The One For Me(3)

“Okay, your assignment for the weekend is to get to know your partner. Write a list of things that you like and don’t like about the person. Monday morning you will need to have a paper stating what the other person could use to attract the sex of their choice with. Every person uses something to attract their mates, just like in animals. That is what sex is all about attraction…well and making babies, but it starts with attraction.” A few students snicker.

Are you serious? I close my eyes and shake my head. “We have to get together with our partner. Are you being serious right now?” I screech. “Because, I feel like someone is out to get me.”

Jennifer looks back at me, her small eyes widened. “Shit,” she mouths, looking over at Liam.

He winks and gives her a dark grin.

“Yes, Mrs. Taylor, I’m being very serious,” Mr. Fringe says. “Why would I not be?”

“I think that is a great idea, Mr. Fringe. Getting to know our partners, until late hours of the night,” Liam says, wiggling his eyebrows.

A few boys yell their agreements.

Mr. Fringe gives me I get it now look. “Cut the crap, Liam. The only getting to know one another that will be done is asking questions that obtain to this subject. Does anyone have any questions about the assignment?”

Yes, why the hell is this happening to me? Why him? Why my parents? Why Hayden?

“Spend the last few minutes of class asking your partners some questions to get you started on your papers.” Mr. Fringe turns around and starts looking through a stack of papers on his desk.

When I glance over, Liam is smiling at me, his arms gracefully placed on desk in front of us. “So, sweetheart, let’s get this over with.” Liam leans forward. “I know you’ve been dying to get to know me. So, ask away.”

“That’s completely untrue but whatever.” I tuck my brown hair behind my ear and look down at my notebook. “What’s your whole name?”

I feel his fingers pick up the strand of hair on my shoulder and I snatch away from him. He looks pleased. “Hands to yourself. What’s your whole name?”

“Liam Erickson.” He smiles and I see the row of white teeth below his lips. “Like you didn’t know.” I guess he is trying to be charming. It’s not working.

I do know his whole name but I’m not going to let him know that. “What do you like to do for fun?”

He strokes his chin with his long index finger. It’s covered with scruffy hair. It makes a light sound when he scratches it. He looks way older than eighteen. Maybe he flunked a few years? “Hmmm, that depends on your answer to going out with me is?”

“The answer is no.”

“Awe, I could show you a good time, sweetheart.”

“What do you like to do, Liam? Is all of this nonsense necessary?”

“Say necessary again, your mouth looks sexy when you do.”

“Ugh.” I slam my notebook closed shoving it into my bag. “Look, I haven’t had a good week, so if you’d like to talk about the paper, you can meet me at the library tonight at seven. If not, don’t show up. I’ll make up a bunch of things about you. I don’t have time for stupid shit.”

Liam wipes the corner of his mouth with his thumb and laughs.

“What’s so funny?”

“You said shit. You don’t seem like the type, is all?” He gestures toward me. I give myself a once over. I look…normal. What is he talking about?

He holds back a laugh. Oh, I want to say more than shit right now. The bell rings and I pull the strap of my bag over my shoulder. “Well, I guess I am the type. See you at seven.” I look back at him, his dark smile crawls up his heavy jaw. “To study.” I dart out of the classroom, in a mad run for sanity. Darn you Mr. Fringe, can’t you just give me a normal partner?

“You have the worst luck,” Jennifer says, catching up with me at my locker. “Liam Erickson, the school’s own bad boy. Every school has them,” Jennifer says, opening her locker and checking her lip gloss. “Although, he is kind of--,”

“Don’t say it,” I say, stopping her with my hand. I don’t want to hear it. We both go toward class. It looks like I’m stuck with Liam. Great.





“Don’t look,” Jennifer says into my ear. I keep my eyes on my food, knowing why she doesn’t want me to look up. He is here, in the cafeteria. He must be with her. I push my peas around my plate for a few seconds until my eyes betray me. They just flicker up without my permission. I wince. “I told you not to look,” Jennifer says.

Hayden is walking into the cafeteria with Holly. He is tall, lean and perfectly perfect. His green eyes are bright and on her full chest. I look down at mine, disappointment is an understatement. He wraps his tanned arm around Holly’s slender waist as they walk toward their lunch table. He seems so at ease, so perfect, so comfortable with her, like they’ve been together for years.