Chapter 4: Chapter 2 : Dealing with a social justice warrior 101

Lunchtime came about very quickly that day and I was done eating but I was still hungry for justice. Right as I turned the corner I found the one man I was looking for.

The one mastermind behind me being stuck with Alexander as a lab partner for the whole year.

My science teacher.

I slide my way right next to him, he was walking incredibly quickly to the teacher's lounge as if he was trying to avoid being talked to by anyone.

Well, tough luck.

"Mister Henderson! " I started while chasing behind him but he cut me off right away.

"I know what you're about to ask, Miss Spencer and I can't change your lab partner"   he said heading straight through the hall.

" I always partner up with Emily, why were we the only one who were separated?"   I said, trailing behind him like a dog.

"you two are honor roll students, I thought it would yield more results if you both branched out a little and helped some of your fellow classmates to get, shall I say, better work ethics, maybe some inspiration?"   he answered while checking his bag for something that seemed to be more important than the outrageous injustice I was facing.

I ALWAYS pair up with Emily. Despite being from a wealthy family like eveyone in this god forsaken hellhole, she's actually a decent and humble human being. We work great together and always come up on top. This time, he gave both of us idiot partners and made us rivals. It's like he's trying to see which of us will crack and murder her partner first. Emily is a hardcore pacifiste so it's bound to be me.

"How can you sleep at night knowing you're willing to drag down the top performers just to level up the average? Since when did you start advocating for communism?"  I argued.

"Oh for heaven's sake, don't be over dramatic, I saw your assignment toady you did perfectly fine regardless. So just think of it as an inclusion initiative."

Is he joking?

"you can't use affirmative action in a science pair picking process, Alexander is not a minority, he's just an idiotic frat boy"   I contested in reply to his half assed excuse.

Also, he's male, white, and loaded. Out of the two, I'm the poor female scholarship student.

"diversity isn't limited to race or ethnicity miss Spencer, think of my personal definition of it being based on the academic performance of my students"

Nope, that's not what diversity means.

I can't believe how stupid he sounds right now. I can't believe he has a PHD in cancer biology. I can't believe he just gave a personalized definition to diversity based on his own agenda.

"intellectual performance isn't a given social birth disadvantage, it is a skill that is harnessed, the fruit of hard labor, blood and sweat, which Alexander Miles definitely didn't do, nor go through. He's not mentally challenged either. He's just a rich lazy daddy's boy who doesn't understand the value of hard work..."   I was almost crying these words out.

"Are you saying my plan is flawed?"   He asked, pursing his lips.

I kept my mouth shut for a second.

I'm looking at your tie and I'm thinking your whole life is flawed.

I never thought I would want punch someone speaking up for equality but this is messed up. I will not be silenced.

"I'm saying can't you see the obvious paradox in applying affirmative action on someone who's the epitome of privilege? His well deserved awful grades were the only thing grounding him and now you're taking that away?"   I inquired.

"I guess I have an overflow of charity today"

In the wrong place, on the wrong people.

"your characterization of social justice is ironic and the fact that you're given power scares me!"   I sullenly spit out.

"well then I guess you're going to have to look at it this way : this isn't about giving him an advantage as it is about me teaching you and Emily about empathy towards your fellow classmates"   he said as he got into the teacher's lounge and slammed the door at my face.

"what the hell does THAT mean?"   I said to the door.

My classmates aren't my problem. This is absolutely unfair. I'm a straight-A student who never got anything handed to her. I shouldn't be taking care of spoiled brats.

I turned around and made my way through the hall, heading for my classroom.

I have enough on my plate already; I can't babysit a man child.

Let's have a chat with our lab partner.

I entered the class where a few students were hanging out, waiting for math class to start. I spotted the last table on the fourth row where Alexander was sitting, alongside River and Cole.

When I saw Cole, I almost got cold feet and started feeling a bit nervous but I took a deep breath and went towards their table. He was the first one to notice me as Aexander was busy talking to River; I dumped a stack of books on his table which startled him. He lifted his head and looked at me confused.

I flipped the chair opposing them and sat down facing Alexander.

"I just had an interesting exchange with Mister Henderson"   I said coldly.

"Did you thank him for partnering you with the hottest guy in class?"   he smirked.

I instantly looked at Cole who was at the end of the table. I don't know why. I guess I was expecting him to declare those claims as fabricated because by my standards, HE was the hottest guy in class.

Wait what ? That's came out wrong.

Okay focus!

"why are you looking at him?"   Alexander asked smugly while pointing his chin at Cole.

Cole looked like he was wondering that too. He leaned back on his chair and folded his arms which made his biceps look huge. I snapped and turned back at Alexander, pissed.

"Listen up, buddy boy!"   I almost yelled and he raised his eyebrows in surprise, "since I'm going to be sharing my sience grades with you for the whole year, you're going to shape the hell up and do your share of the work. I am trying to stay on the honor roll list and I'm not staking my college admissions on a doodling titan because Mister Henderson thinks he's a social activist now."

He stared at me for a moment then his lips twitched in a smile and he leaned towards my face.

"you're adorable!"   he smirked and I felt Cole's cold glare come our way.

Wait,  is HE glaring at me or him?

I was going to look at Cole again, which somehow became a reflex now, but Alexander was inching his face closer and closer to me and I didn't move. He then looked down at my lips and smiled again.

"Why aren't you backing away?"   he smiled.

"because I am not so conceited as to think you're trying to kiss me, I spat, tired of his games, If, however, your lips do touch mine, I reserve the right to strangle you with your own belt and kill you right here"

My response amused him more than anything which sucked because I was trying to be intimidating but I noticed Cole's dark aura was literally filling up the room and I resisted the urge to lower my eyes and bow to him.

What is UP with this dude? He is scary!

"you couldn't kill me if you tried!"   he responded to my threat while leaning back on his chair and looking at Cole for a brief second. It felt like he was trying to back away from me as fast as possible.

"sure I can, I'll just let you lead the next science experiment and you'll probably kill yourself and everyone around you"   I rolled my eyes while getting up.

I pointed at the books I threw on his table that I got from the library for him.

"this is our material, you better get to work!"   I ordered.

At these last words, I turned my back at him and started walking to my seat, I heard Alexander chuckling and River said something to him but I couldn't focus at what was being said because I felt someone's stare pierce my back and for some reason, I knew it was Cole's.

I just know that guy killed before,

...and I might be next...