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Chemistry, my least favorite subject, but the class I’ve looked forward to the most since school started last week, and even more so today

Finally, we’re being assigned our lab partners, and I know exactly who mine will be

Not countinguninterested, academically opposed football players while the third is second in our class, also on the team, but possesses the brains and the brawn

It’s an obvious choice

Mr Brando looks to his paper, ready to announce another pairing, and I can hardly hold in rin

“Nico Sykes”

I step toward Alex only to freeze,name!

“Wait” I glance from Alex’s tense expression to Nico, already on his way to the lab table I turn toward Mr B, keeping my voice low “Are you sure? Shouldn’t I be with—”

“I’ht there, Ms Davenport,” he cuts me off “While I asked each of you to list the person you’d prefer as a partner, I gave no guarantees So, if you are about to est you don’t finish your thought I’m aware you’re a bit of a teacher’s pet, however, in my class, you won’t make, nor influence my decisions,” he states scornfully

My ears heat in both anger and embarrassment, butno sign his words

Talk about a judgment call

Asshole

“Go, Ms Davenport Mr Sykes is seated and ready to go” He dis

Defeated, I head for the back of the classroom where my ‘partner’ has chosen to sit – of course the last space up front wasn’t the one he wanted

And ready to go? Please! He hasn’t even opened his backpack

Nico is si

As I approach, he pushes off the ceainst his chair with those eyes, as dark and impassive as always, locked on me

I stop in front of him “Guess we’re stuck with each other all year”

His gaze narrows “Guess we are”