Tame Page 10

  "What? I did earlier- you said you were getting up!" Mom laughed to herself.

  "Sleep talking." I muttered. "Damn. I'd rather have Troy's sleep laughing problem."

  I splashed my face with water and covered my toothbrush in paste, so it dripped all over the basin.

  "God dammit!" I growled as I dropped toothpaste all down my top. I rushed back into my room, my toothbrush sticking out of my mouth sideways. I yanked off my top in annoyance, pulling on a blue one instead. It got toothpaste on the inside of it, making me shiver when I felt the slimy paste on my skin.

  I spat out the contents of inside my mouth, swirling it out with water. Two minutes until school started. No time for breakfast- that was probably the most depressing thing. I picked up my bag and raced downstairs.

  "Bye, Mom!" I called, slamming into the front door. "Ow!"

  "I'm here!" I announced to my English class. Everyone stared at me, the teacher included. She looked at her gold wristwatch and tapped her foot impatiently.

  "You're forty-five minutes late. Where have you been?" The cranky old bag asked, looking down her nose at me.

  "I...kinda, slept in. Hectic night." I told her, throwing my bag onto my desk and slumping in my seat. A few kids sniggered and I mentally face-palmed. Hectic night- really?

  "No excuse." My English teacher snapped. "Detention for you, this afternoon."

  "I-I can't!" I cried. "I'm tutoring someone tonight!"

  I'm starting my plan tonight!

  "Well too bad. You'll have to tutor them at lunch." She tutted.

  "But...but they go home for lunch!" I lied.

  Cameron's with him at lunch!

  "Tough!" She snarled. "Detention, Miss Chambers. Now sit down and catch up on your work."

  Two detentions. In ten minutes. My crabby, wretched English teacher gave me my first detention for being late, my second for not finishing my work in time. Bitch.

  "Now, have you learnt your lesson?" She asked me at lunch.

  "That your breath smells like dog shit on toast- sure." I muttered under my breath.

  "Excuse me?" She shrieked. "Detention again, Miss Chambers!"

  "Huh?" I gaped. "No wait, I'm sorry I-"

  "I am going to phone home and make sure you get disciplined!" She told me with a nod of her head.

  "No, Miss!" I begged. She raised her eyebrows and stalked off. Now what?

  "Hey, Miss!" I called, running after her down the hallway.

  "Miss Chambers, please." She huffed. She began to walk away again, and I threw myself to the floor, catching onto her ankles.

  "Waiiit!" I howled. "You can't give me detention! I need to get Cameron Carter off of my back for good! Pleeease don't give me detention!"

  "Miss Chambers!" My English teacher, who's name I thought might have been Miss Debra, shouted at the top of her voice. "You are creating a scene, and more chaos!"

  "Just, please don't give me detention?" I squeaked.

  I think she meant to kick me in the nose with her pointy heels.

  ***

  "Maybe you could study now?" Hayley suggested, as I picked at my food.

  "Eat something, Farrah." Riley said soothingly.

  "I can't." I sighed. "I just want to get Cameron Carter away from me, off of my back. Jason is my key to doing that- though I will eat."

  I began shoving french fry after french fry into my mouth, beginning to enjoy my lunchtime.

  "So why can't you just threaten him?" Hayley asked me once I had finished.

  "He's about as stubborn as a mule." I told her. "Are you gonna eat that brownie?"

  "A mule?" My best friend echoed. "Okay...and yes, I am."

  "Hmph. I didn't eat breakfast- give it to me!" I grabbed for it.

  "Have this instead." Riley handed me a muffin, served with a sickly sweet smile. Oh dear.

  "Thanks." I nodded, demolishing it. I wasn't too clear on whether Riley thought of me in, 'that' way anymore. After the disaster date...

  "You're stubborn though." Hayley commented.

  "Thanks." I rolled my eyes, still hungry.

  "I mean, maybe you could out-stubborn him?" Hayley mused. "Hey!"

  She slapped my hand away from trying to steal her brownie crumbs.

  "I'm gonna stick with my original plan. Get random information about him from Jason, wait until something useful comes up, use it against him, and therefore blackmail him away from me." I nodded smugly.

  "Can we help?" Riley asked, his blue eyes bright and hopeful.

  "Um, how?" Hayley asked him, rolling her eyes. "Are we gonna sit there while Farrah and Jason study, and take notes on everything he says about Cameron?"

  "We could." Riley muttered. "I just wanted to help Farrah."

  "Puh-lease, the only help you can give her is with homework." A new voice cut in. "I can help her with everything and anything else. Right, Farrah, babe?"

  "Go away Cameron!" I shooed him. Had he heard everything we'd just said?

  "Jason wants you." He told me, jerking his head over toward his table.

  "Why couldn't he just come over here himself?" I raised one eyebrow at Cameron.

  "I dunno. Just come on." He began walking again.

  "No."

  "What?" Cameron turned around, his face angry. "Don't say 'no' to me."

  "Well I did. Because of you, I'm turning into a rude, bad-mannered idiot, just like you." I scowled.

  "What did you just say?" Cameron growled.

  "I've had three detentions in a week because of you!" I shouted, throwing my arms in the air.

  "It's not my fault you're trying to be like me." Cameron smirked.

  "Why would I want to be like you?" I shrieked.

  "Farrah, people are looking." Hayley mumbled.

  "Yeah, yeah, hold on." I waved her off.

  "Why would you want to be like me?" Cameron repeated, stepping closer to me.

  "Get away from her." Riley tried to sound threatening, but it came out as a squeak.

  "I wouldn't." I glared at Cameron.

  "Oh yes you would. You could have anyone you wanted in school to date you." Cameron started. "You could have loads of friends, and be seen as a cool bad-ass. Not a nerdy, stuck-up, freak."

  Where had all this come from?

  "Oh, that's what you think of me?" I uttered. I was in shock.

  "Gonna hit me? Fall at my feet? Stalk me to my back yard again?"

  "You...you-"

  "Hottie?" Cameron supplied. "Thank you."

  "I hate you."

  "You love me."

  "You wish." I spat.

  "I do wish. I dream about you every night Farrah, I want you." Cameron smirked. He pushed me backwards, so I fell back onto the lunch table.

  "You what?"

  "Ha!" Cameron suddenly snorted. "You believed me."

  "Ugh, did not." I lied, turning red.

  "Did too." Cameron teased. "Now get your ass over to see Jason."

  "Don't order me about, Mister." I straightened up, putting my hands on my hips.

  "Whatever. Hey, did you dress in the dark today?"

  I looked down at myself. I cringed when I saw what I had put on in my rush to get to school. I was wearing red vans, with pink jeans. I had a green skirt over my jeans, (Ew! Skirt over jeans? I really was rushing!), a blue tank top, and a yellow shawl kinda thing draped over my shoulders.

  "Leave me alone." I pushed past him, off to find Jason.

  "I don't think you really want me to." Cameron whispered huskily.

  I really did.

  ***

  "So...ma date est une chaise." Jason asked.

  "Jason, you just told me your date is a chair." I laughed. Jason wasn't that bad at French, I didn't see why he needed a tutor. But I needed him as part of my plan. So...whether he was good at it or not, he needed to stay my tutoree.

  "What? No, I said that my date sat in the chair." Jason scratched his head.

  "Jason. You called your date a chair." I explained. "I don't mean to sound rude,
but surely you've done this subject before?"

  "You sound rude? Of course not." Jason snorted.

  "Yeah well...answer the question!" I flushed.

  Now Jason seemed to turn a dark shade of red. "I have done this before. I just can't remember. I'm not stupid!"

  "Hey, it's okay." I soothed uncertainly. Why did he seem so mad?

  "I'm not though!" He snapped. "I...I'm dyslexic. Things get mixed up in my head."

  Dyslexic?

  Jason?

  It did explain why he needed a tutor.

  "That's not such a big deal." I smiled.

  "Yeah it is." Jason threw his pencil down in aggitation. "Everyone thinks I'm stupid. So I just act stupid in class. I'm not though."

  "I know you're not." I told him. "My Mom is dsylexic too."

  "Is she?" Jason seemed to brighten up. "Can...can you not tell anyone Farrah? I'm the tough guy."

  Believe me, I know.

  "It's okay, I won't." I promised. "But why?"

  "Why?" Jason echoed. "They'll laugh."

  "That doesn't sound like good friendship." I puzzled.

  "Yeah, well."

  "Yeah well what?" I demanded. Now we were going to get somewhere. "Do you mean Cameron? 'Cause I know he's an ass. Why are you even friends with him?"

  "He's a cool guy." Jason told me.

  "But...that can't be the only reason. You're not just friends with him for popularity, surely?" I struggled. I needed something to use against Cameron. Maybe he had threatened Jason to be his friend!

  Please say he did.

  "Of course not." Jason frowned. "We're alike and different, we're both popular, we have similar interests, just stuff like that."

  "Like what? What kind of hobbies does the tough bad boy have?" I schmoozed.

  "Well...we're both into skateboarding I guess." Jason rubbed the back of his neck. "And art. Grafitti and junk."

  "I like grafitti." I smiled, telling the truth. "It's unique and all...in your face, but in a good way?"

  Jason grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah! Except Cameron is constantly spraying every single wall we paint, pink."

  "Pink?" I spluttered. "Why?"

  "It's his favorite color."

  Pink was Cameron's favorite color? Bingo! I had nothing against guys liking pink, but for the big, bad, popular guy, surely that was a secret?

  "What other kinds of things do you guys like? What differences do you have?" I asked.

  Jason opened his mouth to reply, then stopped. He smirked at me instead.

  "What...?" I said slowly, confused.

  "I know what you're doing." He beamed.

  "Tell me what I'm doing. Because I don't know." I demanded.

  "You just want to try and find stuff out about Cameron- because you like him." Jason cackled.

  "What? No!" I cried. "No. No. No."

  "Yes!" Jason laughed.

  "No! Ugh!" I groaned. "Why do you even think I like him?"

  "I just know you do. A little." Jason added.

  "I really don't." I complained. "I just want to know more about you, seeing as we have to work together for the next five and a half weeks."

  "Well what do you want to know? What I do in my spare time? Hobbies?" Jason sniggered.

  "Yes, we could start with that."

  Jason blinked in surprise. "Oh, okay then."

  *Thursday*

  I walked into school with confidence. I replayed the conversation with Jason in my mind from last night. I had only a few things I could use against Cameron, but Jason was coming over again that night, and the next night. It was strange how he gave up his Friday evening to study.

  "Me and Cameron are like brothers. We fight quite a lot too." Jason said.

  "Does Cameron street fight like you?" I asked.

  "No. He doesn't like physical fighting- just verbal. That's why he gets into so many arguments with you, I guess. You're both fiery tempered." Jason explained.

  "I'm not fiery tempered!" I cried. "Though...that sounded like it, huh?"

  "Yeah, kinda." Jason nodded, bemused.

  "What else do you guys think of me? Fiery tempered, a goody two-shoes..." I wondered aloud.

  "I think Cameron likes you. He talks about you a lot. Just saying stuff like, tease you and crap. But I don't need to be told to do that- your reactions are hilarious!"

  "Gee thanks, Jason."

  So I had three things. He liked the color pink, he was a wuss when it came to fighting, and he liked me. I decided to save the last thing in case he didn't leave me alone after the first few things. I was planning on getting Jason to spill everything. He was a pretty big-mouthed guy. I shuddered as a thought crossed my mind. What would Jason do to me if he found out I used him? It scared me so much, that as I walked into science, my knees trembled.

  "Hey Farrah." Jason nodded. I was shocked that he greeted me, especially in front of so many people. I wondered if this was the beginning of a real friendship. Hopefully he wasn't going to just use me...like I was basically doing to him.

  "Hello." I smiled politely. My smile grew as I realised I had been quite polite recently. Sort of. "How are you?"

  "Good." Jason grinned as I sat on my stool. "You?"

  "I'm fi-IIIHHH!" I screamed as I sat on something. Scratch that- someone.

  "Ah ha ha ha!" Jason snorted, slapping his leg while he laughed. "Classic!"

  My cheeks grew pink, and people were looking at me and taking pictures. I gulped and turned around to see who I'd sat on.

  "Hey, Farrah Chambers." He winked. His green eyes sparkled, making me shiver. What was he doing in my seat? More importantly, how did he get there so fast?

  "You speak your thoughts aloud a lot." Jason noted, still laughing. "This looks really dodgy!"

  "Move!" I ordered Cameron, flushing more of a purple color now. I stood up and pushed his shoulder.

  "Only if you, a), admit you like me, b), throw yourself at me like you did last time you wanted me out of your seat, and c), let me join you and Jason for tutoring." Cameron smirked.

  "Cocky bastard." I grumbled. Cameron cupped his ear and I sighed.

  "What was that?" He asked me. I glared at him, but an idea came to mind. I sat back on Cameron- but facing him, so I was more, well, straddling him. He blinked and looked at me in surprise. I leant forward so my mouth was right by his ear.

  "You are a cocky bastard. I don't like you. I don't want you. I don't want you here. And you are not, joining me and Jason to study. Sorry, player boy." I whispered. I saw him tense up and got up, pointing my finger at his desk. "Now go."

  Someone wolf-whistled and I smirked to myself. Victory was mine!

  "Dude, I'm posting these on Facebook." Jason chortled, showing Cameron his phone. I grabbed the device out of his hand and my mouth fell open in horror.

  There were two pictures.

  Two pictures, of me and Cameron.

  Me, Farrah Chambers. And Cameron.

  Cameron Carter.

  Shit.

  On toast- the holy kind.

  "Delete them!" I ordered. The first was me straddling Cameron, the second one of me whispering in his ear.

  "I posted the one of him on her lap the other way!" Some random ginger guy called out.

  "Go to Hogwarts, you freakin' Weasley!" I insulted. Some people laughed at him, but when he joined in, they all laughed at me.

  "Feisty." Cameron winked. "That's how guys like us like it, Farrah Chambers."

  "She must research all her tricks, just to use them on us. She's got it bad for you, bro." Jason cheered.

  "Go to hell." I growled.

  "What? Can't I go to Hogwarts too?"

  ***

  "You're a mean person." I said to Jason. We were walking back to mine, but it was a strange turn out. Troy hadn't come to pick me up- after he promised to- so I had to walk home. I usually just walked with Riley, who went straight to SAVE-AN-ANIMAL after school. But today Jason was walking with us, and guess who else? Cameron.

 
"You're such a flirt, Farrah Chambers." Cameron winked, strolling along beside me.

  "Excuse me?" I choked. "A flirt? As if."

  "I'm serious. You're casually walking home with three guys! Imagine how that must look to by-passers."

  "Maybe we look like siblings, or friends." I replied, proud of myself to have a comeback for once.

  "We don't look a like though- none of us do." Jason pointed out.

  "Not all siblings look alike!" I snapped. Go me, I was on a roll!

  "True. But you and Troy look alike." Riley put in. Very helpful.

  I stopped in my tracks.

  "I do not look like him! Do I?" I fretted. I peered into someone's car window, frantically looking at my reflection with a pained look on my face. It was only when I stopped blinking in worry, that I noticed there was someone in the car. Damn.

  Jason and Cameron laughed at me for ages after that. Riley kept asking me if I was okay, and not to worry, to ignore the other two. I knew he was being kind, but my mind wanted to be the bad friend. I just wanted Riley to shut up.

  "Are you sure? Don't worry, loads of people do that." Riley asked for the billionth time.

  "I'm fine Riles!" I cried, waving my hands in frustration. He backed away slightly and nodded.

  "Sorry." He muttered.

  "It's...oh." I groaned. Riley didn't say anything for a while after that. Oops.

  "But, back to my point." Cameron began again.

  "Just shut up!" I whined. "I'm not a flirt!"

  "Yeah, you kinda are." Jason grinned. "You went on a date with him," he pointed at Riley, "On Saturday."

  "So?" I sighed.

  "Today, you straddled me in class." Cameron chuckled. "Naughty girl. And you called me player boy!"

  "I-"

  "You did what?" Riley asked. "Farrah, that's not true, is it?"

  "Of course not." I rolled my eyes hastily. "It's Cameron Carter and Jason Evans- they're not exactly truthful."

  "True." Riley nodded.

  "Oh but Farrah Chambers is the one that's lying this time round, Riles." Cameron tutted, mimicking my name for Riley.

  "Whatever." Riley scoffed.