Hazel’s POV

I was ready for the confrontation that was sure to occur the next day. I mean, I would confront someone if they just threw me out of their house without offering them a ride home. I may have been ready, but I was exhausted, and it really showed in the way I presented myself. A tank top, black leggings and a huge sweater was not something I usually wore. It was only when I was too tired to wear something decent.

I wasn't able to sleep the night before. My mind kept racing, all of my nerves on edge. Each time I was able to close my eyes to sleep, I had nightmares that jolted me awake. It was about the third time when I gave up and stayed awake, playing guitar to pass the time. I knew what my sleepless night was from. I had people here. They knew where I lived. And that fact was enough to disrupt my sleep.

I wandered into class fifteen minutes late carrying a coffee and a grocery bag of items I needed to get me through the day. My mood was sour, and I knew it was about to get worse since I had to have Alex jump down my throat. “Where have you been?” The teacher whose name I still haven’t learned-asked, frowning in a mix of anger and disappointment.

I gestured to the items in my hands, “Where do you think?”

He sighed, “We’re still doing our projects today. Get with your partner.”

I made my way over to where Alex sat, plopping down into the chair with a huff. “You look like shit,” he remarks.

“So do you, but you don’t hear me complaining,” I retort, taking another swig of coffee.

He leaned forward, pressing his elbows against the top of the desk, “Did you get drunk or something?”

An involuntary shiver went down my spine at his question. “Didn’t sleep,” I shake my head. “Too much shit going on.”

“Like what?”

I take another long swig of coffee before answering, “You sure do ask a lot of questions. If you asked that many in class, you would get better grades.”

“My grades are fine,” he protests.

Giving him a smug look, I glance down at the report card on his desk, “Your report card says otherwise.”

He frowns, covering the paper with his hands. Shockingly, he didn’t ask about the night before. We stayed focused on the task at hand, writing an outline of the play and the PowerPoint we had to make. When the bell rang, I raced out of the room, hoping to avoid him despite the fact that we had the next class together. I took my place at my normal table, placing my stuff on it. Reaching into the bag, I pull out an energy drink, cracking it open with ease. I took a long sip, hoping that the caffeine would kick in soon. “Hey,” a low voice said.

My eyes fly up to see a tall boy with sharp facial features. Great. I did not need this today. “What?” I snap bluntly.

“Can I sit here?”

Before I could utter a refusal and cuss him out, he took the seat next to me. I let out a soft growl, “I didn’t say yes.”

He ignored my hostility, sliding my stuff over towards me. Oh, hell no, he was not touching my shit. “Um, don’t fucking touch my stuff.”

“Or what?” He smirks, staring at me.

I press my tongue against my cheek, letting out a low laugh, “You think this is a game, huh?”

“Well,” he scoots his chair closer to me. “I like a challenge.”

I tried scooting away from him, but each time I do so, he moves even closer. This guy was making me uncomfortable. He was obviously coming on to me and I was not used to that. I usually scared everyone, so they would stay away. Apparently, I was going to have to make an example of this guy if he didn’t back off. My face contorted into a vicious snarl, “You have two seconds to back off.”

This didn’t phase him either. He placed a hand on my thigh. “Or what?” He repeats himself, “You won’t do anything.”

In a flash, I grabbed his wrist, twisting it so his arm went behind his back. With my other hand, I pressed his face into the table. I heard audible gasps from multiple people as they watched the scene unfold. I kept twisting until I heard him cry out in pain. “I warned you,” I hiss. “Since you like to touch things that don’t belong to you, why don’t I break a finger to teach you a lesson?”

“You crazy bitch!” He barked, “Let go of me!”

“Why should I listen to you?” I push his face harder into the desk. “You didn’t listen to me.”

“Hazel, stop,” I heard Alex’s voice snap from behind me.

I rolled my eyes, “Fuck off, Gaskarth.”

“Let him go, Hazel,” he insisted, a warning tone present in his voice.

“Make me.”

As those words left my mouth, I felt arms wrap around my waist, pulling me away from the douchebag in my grasp. Because I was so taken aback by this action, the boy slipped out of my hands. I let out a guttural, animal-like sound as Alex yanked me away. I squirmed to get out of his grasp. “Just back off, Ian,” Alex shouted at who I assumed to be the boy.

“Oh, so your name’s Ian, huh?” I tease. “Maybe I would’ve been a bit nicer if you would’ve introduced yourself like a halfway decent human! Oh wait, that’s probably not how you work. It’s fuck now, ask names never!”

As I was yelling profanities, the teen who was holding me was dragging me out of the classroom into the hall. When we were finally in the hall, he released me. “Do you have any idea what you just did?” He hissed, getting in my face.

“I just warned a fuckboy to back off,” I snapped. “And set a pretty good example at that.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, “That is the most popular guy at this school and you just rejected him and almost broke his arm. You are majorly fucked.”

“That’s none of your business, isn’t it?” I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Yes, it is!” He exclaims, “Since we’re friends-“

“Woah, woah, woah, did you not understand what I said last night?” I cut him off. “We aren’t really friends. I am paying you to be a fake friend for my uncle. Get that through your thick skull already!”

Not wanting to listen to another word, I turn heel, walking back into the room only to grab my stuff and leave again. As I walked past Alex, I shoulder checked him, so he got the memo. I was not in the mood for school today. I was done with idiocy for the day. I ignored the staff in the hallway calling me as I exited the school through the front doors.

Notes

Second update of the day! I'm not sure how long this streak will last, but I hope it stays for a while!