I love thee with a love that shall not die

Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old.

J A M E S 

Annabeth wanted a fucking Caramel Frappuccino.

I told her that she had a caramel addiction because she couldn't go a day without drinking some version of a caramel coffee and that it was completely unnecessary.

But naturally, she batted her eyelashes at me, looked at me with those stupid pretty big eyes, and for a single moment, I turned into a weak bitch. I was still kicking myself for that exact moment.

So, very unwillingly, and only since we had time till homeroom, I decided that a pit stop at The Coffee Shop wouldn't hurt.

The line was crawling, very slowly much to my annoyance. We had waited a whole fifteen minutes and there was still another person in front of us, ordering the whole damn menu.

Bored, my eyes scan the people in the shop, which was nearly empty despite the growing line. 

It was a quaint, vintage little thing- so I could see the whole appeal with why people chose to come here. Vintage academia aesthetic, Annabeth would say.

A flash of somewhat familiar dark, graying hair makes me pause.

I stare in that direction for a whole five seconds to make sure I was seeing things right. The man tilts his head to the side with a laugh as he wraps an arm around the blonde woman next to him.

A very pregnant blonde woman.

The recognition takes some time to slowly sink in. First, my mind blanks- and I can only feel numb.

Then, the anger hits.

Hot, white searing rage. A part of me even feels physically sick.

I grit my jaw, turning away.

My fingers wrap around Annabeth's arm.

"We're leaving," I say tightly, giving it a tug.

"What?" her eyes got big, "Why? We waited a whole fifteen minutes, there's only one more person in fr-"

"Right now," my voice sounds harsher and more impatient this time.

She pauses.

Her eyes switch between both of mine, and a little furrow appears in her eyebrows.

It was getting exceedingly harder to keep the blank, cool expression in place- but there must have been something on my face because, after a long moment, she nods slowly.

"Okay, never mind," she says softly, her eyes never leaving mine, "We can go. Is everything okay?"

No, it isn't. I don't say that out loud though, just tugging her arm along- out of The Coffee Shop, and in the direction of the school.

I let go of her arm as soon as we're outside because I don't want to make it look like I'm dragging her around like a rag doll. Despite that, after a few strides, I feel her fingers wrap around my arm.

I don't even scoff in her direction at that.

I walk faster than I usually do too, and she wordlessly half-jogged, half brisk walked beside me to keep up.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asks again, her voice quiet.

I don't answer this time either.

Surprisingly, she stays silent for the whole walk to school after that- as if she could sense that I was in a shittier mood than usual.

When we're a few feet away from my locker, where a grinning Tyler was looking between the both of us with an expression full of mirth, she pulls away from my arm.

"I'll be right back," I hear her mutter, but I don't even turn in her direction as she takes off the other way.

"What did I just see?" Tyler says, his voice smug as I open my locker with more force than necessary.

I don't respond.

"Walking in together, hmm?" he continues, despite my silence, "It's adorable. I love it Jamie-boo, you're just giving me more content to tease you with."

I still don't say anything, stuffing my textbooks into the tiny metal space harshly.

"Not even a 'shut up'?" Tylers lets out a little humored scoff, "Man, does this silence mean acceptance? Fucking fina-"

"I saw him at The Coffee Shop," I say, my voice quiet.

He pauses.

"Saw who?" he asks, the humor in his tone dissipating.

"Who do you think?" I ask, my voice low and bitter as I turn to him, "He got the blonde bitch pregnant again- like they're one big, happy family. Can you fucking believe him?"

Tyler's expression drops.

I didn't need to explicitly tell him who I was talking about, and although he was an idiot most of the time, he knew when to cut it out.

"Oh, fuck," he mutters lowly, running a hand through his dark hair, "Fuck, man I'm- I'm so sorry. You wanna skip, or go to a library or something?"

I slam my locker shut with a loud bang. "I want to kill him.'

"Can't help much with that, can I?" Tyler mumbles, "I'd get us caught if we even tried. But skipping it is, c'mon- I'll text Elliot to tell Annabeth that you're-"

"Hey, Jackson!"

I grit my teeth but turn towards whoever had just called out to me.

The moment my eyes meet his, I knew I should've ignored him.

Ian Jenson smiles crookedly at me, but there was nothing nice about it. It was as malicious as it could be.

About half the corridor had also paused, looking between the both of us half-nervous, half-curious.

"You know what I heard?" he asks lowly, taking another daring step in my direction. I clench my teeth harder but don't respond.

"I heard your daddy is still fucking his old secretary, and now you have another half brother on the way."

It goes quiet all around us.

There are a few hushed gasps too, but all I can feel is the familiar, hot, red fury rising up my chest.

"The fuck did you just say?" I ask him quietly.

Some of that macho bravado falters, but he goes to repeat it anyway. "I said, I heard you da-"

My fingers wrap around his collar, and I slam him against the metal lockers. His head hits the metal with a loud bang, enough for his face to scrunch up in pain- while the people around us gasp even louder.

"No, I heard you," I tell him through gritted teeth, pressing my fist against his throat, "I was giving you a chance to fucking take it back and apologize."

His eyes bulge as I press my hand against his throat harder.

"Man, I was just playing around," he says, but it comes out as a choked wheeze.

"Oh yeah?" I mutter, lowly, "Would beating your fucking face to pulp also be considered playing around?"

"It isn't my fault," he says, his voice feeble, "that your father chose to-"

I don't let him finish his sentence.

There's a distinct bone-cracking crunch when my fist makes contact with his nose, and the spurt of blood that follows doesn't stop me from drawing my fist back again.

Unfortunately for me, I don't get more than five hits in before arms wrap around both my shoulders pulling me back.

Blood was gushing down his nose, his eye was starting to swell up, and he was barely conscious- but he gives me a smile with bloody teeth that instantly has my blood boiling again.

"Hey, you got him good," I hear Tyler mutter, as he tightens his grip on my arm when I try to lunge again, "That's enough, relax."

"Yeah, c'mon man," I can hear Archer say from my left, as he gives my other arm a tug, "He's not worth it."

"Fucking bastard," I say through my teeth.

"Mr. Jackson!" I can hear Ms. Langford- our principal- boom into the now silent corridor, "This is absolutely unacceptable behavior- to my office, now!"

I deflate and my arms sag by my sides.

Shit. How the fuck did she get here? She rarely ever made it out of her office, unless there was something important.

My head turns, and just before my eyes scope out Ms. Langford I see a pair of bright blue eyes looking in my direction, wide and full of horror.

Something in my chest sinks.

I blink, and she had already turned, hurrying away from the crowd.

Both Archer and Tyler quietly let go of my arms as I straighten, flexing my fingers by my side.

My knuckles were throbbing, and glancing down at them, I can see some of the skin split on both hands.

"Come along," Ms. Langford gives me a stern, angered look- her dark eyes narrowed before she turns to all those standing around us, "You two- get Mr. Jenson to the nurse's office. The rest of you, to class. Now!"

My jaw ticks, as I spare the figure on the ground another glance- before I comply quietly.

For some reason, all I could think about was the horrified look on her face- and it told me I was better off not escalating this.

Just as I move to step behind Ms. Langford and follow after her however, my eyes meet a pair of green, snake-like ones.

There's a smug, content look on the blond motherfucker's face. 

And one look at that victorious smirk- as if he knew that I was going to fight the guy- makes me realize exactly what had happened.

I had been set up.

*****

"You have been excellent in terms of academics so far," Ms. Langford continues to drill, fifteen minutes later, "And you'd think that someone with your intelligence would know that violence is not the answer."

I stay silent, staring at the wood on her table with a bored look- though I'm simmering on the inside.

He set me up. He fucking set me up. 

He set me up to get into that fucking fight- because as cocky as it sounds, no one would ever walk up to me and start talking shit as definitively as that little bastard did unless there was something else. 

He got him to do it, and even if there was no way to confirm his involvement- I was sure of it.

All this, conveniently around the time Ms. Langford would be walking down the corridor. And he made sure she saw it happen too. 

I had to give it to him, it was conniving and clever. It was meant to throw me off, and as stupid as it sounds- show me that he had shit up his sleeve- like it was a powerplay in some imaginary scoreboard of me against him. 

It just made me hate him even more.

I want to kill him.

"Your anger will get you nowhere," she says, gesturing to me with her bony-ass hand, "As someone who's been offered a sports scholarship and the captain of the football team- I would expect more responsibility from your end. A violation like this calls for you getting benched for next week's game."

"You can't do that Ms. Lang-" I protest, but she shushes me.

"I," she says slowly, "can do whatever I want. However, I am going to be very lenient with your punishment this time. Another violation, and I will make sure to let your Coach know that you won't be allowed to play. Is that understood?"

I bite the inside of my cheek stoically.

"Mr. Jackson," Ms. Langford repeats sternly, "Is that understood?"

"Yes," I say stiffly.

She nods, leaning back. "You're dismissed."

I roll my eyes, pushing the chair back as I rise to my feet.

As my fingers curl around the handle of the door, her voice makes me stop again.

"Another thing," I turn to her with the same bored look, "Louisa's emergency has elapsed, and she will be returning to school this week onward."

"Who?" I ask, cluelessly.

"Louisa Davies," Ms. Langford clarifies patiently, "The one you're replacing in the exchange program."

Oh.

I push down the sudden uncomfortable feeling in my chest. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Since this was sprung upon you," she explains, "I'd understand if you want to give your place back to her."

I would've jumped at the opportunity a week back.

But the words that immediately slip out of my mouth are,

"That won't be necessary."

The slight surprise in Ms. Langford's expression reflects what I'm feeling on the inside. What?

"We're at the beginning of the second week," I clarify quickly, "It might not be best to switch the course now."

A thoughtful silence follows, and I'm almost uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze, as she looks at me over the bridge of her glasses.

Finally, she only nods and her lips tug into a small smile. "Very well. Whatever you and your partner prefer."

I nod stiffly, turning back around and walking out.

Fucking finally. I wanted to relax after all the shit that went down.

The moment I step out, however, my eyes meet a pair of wide blue expectant ones.

Shit.

She starts walking towards me, with the same wide-eyed expression and I only get more worried on the inside. 

Fucking shit- what if she wanted to switch partners now because of what she saw or something? Not that I cared, but I just told Ms. Langford that it was unnecessary.

While a part of me was very stupidly panicking and getting ready to defend myself, she does the thing I least expect her to do.

She flings her arms around me.

I freeze, and my thoughts skid to a halt.

"Oh my goodness, I was so worried!" she says, her voice wobbly.

What?

"What?" I say stupidly.

"I mean, I saw the other guy- and he did not look good," she rambles, her arms still around me and her chin pressed against my shoulder, "I was worried you'd get in trouble- especially since you have a game next week-"

She pulls back to look at me. "Wait, did you? Get into trouble, I mean."

I just shake my head at her, a tiny bit stunned.

"Thank goodness!" she flings her arms around me again, nearly making me stagger and my palm automatically presses against her back to steady us both, "I really would've cried on your behalf-"

"I-" my voice very embarrassingly cracks, but I clear my throat, "I thought you ran off?"

"Oh," she pulls back, her face turning into a big grin, "Guess what I did."

"You tripped over your own shoelaces fifteen times?"

"That," she nods- holding her index finger up, "but also, I snuck this out of the nurse's office for you."

She holds an ice pack up.

Something inside me feels all gross and fluttery. "For me?"

"Mhmm," she nods with that same huge smile, grabbing my hand and pressing it against my knuckles before I can say another word and the fluttery feeling intensifies. 

Stop it, I want to tell myself, you're being an idiot, feeling all warm on the inside. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to do much.

"I don't do well with violence, which is partly why I ran off," she continues, oblivious to what I was thinking, "But I also figured he must have said something pretty crappy for you to have reacted like that. Yikes, your knuckles look bad."

That meant she hadn't heard what he had said. I instantly felt a tiny bit relieved.

"You know I'm literally always looking for an excuse to punch someone, right?" I ask her.

"Yeah, but you don't actually go around hitting people," she smiles up at me, "Sure, you do it to Tyler- but it's never too hard, he's just dramatic. Besides, you were already in a terrible mood because of something else so I can see where that came from, I guess?"

"Okay, Sherlock Holmes," I scoff, trying to ignore how warm and satisfied I felt on the inside with her response.

"Yes I use my brain very often," she nods solemnly, "Because I have all the three big B's. The Brains, The Bubble Butt, and The Boobs. I also have-"

"Okay," I cut her off pointedly, resisting the urge to actually look her up and down to confirm that for myself, "That wasn't necessary."

"It very much was," she tells me before her eyes go wide, "One more thing-"

She sticks her hands into her pockets, and pulls a pack of mint gum out, extending it in my direction.

"Candy makes you feel better," she says when I just stare down at it, "but since you're boring- and you don't like candy, I got you a combination of what you do like. Mint plus gum and et voilà! You now have: mint chewing gum."

"You little shit," I say, but it comes out soft and nearly fond.

"You're welcome, J-man," she says, with a cheeky smile, "I know that deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down- you appreciate the gesture."

"It's whatever," I mutter, trying to play it off, "now, go on."

"Go where?" her grip on my hand tightens.

"Go back to what you were doing before you gave me the ice pack," I grumble.

She blinks at me. "What was I doing?"

I glare at her. "You were offering comfort."

"Oh. Oh- right, okay," her smile returns, and with a little shake of her head, she wraps her arms around me again, "You're cute sometimes."

"Take that back."

She laughs into my shoulder as my arm wraps around her, and my palm presses against her back. "Absolutely not."

I tighten my hold around her, as she blabbers something about how sometimes the grumpiest of people could be the softest on the inside(not true) but I don't respond to her yet.

Instead, I lift my eyes to look at the person who Annabeth hadn't noticed since he had been lingering in the background like the pathetic fucking creep he was.

He glowers at me, but more specifically- the position I was currently in, with her in my arms.

And so, like the petty bitch I am, I raise my middle finger at him behind her back.

Fuck you, Ryan, I mouth. 

thank you for reading !! don't forget to vote and comment :)

this is 1/4th of the book so far, eh? that's progress, I'll say. if things go according to plan the full edited version should be ready by the end of next month. not definitive, but fingers crossed!! x

Cassie's bucket list #11: Get on a taxi, and when the driver asks where you want to go- say "To infinity and beyond."