Chapter 5 5| Jerk Between Us

"You are kidding me, right?" I asked.

"Nope," Jerk replied as if it was not a big deal, at least not to him.

"You can't be serious!"

"But I am."

"Are you serious? Cause I am really serious."

"I am serious."

"Brian! I can't possibly complete all your homework for the next ten days."

"But you have to. Ah...and also the homework I got on the days that I missed school."

"No. Please. Not homework. Give me something else to do. Not homework." I pleaded.

"You have to do that. Like I said, I want payback," He stood up, picking up his bag. "And it's not like it's that much of a work. Be thankful I didn't ask you for something worse, like being my maid for a month."

I glared at him. "And what if I don't do it?"

"I'm sure you won't like it."

"Hah! You can't do anything. I won't do it!"

I started to leave but he held me by my wrist.

"Oh, so do you want me to tell the whole school that you are my girlfriend and you slept with me yesterday? That would be cool. And I would be free of the girls that buzz around me all the time like bees."

"You're not my boyfriend! And I didn't sleep with you!" What? His girlfriend?! I never had a boyfriend and I will do everything to keep that record clean. And sleep with him?! I hate him!

"Only you and I will know that. But the whole school? Well, they'll think you are lying. That would be embarrassing, right?"

I glared at him.

"I don't think you want that. So do my homework."

"I hate you!" I shouted as he began to leave the class.

He turned around and smirked. "And I love that. By the way, same here," Then he said in a high pitched voice. "I hate you too," If I had a book in my hand right now, I would have thrown it at him. He laughed at me before walking out of the class.

This was so unfair! Didn't he get his payback that day itself? Wasn't saying sorry a million times, making me wait for him for half an hour and then giving him a ride home enough for a payback? Did he really have to add a ten day homework completion to that list plus completing homework of the days he remained absent?

~

At the cafeteria, I was sitting with Claire, sipping on my soda. I hadn't eaten anything as I was not hungry.

A few minutes later, Brian walked in. Behind him were Jake and Sam, his best friends. He rarely talked to anyone other than Jake and Sam.

Jake waved his hand in our direction and to my surprise, Claire waved back. The three boys went to get their food.

"Claire, you know Jake?" I questioned.

"Uh...yeah. he is in my English class. And he recently became my friend. I invited him to eat with us today."

"What? No! Is Brian coming too?"

"I think so. You know they don't ditch each other ever?" She said, shrugging.

"You really had to do that? I hate Brian. He wants me to complete ten days homework of his plus the homework he got when he was absent. I hate him!"

"Brooke, you'll be fine. He's not gonna eat you up," She said, completely ignoring what I said about his homework.

I sighed. He would if he wanted to.

I looked at them again. They were walking in our direction. I also saw the admiring eyes of almost all the girls present in the cafeteria rake over them.

They reached our table, placing their trays of food on it. Tyler, Darren and Josh looked up at them.

"Hey," he said, looking at the three. Claire invited me to sit with you guys today," Jake spoke.

"Yeah. Please sit down," Claire said.

I again looked around and the admiring eyes of the girls had turned into pure envy. After all, not everyday does the hot nerds trio sit with somebody else other than themselves. I turned my attention towards our table again.

I was sat beside Claire and Jake sat on the other side of Claire. Sam sat beside Jake and with him was Tyler, Josh and then Darren. There was an empty seat between me and Darren which Brian now occupied.

"Why are you sitting here?" I asked him sternly.

"Can't you see that there are no other seats available?" He retorted acidly.

"Why don't you switch places with Jake?"

"He wants to sit with Claire."

"Sam?"

"I can see that he is in a serious conversation with Tyler. Don't wanna disturb."

"Darren?"

"I don't want to sit beside Josh. He's boring."

"Shut up. He's not boring, you are."

"Jeez, woman. Why don't you switch places yourself if you don't want to sit here?"

"I came here first."

"Then enjoy my company."

"More like loathe it."

"You are-"

"Beautiful, smart, intelligent, great, pretty, cute, any other things you want to say to me?" I offered.

"Yes, you're the opposite of all of that."

"Will you just shut up. You owe me that. I have to complete your mountain of a homework."

"Ah...thanks for reminding me about it," He pushed his chair back and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. Nice. Now I can eat in peace.

After five minutes or so, someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up just in time to see Brian slam down some books on the table. I jumped a little as the books banged against the table, catching the attention of everyone within a ten meter radius.

"Here, you have to complete all of this," He said. I stared at the books. There were at least eight books.

"What the f-"

"It is the homework of the two days I was absent because of you," And then he cackled evilly.

I didn't say anything.

"You have to complete only four books. The others are of a classmate. You have to copy from those books. Simple. Ain't I a good person?"

"Brian," I said, more like pleaded. "You had your payback. You made me wait for you for half an hour, I gave you a ride, I said sorry a thousand times and you made me reach my home two hours late. Wasn't it enough? Please."

"Whoa. Brooke Parker is saying please to me? Am I really on earth? Where is that feisty Brooke?"

"Brian-"

"Nope. It's not enough," He interrupted me.

"Brian, please. Why don't you let Claire do it? She was also involved."

"I didn't see her. She ran away. Yeah, maybe she was also involved. But she didn't ?attack me."

"But she helped me execute the plan. Doesn't she deserve some punishment?" I tried again, hoping against hope he that might see some logic in this which I was desperately trying to make him see.

"No way. I am innocent. She manipulated me, Brian," Claire shouted.

"Wow. Friendship goals!" I said sarcastically.

"Oh, Brooke. I am not telling him to give all the work to you," Claire said to me.

"Okay. So Brooke, you are doing the first five day's homework and then Claire will do the other five day's homework," Brian said.

"What? No way!" Claire pouted.

"Take that Claire," I chuckled.

"Ugh! I hate doing other's homework!"

"Like I enjoy. But we don't have a choice."

"Fine."

Brian chuckled and I glared at him. What's so funny in such a horrible situation?

Claire went back to the conversation she was having with Jake. I don't know when she met him but the way they were talking made me feel that she likes him. And oh, look at her blushing to a compliment that Jake gave her on how she looked. I was happy for her. If Jake makes her happy and forget about Jesse then I'll do whatever it takes to make her admit her feeling for him.

Claire excused herself to go to the bathroom and I decided to talk to her.

"Claire, wait up!" I jogged over to her.

"What happened?" She asked.

"When did you meet Jake?"

"Um...I met him three days ago." Three days only and she already likes him. That's why I hate hormones! They are so illogical.

"How?"

"When I ran away from Brian and you, that day when Brian was accidentally attacked by us, I met Jake there. As you were caught by Brian, I had to walk home and Jake offered to drop me. He is also in a few classes with me."

"Hmm...and you already like him?"

"What!? No! Don't be silly," She said, shaking her head as she chuckled but I didn't miss the small hint of color on her face.

"You are so stupid," I muttered under my breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. I am happy for you," I said and hugged her.

"You are acting strange today."

"Am not. You are. Someone's in love today!" I teased her.

"Am not!"

"We'll see," I said and returned to the table.