Y/n POV

While others got together with their partner to work on their project, I sat where I was, staring at the empty desk. The room exploded into a mess of multiple different conversations going on at once.

Mark and I finished our project yesterday. Of course, he wanted me to stay away from him. Why would he want me to keep annoying him? We're complete opposites, he obviously hates me. He doesn't need me. No one does, obviously.

I kind of missed having someone to talk to, though. I missed the jokes that were easily made between us. I knew I shouldn't have gotten used to him being around. I wanted to move over to him but I knew he didn't want me to.

"Y/n!" Mark's voice was heard. I turn my head to meet eyes with him. He points to the empty desk in front of him, telling me to sit there.

Confused, I stand up and sit in the empty desk. I turn around to face him with a raised brow.

"Did we forget something?" I ask.

"No, we're done." Mark shrugs. "I just wanted to talk to you. I-If thats all right with you, that is!" He rushes the last part out.

I nod and laugh. "Yeah, sure."

Stop, Y/n! He hates you! Don't get attached!

"Okay." Mark sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What is everyone talking about? You flipped Tyler off?" I ask, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

(If you have short hair, you can change it!)

"He just made me mad." Mark mumbles, avoiding eye contact.

"So you actually flipped him off? In school?" My eyes widen.

"Yeah," Mark nods. "I kinda regret it now."

"Why? Be proud of it!" I pat his hand sitting on the desk. He pulled his hand away as if I was fire hot. He stares at me with wide eyes, holding his hand in his other. His face reddens as he slowly relaxes and sets both his his hands in his lap, staring at them.

"Sorry." Mark mumbles.

I slowly nod, wondering what just happened. Did I do something wrong? He continues staring at his hands in his lap. He begins mumbling to himself, earning an odd look from the girl next to us. I flip her off and watch as her eyes widen and looks away to her friend.

(I just realized how much I have made someone flip someone off in this thing XD we're only on chapter 11!)

Turning back to Mark, I send him a worried look that he wouldn't see. His eyes are still focused on his hands.

"Mark?" I speak. His head comes up but his eyes are squeezed shut.

"The font Comic Sans is based on Dave Gibbons' lettering in the Watchmen comic books. He calls the font "dreadful."" Mark says, his eyes still shut tightly.

I laugh nervously. "What?"

Mark's eyes shoot open widely as he realizes he spoke loud enough for me to hear. He looks around, searching for a response.

"I-I'm sorry," He apologizes. "When I'm nervous, I-I say facts I know to myself to get my mind off of what I'm nervous about." He explains, fidgeting with his sleeve.

"Nervous?" I chuckle. "What are you nervous about?"

His eyes widen once again. His eyes meet mine for a split second but quickly leave as they dart around the room.

"Are you okay?" I ask, worry lacing my voice.

"I-um," Mark stutters. Instead of speaking, he nods, his eyes squeezed shut. He was obviously lying.

"Mark-" I begin.

"I-I'll be back!" Mark interrupts, standing up and leaving me alone. He walks up to Mr. Hallin, saying something I couldn't hear. Mr. Hallin nods and Mark quickly makes his way for the door.

What was up with him?

Mark's POV

What happened? Why was I acting like a complete idiot?! All I had to do was act like a normal person, but I couldn't even do that. Why was I acting differently? Just because I found out I may like Y/n, I act like she's Zac Efron?

What Tyler said earlier made me think a lot about things. Do I really like her? But I can't be too quick to assume. I mean, I just met her lest week. I am beginning to think I do, though.

Her smile can brighten my day, her laugh makes my stomach fill with butterflies, and just seeing her makes me smile. Is this what it feels like to actually like someone? I've never really been in this situation before.

But goddamn, I can't get her out of my head!

I shouldn't feel like this! She'll never return these feelings. Shes this badass who clearly doesn't care what anyone thinks but then I'm this random guy no one likes who doesn't have the guts to do anything wrong. Everyone fears her while I fear everyone.

Walking down the hallway, nervously messing with the sleeves of my hoodie, a voice I feared most fills my ears. I want to run, but I couldn't. I was too focused hoping Caleb Tredos wouldn't see me.

"Hey there, Mark Fichbach." Caleb says. "What a surprise."

"Could you please-" I began, eyes trained on my feet.

"Shut up." He sneers. "I see you're starting to hang around Y/n L/n." He nods.

"I wouldn't say-" I began, only to be interrupted again.

"What do you not get about shut up?" He takes a step closer. "Will I have to beat it into ya? I mean, what will you do to fight back? Yell out math problems?" He chuckles.

I stand there quietly, hoping he'll go away. Even in this situation, Y/n was still stuck in my head. I wish I was as tough as her. I wish I wasn't like me. It would be better in every way if I were similar to her. Maybe we could be friends? I wouldn't have Caleb constantly taunting me. Possibly Y/n would actually like me too.

"Don't think you're all strong now because you know Y/n." Caleb rolls his eyes. "You're still the weak, annoying kid you were before."

"I don't think-"

I was once cut off again, but this time with a fist to the face. If this leaves a bruise, how will I explain it? I'll have to lie, thats for sure, but I don't think I'll make it convincing. I'm a horrible liar.

"I said shut up!" Caleb quietly scolds.

Covering my jaw in pain, I prepare for another. My eyes squeezed shut and my body tense. But it never comes. Neither does another insult. Instead, the sound of something slamming into the lockers startled me, forcing me to open my eyes and look for the source of the sound.

My eyes land on Y/n holding Caleb against the lockers. Y/n? What was she doing here?

Her arm was pressed firmly against his collarbone and her free hand was held back, ready to punch. Her leg kept Caleb's still, keeping them against the lockers. Her face wasn't far from his terrified one, mumbling threats to him.

"I swear to God, next time you come anywhere near Mark, you'll be six feet under." Y/n threatens.

Caleb's fear fill eyes calmed down, staring at her with a smirk. "And what makes you think I'm scared of you?"

"I never said you were scared." Y/n speaks, clenching her fist tighter. "But I do know that whatever this is, you will not win."

"We'll see about that." Caleb nods.

Y/n slowly backs off of Caleb. He walks away with an evil grin on his face. Y/n watched him walk away until he wasn't in sight anymore. Once she was sure he was gone, she turns around to face me, worry written all over her face.

"Oh my god," She whispers, getting closer to me to inspect my face where he punched. "he cut your lip."

I couldn't answer, I was too nervous. She was so close to me. She looked worried and I looked weak. Her hand was on the side of my face as she searches for anything else. My face was burning red and it felt like I would throw up butterflies any moment now.

"What are you doing here?" Was all I managed to say. My lip hurt like hell when I spoke.

She backs away a little, her hands away from my face. "I was really worried so I followed you to make sure you were all right." She nervously chuckles. "That sounds a lot creepier than I meant for it to be."

I attempted to say something but immediately failed. My lip felt too much pain and my mind was racing too fast for me to finish one sentence.

"We need to go though," Y/n spoke, grabbing my hand as she began walking. "Mr. Hallin doesn't exactly know I left." Y/n giggles. God, that giggle. I'll come up with something to say when people ask about my lip later.

This chapter really sucks, sorry!! D: