“UGH! I can't believe we have math as our first class…” I say knowing it'll be hell since I hate math with a passion.

 “Tell me about it… at least we are together,”  Tane says trying to make me feel better.

As we walk into room 215 we notice the unfortunate luck of having Ms. Z as our math teacher. May I say Ms. Z has been rumored to make every student’s life a living hell and she looks like she belongs in hell herself. She is a nightmare in the form of a person, she is short with thick glasses, and has a mole on her nose that if you look too close at it I swear it moves. She has a scratchy voice and a laugh like she is the wicked witch of the damn west.

“Fuck bro not Ms. Z," I tell Q and Tane as I enter the class in annoyance.

 “You have a problem Ms. Kalani”,  Ms.Z says sarcastically.

 “No Ms. Z," I say trying to fake the fact she heard me, and I avoid staring at her mole.

 Tane, Q, and I take the last seats of the class like we’ve  always done. That way we avoid any participation in class and at the same time socialize. As we take our seats I see her. 

 “Shit… this girl is with us," I say.

"Who Bella?"  Q asks.

"Yes, dude I can't stand that girl," I say as I cross my arms.

"Bro how can you hate her if you don't even know her,”  Tane says, laughing.

"I just do bro, haven't you ever looked at someone and for a strange reason you just don't like them? I mean look at her she seems so goody two shoes and better than everyone," I tell him trying to make my point, but I think it’s  just making sense to me. Bella is actually a tall girl with caramel colored skin, a fit body, black short hair, and hazel eyes . Her parents are both doctors and well known in the community. She is one of the top students in the school and although pretty, which can’t be denied, she is all about her grades and maintaining her family's good name.

 "Ahiri that is crazy, she...is actually a sweetheart man. I had her for one of my classes last year", says Q with a perplexing face as  if trying to understand my bizarre thought of not liking the girl.

 "I guess," I say trying to avoid prolonging the matter .

"Ms. Kalani...anything you would like to share from the conversation you are having," Ms. Z asks in a demanding voice.

"No, not really," I say trying to avoid her.

"Well, in that case, you can come closer to me," she says with a grin.

 "WHAT THE HELL?!WHY?!" I say in anger.

"Tone it down, I doubt your coach would like to know his star player is starting with the 

wrong foot in my class...now would he?” she says again as if receiving satisfaction from blackmailing me.

"No he wouldn’t. Where do you want me to sit?" I say defeated and annoyed. But I can't afford to slip when it comes to rugby, my family is depending on me obtaining a scholarship since we don't have the funds to send me to college.

 "Oh, next to Bella," she says unknowingly of my dislike for the girl.

I look at Tane and Q making a face as if saying, Just my luck.

 Great what a fucking way to start my senior year, I think to myself as I walk towards a seat, I would trade my soul not to sit in.

 As sat next to the girl I can't stand for no apparent reason, I hated school and this year more.

"Hi,"  Bella says in a tender voice

"Do I know you?" I say acting stupid and avoiding the conversation.

"Yeah, we've had a couple of classes together in the past" she says as I feign surprise.

"Oh, hadn't noticed," I tell her avoiding looking at her.

 "Yeah, it’s nice ..." she attempts to tell me as I cut her off.

"Yeah, dude, I am not in the mood of talking K!" I tell her and yet d,eep inside I kind of feel bad for being a dick to a girl that I don't know so well. I shrugged the feeling off and try to concentrate on the class considering it already feels like I am in hell.

 "Blah Blah Blah X+Y...blah blah blah," says Ms.Z with a monotone voice as I drift off in her class, and I start wondering when the hell letters got involved with numbers to create math. I daydream, thinking how awesome it'll be to see my teammates and get out in the field as I start the new rugby season. This will be the year that I can meet sponsors that can help me get a scholarship and my parents wouldn't have to struggle so much or worry about not being able to send me to college. I keep drifting on how much my life will change once I graduate and the endless possibilities to come.

 ‘RIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!’ The bell wakes me up from that moment of ecstasy.

 I rise and walk out of class with Tane and Q.

"Dude can you believe I have to sit next to that girl.... UGH!!!" I say as I sigh.

 Suddenly. I hear a voice say, "Excuse me if you got something to say please say it to my face!" It was none other than Bella with her best friend Lani. Lani is a tall dark skinned girl with a great beautiful afro and an attitude sharp as a knife and like Bella one of the top students in our school.

 "Oh, trust me I don't have an issue saying it to your face," I say defiantly.

"Oh, you think you are all that! You don't even know me!" she says annoyed.

 The bickering between us two continues to the point that it reaches Ms. Z's ears, and she peeks through her classroom door to investigate the heard commotion. She , approaches us and in a menacing voice says "YOU TWO!" pointing to me and Bella, "TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE WITH ME NOW!" the rest of you go to your classes unless you guys want to in trouble too!

 Tane and Q look at me as if they were my henchman and I am the Godfather, and they need a confirmation from me to let them go. I give them a nod signaling them to go ahead and go. We both follow Ms. Z to the principal's office, and I am just praying he is in a good mood and let us go easy. As we enter his office the smell of chewing tobacco hits me like a slap in the face. Principal Lantiff is not much of a socializer nor is he a nice guy. Honestly, I consider him a pain in the ass. Ms. Z approaches him in a form that seems flirtatious and he reciprocates. I roll my eyes at the event taking place in front of me. Suddenly, I hear Bella’s name and mine. And we both are asked to take a seat. I seat with a carefree pose not really trying to care about what is going to take place. She...well she sits in a perfect pose as if she was the queen of etiquette. This girl...sweet baby Jesus help her, I think to myself trying to pay her no mind.

"It has come to my attention that you two were having a verbal dispute," says Principal Lantiff in an alarming voice. “Well what do you two have to say for yourself?" he continues saying.

 "I apologize Principal Lantiff, I was out of line and though I didn't start it I will be the bigger person and ask Arihi for an apology,"  Bella states to my surprise

 "You’re such a kiss-ass," I tell her sizing her up and down.

 "ARIHI!" I will not have you cursing in my office nor disrespecting such an example of maturity as Bella,"  Principal Lantiff says as he frowns.

 "Bella is it too much to ask, but maybe you can be an example to this wanna be rebel and teach her some manners," he says as he points at me. "Would you mind partnering with

 her during Ms.Z's class for projects and such....something good is bound to rub off on her," he tells her while grinning.

 Bella seems shocked as she was not expecting to be stuck with me and in a soft voice she replies, "Is no problem at all.”  mumble to myself, "Kiss ass" and only she hears me.

 "As for you Arihi because this is the first day of class I will spare you from having your parents involved in a conference, but I will tell Coach Stuart of the incident before us," he says in an authoritative tone.

 I just roll my eyes and tell him, "Fine"

 He dismisses us and as we walk to class, she says, "Why do you hate me Arihi?" 

I stop and look at her for an instant and keep walking because I don't even know why.

 Thankfully the day progresses and school is finally over. Making me happy that the issue from the morning is finally over. I head over to the parking lot to pick up my gear and see Q and Tane who are waiting for me in the distance.

"Bro what happened?!",  Tane asks concerned but at the same time intrigued. "Well I am stuck sitting with this fucking girl for the rest of the year and to top it off Principal Lantiff made her work with me in all assignments in Ms. Z's class” as I whisper "Just my luck," Tane exclaims with a "HOLY SHIT!" I proceed to grab my duffle with all my equipment from my bike and simply tell Tane and Q, " I gotta go. See y’all later at the Shack"