The unspoken Rule (2 page)

I walked into the classroom, then scanned the desks to find my assigned seat. It was the beginning of the second semester, and this was my first day of Pre Calculus. My seat was in the front row, the middle desk. I set my belongings on the small desk and watched as other students filed into the room.

Most of them were older years than I was; I only knew a few people. They found their appropriate seats.

"Look at that, I sit next to Maria."

I turned my head towards the male voice. Jake was sitting in the chair next to me, smiling. I groaned inwardly, this would be a terrible class with him next to me. Especially if he was going to act this annoying.

"Yep." I replied.

Soon all the seats were filled and our teacher started class. She introduced herself as Mrs. Parkers.

"I'm handing out an introductory worksheet. Do your best on it, because I want to see what you remember from last year." She told us.

The sheets were passed out, and I looked at the first problem.

Write a two-column proof explaining why triangles have 180 degrees.

I sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. I hadn't done
real
math in over a year, it was going to be difficult getting into the groove. I picked up my pencil and started on the paper. Our class worked pretty silently. After a few minutes, we were all finished with the problems and Mrs. Parkers collected them.

"Next, I'm going to partner you guys up to do a project. Each group will be assigned a section of the next chapter and will have to teach the class their section. This rubric will help you decide what to include in your lesson."

Some of the students groaned, not liking the whole project idea.

"Here are the groups: Michael and Sarah."

"Liam and Josh."

"Katelyn and Kayla."

"Jake and-"

Please don't be me, please don't be me, I told myself quietly.

"...Maria."

Rats! This was set up! It had to be! Jake sent a smirk my way. I glared at him, not liking this one bit.

We were assigned section 2, so I opened our textbook and flipped to it.

"Okay Jake, let's read the section, and then figure it out from there."

"Sounds good." He agreed.

He opened his book, and we read soundlessly.

I took out a notebook when I finished reading it.

"You finished reading it already?" He asked me, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Yeah, it makes sense to me."

He shook his head and was soon finished.

"Okay, what do you think we should include?" I was all business here.

"We
shouldn't
include your horrible taste of weaponry in Black Ops."

"Horrible? How is the RPD horrible, if it creamed you?" I asked.

He set his deep blue eyes on my dark ones. He shook his head, sending his shiny blonde hair flying. "Just never mind."

I took a deep breath. "Okay, we should include examples. And maybe have the class write down some quick notes."

"Yeah, that should work."

The bell rang, alerting us for the end of the day. I put my stuff in my backpack.

"I'll do the examples, if you think of some notes." He told me, getting ready.

"Sure thing."

We left class, going our separate ways. I didn't know what Laura was talking about. Jake wasn't really that bad. Sometimes he was obnoxious, but that wasn't often.

Later that week, Laura invited me to go to the mall with her. I agreed and my parents dropped me off at her house. I was psyched to go shopping, I needed a new scarf. Her parents let me inside and I went to her room. The door was shut, so I knocked politely. No answer.

Confused, I wondered if she was in the basement playing Wii. She most likely was. She loved to play that dancing game. I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear, and went down the staircase. I heard the TV on, to my relief. I was about to say Laura's name when I stopped.

Jake was standing before the TV, in the middle of snapping his jeans shut. I stood silently where I was, watching him. My eyes traveled over his torso, absorbing the muscles. His skin looked so smooth, so perfect, so...
muscled.
He grabbed his folded red shirt from the couch and pulled it on.

I shook my head, willing the thoughts to dissipate. Once he was clothed, I announced my presence.

"Is Laura down here?" I asked him innocently.

He turned around and looked at me. "Yeah, she's in the back room." He jerked a thumb, showing the way.

I followed his gesture and went into the back room. Laura was in there, trying on different hats.

"Hey Maria. Which hat do you think? This one?" She pulled on a beanie. "Or this one?" She put on a ball cap.

"The beanie." I told her, not really taking consideration. My mind was still on Jake.

"Ready to shop?" She asked me.

I nodded and followed her.

Why was I so smitten by Jake's looks? It was repulsing to think of my best friend's brother that way. I had seen much cuter guys than him before. What had changed?

I hate school. And many kids do.

But my peers would be surprised that I do because, well, I just do so well in my classes. I'm not bragging or anything, but it's the truth. I do all my homework, take notes, and study. Like you should.

So I was not in a good mood that Tuesday, knowing I had a science test that day. I trudged to my locker, bits of snowing flying off me in the process. The cold Michigan weather didn't improve my day either.

I made it to my locker, entered my combination and grabbed my books.

"
Jake.
" A female voice drawled.

My heart froze in mid-beat. Still trying to act casual, I turned around and saw who said his name. His blonde girlfriend had her hands laced in his hair, practically sucking the life out of him.

"Cynthia." He murmured as he pulled away.

A twang of jealousy struck me. Angry at my feelings towards him, I quickly faced my locker again. Why was I drawn to him? He was Laura's brother, for crying out loud! I needed to find someone my own age, not an older guy. Besides, what would Laura think of me if I fell for her sibling?

The said sibling did some things to earn giggles from his girlfriend.

"I gotta go, Jakey."

"Do you have to right now?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." She paused. "I'll see you at lunch, alright babe?"

"Yeah."

I heard her footsteps behind me go up the staircase to my left. I finished getting my things and slammed my locker shut. I swiveled and about dropped my stuff. Someone was standing before me, impossibly close.

My eyes snaked their way up the torso until they landed onto a pair of azure eyes.

"Sorry." I managed to say. I wasn't exactly sure why I was apologizing.

"Maria, did you get the homework last night?" Jake asked me.

"I'm sorry, I'm gonna be late for class."

I went around him and started down the hallway, when I felt his arm tug me back.

"What do you-" I started.

"Maria, what's wrong?"

I tore my eyes from his, not wanting him to see the truth behind them. "Nothing, I'm fine."

"It doesn't look like nothing." He countered.

"Since when do you care, Jake? You hardly even know me!" The terrible remark was already said and done, I was unable to take it back.

I looked up in time to see hurt flash across his face. My heart sank, not wanting to hurt him. I hardly even knew Jake, and I already said something mean to him.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

I ran from him, my hazelnut locks getting in my way. Spitting the hair out of my mouth, I ran from my problem.

I managed to stay away from Jake the whole day, including lunch. That is, until math class. I sat in my seat, knowing he would have to sit next to me for the whole two periods. My body stiffened when I heard him plop in his chair, sighing.

I didn't look at him. If I did, I would only stare. And that would've been weird.

So I kept my gaze from him. I felt horrible for being so rude to him. But it was running through my mind at the time. He had asked me what was wrong, as if we were friends or something. Were we friends? I didn't even know the answer to that one.

"Maria." He spoke to me softly. "Please look at me."

I wavered with the idea of ignoring him. In the end, I managed to turn my head towards him.

He continued. "You were right, I don't know you. Well, at least, not as well as I'd like to."

I brought my gaze up to his, and saw no humor in them. No 'Just kidding!' or anything. He was sincere. And it touched me.

"Jake, it was wrong of me-"

He held up a hand. "No, it wasn't. You were correct, so I'd like to learn more about you."

"Alright."

"This weekend. You and me. Modern Warfare 2. Discussions and snacks. Sounds okay to you?"

I nodded and gave him a small smile. "That sounds nice."

And maybe, just maybe, I'd learn more about him to

"What time should I pick you up?" My mom asked me as we pulled into Laura's driveway.

"Um, a few hours."

"Alright, see you then sweetie."

I gave her a false smile then turned my face, my features returning to their nervous state. I wasn't sure how these
discussions
were going to go with Jake.

I guess I sat there contemplating what could happen to be longer than I should've.

"Are you going to go inside? It's only Laura's house, Maria." My mom told me.

"Oh, right."

I cleared my throat, thrusting open the sedan's door. Slamming it behind me, I walked up to the door. Why was I so nervous? The thick wooden door stood before me, intimidating. It was the only thing separating Jake and I. I took a deep breath and managed to bring my fist down upon the wood.

I glanced around the porch, really wanting to run away and forget this whole thing. I looked down their driveway and saw that my mother had already left. I had told her that I was just hanging out with Laura, like I normally do.