My eyes darted from his hands to Aimee's face, searching for any sign of discomfort from Aimee. Despite how hard I tried, I couldn't find any.

A feeling of queasiness came over me. I've been spending so much time with someone dating Dylan. Hell, I'm even playing Aimee's love interest! This can't be-

I chuckled. "Good one. You almost had me for a second."

Dylan's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting-"

"Oh, stop this charade! It's quite obvious she asked you to act like you're both dating for the sole purpose of getting back at me for Friday. It's way too coincidental that she happens to be dating the person I hate most in this school."

"Look, I don't know what the fuck you're on this morning, but I'm warning you; stay away from my girlfriend."

Clenching my fists, I smirked. "Kind of hard to do, seeing as she's my love interest."

Dylan's jaw clenched. "What'd you-"

"Okay, enough with this testosterone powered bullshit!" Aimee snapped. "I mean, I get why you guys are fighting, since it's about me, but don't I get a say in this?"

My eyes flitted to her. "The only thing you get to say is your admittance about this being a ruse! Also, you can follow that up with an apology for employing this animal as your revenge tool!"

"Oh my goodness, you are so full of yourself! How is the fact I'm dating Dylan 'a ruse to get back at you' when we've been dating since this term began?"

"Liar!"

Echoes of the various times Aimee had referred to her boyfriend flashed through my mind.

Damn it!

Aimee rolled her eyes. "Look, believe it or not, I don't care! Besides, what is your issue with Dylan? Do you both have some kind of history with each other?"

I glared at Dylan. "Unfortunately."

Dylan's eyes smoldered as well. "Stop fucking victimizing yourself. You caused everything that happened to you."

"Oh wow, today I learned that I was responsible for all those years of bullying-"

"Okay, okay!" Aimee cut in. "You two have some repressed issues you need to work out about your past relationship."

"Believe me, I worked out my issues with him long ago," I smirked. "By the way, Dylan, how is your face? I heard it wasn't looking too good after it met with my fist."

A vein throbbed at the side of his head as he spat out, "It's doing quite fine actually. Don't worry about me, you're the one who's losing it at parties."

"Sheesh, I feel like I'm watching a sitcom," Aimee muttered. "Must have been one bad breakup."

I frowned. "Breakup?"

"Wait, you and Dylan weren't together?"

"No!" Dylan and I exclaimed simultaneously before glowering at each other.

Aimee rose her hands. "Jeez, alright! You're the one who said you two have a history together."

"Lord have mercy, I meant bad blood!"

"Well, how was I supposed to know that?"

"How do you not?"

"When I came to this school in tenth grade, I never heard any mention of grudges between you and Dylan."

I paused, then said, "Oh, no wonder." I'd dealt with Dylan by then.

Dylan said, "Look, I don't even care about the past right now. You're the only one who's still holding on to that grudge. I moved past it a long time ago."

"You've moved past it? Why don't I bash your face in again, so you understand the rage that burns in me anytime I see your-"

"Okay, thank you for sharing, Angelo," Aimee said. "Look, I don't get what you both have against each other, but don't you think you can at least put it behind-"

I glared at her.

She sighed. "Okay, so that's too much to ask."

Dylan huffed. "I wish you had told me who was playing the lead with you on your play."

Aimee frowned at him. "I told you that the same day Miss Delane assigned the roles."

Dylan's brow furrowed. "You did?"

"Yes, I did." Pressing her lips together, Aimee shrugged his arms off her shoulder.

A mix of sheepishness and guilt crossed Dylan's face as his hands dropped to his side. "Could have sworn you didn't."

I snickered.

Dylan's eyes snapped back to me as his face darkened. I glared back at him.

Aimee cleared her throat. "So anyway, let's analyze this situation. Dylan doesn't want me playing Angelo's love interest-"

"Damn right," he growled.

"-and Angelo doesn't want me dating Dylan-"

"-it'd be for your good," I snarled.

"-but, plot twist coming, Aimee doesn't give a fuck about what both boys want because she is her person! Got it?"

I scoffed. "Actually-"

"No!"

"This is ridicu-"

"No!"

"But-"

"No!"

"Fine, goddamn it!"

Aimee nodded at me, then turned her piercing gaze to Dylan. "Well?"

A vein in his neck throbbed. "Fine, alright."

A slight close-lipped smile came over Aimee's face. "Great! Now shake-"

I hissed, "You must have lost your mind if you think that's going to happen!"

Aimee shrugged. "Oh well, was worth a try. I'm gonna grab myself something from the vending machine."

I narrowed my eyes. "Aren't you on a sugar diet?"

As she walked away, she said, "Aww, so you do listen to what I have to say! I was lying about that."

"Listening to something and caring about it are two different things!"

Dylan growled, "Sorry to cut short your lover's spat, but I need to talk to Smith. Privately."

Aimee rose an eyebrow at him. "Excuse me, is there something you want to get off your chest?"

Yes!

I sighed. "He does. Though I don't see how that involves you, seeing as he mentioned that he needs to speak to me. Privately. Without you."

Aimee's eyebrow lowered. "You know, I was almost ready to forgive you."

I gave her an enigmatic smile. "Almost is never enough. Besides, that also means you were on the path to forgiveness. You can always find your way back on it."

"Trust me, that is not happening."

I furrowed my brow in mock concern. "Why not? I can assure you, the path still exists."

"Maybe that's true, but you just blocked it!"

I shrugged. "I can always move out of the way."

"Oh my goodness, you are so-"

Dylan interrupted. "You know what, maybe I should talk to Smith later. You both clearly want some privacy."

Aimee's attention diverted to him. "As I said before, is there something you need to get off your chest?"

Dylan opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "Aimee, don't you want to use the vending machine before it's emptied?"

Aimee narrowed her eyes at Dylan. "We are not done talking about this."

I rubbed my hands together. "That's right. Remember, a problem spoken about is a problem half-solved!"

Hopefully, it'll never be fully solved.

As soon as Aimee was out of earshot, Dylan focused his attention on me. "What the fuck is your problem, man? I'd appreciate it if you stop trying to fuck with my relationship!"

I gasped, placing my hand on my chest. "I'm trying to spoil your relationship? I would never-"

Crack!

The sound of splintering wood split the air as Dylan's fist connected with the table.

I jumped a bit, then quickly composed myself as my eyes trailed up from his bleeding fist to his face.

Yes, keep going!

I cocked my head. "Dylan Glaxes behaving like an animal, what a shocker."

Dylan's palms pressed against the table as he leaned towards me and hissed, "Talk shit again, I dare you!"

The smell of mint slapped my face. I grimaced. "I'll stop if you get this garlic breath cannon out of my-"

Dylan's hands zipped through the air, catching me by my collar and lifting me to my feet.

Mr. Prickleberry shouted from across the hall, "Mr. Glaxes, hands of Mr. Smith right now!"

Right on time!

Even so, Dylan held onto me with shaking hands, releasing constant puffs of hot air onto my face.

Still smirking, I nodded my head at Mr. Prickleberry. "You heard him."

Prickleberry's voice boomed again. "Are you deaf? Leave Mr. Smith alone right now, or leave this school for a week!"

A trickle of blood ran down Dylan's lip as he bit it. His grip on my shirt tightened.

After a few seconds, he shoved me back onto my seat.

I hissed as my right leg hit the table. I'm going to kill this prick!

Dylan turned away and stomped to Mr. Prickleberry.

I called out, "Oh yeah, Dylan, don't forget to discuss the replacement of the table you smashed!"