Bria

I looked in the mirror and immediately felt stupid. I was never one to get all dolled up just for school, why was I trying now? It was about time for me to leave the house, so it was too late to change out of this dress, or take my makeup off.

Guess I'll deal with it.

It was Friday morning, and I was praying in my head that Christopher finished the diorama like he said he did. That and that it at least looked presentable. I put my paper in my book bag and got ready to leave for school...but not before sending Forest to his bus.

"Come on Forest you're running late!"

"I don't feel good." He said holding his stomach.

"I'm sorry but mom's not here...of course. I can't leave you here alone-"

"Stay here! I can't go to school!"

"I have something important to turn in Forest...are you sure you can't make it? I'll find a way to pick you up early."

"I can't!" He said clenching his stomach, on the verge of tears.

"Okay..okay...uh..drink some tea. I'm gonna call mom."

"No! Please I want you to stay here! I don't like it when she comes home-"

"I can't stay Forest. I'm calling mom." I said feeling like a failure of a sister.

I reluctantly called my mother, who was most likely hungover in a random guy's bed. After calling her a total of 4 times, she finally picked up.

"What Brianna?"

"Oh hey mom...uh Forest is really sick, I need to leave for school soon so I can't stay with him.."

"Okay? Why are you telling me this?"

I tried my best to keep my cool with this woman.

"Well he's too sick to go to school and I can't leave him here alone, do you think you'll be home to watch him?"

"Do you expect me to believe that? He's a kid! He's obviously just trying to get out of going to school."

"Mom please he's really sick, he needs someone here with him. I promise you, he's not a liar, he's not like that."

"Drop him off at Mrs. Frederick's house." She said before hanging up.

Mrs. Frederick was Casey and Cameron's mom who occasionally babysat Forest. It would be incredibly rude to just drop him off without asking ahead of time, but there wasn't much left I could do.

"Ok, change of plans. We're gonna see if Mrs. Frederick can watch you."  I said before rushing to pack him a bag for the day. At this point I knew I'd be late for school but I didn't care, as long as I got to biology on time I'd be content.

"Mrs.Frederick smells like fish-"

"Doesn't matter. Let's go." I said giving the bag that contained medicine, his tablet, his drawing book, as well as his pencils.

Forest had always had an interest in art, and drawing, and yet for Christmas each year my mother scrapes up some money and buys him a football or something....it's like she doesn't even know the kid.

We practically ran up to Mrs.Frederick's apartment and knocked on her door. I tapped my foot in impatience as we waited for someone to answer.

Finally, she opened her door..and we were greeted with a confused smile.

"Good morning Mrs.Frederick, I'm kind of late for school and Forest isn't feeling well, do you think you can watch him until I get back?"

"Well of course Bria. Is your mom not home again?"

I've grown to hate that question.

"Yeah...thanks for this. His medicine is in his backpack."

After leaving Mrs.Frederick's I quickly rushed to walk to school, if I was fast enough I'd be on time for my first class.

//

Christopher

I carefully made my way through the hallway, making sure not to fuck up the diorama I stayed up all night creating.

"Chris!" Devyn said running up to me.

"Oh hey Dev..."

"Oh my goodness is this your diorama? Wow Bria is smart and talented. I'm mad I got stuck with Samaad and not her,"

The last thing I thought about doing was telling her that I was the one who painted the diorama, so I figured I'd give Bria all the credit.

"Yeah she is.." I said rubbing the back of my neck preparing myself for Devyn to continue talking my head off.

"Can you believe? Her and Samaad going on a date tomorrow..they're like perfect for each other though. Both lame as hell."

I cringed when I thought of them on the date together..it just didn't seem..right. I never really cared when he would constantly flirt with Bria, but I never expected her to actually say yes. And when she did, it made me feel...I don't know.

"Eh I don't think it'll last." I said now annoyed with our everlasting conversation.

"Samaad and Bria? Oh come on they'd be so cute together! The new power couple! Samaad and Bria...SaBria...Briaad-"

"Ok I get it, Devyn."

She looked at me and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Chris are you jealous of something?"

"Fuck no, I just don't really care about any little thing they got going on." I said immediately shutting down the little conspiracy she created.

"I get it babe, how about we go on a date too?" Devyn said nudging me causing me to fumble with my project.

"How about no." I said going into my English classroom, parting ways with Devyn, which unfortunately meant being in the same classroom as Samaad.

"Aye Chris! Your project looks sick." He said walking up to me.

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, but I found myself equally annoyed with samaad as I was with Devyn.

"Thanks." I said lowly.

"I can't wait for biology, I get to see my Bria." He said putting emphasis on 'my'. This kid gets one date and thinks he has a girlfriend. No nigga.

"Don't care." I mumbled to him.

"Don't be maaaad. You're talking to Devyn, right?"

"Kind of."

"Did you see Bria in the hallway this morning though? She lookin like a..." he paused and sucked the tips of his fingers "..snack!"

"I doubt that."

"You sound like a hater. Why are you always angry at the world?" He said with squinted eyes.

//

Bria

As my classes went by the only thing that was on my mind was Forest and if he was okay. I trusted him with Mrs.Frederick, but I felt bad for not having time to take his temperature this morning, he could be sick with something serious.

The whole day seemed to drag on forever but it was finally my last period...biology. I began getting nervous that Christopher hadn't done his part, since I hadn't got into contact with him to make sure he did.

I nervously entered the classroom and was instantly greeted by Devyn. Great.

"Bria! You look so cute today, oh my god I've never seen you in a dress! Also, great job on your diorama, you're so creative."

"I did the report, Christopher did the-"

I was interrupted by Christopher butting into the conversation as well as shoving the diorama in my hands.

"Yes Brianna, you did very well on the diorama, we should get to our seats now." He said grabbing my wrist and pulling me to our seats next to each other.

So aggressive.

I examined the diorama in my hands and I was completely shocked. It's actually...beautiful? Christopher did this?

"Why did you tell Devyn I made this? Didn't you make it?"

"Doesn't matter who made it, it's done and that's what matters. We finished so we don't have to be partners anymore." He said coldly.

"Oh..ok."

Soon everyone in the class was seated and Mrs.Taylor took her usual place in the front of the classroom.

"I'll be coming around to collect projects in a minute but first..I have an announcement." Mrs. Taylor said causing confused mutters to fill the room.

"I've notice some students in my biology classes seem to be struggling, so I've established a buddy system based on test scores and performance in your previous work."

No no no...

"Not many of you know, but I tested out this system through your biome projects and it seemed to work rather well. I hope you all like your partners because you two will remain partners for the rest of the year."

The classroom was now overcome in groans, cheers, curses, and celebrating. I put my face in my hands. I have to work with this guy for the rest of the year?

"Settle down, settle down. And before you ask there is absolutely no switching partners, unless a serious incident occurs."

Surprisingly, I didn't hear complaining or insults from Christopher when he found out we'd be partners for the rest of the year. I did, however feel him staring at me intently. I'd been getting stares from people all day and it was stressing me out.

"So, the next assignment with your partners will be complete this packet that is due at the end of class, you will get one to share for the both of you and there should be no one doing all the work. Bria please come pass them out."

Just perfect. I was already feeling like I wanted to hide but now all eyes would be on me. I reluctantly got up and took the packets from her hand.

I tried to pass them out as quickly as I could but Christopher continued to stare, but this time it wasn't just him, but Samaad too. When I finally returned to my seat everyone had started on their packet and I just wanted to do the same.

"How about I do the first page and you do the next one?" I asked Christopher as I flipped through the packet.

"I can do the second page but not by myself...I struggle with this subject." He said quietly so no one else would hear him.

"Oh ok..well we can do that page first."

Christopher

When I told Bria that I needed her help I felt this weird feeling in the bottom of my stomach. I felt..embarrassed and ashamed & I didn't understand why. Why do I care what she thinks? The worst thing is, I couldn't shake the feeling. I wanted to use big words when she talked to me, I wanted to pretend I knew what she was talking about..I wanted her to think I'm smart.

"So a decrease in population is indicative of a possible outbreak or increase in predators," She said as she filled in the blanks of the packet. I nodded my head in agreement, even though I didn't understand anything she was saying.

"Psst Bria." I heard the annoying ass voice of Samaad interrupt our conversation, causing Bria to turn around and face him.

"I still don't have your number," he said giving her his phone.

I do...bitch.

She typed in her number and gave him his phone back. I heard him mutter something about their date but I tuned him out.

"Excuse me?" Bria said to him clearly offended by whatever it is that he said. I should probably start listening..

"I said after the boardwalk you should come chill at my place. My mom's out of town." He said with a wink.

Seriously?

"What the fuck do I look like to you? Seriously?" She said to him.

That's what I'm saying.

"I just thought maybe you wanted to-"

"Nah. You can forget all of that." She said turning away from him and a little smile appeared on my face.