𝙴𝚃𝙷𝙰𝙽:

Azure eyes glared up at me and seemed to have the fire you'll probably see in the pits of hell. I wasn't scared though. I really wasn't. I could understand why other people were, but all I felt was unimpressed.

Honestly, if she had to yell and scream she could have just gone anywhere apart from the library. I was studying here. 

She reached up to try and grab it, but I held it higher. "Apologize."

She looked at me as if I was speaking Chinese. "Huh?"

Jesus, 2 seconds in and I'm already annoyed. That has to be some kind of record. 

"Apologize," I said, emphasizing the word. Had she never heard the word before in her life. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised.

"For what?" I stared at her, was this bitch serious?

"If anything," she folded her arms across her chest, "you should be the one to apologize."

"Me?!"

"Um, yeah? Are you deaf?"

"I might be now because of all the yelling you did!"

"Shh!" a student glared at us.

Maroon or whatever shade of red her name is lowered her volume, "now who's being loud?"

I glared at her. "Shut up. Listen, Ruby--"

"It's Scarlet."

"Whatever, Crimson. I don't know if you've realized that the library isn't the ideal place to yell during a phone call."

Crimson scowled. "Ok, first--it's Scarlet. Get it right, four-eyes. And second- I don't know if you've realized that it's rude to interrupt someone's phone call. It's also rude to steal other people's phones. Give it back."

"Or what, Crimson?" I said, getting a weird sense of satisfaction seeing how angry I made her. "Aren't you the big, bad wolf? Go on then." I held the phone higher, "get it."

"God, look, it happened one time." She rolled her eyes, "you need to relax, dude."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Or what?" she taunted, "going to get your body-guard to take me out?"

"No," I said calmly, "but I will throw this phone out the window."

I inched closer to said window and held the phone away from the sill. "Apologize."

Her eyes never my hand. "What is your fucking problem, bro? I don't even know you."

"I have strong sense of justice."

"Evidently."

"I'm starting to really not like you."

"Feeling's mutual."

"How hard for you to say sorry? What, have you never apologized or something?"

"Not for things that weren't my fault. "

I rolled my eyes. "I see, so you didn't yell at the top of your lungs at the library?"

"I was-- angry."

"No shit."

"Ok, ok fine" she stepped back. "I'll apologize, just-- step away from the window."

I shrugged. "Sure."

I took two steps away.

"I swear to god, four-eyes, if you don't give me that fucking phone back--"

"Aw, see, now you've broken my trust," I gave her a mock hurt look."

"Listen, four-eyes--"

"It's Ethan."

I don't care," she growled. "Give me back my phone or you will regret it."

I smirked, does this girl seriously think she's scary? "Show me a demonstration."

It was her turn to smirk, "gladly."

Then with one swift kick, she knocked my legs from under me. The impact had my grip on the phone vanish and it flew into the air just before I hit the ground with a grunt. 

I looked up to see her shouldering her bag, giving me the finger and walking out the library. 

That bitch. 

I glanced over to the librarian, she was completely relaxed. So it's only when people raise their voices she's bothered. Not when a kid was getting his ass kicked. Awesome. 

"Hey, Ethan!" Therese skipped up to me as I was leaving the library. "I thought if- oh. Um, what's wrong?"

I hurriedly removed the scowl off my face. "Nothing, nothing. Don't worry about it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. What's--oh, er. Wait a second."

I pulled out my phone and clicked on the notification. 

Tommy: You sure you're not gonna meet up for the study group?

Ethan: Yeah, m good.

Ethan: Also we're getting partners for the history project today.

Ethan: Might stay back and do that.

Tommy: K sure

I pocketed my phone and turned back to Therese. "Sorry, about that?"

She grinned. "It's cool."

"So, um, what did you want to talk about?"

"Oh! Right! I need help with my Biology homework. So would you be free after-school today?"

"Uh, today isn't the best day. Does tomorrow work?"

"Sure," she smiled. "Text me the time."

"Okay. See you."

"See you!"

I smiled awkwardly and turned on my heel. Maybe, I could go to the cafeteria and see if they have--and there's the bell.

Today just isn't my day. 

 I got to history and opened my books. We were learning about World War 2 and a major part of that was Hitler's Nazism because that's what most people think WW2 be. It isn't. It honestly all started because of a bald guy who hated war unless it helped the spread of socialism. 

And luckily, Italy had been on the winner's side in WW2 and instead of getting a lot, they got a little. Low economy and a weak government led Mussolini to being a fascist dictator. Which led him to make allies with another fascist dictator; Hitler.  And the Americans broke Japan's isolation that somehow made them crazy and took over China. Then won a war against Russia. 

And before we study about politics and what not, our teacher wants us to know the "mindset of the Axis power".  We've studied about Italian fascism and are now proceeding to Nazism, which for some reason is a pair-project worth 20% of our grade. 

"Alright, students," Mr. James clapped his hands together enthusiastically, "whose ready to learn?"

A general murmur rose.

Mr. James rolled his eyes. "I can feel the excitement. Ok, tell me what we did in the last class. . .yes,  Mr. Marshal?"

I lowered my hand, "we finished reading about  Mussolini's fascism and we were about to start working on our presentations on Hitler's Nazism."

"Right, yes," Mr James fished out a paper from a folder. "I have your pairs here--Ok, here we go. Please go sit next to your partners. Ms. Smith you're with Ms. Andrews, Mr. Carmen you're with Ms. Phelps, Mr. Luis you're with Mr. Diaz, Ms. Anderson you're with Mr. Marshall, Ms.--"

I was with who?

"Oh, you have got to be shitting me."

I glanced up and blanched. "What are you doing here?"

Crimson threw her bag down, "we're partners dumbass." 

"No!"

"Unfortunately, yeah."

I groaned and she glared at me. "Didn't I break your legs?"

"No," I eyed her out of the corner of my eye. "I don't think your strong enough."

Before she replied, Mr. James called out. "Ok! You have this class for 6 weeks to work on the project. I'll try and see if the library is available one day but for now please work here quietly."

There was rustling of paper as people began murmuring amongst themselves. I opened my mouth and-

"Shut up." 

Was rudely cut off.

"I didn't even say anything--"

"just shut up."

"I was trying to apologize!"

Crimson eyed me distrustfully. "Apologize?"

I rolled my eyes, "yeah, you know the thing you weren't able to do?"

"Well, you're off to a great start."

"Listen, I'm sorry for calling you a big bad wolf."

She furrowed her brow. "Huh?"

"In the library? I called you a big, bad wolf."

"Oh, yeah."

I nodded, "that was wrong?"

She still eyed me distrustfully. "Yeah."

I grinned, "with hair like that you are definitely red-riding hood."