"Now I'm going to pair you guys up for your art field trip class project," Mrs. Clarke said bringing out a list containing all our names, this project is really important to me because its the last chance I'll get to make up for the low test score I got the last time
"Wendy Harper and Josh Oscar...
Brittany Walters.......Jasper Adams...
"A geek....spare me" she muttered under her breath but still loud enough for everyone to hear and burst out laughing
"And finally .....Gracie Evans and Clarissa parker "
Clarissa shot a smile at me which I returned
A loud grumbled began amongst my classmates about not liking their partners and asking Mrs. Clark for a swap
"This project must be done by both parties, your partner fails means you also fail and no talks about swapping, now if there's nothing else I will be leav......"
"And What about me? You didn't forget me did you?" A loud voice suddenly interrupted
He strolled inside casually from the doorway where he had been standing
"Hayden you....."
I couldn't hear the rest of what Mrs. Clark's was saying as I tried to shrink away from his
"I want her," he said pointing at me with an unflinching green stare
Everywhere got silent as all pairs of eyes around fell on me
"I want her to be my partner "he stated again
This couldn't be happening right now! I'll surely fail if he becomes my partner, and this was my last opportunity to make up my grades
"I...I've already paired up w..with her," I said and the corners of his lips quirked, he turned to Mrs. Clark who was looking somewhat nervous now, a bead of sweat even formed on her forehead...
Was she scared of him or something? But he's just a student, right? She's the teacher and he can't tell her what to do
"You'll partner with him Gracie, Clarissa come with me I'll pair you up with someone else"
I visibly blanched at her words, what was she saying?
She'd agreed to help me with Hayden before, so why was she pairing me up with him?
"But Mrs. Clark I'm are......"
"No questions Gracie! Now all of you get to work, you all just have one week to complete and submit the project"
With that, she walked out of the class leaving me dumbfounded and filled with dread
"Baby, why are you pairing with this loser? " Brittany said with a pouty expression linking her arms to his
Ignoring her, Hayden shrugged away from her touch and walked out the door, she shot me a glare before she set out after him
"What was that all about Gracie? and why do you look so pale?" Jasper asked coming to stand in front of me
When I just kept silent he clasped a hand on my shoulders
"Is he still troubling you? Lyn told me he had been for a very long time, when are you going to stand up to him Gracie? You can't allow him to continue to walk over you"
"I've tried that before! Y...you don't know him, he'll....."
"You are right! I don't know him but this has to stop! I'll confront him about it!"
With that he stomped out of the class, I yelled his name running after him
"Jasper stop, you can't do that!" I cried but he wasn't listening to me
Hayden has been ignoring me all week and I don't want to awaken the sleeping dog.
He was standing just beside his locker when Jasper reached him, his gaze zeroed on us and my legs falter slowing down my steps
Oh god! Doesn't Jasper know he was getting me into deep shit by doing this? I feel like weeping aloud right now in frustration
"I want to talk to you, "Jasper said
One of Hayden's brows quirked upwards as he crossed his arms and relaxed against his locker
"Go ahead"
"Jasper please let's just go," I said,desperation latching on my tone but he totally ignored me
"I want you to leave her alone," he said facing Hayden squarely
"And who are you to tell me what I should do or not? Are you her bodyguard or boyfriend?"
"Both" Jasper replied shocking even me
"So stay clear of her McAndrew!"
Hayden scoffed before passing a fleeting look to Jasper, then to me.
I wished the ground would just open up and swallow me In this instant especially when I realized that we've drawn the attention of some onlookers
The look Hayden had transformed into a smirk, one I knew all too well, the one he always has before he does something to hurt me
"Tomorrow at my house bunny, don't be late"
The smirk he had told me that he was planning something bad for me and I couldn't suppress the wave of despair that swept right through me
I stared at his retreating back still glued to my spot
"Why! Why did you do that!" I cried
"Well, you still had to stand up to him, the sooner the better!" He said seriousness lacing his tone
My shoulders slumped at his words, he just wouldn't understand how much trouble he'd put me
"Then why did you say you're my boyfriend....why?"
He gave me a look of confusion which changed to one of hurt
"Why do you sound so upset? I only said that so he would know you are not alone, that you have someone with you which is me...do you perhaps like him or something? You don't want him to misunderstand is that it?"
"No! I don't like him!" I cried taking offense as to how he could think that I want anything to do with Hayden, but to mention that I even liked him
"I don't feel anything, if there's anything I feel for him then it's hate" I whispered the last part out...
He nodded
"Don't be so upset, what can he possibly do but post a few posters? I'll drive you home"
I wished it were that simple
I could only nod my head but nothing could stop the growing dread I felt inside...
As we walked past the parking lot my gaze searched for him, he stood by his car with a lit cigarette on his lips, his cool gaze met mine and a tremor shook me
"What are you looking at?"Jasper asked
I averted my gaze from Hayden quickly
"It's nothing, let's just go"
He nodded, we both entered his car as he drove us away from his watchful gaze
My cellphone binged with a text and I fetched it out of my jeans pocket
It was a text message from an unknown number, I didn't need anyone to tell me the sender
It read;
"You are in so much trouble bunny"
Oh god!