Page 45 of Hateful
“A note.” I start unfolding the paper.
“Yeah, but fromHeath? Why?”
“Shh!” I hiss impatiently. The paper is small and it’s been folded many times. I unwrap it and smooth out the wrinkles, though I don’t need to; in the exact center it says very simply in big, hastily done handwriting,Another run today?
Rafael watches nosily over my shoulder as I grab my pencil and scribble down what time I’m planning on being on the trail.
“So you two plan these out now, do you?” Rafael asks as I start meticulously folding the paper again.
“Sometimes,” I reply defensively.
“Somebody has a crush.”
I turn my head away so he won’t see me blush—only to meet Heath’s gaze. He gives me a smile and the blush deepens. I flash the folded note before putting it quickly into my pocket, and he nods.
“Good afternoon, class,” the professor sighs as he breezes into the room with a stack of papers. “I’ve graded all your tests. Not all of you will be happy with them, I’m sure. Alex, however,” he adds, glancing my direction, “should beveryhappy with his grade.”
I feel even more heat rise to my cheeks as I sink down into my chair. People have turned to look at me now. Beck’s wide eyes find me. He glares daggers sharper than his cheekbones.
I know the professor means well, but he’s just painted a target in the middle of my chest.
The professor goes around with the stack of papers, talking about how he’s not happy with the grades in general, and hands them back to their owners. I hear a lot of groans and a few quiet celebrations. A few rows ahead of me, two guys fist bump each other when they compare grades.
But that doesn’t draw Beck’s eyes from where they’ve taken up residence on the back of my head.
When the professor arrives at my desk, he sets my test paper facedown. “Good work,” he says quietly before moving on.
I turn it over. I only missed a few questions. I can’t help but grin. When The Brotherhood leaves me alone, I really do some good work.
Or, it seems, even when they onlymostlyleave me alone.
“I obviously haven’t gone over the material well enough,” the professor says as he takes to the front again. “So today we’ll review. Alex, I’m sure you’ll be extremely bored, but try to pay attention anyway. Maybe one of your classmates could copy your notes.”
I shrink into my seat again as the class turns to look at me. Beck looks like he has murderous intent. I can’t say I’m surprised about that. I try to avoid his gaze, and also to not think about how he might try to get me back after class.
The thought chafes at me. I didn’t even do anything this time. I just studied.
I literally juststudied.
It’s not fair that I continually get singled out for this stupid shit.
I put my head down on my desk for the remainder of class, too nervous to try to pay attention to the lesson, which is stuff I already know anyway. The professor doesn’t try to rouse me from my anxiety-induced stupor. I hear him talking, going over the concepts I’ve already memorized.
The bell rings and Rafael shakes my shoulder, but he doesn’t need to. I’m not asleep, just avoiding the inevitable that is sure now to be coming. I gather my things together nervously. Not one of The Brotherhood has gotten up from their desks. I stall as much as I can, but they don’t seem to be moving.
“Let’sgo,” Rafael sighs, grabbing me by the handle of my backpack. I reluctantly allow him to drag me toward the classroom door. It’s incredibly unfortunate that I have to pass by The Brotherhood’s little part of the classroom, but I’m sure they sat there just for that purpose.
“Hey,” Beck snaps, shooting to his feet as we go by.
Rafael continues to tug on me, but Beck reaches out and grabs me by the arm. Rafael freezes. He’s brave, sure, but not brave enough to fight Beck.
Beck stretches himself to his full height, over six feet. His hands seem huge. He easily wraps his fingers around my entire forearm.
“You think you can just embarrass us like that?” he snaps at me.
“Yeah,” Heath says from behind Beck, stacking his books into a neat pile. “How dare you study harder than us?”
Even as he says it, he flashes me a grin.
