This shouldn't have been a surprise.
When the list of lab partners had been posted three weeks ago, Brody hadn't been any happier thanIwas.
I knew why, too. Unlike me, he never took any of it seriously. Oh sure, he took all of the advanced classes, but his grades were lackluster at best.
Between cutting class and missing half of his homework, he surely would've flunked out entirely, if only he didn't have this annoying habit of acing all of his tests.
But me? I had to study.Hard.
I gave a silent scoff.But that was Brody for you.I'd known him for nearly four years now, ever since I'd moved in with my grandparents just before my freshman year.
Turns out, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Unlike my parents, my grandparents actually liked having me around. And I likedbeingaround. Plus, this gave me the stability to try for a scholarship.
And my parents? Well, they got their freedom, I guess.
Let's just say, parenting wasn't their thing.
When I considered how lucky I felt just to be standing in thisparticular school, it made Brody's casual attitude all the more maddening.
He nudged the flame a tad closer, as if preparing to light my face on fire.
I told him, "You know that's not allowed, right?"
Talk about a massive understatement.
With a laugh, he finally flicked off the lighter and lowered it once again to hisside. Normally, I liked his laugh, even if I'd never admit it. But today, it sounded all wrong, laced with cruelty rather than humor.
His mouth twisted as he said, "Relax. I'm not gonna burn your cookies."
For some reason, his words sounded vaguely suggestive and just a little bit insulting.
I stared up at him. "I don't get it," I said. "If you were just gonna be a jackass, why'd you bother to show up at all?"
With no trace of laughter, he replied, "Because I told you I would."
"So?"
"So I always do what I say."
"Oh, really?" I scoffed. "Do you always do it seventeen minutes late?"
His mouth tightened. "Better late than never."
It wassoeasy for him to say. Unlike me, he got away with everything. Still, I couldn’t resist saying, "Has it ever occurred to you that if you just applied yourself, you'd be getting all A's?"
"Has it ever occurred toyouthat it's none of your business?"
Yes. It had, actually.
Still, I had to ask, "But what about college?"
"What about it?"
"Aren't you worried you won't get in?"
With another scoff, he replied, "Hell no."
His attitude grated.Gee, it must be nice to be so confident.
