Chemistry and Date

Chance

I kept my head down with my hood up, hoping no one would recognize me. But yeah, who was I kidding? Nothing stays hidden in Ashford. The stares were different today though. Yesterday, they looked shocked. Today? They looked intrigued. Interested even.

Everywhere I turned, people were whispering. They kept looking at me and grinning. It was all so confusing and frustrating. Last week, I was just a regular student. By the weekend, I was the laughing stock of the school, and today? Well, today I had no idea what I was. I missed my boring old life. I hate Mason for this.

“ You are literally so famous now,” Selene said dramatically as she dropped her Chanel bag on the table.

I groaned.

“ I hate this. I hate Mason. I hate Raid. I hate everybody.”

“ No you don't. You just hate that everyone saw you exchange spit with Raid Bennett. Though you still haven't told me how that happened,” she said, looking at me expectantly.

Heat instantly climbed up my neck.

“ Please don't remind me,” I said, ignoring her question.

Selene snorted. “ Girl, Ashford Gossip Pot posted your kiss from four different angles. You are basically celebrity gossip. I am jealous honestly.”

I groaned, looking around the classroom. I noticed she was right. Worst part? Raid hadn't stopped texting me. The psychopath sent me five messages this morning. Not that I was counting.

Psycho - Good morning sweet cheeks

Psycho - Slept well?

Psycho - Damn, I bet you look cute with bed hair

Psycho - You know, I dreamt of you

Psycho - Don't ignore me. It turns me on.

See? Crazy psychopath.

Speaking of texting, I turned to Selene, who was touching up her makeup as the bell rang and students began flooding in. “ Dear friend, how did Raid get my number?” I asked, smiling sweetly at her.

She chuckled nervously, avoiding eye contact.

“ How am I supposed to know?” she stuttered.

I rolled my eyes. Real slick. Mrs Wade came in and class started. Unfortunately for me, Raid was in chemistry. He strolled in like he owned the place.

“ Morning baby,” he yelled as he walked towards me.

My eyes went wide and my face flushed as the class burst into laughter.

“ Mr Bennett,” Mrs Wade warned.

He raised his hands in surrender as Mrs Wade shook her head in disapproval. He finally sat down next to me. Selene looked like she was about to pass out as Raid waved at her.

Mason, who was two rows ahead, noticed. Hell, everyone noticed. I kept my eyes on my notes. Maybe if I ignored him, he would go away.

“ You always this serious?” he whispered so close to my ear. His breath made my body tingle. Ignoring him would definitely not work.

“ You always this annoying?” I retorted, trying not to make it obvious how he was affecting me.

“ Yeah.” At least he was self-aware.

Mrs Wade was explaining the equations on the board. For three seconds, Raid stayed quiet. I almost thought he was going to focus, then I felt something hit my elbow. Looking down, I saw a piece of folded paper. I turned to glare at him. He batted his eyes innocently at me. Asshole. I unfolded the paper.

“ You look hot blushing this morning,” it read, and I almost combusted. Quickly, I wrote on the paper, “ Shut up.” I passed it to him. He read it, grinned, then wrote again and passed it back to me.

“ Make me.”

Idiot.

I ignored him after that. I had no idea what Mrs Wade was talking about because of a certain blue-eyed monster. I thought he was done being childish, but then I felt his finger brush mine under the desk. I jumped and shot daggers at him.

He smirked, obviously pleased with himself. “ Stop distracting me,” I whisper-yelled, looking around to make sure no one was watching.

“ I am not doing anything,” he whispered back.

He was messing with me, and I was reacting. I don't usually react no matter how much people piss me off, but Raid knew just how to get under my skin. Even more than Mason did.

“ You smell so good.”

My face heated instantly. Oh my God.

“ Bennett. Monroe.”

Both our heads snapped up. Mrs Wade was staring at us. Then I noticed the class had gone quiet. Oh no. My face burned with embarrassment when I realized everyone was staring.

“ Since you two are clearly more interested in each other's faces than ionic compounds, perhaps you would like to continue whatever this is in detention.”

My soul left my body. The entire class burst into laughter. Raid looked unbothered. Meanwhile, I wanted death instantly.

“ Sorry Mrs Wade,” I quickly apologized. I had never gotten detention before. Raid leaned back lazily.

“ My bad Mrs Wade, she's just really distracting.”

I flushed. Oh God. He had no filter.

The guys groaned loudly while the girls giggled.

I kicked him under the desk hard. He laughed, not even fazed by it. Mrs Wade pinched the bridge of her nose, obviously tired of the situation.

“ One more interruption and you both get detention.”

Raid looked delighted.

“ Detention together,” he repeated. “ Damn, that's basically a date.”

He smirked as the class erupted in laughter again.

Mrs Wade looked exhausted as she sighed. “ Bennett.”

“ Sorry.”

He absolutely was not sorry.

Because when I looked at him, he winked again.

I could feel eyes on me, so I looked up and saw Mason. He looked seconds away from murder. Something we both could agree on.

When the bell finally rang, I practically jumped out of my seat. Unfortunately, Raid grabbed my wrist before I could escape.

“ Lunch with me.”

“ Absolutely, handsome,” Selene replied before I could turn him down.

He nodded at us and then walked off with Julian while I stared daggers at my friend. There was no escaping him now.