The classroom is quiet. Only a handful of people are in it so I can understand why. The clock slowly ticks, still almost twenty minutes before class starts. I sit at my desk, dozing off when a sudden darkness looms over me.

  I look up and see the no-nonsense girl Maddie sitting facing me on top of my desk. Her feet resting on my legs. “Oh? Were you trying to sleep? I'm sorry Aki… but I can't let that happen.” She lets out a giggle before rolling her eyes.

  I sigh, “I didn't get much sleep last night.” I say, actually still half asleep. “Excuses, excuses…” she says. Smiling at me. Her wide gray eyes almost glowing from the light. “Still, if you sleep, I can't bother you. So stay awake.” She growls like a kitty before hopping off and going to her desk. Sticking out her tongue at me from across the room.

  The classroom is still quiet but filled with whispers. Most likely about Maddie or maybe me. Possibly both? I mean we're polar opposites but people have shipped us before. “Makrin” is our couple's name to everyone else. I think it's stupid. Love is stupid.

  And even if either of us were in love we'd probably confess by now. And I‘m sure it's possible for her to love me. She ruins my life whenever she can. If only one of those idiots thinking we're a couple could explain how that's love.

  After a while class finally begins. I learn nothing, I'm too distracted by the birds outside and Maddies purring only I seem to be able to hear. She has some weird fixation on cats and acts like one herself with no shame. Seemingly only to make me angry.

After the class I start walking to my next class when a small finger taps my shoulder. I flip around to see Amber standing behind me with a bag of cookies. “H-hey, I know your bir… birthday was last week but I made you something…” 

  She puts the bag into my hands. “All for you. I-I’m sorry for bothering.” She curtsies before running off. She does this for everyone, always makes them cookies around their birthdays. It's her way of showing respect. No one's bullied her since she started doing it.

  It’s a school myth that the cookies are lucky. That may only be a myth but they do taste good. I eat four of them before putting the rest that are in the bag in my pocket. Better than the gift Maddie got me. All she gave me was a handful of rocks, tossed at me from across the park. Insane aim but, of course, they hurt. And that was her intention too.

  Nothing notable happens for the rest of the day. My other friends meet me in the cafeteria. Of course their other friend Maddie was there. It's a paradox type situation. We hate each other but know almost everything about each other because our friends are the same.

  After the school day the principal tells people to walk home together with a partner because of wild animals roaming the city. Of course we have animal issues, we're inside of the densest forest in the world. Maddie begs me to walk her home. “C'mon! If I get attacked by a bear I could get my daddy to blame you.” She told me.

  I tell her she can pick anyone else walking home but her answer doesn't change. “Maybe I'll let you inside.” She says with a massive smirk on her face. She'll just use it as some way to get others to laugh at me but I don't really care. I'll do it. Not that I care about her safety but just for me. Just to see what happens.

  We walk in pure silence. Eventually making it to a house with a huge yard. “Thanks Aki,” she says flirtily.  “Now about coming inside…” I go to speak but she puts her finger on my lips. “ Oh, no, no… It's my turn to speak. My answer is, not in a thousand years would I let you inside. My house or my heart.”

  Her exterior breaks for a second, “or maybe… Just a little.” I blush a bit, that seems to make her old mindset come back. “Now get lost, I don't want my parents seeing you in all your boringness.” She leaves me outside. Now I have to make the fifteen minute walk home.