An eye for an eye

(Levi's POV)

I took the pen from Derek and looked at the board. I don't understand the shit that I'm seeing. Isn't this math supposed to be for college students? My brain's about to explode just from looking at it.

'You're not supposed to stare at the board, Levi. It's Math. You solve it.' Mrs Sullivan held a stern look on her face.

I hear a snicker and turn around. No one said a word. Good.

'How the fuck do I do this?' I whisper.

To my left, Jacob's giving me a signal but I don't need his help. I'm raising my white flag.

To Mrs Sullivan, I smiled. 'Mrs Sullivan, I don't know shit.'

Everyone laughs.

'Language, Mister Wright.' Mrs Sullivan hissed at me.

'Pfft. You swear all the time, Barbara. I've seen you.' I smirk and juggle the light pen.

Mrs Sullivan frowned. 'Why don't you pick someone else to solve it for you?'

'Better.' I smile. 'Let's see.' I begin to walk down the middle column. Everyone is probably staring in anticipation as I approach Charlotte's seat.

******

(Charlotte's POV)

Why the hell is Levi coming this way? Fuck. Does he think I know the answer to the equation?

'Go solve it, English.' he hands the pen to me.

'No.' I shake my head as I whisper.

'Yes.' Levi insists and takes my hand.

'What the hell are you doing?' I whisper-yell at him as he leads me to the board.

Everyone's looking at me as though I grew another head. Lin gives me a stank eye, Matty's mouth fell open, Adolph is laughing and so is the rest of class.

We got to the board.

'Happy solving.' Levi whispers to me before he walks to his seat.

'Okay.' I look at the equation and zoomed it in.

'What's wrong? Did the question make you shortsighted or something?' Rose makes a joke for the first time ever in class.

Everyone is surprised but sure, they laughed. I was surprised too. She talks. Great.

I hesitate to solve the question.

'Fuck no. she's dumb like I am.' Gracie laughs from the back seat.

Everyone laughs again. Too much laughing irks me.

'Anyone who laughs will replace Miss Charlotte.' Mrs Sullivan warns and everyone quiets down.

'Fuck.' I whisper before I begin solving what I know. I'm not too good at math but I know a little thanks to Sophia who tutored the hell outta me.

'Done.' I turn to Mrs Sullivan.

She pushed her glasses to her face, analysing my work. 'Hmm.'

'Oh no. Is she dumb like Levi too?' Derek makes a joke and everyone laughs.

Mrs Sullivan ignores Derek. The woman flashed a toothy smile at me and I become worried. 'You are correct. Miss Melbourne.'

'Phew.' I exhaled a sigh of relief.

'You can return to your seat.' said Mrs Sullivan.

The class errupt into an applause as I walk back to my seat. I could feel my head become heavier with praises. Damn, I'm good at math.

'You did good, Char.' Gracie pats my right hand and I glare at her. 'I'm sorry. I'm not good at math either.'

'You did good, Char but your writing looks…' I hear Josie behind me speak.

'Is handwriting a concern in math? Just get the damn answer and that's it.' Levi retorts.

Why is he defending me?

Mrs Sullivan interrupted. 'Now, turn to page 11 of your textbook. I want you all to solve the exercise of 20 questions.'

'What the hell?' Complains fills the air.

'Courtesy of Derek, your beloved class president.' Mrs Sullivan winked at me and turns to Derek. 'I want it submitted on paper tomorrow morning.'

The bell rings and she leaves the class.

'Way to go, Derek.' Gracie calls from her seat.

'I'll send the answers to the group chat so it'll be easy for everyone. Chillax.' Derek announced to the class.

I rest my head on the desk and exhaled sharply. 'That was close. I almost had a heart attack there.'

Levi leans his head on his desk and looks at me. I couldn't aver my gaze. I was stuck in his ocean blue eyes. Everything went quiet. Everyone else disappeared and it was just us. I hear drops of water and strangely, I can feel the ripple it makes. I was fine in this imaginary utopia, lost in its serene essence as I looked at those crystal orbs of his until he pulled back to reality by yelling 'Get your head outta your butt, Melbourne.'

*******

Lunch break

(Author's POV)

'I'm positive that if you were given a gun, you would shoot me.' Levi picks kimbap from Charlotte's plate.

Charlotte stabs the meat in her side dish. 'You're not worth my bullet.'

'Why are you always hostile to me?' Levi keeps down his chop sticks.

Charlotte retorts. 'I'm being relentlessly self aware.'

'Self aware? That's one way to put it.' Levi smiles and leans back.

Jacob looks between both of them. 'Why do I have the feeling that I shouldn't be here?'

'Me too.' Josie smile nervously.

Scottie and Matty focus on eating as though what exuded between Levi and Charlotte was none of their business.

'Did you like it when I touched your lap yesterday?' Levi smiled.

A fit of coughing seized Charlotte and she grabbed the glass of water next to her.

'Touch her lap?' Jacob was unsure of what he heard.

Josie who sat next to Levi scooted away from him slowly.

'Things really got steamy between us in detention yesterday.' Levi blew Charlotte a kiss.

'That's a lie and you know it.' Charlotte retorts immediately.

Levi laughs and resumes eating.

'That's not funny, Levi.' Jacob glared at his brother.

Levi still had his nonchalant attitude. 'Not funny? Is laughing now a terrible thing? Humour is a spice of life.'

Charlotte clenched her fist and stood to her feet. 'Excuse me.'

Scottie and Matty sitting on the edge of the lounge chair made way for her as she walked through.

Levi attempted to follow her but Jacob called him back. 'I don't know what your deal is with Charlotte but stay the hell away from her.'

*****

ART CLASS

12 : 11 NOON

(Charlotte's POV)

'Did you all see Levi's face when he was being called up to solve that math equation? I was speechless. How can someone's frown look so sexy?' A girl whisper-giggles to her friends.

'I know, right?' her other friends agree except one.

'But don't you all wonder why he called that Charlotte to solve it for him? Are they dating or something?' One commented.

'You're right. Who the hell does she think she is? Does she think she can use her money to woo our Levi?'

'I bet she seduced him.'

'That bitch has no shame. Stealing a taken man. Wait till Lin finds out, she'll be toast.'

'Let's go find Lin.'

I clearly heard them whisper my name but what can I do? I walked past them to the back where I found an empty easel and wooden chair.

The gossip girls roll their eyes at me. One of them even stuck out her tongue at me as the trio left the classroom.

I pinned a white piece of paper on the wooden surface of the drawing board. Having done that, I lean back into my chair and shuts my eyelids.

'Charlotte, mind if we join you?' The question came from a feminine voice.

I lift my head. To my dismay, it was Lin, the very person I had been avoiding all afternoon. And she brought the gang with her. Stacy Young, a viking who is rumoured to dye her hair black occasionally because she is ashamed of her ancestor's history. According to Grace, Stacy's parents own a chain of department stores in South Korea. The girl's like a Swiss Army knife of fashion! A true show woman always serving looks that slay.

Next, is the woman after Lin's heart. Her very own second in command; Adira Hikari, an Afro-Japanese. Her Japanese father is a diplomat while her mother owns an art gallery. Adira excels at art.

Last is Margo Christian. The third most popular girl in 3C class. No one knows what her family does but they know that she'll never lack anything in her life. Her great grandfather left a mind blowing kind of wealth that will last 3 generations for her parents. Can you imagine?

'Hello, Lin, Stacy, Adira, Margo and Rose. Wait, Rose?' I can't believe Rose had joined Lin's clique so quickly. Indeed, mother was right. Making friends is easy. For them at least.

'Hey, I need your seat.' Lin patted the shoulder of a plump girl in glasses.

'What?' Glasses was probably confused with the question.

'I said beat it, fatty.' Lin yelled and the girl left the seat in fear.

The four other students seated next to me gave up their seats for "Alan's Queens" as they called themselves.

'So, are you ready for art class, English?' Lin trailed her index finger on my shoulders.

That was wierd and it made feel uncomfortable. 'Indeed I am.'

'Indeed I am.' Stacy mimicked my accent and the others laughed.

Sadly, I didn't find it funny and refused to laugh. At myself. Basically, the joke was made to insult me. I wouldn't laugh at that.

'Why didn't you laugh, English?' Lin ran her hand through my hair.

Lin was obsessed with my right arm and now, my hair? What the hell!

'I didn't laugh because it wasn't funny.' I replied.

'She's a bold one, isn't she?' Margo chuckled.

'You should laugh, English.' Lin's hand clutched into my hair and I winced in pain. 'It hurts, right?'

'My name is Charlotte.' I grit my teeth.

'You know why I'm upset, don't you?' Lin looked me in the eye. There was a familiar murderous glint in her eyes. Like the one I had seen in his eyes.

I know why she's upset? What bollocks is she talking about? . 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

Lin's grip in my hair tighten and I almost yell. 'Let me show you.'

N/B : Hey, guys. Still enjoying the story yet? Your gifts and golden tickets will go a long way to inspire me.