The Trouble-Makers

Even as I made eye-contact with him, he didn't turn away quickly like some people would. Instead, his stare seemed to be more intense. But that was when I realized he wasn't watching me, he was watching Zack next to me. I furrowed my eye-brows, but Zack tapped my shoulder to get my attention.

"I'm going to go get food, you want anything?" Zack asked, removing his arm from my shoulders.

I shook my head. "No, I'm good." I offered him a smile, which he returned.

"Okay, I'll be right back." He got up and he went off on his own. As soon as he left I looked behind me again, but this time Alex was watching me with his gaze much more relaxed now.

"What?" I mouthed at him.

His simple reaction was to shrug his shoulders at me, which caught Jack's attention and he looked back to see me. His eyes caught mine but instead of narrowing them like he usually would, he simply turned away, his eyes relaxing. As if he wasn't surprised Alex was watching me.

I turned back around in my seat and let out a sigh, but this time Nicki was watching me, but her eyes were narrowed completely.

***

English was definitely the slowest class of the day, maybe because it was the last class of the day, or maybe it was my worst subject. Whatever the case, it always drove me insane. Plus, it didn't help that our teacher just simply gave us materials to study instead of actually teaching us. For the first half of the class she lectured us, then for the rest of class we were expected to work on our own or in groups. I didn't mind that much, it just seemed that nothing like this was sinking in.

I felt a paper ball hit the back of my head and I sighed. All day the Trouble-Makers had left me alone, the paper ball was the first thing they've done rudely to me all day. I was kind of enjoying our mutual activity, but apparently that was all over now. I refused to look back at Jack to give him the satisfaction to see me angry, but I felt another paper ball hit me and this time I heard Jaime's voice say, "Ayo, Kent."

I turned around with that, my short temper slowly edging onto my face. But I was greeted my Jack and Jaime's light gazes, they weren't tearing me apart with their eyes like they were the other day. "What is it?"

Jack tapped the seat next to him and I shot a questioning glance at him, but he just tapped it again.

I heaved a sigh, grabbing my notebook and standing up.

"Ahem," Nicki coughed, looking up at me. "Where are you going?"

I gestured towards Jack, not bothering with her attitude.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked now. "They are the enemy, you saw what they did to Kellin's face. And trust me, they're not above picking on a lady, either."

"Just don't worry about me, okay?" I said a little harshly, walking to the back of the class and sitting down beside Jack.

"Someone's owner isn't happy," Jaime clicked his tongue.

"She doesn't own me," I snapped, before adding, "I'm sorry she just drives me crazy."

"Why sit with her then?" Jack asked, grabbing Jaime's notes and looking over them.

"I have no idea, because I'm still trying to give Zack's friends a chance I guess," I said, but Jack was playing the 'uninterested' card and Jaime looked like he was day dreaming.

"Why did you guys call me back here, anyways?" I asked, tapping my pencil against my desk.

"You looked like you were dying up there, plus, we've got these," Jack said, holding up Jaime's notebook.

I tilted my head to the side, leaning in to look at it. I couldn't help but let my jaw fall open looking down at the notes; they were perfectly written. Not only that, but they also had amazing hand writing.

"Oh my god, did you write these yourself?" I asked Jaime, grabbing my own notebook to his notes down.

"Yeah, he's wicked good with paying attention when he actually tries," Jack said, looking over at Jaime who apparently was so into his daydream he didn't hear my question.

"Holy crap, I would've never guessed." I continued to scribble down his notes.

"Yeah, well, I don't think a lot of people would figure that." Jack shrugged his shoulders.

I was quiet until I had copied down all of yesterday and today's notes from Jaime's notebook, only then did I look up to find Jack watching me. "What?" I asked, shooting him a confused glance.

"Just trying to figure something up," he said, looking back down at Jaime's notes. The Trouble-Makers really were a strange group; I could never tell if they were with me or against me. When I was a loner they were with me, in fact they defended me when people would tease me. But as soon as I was welcomed into the clique, I was made a target. But now, they seemed to be cool with me again. I didn't understand them.

"So, what's with the change of behavior?" I asked, leaning back in my chair. There were only about five minutes left of class in the classroom were beginning to stir.

"What do you mean?" He asked, closing his own book.

"I think you know exactly what I mean," I said.

"I don't have to explain myself to you," Jack suddenly snapped, and I flinched at his tone. That certainly was unexpected. He was worse than a girl on her period, because even if a girl was on her period she would show signs that she was about to snap at you.

"Geez, okay," I mumbled, and then the bell went off. Jack got up and headed towards the door without a second glance but Jaime stood up more slowly, offering a 'see ya' to me and headed out the door. I wasn't as quick as they were, even though we were sitting in back of the class they were still the first out the door.

"Stella, we need to talk," Nicki said, snapping her fingers for me to come closer to her.
I twitched my head at that, almost laughing. Did she honestly expect me to obey her like a dog? She knew I wasn't like everyone else in the clique and refused to obey her commands, therefore I was a target to her from the very beginning.

"What do you want?" I asked, not moving from my spot just to defy her.
She narrowed her eyes, walking closer to me instead. "You can't just do that, you know."

"Do what?" I asked, tilting my head to the side. I knew exactly what she meant, but I was going to make her spell it out for me.

"You cannot talk to other people from other groups like that, especially not the Trouble-Makers. That's where I draw the line. If you keep that up, you're going to regret it." She placed her hands on her hips.

"And what are you going to do to stop me?" I almost laughed at her, and I reached down to pick up my stuff. "I can do whatever I want, just because I'm dating Zack doesn't mean you can control me."

"I don't even know what he sees in you." Nicki sighed. "Poor guy."

"Evidently, more than he sees in you." I shrugged my shoulders at that, walking away from her. I heard a gasp escape Nicki's mouth but didn't bother to turn back to say anything else to her, even though she cursed at me. I just wanted to get out of this school.

I practically ran to my locker and speedily put my combination in and threw it open, grabbing the stuff I need.

"Someone's in a rush," I jumped as I heard Zack say behind me. He wrapped his arms around me from behind and I felt uncomfortable, like I was being forced into this. It was all getting to be too much. Even in summer when I wasn't completely around all of his friends it didn't feel right. By now, all the halls were pretty much flooded out and there were only a few stranglers around to stick around for after school classes or detention.

"Zack," I said quickly, shocked. I turned around, looking up at him and he smiled sweetly down at me. It broke my heart to have to say this, I really did like Zack, but I didn't like him in that way. The way he feels about me. "Zack," I repeated taking in a deep breath, "I-I don't think this is going to work."

His face fell and he let his arms fall from around my back. "What?"

"Us, I don't think we work. Whenever I'm with you...I don't know, we're more of friends than a couple. Trust me, you're one of the most amazing guys I know it's just...the spark, it's not there." I looked up at him, sympathy overwhelming my heart. I didn't want to put Zack through this, and I honestly wasn't only breaking up with him for the crowd he hangs out with.

"Is it the Nicki thing? I can tell her to stop." He reached forward and rubbed my arm.

"No, it's us," I say, closing my locker behind me. I felt my eyes start to water and I cursed inwardly. It wasn't a dramatic break-up, in fact we had only been dating for a couple of months. But it still hurt to think I was walking out of his life and we wouldn't be able to mend a friendship out of this. "I-I'm really sorry, Zack," I murmured, not being able to look at him.

"Stella..." he said quietly, reaching out to me.

"I'm sorry," I repeated, turning away and walking down the hallway. And because I needed a place to escape, I ran out the front entrance of the school instead of the back. And because I wasn't watching where I was going, I nearly ran into someone. "I'm sorry," I said again, it seemed to be the only thing I knew how to say.

"Watch where you're going, Kent," I heard Jaime growl above me, and I looked up. "Oh, crap, Stella?" he asked, obviously seeing my red eyes.

Notes

Poor Zack ;o;

But, really, your guys commenting and voting means so much to me<3 I'm really glad you guys have taken an interest in this story because I love writing it c':