I can count on one hand how many times in this life someone's left me speechless.

And yet here we are.

It must be a full moon, because I found myself staring in bewilderment as Patience retreated in a hurry away from me. In all honesty, I'm not even sure how to feel about what just went down. Sure, I'm aggravated at being blackmailed by one of the last kinds of people I would have ever expected, but something else racks my brain even more.

Why can't I wrap my head around this girl? I usually figure people out in less than ten minutes. Five, if they're especially transparent. So, why can't I keep a read on some scrawny schoolgirl who's developed the incalculably sized balls to ask me to teach her how to 'fight'?

Why would she even want this? I shake my head, trying to rid myself of more bothersome thoughts. Whatever the reason is, it's not my business when it doesn't fully involve me.

But then again, it does.

I pull my bike into it's usual spot, successfully avoiding any other empty-headed drivers trying to run me over, and shoved my way through the heavy doors of the school's main entrance. I'm finding that it's the little things pissing me off this morning, and my moods quickly degrading from bad to worse. You know the start to a lousy day when you see it.

As if on que, I heard the steady clack of a pair of heels approaching my direction while I'm rummaging through the contents of my locker. When the steps speed up the closer they get, I don't even bother to contain the sigh of fustration that escapes me.

There's only a few reasons I ever hear that sound coming my way in this school, and none of them are ever pleasant. Considering I haven't done anything worth a staff ordered detention.....

That just leaves the other one.

I don't even bother to look up.

She dramatically clears her throat, like a spoiled diva expecting to be acknowledged. I continue rifling through my stuff, looking for that stupid physics textbook I buried in here yesterday. I really need to reorganize, I think to myself briefly, despite my mounting irritation at the perfumed harpy about to crowd my space right now.

If Patience was the last person I thought I wanted to see today, then it seems it's time to reevaluate.

Because, God Save the Queen.

Hilary. The girl that thinks her popularity in highschool actually matters, only to realize afterward she's peaked early and has nothing to offer society besides the body count she racked up trying to make herself relevant in people's minds. Shame, all that beauty destroyed by rabid insecurity.

Her locker is about seven down from my own and it's been draining my soul since day one. She's thrown over flirtatious looks for awhile now, ones I ignore, but the girl seems to think it's just a game we're both playing.

Ego really does make you look stupid sometimes.

"Are you just going to sit there, or are you actually going to speak?" I retorted, finally acknowledging her existence. Her gaze was beginning to make me want to wash the side of my face.

"No need to be so grouchy, Dean. " She huffs playfully, brushing a few locks of nearly white hair behind her ear and leaning forward with both arms crossed. The motion causes her chest to push up against the thin fabric of her shirt, which I'm certain is fully intentional. I raise an eyebrow at her, finally finding the textbook and slamming the locker shut to deal with the matter at hand. "You always act like you don't notice me......I just want to talk. Don't you?" Her voice inflects upwards toward the end, painting over her seductive tone with a false air of innocence.

I'm going to start making up names just to piss her off.

How many different ones start with "H"? Haley? Hannah?

Nothing changes on my face, which clearly frustrates her. I'm sure this was supposed to go very differently in her head.

"I just wanted to let you know we should hang out sometime. I'm sure we'd have lots of fun....", she hums with too much sugar.

Fun?

Alot of her is what girl's tend to call fake, but I'd be lying if I said she wasn't sexually appealing to the basic male instincts. Her clothes are short and tight enough, and her wedged heels show off her legs in a way that makes you notice her curves. She leaves little to the imagination, and she'll no doubt get up to many depraved adventures in the years to come.

The mistress in training shamelessly begins to reach out a hand, which I grasp and firmly shove away the second I realize she wants to slide those sharp, heavily manicured nails underneath the hem of my shirt.

I admired the boldness, I tend to find it attractive. But, no way in hell was I letting this venomous leech touch me.

"You think so?" I taunt, filling the air with ice as I tower over her. She's definitely not getting the message that I'm about to give her something she really doesn't want if she keeps up. The presence of her perfume was quickly becoming too strong, and the need to douse her thirst with water was quickly becoming apparent. God, she's fortunate I didn't buy a bottle from the vending machine down the hall.

She'd be soaked, just not in the way she wants.

"My number is--" Alright, I'm done.

"Sorry Hannah, ain't interested." I cut her off mid sentence, her eyes widen as I flash her with a sarcastic smile, shaking my head at her desperation and finally letting the foulness of my mood this morning show through. "Especially not in you. I'm sick of watchin' you pant after me like a dog in heat, and if you don't cool it, I won't be so nice anymore."

Simple, sweet. To the point. Was it a dick thing to say? Not really. She's lucky I haven't wiped that look off her face with a wet Kleenex and taken the beauty off with it.

"But who knows? Maybe I'll reconsider when your more bareable to be around."

Okay, I'll admit that was petty.

Without another thought, I step around the very stunned vixen and head towards first period.

Didn't even make it far down the hall before the expected tantrum starts.

"Hannah?! My names HILARY!" She stamps her foot in spoiled defiance somewhere behind me. "You're actually turning your back on me?! Who do you think you are?" She's likely turned the heads of other students in the hall.

"That's great Hazel...." I stated with boredom, still loud enough for her to hear. Her bratty tantrum continued on behind me.

»»----- - -----««

First period ends and every synapse in my body is already antsy to get out of this building. Throughout class my mind kept drifting to a certain puzzling brunette likely awaiting me next period. I have no idea what to do about her. No idea what to do about this "deal" she's conjured up. I have half a nerve to call her bluff.

But is she bluffing?

She's already suprised me twice.

She's clearly got two sides to her, if what I've witnessed so far is any testimony. Who's to say there aren't more?

Hate to say it, but the girl's peaking my interest too much.

And the self destructive streak I try to keep supressed is going wild.

Keeping out of business that doesn't involve me is an unspoken rule in my life. It may seem insensitive, but it's one of the reasons I've been able to hold my own so well.

And yet here I am, amongst all the other crap on my plate, considering it. Considering this deal....

Just to see where it leads.

Trey might have been right about me needing counseling.

If I go with this, playing dumb isn't that hard to do while I'm trying to figure her out. And if this blows up in my face, she can't do that much damage, can she?

Her seat is the first place my eyes go as I stroll in behind the string of classmates steadily filling the English classroom. Instead of the usual standoff between me and Mr. Coleman --he hates me for a large variety of reasons-- my eyes immediately zero in on Patience cowering in the back of the room, chewing her lip and looking oh so very guilty.

The naturally mischievous side of me lights up in anticipation.

Now, this is fun.