Chapter 3: Torture and Revenge... All in One Day

"Alya, honey, I forgot to tell you that you have school today!" my aunt yelled from the entrance of my room.

Knowing that this part of my family forgets a lot, I was already dressed and had my backpack with me. My mom talks a lot and my aunt forgets a lot. I wonder what my grandma must have been like.

I walked into the kitchen to see pancakes set on the table ready for me. I devoured them in seconds and got into the car with Owen, who drove me to school.

As I walked in, everyone stopped and stared at me. I did a really bad job with being confident. Luckily, through my blushing, I was able to find the office.

"Hi, I'm Alya Woods." I said to the secretary behind the desk.

"Oh, you must be the new student. Here's your junior year schedule, your locks, and you aunt requested us to pick a guide for the day. We chose one of our best students at Westinghill High School. His name is Jake Robinson. Hope you have a great day!"

I stared at her in shock. My eyes whipped across the room when Jake walked in.

Maria: No, no, no, no, no! Good luck, honey...

Heart: Don't leave us!

He smirked and said, "I see I'm your guide."

"Well, I think I can manage without you." I said back daringly.

He grabbed my schedule out of my hands. My unlucky day, I ended up not being able to reach my schedule at the height of 5 feet 3 inches. Blame my mother.

"We have chemistry, English AP, and History AP together." he said.

I groaned. I only met him last night, after seven years, and I'm already frustrated with him. I stomped my foot in anger and went to my class which was chemistry. I noticed him following me to class.

I spun around, "Why are you following me?!" I asked, with my hand on my hips.

He smiled and said, "We're both in the same class."

He walked right around me and opened the door to our class. He went in and announced, "Hey everyone! We have a new student with us today and her name is Alya Woods. Do you have anything to share with us?"

"I, um-" I started and then Jake cut me off.

"Okay, you're taking too long. Let's just start class." he sat down next to his friends who were cheering him and slapping him on his back.

I hissed and sat down at the nearest table to the front. Why did he have to be so frustrating all the time? I swear if the world in my mind was real, Jake would be decapitated. I looked over to my left to find a shy brunette. "Hi, I'm Nicole!" she seemed sweet. It wouldn't hurt to make a new friend on the first day.

"Hey, I'm Alya." I said, as we shook hands.

"So, you met Jake?"

"Yeah, my childhood enemy who happens to be my cousin's best friend."

"Oh sucks!" she said with sympathy.

"What's your next class?"

"My next class is...math."

"Me too!" I exclaimed. Phew, I don't have to see Jake in any of my classes before lunch.

"Nice!" she said.

"Ladies would you like to share something with the class?" the teacher said with her glum looking face.

"Nope." I answered for both of us.

Before I knew it, I was sitting next to Nicole with the Grinch as my math teacher. She was actually the miniature version of the Grinch.

"Well, students, Mr. Gilford here did not study. What's your reason?" our math teacher asked in her nasally voice.

"A year has 365 days for you to study. After taking away 52 Sundays, there are only 313 days left. There are 50 days in the summer that are way too hot to work so there are only 263 days left. We sleep 8 hours a day, in year, that counts up to 122 days so now we're left with 141 days. If we fooled around for only 1 hour a day, 15 days are gone, so we are left with 126 days. We spend 2 hours eating each day. 30 days are used in this way in the year, and we are left with 96 days in our year. We spend one hour a day speaking to our friends and family, that takes away 15 more days and we are left with 81 days. Exams and tests take up at least 35 days in the year, hence you are only left with 46 days. Taking off approximately 40 days of holidays, you are only left with 6 days. Say you are sick for a minimum of 3 days, you're left with 3 days in a year to study! Let's say you only go out for 2 days... you're left with 1 day. But that one day is your birthday. My birthday was the reason I wasn't able to study. "

I sat there stunned, with the same expression as everyone else. I snorted and started to laugh at the teacher's expression. Soon everyone joined in with the laughter.

She glared at me and said, "Let's move on to today's lesson now."

Then, she droned on about algebra and how important it is in our society. Meanwhile, I was chatting with Nicole.

"What's your number? Write it here." I handed her a slip of paper.

"Okay." She said as she wrote her number down.

"Thanks! I'll see you at lunch, afterwards!"

4 hours of torture later...

I was talking to Own about my first day at Westinghill. I had a good day because of Nicole. I had a "kind-of-bad-day" because of stupid Jake. Owen dropped me off at home and left for soccer practice.

As I walked into the house, I made sure to look up, so that nothing falls on me. Before I knew it, I was on my butt. Little blue and red marbles rolled down the hallway and into the kitchen. One person, no, two identical people came into mind- the twins.

I grumpily walked upstairs to my room, rubbing my sore butt, hatching a plan to prank the kids that were literally torturing me.

~ * ~

I walked around my room, with my hands behind my back, having a conversation with Maria.

Maria: Well, you could dump a bucket of water on the kids if you wanted to.

Me: Nah, I'll probably do something like take them to the park and decide to do something there.

Maria: Just don't end up murdering them.

Me: Okay, I'll try not to.

I let out a small sigh and walked out of the room and into the twin's toy room. I watched them as they played together so sweetly. They looked more like sweaty ogres tackling each other down. I cringed, taking a step back.

Maria: Don't back down!

Listening to my imaginary friend, I snapped my fingers to catch their attention. They turned around, mesmerizing me with their cute teddy bear like faces. I awed and cooed. I pushed away the idea of taking revenge and said, "Chester and Andy, should we go out to the park today?"

"Yeah, let's go!" they said at the same time.

I soon regretted taking them to the park. It was too hot and I drenched in sweat. On the other hand, the twins didn't even break a sweat.

"Hey, so how old are you guys?" I asked. I could at least make an attempt to get on their good side.

"We're six years old." Chester said.

"Yeah and I'm the older one. That's why Auntie says I'm responib-nip-niple." Andy said, struggling with a few words.

"No, I'm the older one." Oh joy, here they go...

I walked away, hoping to find something to do. Everything at the park was burning. I sat at the very top of a slide which wasn't burning. I enjoyed the view around me; swaying trees, blooming flowers, birds tweeting, and beautiful butterflies.

Maria: Sweetie, you should turn around.

Ignoring Maria, I enjoyed the view. Suddenly, I was pushed down the slide. My leg rubbed against the slide, creating a skin burn. My anger was boiling within me and I was ready to explode. I slowly turned around and glared at the guilty looking kids.

"Mental children!" I yelled and ran after them. They took shelter in a car. Who knows who it could belong to?

Maria: Yup, you won't like the guy driving the car.

On cue, Jake got out of the car and it took everything not to stomp my feet and scream. His eyes- were glaring at me?

"What are you doing with a knee like that?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm just obliviously playing around with burnt, scraped knee that hurts like-" And soon the words I said after that weren't to be heard by the innocent ears.

"Okay, okay. Calm down, gosh. I was going to ask if you wanted some help wrapping up that knee." He pointed down to it. Ooo, yeah, I was going to need some help with that.

"Fine." I said, sheepishly.

I reached out and opened the door to the passenger side. I placed myself inside the expensive sports car. Jeez, I wonder how rich he is.

"To let you know, I'm pretty rich, considering the fact that my mom and dad both own big business firms." He said, smirking in my direction.

My head snapped in the direction of his voice. I said the out loud, didn't I? I felt the big need to face palm myself.

He started the car and turned the car down a couple of streets until he came to a complete stop at our house. I got out of the car and limped to the front of our house, letting myself in with the house key under the flower put next to the door. I limped into the kitchen where the first aid kit was. Jake walked right past me and grabbed a hold of the kit.

"What are you doing? I need the kit right now. Can't you see a girl in front of you, with a skin burn, limping-" he cut me off by clamping his hand over my mouth and picked me up. I started flailing in his arms until he placed me on top of the table. What's wrong with me? I can't and will never be falling for Jake the stubborn, Jake the idiot, Jake the-"

I snapped out of it as I saw Jake rubbing ointment on my skin burn and wrapping a bandage around my leg.

"Thanks." I managed to say before I embarrassed myself.

"You're welcome." He said. "Look, I gotta go. Is that okay with you?" He grabbed his keys and took a few steps back.

"Yeah, I'm fine. See you tomorrow at school." I said, grinning.

As the door shut quietly behind Jake, I sat still on the table. Argh! These feelings...