I'll Never Be the Same

Our English teacher, Mrs. Shepard, had assigned a few chapters in a book over the weekend and we started off the class discussing what we had read. Afterwards, we were given time to get a head start on the next section of the book we were supposed to read.

Instead of opening his book, Darren stood up and walked over to Mrs. Shepard’s desk, leaning down to talk to her quietly. I was watching, of course, wondering what the hell he was up to. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but a moment later Darren headed back to our table, a slight smile on his face. It made me nervous.

Sure enough, as we were leaving class, Mrs. Shepard called me over to her. I couldn’t help but notice that Darren was hanging around.

“Hailey, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping Darren out with understanding the reading,” she started. “He’s having some trouble and I’ve heard good things about you from your other teachers’. Plus it might be helpful since you two sit together.”

I turned my head slightly to glance at Darren who was trying to look innocent, which I’m sure must have been a difficult task for someone like him.

“Sure,” I said, not being able to think of any excuses that Mrs. Shepard might accept. I wasn’t working, I wasn’t in any extracurricular activities, and I wasn’t having any trouble with any classes.

“Thank you, dear,” she said. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

I left the classroom, shooting a glare at Darren who followed me out into the hall hurriedly.

“So, I think it would be good if you ‘helped’ me with my English assignment around 4 today,” he said nonchalantly.

“I’m not going to help you,” I replied. “I know you don’t need help.”

“That’s true,” he said. “But if you don’t at least come over, I’ll make sure I purposefully fail my next test.”

“Do you think I care if you fail a test?” I questioned. “Because I really don’t.”

“I think you will care,” he said. “You see, if I fail Mrs. Shepard is going to wonder what’s going on, and I’ll have no problem telling her that even though you said you would, that you haven’t been helping me.”

“You really know how to charm the ladies,” I said sarcastically.

“So I’ve been told,” he said, winking at me, a grin plastered on his face. “See you at 4.”

---

I glared at his red car parked in my driveway. He had honked his horn to alert me he was there. Apparently he was too good to actually walk up to someone’s door and knock or ring the doorbell.

I got into the car, slamming the passenger side door more than was necessary.

“How do you know where I live?” I asked him immediately.

“I have my ways,” he said, backing out of my driveway. I put my seatbelt on quickly.

“Where are we going?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

I sighed, looking out of the window as we drove through town. I really didn’t want to be here.

“We’re here!” Darren said as he pulled his car to a stop next to the curb in front of a popular pizza place in town. I turned to look at him in disbelief.

“Are you kidding me?”

“What?” he asked, opening his door to get out of the car. I got out too and glared at him. I knew what he was trying to do. His whole motive with the ‘helping him with English’ was just to force me to go on a ‘date.’

I didn’t say anything more to him. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? There were plenty of girls who’d be willing to go out with him.

I followed Darren slowly into the pizza place and he held the door open for me; I didn’t bother saying thank you. We sat in an empty booth, sitting across from each other. I studied my fingernails.

“What would you like to eat?” he asked.

“I’m not hungry.”

A waitress came over and asked Darren what he wanted, ignoring me completely. It was so typical that this female was trying to flirt with him. I rolled my eyes, disgusted.

I didn’t listen to what he ordered, instead looking around the place to see who was there. I recognized a few of them from school and knew this wouldn’t be good. I was now going to be associated with Darren Criss and this made me feel even angrier over this situation.

I glared at Darren again, but he just smiled at me.

“I hope you like cheese pizza,” he said.

---

Becca was waiting for me at my locker when I arrived at school the next day.

“I heard you went out with Darren last night,” she said as soon as I was close enough.

“It’s not like I wanted to,” I said, opening my locker.

“If you like Darren you can just tell me.”

“I don’t like him,” I said, exasperated. “How many times do I have to tell you?”

“Then why did you go out with him last night?” she asked.

“I didn’t have a choice,” I said. The bell rang. Becca just shook her head and walked away without waiting for me. I couldn’t believe she was acting like this.

I started towards class and as I looked around, I couldn’t help but notice that people were watching me, whispering to their friends. I mentally added another reason why I hate Darren Criss to my nonexistent list.