The Bet Of Love

I muttered in annoyance under my breath as someone almost knocked me over. Attempting to ignore the annoyance that had formed from the people pushing into me, I squeezed my way through the crowds in the halls and I finally reached my Chemistry class. I let out a breath of relief, finding myself grateful to have not been trampled by all the students, and I took my place at a desk in the front. The class was still empty, and somehow I managed to arrive before the teacher.

"Hello, Felicity!"

I looked up at the sound of a chirpy voice and smiled as I saw my Chemistry teacher bustle in. The second person that I knew I could actually talk to Ms. Williams. She was the only other person I knew who talked to me like I was another person and not someone who would do their homework or tell them the answer to question 6. Although, I supposed being a teacher added to that.

"Hi, Ms. Williams," I responded, as some others started to come into the class room.

"How are you?" she asked, stacking up some papers on her desk as she organized her lesson plan.

Ready for the lesson to start, I pulled out my folders, "I'm well, thank you. How are you?"

She nodded. "Fine, thank you."

My eyes caught onto an assignment in my folder, and I pulled it out, handling it to her. "I finished my assignment early. Can I hand it in now?" I asked, making sure to speak quietly so that no other students would think I was trying to act like a brat.

She looked up from her files in surprise. "I only set that homework a couple of days ago. You had the whole week."

I nodded slowly. "Yes, I know. I just had nothing else to do." I shrugged.

She sighed and took the papers from my hands. "Okay, then." She murmured as she scanned through the first page. "But you really should consider getting out more often."

I rolled my eyes as she chuckled at me and put the papers in her folder, "I'll mark it and give it to you later," she smiled.

Thanking her, I turned back to my notes as the main swarm of people started to flood into the class, instantly rushing for the seats at the back. Not many people sat in the front row in this class, everyone would sit at the back and make their way up with no other choice.

Ms. Williams scanned the classroom and breathed out. "Okay, let's start."

She started to write a formula on the board. "What is the electronic configurati-"

I went to raise my hand to answer, but we were both cut off by the door slamming open. The whole class turned at the disruption to see Zeus Janeiro and his friends, smirking as they arrived late. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as all the girls turned to him eagerly, wide smiles and bright eyes in an attempt to seduce him. He smirked, clearly enjoying the attention as he winked cockily at a girl in the middle row, who let out a short squeal and turned to her friends with a manic smile.

I sighed in relief as the attention was finally drawn away from him and back to the class, but my relief was short lived as I realized that the only seats left, were the three desks next to me, in the front row.

I could feel the envious glares of other girls from behind me burning into my skin, making me lean forward so that my hair fell over my face like a curtain, subsequently acting as a sort of protection from them. Swallowing my nervousness, I tried to sway my attention back to the class, concentration on taking notes as Ms. Williams continued her lesson.

"Okay, class." Ms. Williams turned around from the board, making everyone focus once again. "You're going to put this knowledge into practical use. Equipment is in the cupboards, don't forget your lab coat and safety specs." She smiled as she took her seat. "The person next to you is your lab partner."

Groans of annoyance rang out in the class, but my blood seemed to freeze as I realized what this meant. Turning slowly, I caught eye contact with Zeus, who was looking at me curiously like he was trying to figure out who I was.

I stood up quickly, rushing to the other side of the class to get my lab coat and specs, but my heart was beating louder than a drum. "Relax Felicity." I muttered inaudibly. "Just do the work, like normal. Ignore him."

Coat and goggles on, I grabbed the test tubes and some of the chemicals, returning to the lab desk, only for my eyes to widen in surprise. The girl who Zeus had winked at earlier was messing around with Zeus in my place, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger flirtatiously. He looked bored and uninterested, but as I slowly approached them, his eyes hooked onto me, and he was back to that face of curiosity.

Seeing that his attention wasn't on him, the girl  turned around to look at me, eyes narrowing as her stare met me. "Hi." She smiled patronizingly. "You can go over there." She waved me off, looking disgusted. "I'm Zeus's lab partner."

I turned to leave and work alone, but a voice stopped me unexpectedly. "No, you're not my partner. Hey you, come back."

I turned around slowly, shocked that he had bothered to speak to me. The girl scoffed loudly. "What do you mean I'm not your lab partner?" She huffed.

Watching her with wide, surprised eyes as she returned to her place, I let out a small breath before walking back to my lab desk. "Why were you going to let her just take your place?" He asked in confusion.

"I prefer to work alone." I muttered.

"You'd rather work alone, than work with me?" He asked, a smug look on his face.

"Yes." I finally uttered, smiling tightly.

His face took to surprise momentarily as I continued to do the experiment, mixing two chemicals to form a bright pink one. "Don't you know who I am?" He scoffed overbearingly.

"No, I don't know who you are." I lied through my teeth. "And I don't care either."

"You're joking, right?" He laughed nervously, as I turned back to the test tube. "Everyone knows me."

"Well I don't." I muttered. Bringing down his ego may not have been my best move, but it certainly felt good.

"Every girl loves me. Every girl wants to be with me!" He continued. Although now it seemed he was working harder to console himself than try to convince me.

I shook my head, as I moved onto the next chemical. "Not this girl." I informed, this time my statement being the truth.

He scoffed quietly, leaning in closer to my ear, making me go stiff in shock, my hands still hovering over the test tubes. "So are you saying that you don't want to kiss me right now?" He whispered, his mouth close enough to my ear to tickle my skin.

Finding myself picking up the non-harmful, bright pink solution, I threw it in his chest, staining his t-shirt in aggravation. I was almost happy that he had neglected to wearing a lab coat. He yelped in surprise as we attracted everyone's shocked attention and made the teacher look at us with wide eyes. 

"Arrogant jerk!" I finally hissed, before grabbing my things and storming out of the class.