Changing the Rules

Chapter 8

My alarm goes off jolting me awake. I wince from the pain, but try to ignore it as much as I can while I get up out of my bed. I walk to my closet and grab some clothes, then head to the bathroom.

Once I reach the bathroom, I walk in and shut the door. I turn the light on and look in the mirror. It's been a full day since my stepfather hit me. The left side of my face is slightly red and still a little swollen. I look at my ribs and see purple bruises. That's going to take a really long time to heal. I change into jeans, t-shirt and black keds. I brush my teeth and hair, before putting make up on to cover up the redness on my cheek. I look in the mirror and it looks pretty unnoticeable.

After I finish in the bathroom, I walk down to the kitchen and cook breakfast. Once that's finished I serve it, then set out on my walk to school. Of course today it had to be raining. Man, I miss my long board. As I'm walking a car passes me then stops a little ways in front of me. I stop and look at it as I hear a car door open and shut. I see Matthew and he walks over to me. And asks "Need a ride?" "No. I'm perfectly fine walking in the rain" I state "We both know that's not true." He says as he grabs my backpack off my back. I glare at him and stay where I am. "Are you coming?" He asks. I sigh and walk over to the passenger seat and get in. He starts to drive again and I ask "Why are you giving me a ride?"
"I decided to be nice, this time."
"That or you actually like hanging with me."
He laughs "Yeah in your dreams."
"You wish."
"No I'm good thank you very much. I'd love to be left out of your twisted dreams."
"Who says they're twisted?"
"I did."
"Well you're wrong."
"Uh huh sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
I roll my eyes "Whatever." The conversation ends there and I look out the window and we let the radio fill the silence.

After a couple of minutes we reach the school. As soon as he parks, I grab my backpack and get out of the car, which makes me wince from the pain. I bite my lip and head towards the doors to the high school.

Once inside I go to my locker and grab some books and papers, then head to my first class. Oh great, Matthew's in this class. Ugh... Just don't talk to him and you'll be fine. Slowly I walk to my class making it just as the bell goes off. I go to my seat and pull out my notebook. Matthew asks annoyed "What took you so long?" I glare at him and look towards the board to see what I need to write down in my notebook. "What's up with you today? You're so...hmm what's the word, oh yeah distant and boring."
"I wasn't boring before?"
"Not exactly. You embarrass yourself enough that it's funny."
I sigh "Yeah, well it takes a lot to be embarrassing, so don't underestimate me."
He smirks "There she is. The girl that annoys me no matter the cost."
I roll my eyes "Well I wouldn't annoy you if you would just be my friend, but no you have to make it hard."
"I never said I wanted to be friends."
"Then why do you talk to me?"
"As I said you embarrass yourself, which makes your annoyance worth it."
"Of course, whatever it takes to make you laugh." I say sarcastically
"I know, I know. I'm just so cool that you have to make sure you impress me."
"In your dreams."
"You wish."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." I smirk and he realizes what I did.
"Did you really just use what I said to you earlier, to get back at me?"
"I don't know, did I?" I grin and he glares at me. I go back to my notes and write some more down, until the bell goes off. I get up and head out of the classroom. I think it's safe to say I'm not going to ignore Matthew.

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It's my last class English. I'm sitting in my seat as I listen to my teacher explain our first project for the year. "Now, everyone I'll be handing out books for everyone to read and then afterwards you will write a paper and a display of a scene from the book. It can be a clay model, you can act it out, be creative. Everyone will have a partner. Before you get too excited about the partners I've already assigned everyone a partner, so you won't be choosing your own. You have three weeks to finish it, starting today." Mrs. Addison explains, then she starts naming partners out. After a little bit I hear "Cinderella and Matthew, Ashley and Dawson..." Mrs. Addison says. You've got to be kidding me! It's like the world just wants us to have to deal with each other. Maybe it's a sign that we're suppose to be friends or maybe it's just the world hating me again. Oh well, I'll just try to make the best of it. I look over at Matthew and he has an unhappy look on his face. "What?" I ask
"I have to work on a project with you."
"Yeah, well maybe you'll actually learn something from me."
He laughs "You're acting as if my grades are bad or something."
"They could be for all I know."
"Well they're not."
"I think we'll work well together. I'm a pretty determined person. I'll make sure we get stuff done." I say as Mrs. Addison sets a book down on my desks I look at it and see the title is uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Hmmm, sounds interesting. This should be fun. "This is going to be the worst project ever." I hear Matthew mumble
"What?! No it's not! This is gonna be fun."
"Yeah right."
"You're just grumpy you have to work with me, but I'm sure we'll get this done fast. Then you won't have to spend a lot of extra time with me."
"Good." He says and picks the book up. We both read the first chapter before the bell goes off. I follow Matthew out and ask, "So when are we going to get together to work on the project?"
"I don't know. Um...What about tomorrow, around seven, at my house?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Good." He says and walks faster to get away from me. I chuckle making myself wince from the pain. I'm gonna take Advil when I get home. So I start walking towards home, thankfully it's stopped raining.