I have one class with Nina throughout the day, and it just so happens that Zane is in the class too. It’s third period Biology, so instead of sitting at desks, we sit at tables with partners. Nina and Zane share a table toward the front, while I sit near the back. Usually, I don’t pay too much attention to them, but today, I’m literally trying to burn holes into them with my gaze. Too bad I don’t actually possess that power.
“Longing for the old days?” Thorn mutters from beside me as he draws a doodle of a skull on his notebook.
Yep, I share a table with him, and he’s spent many hours bitching about the fact. Not that I believe he’s totally serious. He’s the one who chose to sit down beside me on the first day of class. Although, he did make a big show of muttering how he had no other choice, that there weren’t any chairs left to sit in. Which, I guess was true, but deep down, I think he doesn’t despise me as much as he tries to act like he does.
“What’re you talking about?” I ask without taking my eyes off Nina and Zane.
They’re holding hands, and she keeps whispering in his ear when the teacher turns his back to write on the board. Every time she does, Zane smiles. It makes me want to know what she’s saying. And that annoys me enough that I’m starting to debate vagina-punching myself in an attempt to knock some sense back into me. Not that I actually think my vagina is where I carry my sense, but it’ll be painful enough to distract me from my stupidity.
“You’ve been staring at Queen Bitch and Dumbass Douchebag for the entire class,” Thorn replies. “I’m guessing you’re longing for the old days when the three of you were friends and almost made up an entire brain.”
My gaze slides to him. “If you’re implying that I only have a third of a brain, you’re completely wrong. There’s totally a whole one up there.” I knock my knuckles against the side of my head.
His eyes glint wickedly. “You may have about a half a brain, and those two have a quarter each.”
I shake my head. “No way. I have like three-quarters and those two each have an eighth.”
He stares at me for a beat or two. “Yeah, probably.”
My lips part in mock shock. “Did you just say something nice about me?”
He dramatically rolls his eyes. “If you think having three-quarters of a brain is a compliment, then I guess I did.”
I let a smile spread across my face. “Aw, I think my new bestie is starting to like me.”
He rolls his eyes again then returns his gaze to his notebook as he goes back to doodling. “Stop calling me your bestie. It’s so damn annoying.”
I rest my elbow on the table and prop my chin on my hand. “What’s better then? BFF? Best friend? My other half? My secret keeper? Oh, what about my sidekick?”
His gaze cuts to mine. “Implying that I’m your sidekick would mean you’re implying you’re a superhero, which you’re not.”
“Maybe I am, though,” I tease. “I mean, usually superheroes keep their identities a secret so, for all you know, I could spend my nights getting rid of bad guys.” Not that I believe I’m a superhero. It’s just fun messing with him.
He snorts a laugh. “Like you know anything about superheroes.”
“I actually do,” I tell the truth for probably the first time in a long time. “And FYI, that remark was awfully judgmental of you.”
“Like you’re one to talk.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that you’re a judgmental snob.”
My lips part, this time in real shock. “I am not.”
He rolls his eyes again. “I can list off ten incidents just off the top of my head that prove you are.”
Now I’m the one to roll my eyes. “No you can’t.”
“The time you told everyone in school that Revenna was a lesbian because she cut her hair short,” he starts, his gaze as cold as my body temperature. “Or the time you told everyone I worshipped the devil because of how I look.”
“Neither of those things were done by me,” I lamely attempt to defend myself. “Nina started the rumors.”
“I’m sure you were right there with her when she did.” He pauses with his lips pressed together, malicious intent written all over his face. “I mean, you are—were—her sidekick, right? So everything she did, you helped with.”
So many comebacks burn at the tip of my tongue, but I bite them back, knowing he’s right.
“Nina’s not a superhero, which means I couldn’t have been her sidekick,” I say instead. “But you’re probably right about the other stuff. I was a snobby, judgmental bitch back then.”
“You say that like you aren’t anymore.”
“I’m different now.”
“No, you dress differently now,” he corrects. “But giving yourself a rebellious makeover, to what I’m betting was to piss off Mommy and Daddy, doesn’t change you as a person. You’re still the same Remi who treats people like crap.”
Am I?
I mean, I am sort of a bitch to Nina, but I have my reasons for that. And besides, I stood up for Revenna in the bathroom … sort of. I could tell him that, but why do I even care? Why am I letting Thorn make me care? It’s annoying.
I’m about to throw back a witty and possibly slightly bitchy remark when the teacher interrupts me.
“Thorn and Remi, please stop talking, or I’m going to give you lunch detention,” he says, causing the entire class to turn and look at us.
Nina smirks at me when our eyes connect then reaches up and combs her fingers through Zane’s hair while giving him a kiss on the cheek. Zane gives her a strange, confused look then tracks her gaze to me. When our eyes lock, he frowns and swallows hard. In response, I pretend to be bored and yawn.
The truth is, though, that the idea of him possibly cheating on me with Nina is bugging the stupid souls out of me. It’s completely stupid that it is. Out of all the things that could bother me.
Zane looks away and focuses back on the teacher as he returns back to his lecture.
“And if you’re such a good person,” Thorn hisses underneath his breath, “then why can’t your ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, the two most stuck-up people in this entire school, stand you?”
I want to tell him so many things, but what would be the point? Thorn hates me and has some fairly good reasons too. And I have bigger things to worry about, like getting through another day of high school hell and planning my next meal.