had dumped me after 2 months," I told her and she rolled her eyes.

"You were 15; when somebody tells you they love you, you're going to believe it," she sighed. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Did you just recite Taylor Swift lyrics?" I asked.

"That's not the point, Van!" she cried out. "This guy is destined to be yours. Trust me! I mean, don't you see the signs? You see him at the library where he shamelessly flirts with you and then you-," she was cut off by my ringtone.

I looked at my phone and sighed. "It's him."

"Speaking of the devil, answer it!" she insisted. I pressed the phone to my ear.

"What?" I hissed, earning a glare from Mere. 'Be nice,' she mouthed to me. I rolled my eyes at her.

"What are you doing?" he sounded casual, chirpy almost.

"Why are you calling me?" This is how our normal conversations go. I'm snappy and angry and he doesn't even mind.

"Can't I just talk to you? I don't know many people here," he sighed.

"I constantly tell you to make friends but you follow me around like a lost puppy," I countered. Suddenly the phone was ripped from my hand and Mere was leaping off of the counter.

"Hello?" she waited a minute. "You're library boy, right?" she sighed before replying. "You're the boy that flirted with her at the library, right?"

"Meredith Alexandra Turner!" I snapped and she glared at me before running behind a game cart. I advanced toward her.

"Yes, she did tell me about that," she replied. "Yeah, that's me. I was surprised that you accepted my request!" she said cheerfully.

"Mere!" I hissed, trying to grab onto her but she slowly backed away from me. She had a height and speed advantage but I had anger and an annoyance advantage.

"I'm her best friend and her co-worker, future sister in law, too," she smirked. "No, I'm not dating her brother yet but I will, soon enough," she explained.

"Meredith, give me back my cell phone!" I tried to jump but tripped. She laughed loudly as if he said a joke.

"You know him? You're so lucky! She won't let me talk to him. She even blocked me on his Facebook and Twitter," she waited a moment. "Yes, because she thinks I'm using her to get to him," she told him.

I told Mere why I didn't want her to meet my brother a while back but I don't believe that anymore. It's like she's my sister now and it'd be weird to walk into my house to see her and my brother playing tonsil tennis on the couch.

"Yeah, you get used to her threats and jabs and after a while, she stops," Mere convinced.

"Meredith Alexandra Turner, I will grab you by your hair and I will slice your stomach open and use your intestines as a noose," I threatened her, approaching her slowly.

"And eventually, she'll start them back up again," she informed him, letting out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, she tells me how you follow her around like a lost puppy, too. I think it's adorable," she informed him.

"Meredith!" How can she spill my secrets to him like that; even though they're not secrets, they're close to it.

"You have a cousin? He's the one that told you to go flirt with Van?" she waited a minute. "Yeah, I call her Van. Anyway, your cousin told you to flirt with her?" she changed the subject again.

I stood there with my hand on my hip, glaring at Meredith. "I hate you so much Meredith," I told her as I tried to grab my phone again. She quickly dodged me and I continued to glare at her.

"He's a guy?" Mere frowned after a minute. "He's gay? That stinks, I mean, it's good for him but it stinks for me."

"Meredith!" I snapped.

"We could have gone on double dates," she laughed. "She would've loved it."

"I hate you more than life itself," I snapped.

"Maybe you should stop by the store sometime," Mere persisted. "No, she wouldn't mind a bit."

"Yes, I would!" I'm going to defend myself against her lies, at least.

"No, she's just saying that," Mere giggled. "Sure, you want to talk to her?" she asked.

Slowly and cautiously, Mere slid my phone across the counter and I picked it up. "What?"

"She's funny," he laughed.

"She's funny," I imitated him.

I glared at Meredith who just smiled at me innocently. "So she's like your feeling bank? You tell her all of your feelings and boy encounters? Girl's really do that? I thought you didn't have any friends."

"Hardy-har-har, you're so funny. I do have friends, for your information," I snapped.

"How many?" he asked and I tightened my grip on my phone.

"That's none of your business," I snapped.

"Somebody's overprotective," he chuckled and I bit my lip.

"Bye, Jonah," I slammed my phone down onto the counter before taking off my nametag. I always thought Monday's are absolutely terrible. Now they're horrendous.