I reach into the hat and pull out a little white slip of paper. I open it slowly while I bite my lower lip in anticipation. In bold letters I read HAND WARMERS.
"Hand warmers?" I question.
Alex leans over and reads the paper with a confused look on his face. "What the fuck are hand warmers?"
Mrs. Peterson shoots Alex a warning glare. "If you'd like to stay after school, I have another blue detention slip on my desk with your name already on it. Now, either ask the question again without using foul language or join me after school."
"That'd be cool to hang with you, Mrs. P., but I'd rather spend the time studyin' with my chem partner," Alex responds, then has the nerve to wink at Colin, "so I'll rephrase the question. What exactly are hand warmers?"
"Thermal chemistry, Mr. Fuentes. We use them to warm our hands."
Alex has this big, cocky grin as he turns to me. "I'm sure we can find other things to warm."
"I hate you," I say loud enough for Colin and the rest of the class to hear. If I sit here and let him get the best of me, I'll probably hear my mom tsk'ing in my head about reputation meaning everything.
I know the class is watching out interaction, even Isabel, who thinks Alex isn't as bad as everyone thinks he is. Can't she see him for what he is, or is she blinded by his chiseled face and popular status among their friends?
Alex whispers, "There's a thin line between love and hate. Maybe you're confusing your emotions."
I scoot away from him. "I wouldn't bet on it."
"I would.
"Hand warmers?" I question.
Alex leans over and reads the paper with a confused look on his face. "What the fuck are hand warmers?"
Mrs. Peterson shoots Alex a warning glare. "If you'd like to stay after school, I have another blue detention slip on my desk with your name already on it. Now, either ask the question again without using foul language or join me after school."
"That'd be cool to hang with you, Mrs. P., but I'd rather spend the time studyin' with my chem partner," Alex responds, then has the nerve to wink at Colin, "so I'll rephrase the question. What exactly are hand warmers?"
"Thermal chemistry, Mr. Fuentes. We use them to warm our hands."
Alex has this big, cocky grin as he turns to me. "I'm sure we can find other things to warm."
"I hate you," I say loud enough for Colin and the rest of the class to hear. If I sit here and let him get the best of me, I'll probably hear my mom tsk'ing in my head about reputation meaning everything.
I know the class is watching out interaction, even Isabel, who thinks Alex isn't as bad as everyone thinks he is. Can't she see him for what he is, or is she blinded by his chiseled face and popular status among their friends?
Alex whispers, "There's a thin line between love and hate. Maybe you're confusing your emotions."
I scoot away from him. "I wouldn't bet on it."
"I would.
( Simone Elkeles )
[ Perfect Chemistry ]
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