ROMEO'S POV
We waited for Xander's dad to leave before he went home, on my way back I couldn't stop thinking about how scared he was when he saw his dad.
"I'll take him to school and bring him back home always, so that he won't have to face his dad alone", I said to myself.
"I'll do everything I can to protect him against his dad, he doesn't deserve that", I added.
I got home and headed straight to my room, I was so angry, I didn't want my mom to see me. I was way too angry. She would definitely ask questions.
"Darling, I'm in the kitchen", she yelled.
"Oh gosh, she must've heard my footsteps", I said to myself and walked to her.
"Did you have another fight with your brother?", she asked touching my face.
"No mom, we've sorted everything out. I was wrong", I responded.
She laughed and went back to what she was doing.
"Let me help you with that", I said taking the plates she was holding from her.
On my way to school to the following day, I suddenly remembered what Lucille wrote about Cassandra and laughed.
"Why didn't I even think about this?", I asked myself.
I went to Xander's house to get him, but his nanny said he had already left. I guess I should have told him about me giving him rides to and from school.
When I got to school Cassandra was waiting for me at the car park.
"What now?", I asked myself and stepped out.
"You know, I don't understand why Xander hates me so much. I've done nothing to him", she said angrily.
"Good morning to you too Cassandra", I said walking towards her.
"There's obviously nothing good about the morning, tell your friend to stop treating me like an enemy", she said angrily.
"Erm.. we're alive, two good things about the morning", I responded.
"Stop making fun of the situation Romeo", she said almost in tears.
"Okay fine sure, I would talk to him", I said and she suddenly hugged me.
"Get out of the way!", someone yelled behind me.
I pulled away from the hug and turned to see who it was, damn, it was Lucille. She looked very upset.
We walked to the side and she parked her car, I was about apologizing but she just walked past us angrily.
"Let's get inside", I said to Cassandra and we left.
When I got inside, Xander was already there, I sat down and he looked at me angrily.
"What?", I asked him.
"Why are you still with Cassandra?", he asked clearly irritated.
"She came to me to complain about you. Why are you treating her as an enemy?", I asked him.
"Because she's not a friend", he responded.
"Can't you see she wants to be friends with you?", I asked and he looked pissed.
"I don't want her to be my friend, seeing her face everyday while eating lunch is enough torture", he answered.
"What did she do to you?", I asked.
"Nothing, I just don't like her", he responded.
I was about to talk when the teacher entered, I really wanted to know why Xander didn't like Cassandra.
"Your final group project work for the semester", the teacher said passing around sheets of paperwork.
I looked at Lucille immediately, I wanted her as a partner.
"Don't even think about it", Xander said drawing my attention to him.
"This is a perfect opportunity to get.."
"No", he said interrupting me.
"I've already chosen partners for you", the teacher said and we all shouted in annoyance.
"Why are they always doing this, they should allow us choose our own partners", I said to Xander and he chuckled.
"I've posted the list in the class WhatsApp group", he said and left.
We all brought out our phones immediately to check. Xander and Cassandra were first on the list. He stood up angrily and punched the wall.
"This is total bullshit", he said and walked out angrily.
I wasn't paired with Lucille, she was paired with the class captain. I looked for who I got paired with and it was Clifford.
I turned immediately to look at him, I didn't know if I should be happy or irritated. He looked in my direction and smiled at me.
I gave out a forced smile at him and walked out, I had to find Xander.
I saw him coming out of the staff room, he looked very angry. I approached him immediately.
"Calm down Xander, what's wrong with you?", I asked him.
"Cassandra told Mr Lucas to pair us for the project work", he said fuming.
"Wait what, why would she do that?", I asked surprised.
"Same question I want to ask her", he said heading to the classroom.
I followed him closely, "I must stop him if he tries something stupid", I said to myself.
CASSANDRA'S POV
Mr Lucas actually did it, I wasn't expecting him to. I raised my head and saw Xander approaching me, he looked very angry.
"Why did you ask Mr Lucas to pair us?", he asked me angrily.
"Uh.. because I could", I responded.
"Shoot I just made him more angry", I said to myself and stood up from my sit.
He held my arm tightly and pulled me out of the class.
"Let go off me Xander, you're hurting me", I said crying.
"I want you to go tell Mr Lucas you've changed your mind, now!", he yelled angrily.
"Calm down guy, she's just a girl", Romeo said pulling Xander away from me.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that", I responded to Xander, massaging my arm.
I didn't understand why he was so angry, what did I ever do to him. He hates me so much.
I shouldn't have convinced Mr Lucas to make Xander my partner. I wasn't expecting Xander to be so pissed about it.
"Do you have a death wish? If you think being my partner would make us become friends then you must be out of your mind", he said angrily.
"Fine, I'm out of my mind then", I said to him.
I really want to know why he hates me so much, and the only way I can spend time with him alone is through this project work.
"Please Cassie, I don't want to be your partner", he said in a calm voice.
"Did he just call me Cassie?", I asked myself surprised.
"I'm sorry okay, but I can't, I want you as my partner", I said and walked away.
XANDER'S POV
No no..no!!!
This can't be happening, I can't be with her. I dislike her so much.
"Please Romeo, help me convince her", I said with tears in my eyes.
"What's wrong Xander? Why is this affecting you so much?", Romeo asked but I walked away.
He wouldn't understand even if I explained why. He'd think I'm being childish, I really hated that woman and that's the same way I hate Cassandra.
I sat behind the old school building and reflected on everything that happened.
I remembered how I held Cassandra's arm and dragged her out of the class.
I remembered how I yelled at her and insulted her in front of everyone.
No no.. no!!!
I acted just like my father, I slapped myself several times and hugged my knees.
I looked at my hands, they were shivering, I slapped myself again and broke down into tears.
"I can't be like my father, I don't want to be like my father!", I yelled.
I felt like hurting myself, I wanted to hurt myself. If my mom finds out I'm hurting myself, I'd have to start seeing my therapist again.
"I need a distraction", I said to myself standing up.
I dried my eyes and went back to the classroom.
"Where did you go? I've been looking for you", Romeo asked immediately I sat down.
"I went to the washroom", I responded.
"Since when did you begin to lie?", he asked.
"Let's talk about something else please, something fun. When are you going to the states to model?", I asked and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Next weekend, would you like to go with me. We would return before Monday", he said with a smile.
I forced a smile and shook my head.
"I want you to come with me, I insist!", he said seriously.
"Okay fine, you win", I said and we both laughed.
He's really a brother from another mother. A perfect distraction so I don't start hurting myself again.
I fear I'd be forced to hurt myself, if I'm frequently alone with Cassandra.