Page 47 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

I lean a little closer to him. “Did my aunt give you an extension on the essay? I can convince her to. Sometimes I have her wrapped around my little finger.” I offer him the largest smile I can muster.

But he once again doesn’t look at me, just keeps his focus on his phone.

“What game is that?” I ask.

He ignores me.

“It looks fun. I’m not much of a gamer, but I play a game here and there on my phone. My friend Mia’s the avid gamer.”

He exits the game and starts another one.

Okay, I feel like a real loser trying to talk to him when he obviously wants to be left alone. I have no idea what’s gotten into him, but if he’s going to be this way, then that’s on him. I’m done trying to be kind to him when he’s being nothing but a jerk to me and my family.

Mr. Ortiz comes in and starts the lesson. Thankfully, we’re not paired up for an assignment.

While taking notes, I notice that Kade isn’t jotting anything down like the rest of us. He just continues playing on his phone.

It seems I’m not the only one to notice this. “Excuse me, Mr. Sanders?” Mr. Ortiz says.

He doesn’t look up at him, just continues playing.

Mr. Ortiz heads over to his desk. “You’re aware there are no cell phones allowed in class. Either you keep your phone in your locker or in your bag.”

He doesn’t react.

“I’ll let this go because you’re a new student and this is your first transgression, but if you don’t put that phone away in the next ten seconds, I’ll have to confiscate it.”

Kade’s shoulders tense up and his hands clutch his phone tightly. For a second, I wonder if he’ll continue ignoring the teacher. But then he grunts and drops his phone into his backpack.

“Thank you,” Mr. Ortiz says. “Now why don’t you answer the first question at the back of chapter ten?”

“I’d rather not,” he says.

“That wasn’t a question.”

“Didn’t know we’re in the military.”

Mr. Ortiz’s brow rises. “No, we are not in the military, but we are in a classroom. And in a classroom, the student obeys what the teacher tells him.”

Kade mutters something under his breath.

“What was that?”

He doesn’t say anything.

“If you continue disrupting class like this, I’ll have to send you to Vice Principal Rivera.”

“Like I give a crap,” he mutters under his breath.

“What was that?” Mr. Ortiz asks.

“Nothing,” Kade grumbles before opening his book to the end of chapter ten. He reads the question out loud and answers it.

“Well…yes,” Mr. Ortiz says. “That is correct. Next time, try to apply yourself more. You clearly know the material.” He walks back to his desk.

Kade rolls his eyes. Then he glances at me. When he realizes I’m staring at him, he says, “What do you want, Goody Two Shoes?”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re a big jerk, you know that?”

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