Chapter 2: Assigned Enemies

My name was right beside Hunter's.

Out of all the seats in the classroom, all the desks in the entire school, I had to sit next to HIM.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the desk, already regretting every decision that had led me here.

Hunter was sitting back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers like he didn't have a single worry in the world.

Of course he wasn't worried. He wasn't the one who had to spend the next hour beside his worst enemy.

"Look who's my new desk partner," he said, grinning when he saw me.

"Don't sound so excited. I'm sure there's a way to request a different seat."

"Aw, don't be like that. We've got the whole year together."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

I dropped my bag beside my chair and sat down, trying my best to ignore him.

For approximately five seconds, it worked.

Then he nudged my elbow.

I ignored him.

He nudged me again.

"What?" I snapped.

"Nothing. Just checking you're still alive. You look miserable."

"That's because I'm sitting next to you."

A couple of people nearby snickered.

Hunter raised his eyebrows. "Ouch. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

"Someone needs to learn when to be quiet."

His grin widened.

I hated that grin.

I hated how he could annoy me without even trying. I hated how everyone seemed to find him funny, even when he was being completely unbearable.

Most of all, I hated that he seemed to enjoy getting a reaction out of me.

The teacher walked into the classroom, and I immediately turned towards the front, grateful for the interruption.

"Good morning, everyone. I hope you enjoyed your holidays. We're going to start the year with a short writing exercise."

I reached into my bag for my notebook.

"Hey," Hunter whispered.

I kept my eyes on the board.

"Hey, sunshine."

I clenched my jaw.

"What do you want?"

"Can I borrow a pen?"

I glanced at the three pens already sitting on his desk.

"Use one of yours."

"Mine don't work."

"That's a terrible tragedy."

He leaned over to look at my notebook. "Wow. Your handwriting is tiny."

I quickly moved it away from him.

"Stop looking at my work."

"What are you hiding? Your secret diary?"

"Yes, actually. It's full of reasons why you're the most annoying person alive."

He laughed loudly enough that the teacher turned around.

"Something funny, Hunter?"

"No, sir."

The teacher gave him a warning look before turning back to the board.

Hunter leaned closer and whispered, "You're going to get me in trouble."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"ME? You're the one who can't keep his mouth shut!"

"Keep your voice down," he whispered, looking far too pleased with himself.

I turned away before I said something that would get us both sent out.

I was going to survive this year.

I had to.

But as I began writing, Hunter quietly slid a folded piece of paper onto my desk.

I stared at it suspiciously.

"What now?" I whispered.

"Open it."

"No."

"Scared?"

I snatched the paper, unfolded it beneath my desk, and read the words written inside.

Try not to cry when you realise you're stuck with me all year.

I slowly turned towards him.

He was watching me with that stupid, infuriating grin.

I picked up my pen and wrote a reply.

Try not to embarrass yourself when I make your life miserable.

I pushed the note back.

Hunter read it.

For the first time that morning, his grin faded for half a second.

Then he looked at me, his eyes narrowing with amusement.

"Oh, sunshine," he whispered. "This is going to be fun."

I turned back to my work.

I couldn't stand him.

I absolutely couldn't stand him.

So why did I have the horrible feeling that this year was going to change everything?

They weren't.

My name was right beside Hunter's.

Out of all the seats in the classroom, all the desks in the entire school, I had to sit next to HIM.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the desk, already regretting every decision that had led me here.

Hunter was sitting back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers like he didn't have a single worry in the world.

Of course he wasn't worried. He wasn't the one who had to spend the next hour beside his worst enemy.

"Look who's my new desk partner," he said, grinning when he saw me.

"Don't sound so excited. I'm sure there's a way to request a different seat."

"Aw, don't be like that. We've got the whole year together."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

I dropped my bag beside my chair and sat down, trying my best to ignore him.

For approximately five seconds, it worked.

Then he nudged my elbow.

I ignored him.

He nudged me again.

"What?" I snapped.

"Nothing. Just checking you're still alive. You look miserable."

"That's because I'm sitting next to you."

A couple of people nearby snickered.

Hunter raised his eyebrows. "Ouch. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

"Someone needs to learn when to be quiet."

His grin widened.

I hated that grin.

I hated how he could annoy me without even trying. I hated how everyone seemed to find him funny, even when he was being completely unbearable.

Most of all, I hated that he seemed to enjoy getting a reaction out of me.

The teacher walked into the classroom, and I immediately turned towards the front, grateful for the interruption.

"Good morning, everyone. I hope you enjoyed your holidays. We're going to start the year with a short writing exercise."

I reached into my bag for my notebook.

"Hey," Hunter whispered.

I kept my eyes on the board.

"Hey, sunshine."

I clenched my jaw.

"What do you want?"

"Can I borrow a pen?"

I glanced at the three pens already sitting on his desk.

"Use one of yours."

"Mine don't work."

"That's a terrible tragedy."

He leaned over to look at my notebook. "Wow. Your handwriting is tiny."

I quickly moved it away from him.

"Stop looking at my work."

"What are you hiding? Your secret diary?"

"Yes, actually. It's full of reasons why you're the most annoying person alive."

He laughed loudly enough that the teacher turned around.

"Something funny, Hunter?"

"No, sir."

The teacher gave him a warning look before turning back to the board.

Hunter leaned closer and whispered, "You're going to get me in trouble."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"ME? You're the one who can't keep his mouth shut!"

"Keep your voice down," he whispered, looking far too pleased with himself.

I turned away before I said something that would get us both sent out.

I was going to survive this year.

I had to.

But as I began writing, Hunter quietly slid a folded piece of paper onto my desk.

I stared at it suspiciously.

"What now?" I whispered.

"Open it."

"No."

"Scared?"

I snatched the paper, unfolded it beneath my desk, and read the words written inside.

Try not to cry when you realise you're stuck with me all year.

I slowly turned towards him.

He was watching me with that stupid, infuriating grin.

I picked up my pen and wrote a reply.

Try not to embarrass yourself when I make your life miserable.

I pushed the note back.

Hunter read it.

For the first time that morning, his grin faded for half a second.

Then he looked at me, his eyes narrowing with amusement.

"Oh, sunshine," he whispered. "This is going to be fun."

I turned back to my work.

I couldn't stand him.

I absolutely couldn't stand him.

So why did I have the horrible feeling that this year was going to change everything?