"Okay class, you will be reading a speech on humanity and I want you to create your own. By Monday, you will be presenting it to the class. If you fail to do this essay, you will fail for the quarter."
I smirked as I listened to my classmates groan and complain.
"There will be no excuses," the teacher continued, ignoring them. "If any of you are absent on that day, you had better have an excused slip from the doctor. If you do, you can present your speech the next day. If not, then you fail. Any questions?"
No one answered.
"Good," she exclaimed. "Now get to work."
I grabbed my copy and quickly skimmed my fingers across the paper.
"Ava," someone whispered.
I quickly shooshed them.
"Ava!" He hissed and I rolled my eyes.
"What, Ryder?"
"What you doing?"
"Oh, I don't know, Ryder," my voice dripping with sarcasm, "Does it look like I'm cooking bacon or riding a pony? I think I'm riding a pony, right?"
He sighed, "No need to be so rude. I was just trying to make conversation."
I raised a brow at him, "Well you suck at it. Now leave me alone, I need to finish reading this."
He chuckled, "Okay, okay."
By the time class ended, I had already finished reading the speech and brainstormed ideas of how to start off writing my own.
"Hey, where you headed off to?"
I mentally rolled my eyes before asking. "Why do you want to know, Ryder?"
"Because I want to know?"
"Well, too bad, it's none of your damn business."
He chuckled, throwing his arm around my shoulder, "Aww, come on now. I thought we're BFFs now."
I scowled his way, throwing his arm off me. "BFF my ass. Are you high?"
"High off of you," he said cheekily.
I sighed, irritated, "What do you want, Ryder?"
He gasped dramatically, "I am so glad you asked. Could you help me with my speech?"
"Yeah, sure," I said, waving him off, "But not today, I have things to do."
"What things?"
"Personal things," I said as I stopped at my locker. "Look, I'll help you tomorrow okay? You can stop by at my place."
He was quiet for a moment and I tilted my head. I can hear breathing slightly to my left so I know he was still there. "Okay, I'll call you if I can't make it or something."
I smiled and nodded, pushing my book bag into my locker and closing it shut. "Sounds great. Laters."
I walked away, leaving him standing there.
Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran started playing and I grabbed my phone from my pocket, swiping it as I placed it to my ear. "Yes?"
"Ava, are you still at school?" Uncle Dave asked.
"Yeah, but I'm heading out now."
"I forgot to tell you that I will be going to Greece. Something went wrong at one of the hotels and-"
"Again?" I cut him off and he sighed.
"Yes, again."
I smiled at the irritation that I heard in his voice. "Its okay, I can call Miles to pick me up."
"Thanks, A. I'm sorry again."
"Its no problem. Just stay safe."
"Will do, kiddo."
I hung up the phone and pressed 3 for speed dial and waited as the phone rang.
"Hello." A deep voice greeted.
"Hey, Miles, could you pick me up?"
"Sure, I'll be right there." He said before hanging up.
I sighed as I waited when I suddenly felt that I wasn't alone. I turned my head slightly to the right, "Who's there?"
A low chuckle filled the air as the person started to clap slowly. "Impressive. Hello again."
I stiffened at the familiar voice. "What are you doing here, Ramiro?"
"Oh nothing, just wanted to see how you are doing-"
"Cut the bullshit, Ramiro. What the hell do you want from me?"
"If only it was that simple..." he trailed off as I hear him moving closer. "You see, I can't run my business with you and your people constantly hunting me down."
"Then you shouldn't have killed my parents," I sneered as I clenched my hands, getting ready to fight back if he tried to hurt me.
"We are back to that again?" he asked, exasperated. "I told you-"
"And why should I believe a word you say-"
Before I could finish, he grabbed me into a choke hold, which I easily got out of and quickly punched him in the face. He shouted in pain and I smirked, "Oh, did that hurt? I wish I could say that I'm sorry but my mom taught me that it's bad to lie."
He growled low and I snickered, "What are you? A dog? Please, I don't have time to play with you so go back to your owner."
It was silent for a moment before I heard him chuckle, "You sure are something, little girl."
"Yes and like always, you are nothing," I smiled, mockingly. "I found out many things about you, you know?"
"Oh really, and what is that?"
"Other than the fact that you sell drugs, I found out that you had a daughter... Mila, right? 5 years old, and was shot. You shot her, didn't you?"
"Shut up," he said in a low voice.
"Oh wait, no... it was your brother-"
"Shut up."
"-he waited till you were asleep with your wife-" I continued as if he didn't speak.
"I said, shut up." I could hear his voice getting thick as he spoke.
"-and he went up to her room-"
Before I could finish my sentence, I was suddenly slammed against a wall and I groaned as he tightened his hand around my neck. I felt his breath against my ear as I tried to ignore the pain.
"I said to shut the fuck up," he seethed in a low voice.
I could tell that he was having a hard time trying to compose himself. He was breathing hard as his whole body was trembling in fury. I stayed quiet as I waited for him to calm down. My neck was starting to ache but still, I stayed quiet. Moments later, I was released and I took a slow deep breath as I rubbed my sore neck. I felt him move back and I tilted my head slightly in thought, waiting for him to speak.
"You... you love to test my patience, don't you?"
I shrugged uncaring, "I can't help it. It's entertaining."
"I could kill you right now."
"Go ahead, feel free. Do you want me to lay on the floor for you or model against the wall?" I smiled sweetly.
"QUIT MESSING WITH ME!" He shouted and I dropped the smile.
"Why are you getting so angry? Last I checked, you were the one who came to me. Anyways, unless you want to be captured and thrown into a cell, you should leave." Just as I said that, a car pulled up and the door was opened.
"Ms. Ava?"
I quickly walked towards the car, smiling. "Lets go, Miles. I want to get some pizza before we go home."
"Yes, of course," he opened my door for me and I climbed in. He shut my door before going to the driver's side and started up the car. "Ava?"
I tilted my head at his serious tone and the fact that he called me without any formalities, which is rare. "Yes?"
"Who was that man that was with you?"
"I don't know," I lied smoothly, "he just came up to me, asking for directions to the nearest movie theater but I told him that I wouldn't know since I'm blind."
He stayed quiet for a moment before speaking, "So he didn't hurt you or anything?"
I gave him a confused look. "Hurt me? No. Why? Did he look dangerous?"
"No, I was just making sure." After that, he stayed quiet until we reached the hotel. "Ms. Ava."
I gave him a small smile, "Back to 'Ms.Ava', are you?"
He chuckled. "Does it irritate you?"
"You know it does," I deadpanned.
"Then you'll always be 'Ms. Ava' to me."
I shook my head as I opened my door, "I should fire you. You do nothing but annoy me every single time you pick me up."
"Yeah, you should but you wouldn't," he joked.
I sighed, "Sadly, you're right. Okay, I gotta go. Drive safe, Miles."
"Stay out of trouble, Ms. Ava." He drove off after I closed the door.
I shook my head lightly, chuckling to myself before I headed straight for the elevator. Man, today was a long day. I can't wait to get a hot bath. I'm not even done with high school and I already feel more stressed than a teen should feel.