The Worst of Us

Third Wheels Unite

I knew things were different now. After that date, Jem probably expected me to sit with him during breaks. I wanted to sit with him, too, but Farah and Bailey hadn't seemed amused when I ditched them yesterday. I'd sent them a text to apologise later that night, which I got a lukewarm 'it's alright' to in response. Neither Bailey nor Farah had asked me about my date with Jem, which made me wonder if they were upset with me. 

I would find out soon enough. 

We had our first class of the day together, a dusty History class which might've been interesting if our teacher hadn't been a fossil himself who refused to elaborate on something, anything that wasn't already dryly spelled out in our textbooks. I called him the Fossil because his surname was Johnson, like The Rock.

I took my regular seat with Farah and Bailey in our far right corner. Since there were three of us and the desks were arranged in pairs next to each other, we usually switched around who sat together and who sat alone. Farah and Bailey were already in the classroom, so I took the seat in front of them. 

"Morning!" I greeted them. 

"Hey," they said almost simultaneously, and I was relieved everything seemed to be fine. 

Part of me had worried they were upset with me for ditching them once during lunch yesterday, even if that would've been kind of an overreaction. 

"Sorry again I ditched you during lunch yesterday," I casually apologised to Farah and Bailey again, just to check. 

Farah shrugged. 

"What were you talking about with Jasmine and the others?" Bailey asked. 

"Nothing special, really," I admitted.

In hindsight, most of it had been gossiping about Autumn. Even without the future prom queen sitting at the table, everything still seemed to revolve around her and her choices. It'd probably fade in time as the topic got milked out though, as I doubted Autumn was going to return to them or to the spotlight. 

The more I thought about Autumn, the more pissed I became anyway. What gave her the right to be so arrogant and vicious to me when all I'd done was ask her a question? I wanted to stop paying attention Autumn right here and now (as I've wanted many times before), yet, I couldn't help but notice she wasn't in the room. She was supposed to be here, having history class with us. 

I forced myself to look away from her empty spot, and focus on Bailey and Farah.

"I don't know why Jasmine and the others wanted me to sit with them, honestly," I said. 

Farah shrugged again. "Maybe they just wanted to get to know you since Jem asked you out, right?"

"I guess so," I said. 

So, they hadn't forgotten I had gone out with Jem yesterday. I wondered why they hadn't asked about it at all, and at this point I didn't want to bring it up if they weren't interested in hearing about it. Not even Bailey, who didn't act like she was mad with me but didn't ask either. 

Not that she got much chance to. The Fossil Johnson turtled into the room and made us open our textbook to page snooze fest and read in silence ourselves. 

The door opening again five minutes later. All eyes shot to the door, where Autumn came strutting in with her bag casually swung over her shoulders. Again, baggy jeans and flannel. The same clothing type she'd been wearing since her 'transformation.'

"How nice of you to join us today after all, Autumn," the Fossil greeted her. "Quickly, take a seat and turn to page 422 and read the chapter."

Autumn didn't reply. She closed the door behind her with a roll of her eyes and made for her usual spot. Except, her usual spot was next to a girl named  Beth. While she wasn't in the inner-circle of Jasmine friend group and Autumn's ex-friendgroup, she was in-crowd enough to place her bag on the chair and shoot Autumn an arrogant 'oh, no you won't' look. Probably didn't want to lose her good grace with Jasmine and the others, and I understood that. Being on the fringe was better than, well, not being on the fringe. 

I wasn't the only one noticing the quiet power struggle going on between Beth and Autumn. The usually dusty classroom was suddenly filled with electricity and all eyes were on Autumn. 

I fully expected Autumn to lift her chin, give Beth that cool, all-destroying look of hers and then utter an even more obliterating snide remark to put her in her place. Heaven knew she'd destroyed people over much smaller slights, like people asking if they'd somehow offended her. 

The scenario everyone expected at this point didn't play out, however. Autumn stopped in front of Beth and blankly stared at her. When Beth still refused to move her bag and glared up at Autumn five seconds later, Autumn finally sighed and looked up. 

Her eyes scanned the pretty packed classroom, and she reached the same conclusion I did at exactly the same moment: the only other free spot in the whole damn room was the seat next to mine. 

For a moment I thought Autumn was going to storm right out of the room again, but after a brief pause she pressed her lips to a thin line and determinedly marched over to me. I considered putting my bag on the chair the same way as Beth had — payback for the absolutely unnecessary cruel way she'd treated me yesterday when I'd ran into her after my date with Jem. 

I hesitated too long. Autumn had already plopped herself down on the chair and I caught a whiff of cigarette mixed with a flowery deodorant of perfume. 

I sighed. Who was I kidding? Like I was going to do anything to get revenge. I was far too chicken for that, even if Autumn's friends had turned against her and she'd pretty much willingly tossed her social status into the meat grinder herself. 

The peace returned to the classroom, and everyone returned to reading. Well, everyone except for me. My eyes were shooting across the lines of text like they were supposed to, but nothing was registering. I was only aware of Autumn just sitting there. It made me so nervous I couldn't focus on anything except being self-conscious.

When The Fossil clapped his hands, I hadn't read a single word. 

"Alright, class. The homework for this chapter is an essay question," he said. "I want you describe the effect of monarchy on the vision of politics. You can work in pairs."

Beth raised her hand. "Can I join Brad and Carver?" she asked, pointing at the two football players sitting behind her. 

The Fossil made a dismissive hand gesture, saying it was fine. "The rest of you, pick one partner." 

I immediately turned in my seat to Bailey and Farah. They were looking at each other, then turned to me. 

"Uh," Bailey started hesitatingly, "we wanted to go with the three of us... but I guess Mr. Johnson won't allow that now." 

"We were talking about it yesterday during lunch," Farah added. "We already noticed the essay question for this chapter."

"So, you two want to work together?" I asked, to which Bailey bit her lip. 

"I mean... I wouldn't mind working with Autumn instead?" she offered, though, I realised immediately that's definitely not what she wanted. Bailey was hardly ever good with new people, the only exception being the way she'd hit it off with Spencer right off the bat. 

Farah didn't make any offer to work with Autumn instead of me. I knew how she worked. She wouldn't take the initiative, but she'd also shrug and go along with it if I asked her to please do it. 

An awkward silence ensued, until Autumn opened her mouth.

"I know it's such a difficult decision," she said sarcastically, "but make up your minds."

"Fine. I'll work with you," I blurted, not even sure why I did. 

If there was anyone who I didn't want to be alone with right now, it was Autumn. I didn't want to saddle up Bailey or Farah with it either, though. 

The corners of Autumn's mouth lifted half an inch, and her eyes clearly didn't join the fake, small smile. "Great," she told me. "It's your lucky week. I'll write the essay and put your name under it. All you need to do is stay out of the way."