Pick-A-Road, ME! [me reader txt] 📗

Ideas ricochet back and forth in my mind, the moment Mrs. Bowman explains the new drawing assignment to the class. We're told to create an abstract portrait. For those who don't know, this means we're supposed to make a picture of a person that lacks in logic or just doesn't make sense. My model was going to be my best friend, Lucy. We always work together when given the chance. ALWAYS

!

Although she doesn't see it, Lucy is extremley beautiful. Her hispanic background gifted her with long legs, curves in all the right places, and smooth tanned skin. She's also extremley talented when it comes to painting. I could draw a portrait and make it so that half her face is drawn, since that's what I'm best at. Then, to make the drawing abstract, I could paint the other half of her face.

Her Hispanic background also gave her wildly curly hair. She’s always complaining about how frizzy and messy it is. Every morning, except for the rare days were she’s either too lazy or wakes up late, she straightens it. So, to make the portrait a bit more crazy, the painted half of her face will have elegant yet crazy curls. The other half will have stick straight hair. I’m sure Lucy will love it, she always loves my drawings!

"Kora Lengle, you'll be with Drake Matthews. Lucinda Vasquez and Kelly Parker, you two will be partners."

Kelly Parker. Kelly Parker? Kelly Parker? What the Hell!?

My eyes go wide, my mouth agape. I look over my shoulder at Lucy, who sits a few seats away from me. Lucy offers a sweet smile and shrugs.

Lucy and I, despite our extreme clique differences, are best friends. I actually consider her more of ta sister, the one I never had. Our peers know that, teachers know that! And it's not like we don't do our school work when we're partnered together. Sure we talk, but we get our work done.

"Mason Miller and Jackson. Ashlynn, you'll work with Dean Kochel. Jessica Lakey..."

I had once considered Mrs. Bowman my favorite teacher. But now? All I wanted to do was crawl on all fours across the wooden drawing tables to Mrs. Bowman and pull as hard as I could on her weave.

I mean, seriously! What was she thinking? Is she crazy? Mentally unstable? Mrs. Bowman has never partnered me with anyone else but Lucy before! What was so different now?!

And Dean?

Out of all people?

Dean's lived in Redfield for a little longer then two months and already he's notorious for being a slacker. I've never actually talked to him before, but I've witnessed tons of innapropriate incidents. I've heard even more rumors. Just the other day, Dean told Principal Jones to fuck off. You want to know what Principal Jones said to deserve that? "Good morning, Mr. Kochel. How's you're day so far?"

If he’s my partner, I stand no chance of becoming a famous artist, let alone actually getting a passing grade.

“You okay! You look pissed!” Dean says as he grabs the back of the chair, only to turn it and then

sit down. I watched him with disbelieving eyes as he straddled over the seat and folded his arms over the back of the chair. He rested his unshaven chin on his folded arms.

I look at the mop atop of his head with narrowed eyes, unsure if he'd meant to make his hair look like that or if he litterally decided not to brush his hair this morning. Stubble covered his cheeks and neck. His hands looked rough, covered in dirt, caluses, and blisters. Grime was visibile under his fingerneails. He was wearing baggy jeans with chains that dangled from his belt loops. He was also wearing a baseball tee and hiking boots. He could easily pass for a hobo.


"You checkin me out, princess?" Dean says as he batts his eyes. I roll my eyes and show him my middle finger. Fake scorn crosses his face, “Ouch! Good girl gone bad, huh? Sorry you got stuck with me princess, but you can’t get everything you want no matter how much money your daddy’s got.”

I glare into his hazel eyes, making sure that my most intimidating glare was on my face. Had he just insulted me? Yes! He did! I’m not a princess! And I’m not spoiled! Everyone assumes things just because my parents are rich! Everyone always thinks that I’m self-centered! I’m not! I just want to make a good future for myself! Is that really so bad!

I glared into his pleased hazel eyes, which appeared to be outlined with..eyeliner? Did he actually wear guyliner? What kind of guy wears make up? I continue to glare, but apparently my intimidating glare isn’t that intimidating at all…

Dean's smirk grows. He winks at me. I roll my eyes and groan in anger as I write down in huge letters on the bottom of my agenda:

Get New Drawing Partner!!!!!!


* * *


"Ashlynn, I understand that this means a lot to you. I really do. But I highly doubt that one boy will completely jeopardize your future.”

I scoff sarcastically, so shocked that she was defending him! I mean, all the teachers hate Dean! Don’t they…?

He never does his school work! He’s always disrespectful and obnoxious during class! And around girls he turns into either a complete douche, or an immature pervert! I even saw him hitting on Mrs. Ashby, the school nurse once, for some IBProfun. Granted it didn't work. Mrs. Ashby had just smiled and said, "Ummm, no." But still! The nerve!

“Mrs. Bowman, please! Just let me work with Lucy! Or-actually, no! I don’t even have to work with Lucy! Pick anyone else! Anyone! Just not Dean! I need someone who takes art seriously!”

Mrs. Bowman stands up as she sighs. She leans on her desk and looks me straight in the eye, “Ashlynn…take a deep breath and calm down.” I listened to her soft voice and take in a deep breath. My rasping breaths and my heart slow back to their normal pace. “Now that you’ve calmed down…I’m not going to change your partner—“

“—But—“ I begin but Mrs. Bowman flicks her pointer finger at me, immediately silencing my plea.

“—like I was saying...I’m not going to change your partner. Yes, Dean doesn’t take school as seriously as he should, but he’s got a lot going on in his life. And school? To him, school isn’t a priority right now.”

“And so you partnered me with him, why?" I ask, my brows lifting in confusion and disbelief. "School is

a priority for me! It’s my top

priority, actually!”

“That’s exactly why I’ve partnered you with him, Ashlynn. He might slack off in school, but he really is a good kid. He’s smart, too. Just give him a chance. Be his beacon of light, for lack of a better phrase.”

“What?” I ask.

“Help him realize how important school is. Give him some hope for a better future.” Mrs. Bowman finally says with a soft and small smile. It's one of sympathy and sadness...it was a smile that made me wonder…

...why does Mrs. Bowman fell sorry for Dean? Why would anyone

feel sorry for such an irresponsible, reckless, ill-mannered…jerk, like Dean?

“Hey, partner! I wasn’t expecting you! You just can’t live without me, can you?” Dean says cockily as he runs his big hands through his messy brown hair. The same annoying smirk that made me want to slap him was still plastered to his face.

I drop my lunch tray, letting it slam onto the lunch table which was only occupying him. The poor guy, sits alone at lunch. He doesn’t have any

friends, literally. Even the nerds and dorks are smart enough to stay away.

“Yeah! I just can’t live without your good-looks and charm.”

Dean’s smile grows from ear to ear, “Oh really?”

I roll my eyes. “Haven’t you ever heard of sarcasm?” I ask feeling so abruptly angry that I can't breathe. My lungs feel like they're shriveling, my breaths escaping my lips in shaky quick pants. My skin is heating, and my temples are throbbing. I’ve never felt so frustrated and annoyed in my life. And this is only the second time I've ever talked to the guy!

“So what you want partner?” Dean asks, never faltering or losing the smirk.

“What do I want? Not you! If we’re going to be partners you’re going to change! No more slacking! No more partying or drinking or getting high or whatever it is you do to waist your weekends—“

Dean’s eyes go wide as he laughs, “—And what do you do on the weekends? Study? Community service? Oh I know! You tutor, don't you?”

I choose to ignore hsi comment and continue on with my little speech, “And no more disrespect! You don’t know me, so stop acting like you do! You have no right to say the things you do!”

Dean’s smirk disappears abruptly. He squints at me as if he can't believe what I just said.

“You’re right!" he says,"I don’t know you. But who the hell do you think you are to tell me how to act?” He spoke softly, yet there was an edge, a bit of anger, behind his words that made me shiver and second guess myself. I was wavering…I never

waver!

I stand motionless and silent for a moment, eyes big and fluttering, “Um…excuse me?”

Dean rolls his eyes in anger and stands up, slamming his palms onto the lunch table. He leans forward, across the lunch table to glare down at me, making a shiver go up my spine. I find my self quiaking with fear.

“You have no right to talk to me like I’m some peasant. Like I'm some poor bad-mannered kid that you’re higher then, cause you’re not! You’re no better than me!”

My heart leaps into my throat making me stutter, “Well-I…I n-never said that.”

“You didn’t have to. It’s quite clear that you think you’re better than me, just by the way you think you can order me around! You think I don’t see the stares I get from the football team? Your boyfriend more specifically?”

“Well-I…”

“You think I don’t know what you’re friends say about me? What you think about me?”

“I…I…”

“I know way too much, Ashlynn Sinclair! And you know what, I don’t care. You can think what you want, say what you want. Because another thing you’re right