*Picture of Darrius

If you would have told me I would be partnered up with Caleb Johnson for a class project...

I would have told you to kill yourself twice and come back to life so I could kill you.

I hated Caleb Johnson and everyone knew it. Well, I guess not everyone. Mr. Gonzalez, my annoying ass chemistry teacher, decided it would be a nice thing to put us as partners. Let me not get ahead of myself on this. This whole thing went down 2 hours ago and I still can't believe it!

2 Hours Earlier

The first day at Wilson High school is always the best time for me. I get to see all my old niggas from last year and new fresh meat for us this year. I mean dang what are girls eating that's making them have these types of bodies? But anyway, I checked my reflection in the mirror inside my locker to make sure I still looked as fine as always. I had decided on wearing a low-key outfit of a loose black polo shirt with blue jeans and black low top Vans. I licked my plum lips, adjusting my snapback so that it was slanted perfectly to the side. I suddenly spotted someone approach, taking me out of my good mood.

"Hey Darrius," my little brother Marcus said greeting me with a flash of a camera. My eyes blinked rapidly to adjust back to normal again as I angrily yelled out, "Fuck man! You know I hate that shit!"

He laughed wholeheartedly like he always did when he caught me slipping and said," That was good D! Your mouth was like wide open."

"Delete that shit!" I yelled as he ran down the hallway to what I assumed was the photography room. I shook my head smiling, turning back to the mirror. I still looked good for the first day. Even caught a couple of girls looking my way but I really wasn't trying to impress anyone.

The only thing that was on my mind during the summer was working and trying to get in shape for basketball this season. It's going to be my last one since I'm a senior. All I wanted to do this year was pass all my classes and finish out my season right so I can get out of Dallas with a full scholarship. That was my plan and I'm going to stick to it. This year is my year and ain't nobody stopping me from winning.

"My nigga Darrius," I heard a familiar voice from down the hallway. I turned towards it and saw my best friend Chris running down the hall to get to me. I haven't seen his light bright ass all summer because he wanted to go spend it with his dad up in Cali. I can tell that he changed a little just by looking at the clothes he was wearing. He had some skin tight jeans with black high top Converses and a tight white shirt. Once he got closer I could see that his hair was nicely cut short with a fade and one of his eyebrows had a small cut in it.

"Damn dude slow down!" I laughed out as he got himself together, "What you so excited about anyway?"

"Man, I haven't seen you in like 50 years," He said clutching onto his backpack, "What have you been doing all summer?"

I grinned and answered, "First of all you're the one that's been gone all summer, so I haven't seen you. Second, I've been on my grown man shit you know."

"Oh for real?" He asked cocking his head to the side and his blue eyes opening up as if I just said something amazing, "What?"

"Like I got this year figured out," I told him as I put my backpack into my locker before getting out a pencil and a binder, "I'm gon' be working after school until the season starts and then I'ma switch to weekends. Also no girls this year either."

He gasped dramatically clutching his chest," Really?! No thotties!"

The people around us started to stare and I pulled Chris along with me as we begin to walk.

"Nope no thotties man," I grinned, "Too much distraction."

He nods and shrugs before I stopped us, "I mean...I might get it in a time or two but nothing serious."

We both laugh as we passed by the office and I saw someone I wasn't in the mood to see. My smile quickly faded seeing who it was sitting in one of those old blue seats from like the 80s.

Deonte Jones.

He use to torment us as freshman because we wouldn't be a part of him and his stupid gang. It started off with words but it quickly escalated to throwing punches. He even went as far as to jump me and Chris after school one day which got him expelled.

"What is he doing back here?" Chris asked taking the question out of my thoughts. It was written across his face that he was pissed because the day they jumped us was the day they stole one of Chris's favorite chains. It was a gold one that his grandmother gave to him before she passed and the guy that stole it had already pawned it before the police could arrest them.

The bell rings, knocking us back to reality. We went our separate ways and on the way to my class, I bumped into someone. They ended up falling on the floor but as I went to give them a hand, I stopped myself and stood over them with the utmost of hatred in my veins.

Can you guess who it was?

None other than Caleb fucking Johnson.

I hated him more than I hated Deonte Jones and that is a lot of hate!

"You were in my way," I said looking down at him as he glared up at me with his blazing blue eyes. He stood up quickly. Dusting off his Abercrombie shirt and straight blue jeans to shout, "No you're too fucking retarded to slow down and look dumbass."

My jaw begins to clench but I kept my cool. I was trying to avoid him as much as possible this year but I guess fate wanted to test me for the one time because after this I wasn't going to come in contact with him anymore.

"You know what I'm not even gon' waste my time on you this year, " I said looking straight into his eyes, "You're a non-mutha fuckin factor Caleb."

"And you've always been one," He retorted, "And I don't need your time nor attention dummy. I have better things to do than worry about you and your stupid little games."

"Caleb you started this not me," I said walking pass him but couldn't resist the urge to bump into him. He instantly reacted like I knew he would and pushed me making me drop my supplies. People begin to crowd around us as I quickly recovered and now I was in Caleb's face.

"Bitch! Don't you ever put yo fucking hands on me!" I yelled and he didn't seem fazed at all.

"Or what bitch?" He yelled back but I didn't get the chance to retaliate because Chris had me pin towards the lockers and one of Caleb's weak ass friends had him.

"We gon' see who's the bitch when you ain't got nobody to protect you!" I yelled and people had their cell phones out, ready for some shit to pop off. I swear if I got a hold of Caleb I would end his life. I hated him with a passion now, but at one point we were friends. Then one day he fucked it up trying to impress the guy that was holding him back and we been at each other ever since.

"Get to class now!" A loud Spanish voice boomed across the halls as kids scattered like roaches to get out of his way, "You two come with me now!"

I knew that voice. It was no other than my Chemistry teacher/unpaid school security guard Mr. Gonzalez. He was a no nonsense teacher but surprisingly very popular with the students. Don't get me wrong the man is mean as hell but he's a great person. However, if you want to fight or show out at school, he'll show the side no one wants to see. So I obliged and followed without hesitation.  Caleb was beside me but Mr. Gonzalez was right behind us to make sure we didn't do anything.

"Turn left," He directed us and we were right in front of his class. It was decorated like every other class room door is for the first day. It had streamers and saying like" Chemistry is everywhere" or symbols from the periodic table. He walked around us to open the door.

"Sit down," He commanded us. I chose to sit as far away from Caleb as possible because if he would have said something to me sideways I would have to hurt him. So I sit closer to the window and he sat somewhere closer to the board.

"What is wrong with you two?" Mr. Gonzalez asked sitting on his desk and folding his arms, "All my years I have taught here and I have never seen two boys go at it as much as you two have. Two very smart athletic boys."

We were silent because we heard it all before. It was the same thing over and over again. Luckily, we never gotten this speech from the principle. He continued, "Why can't you two just get along? You have so much in common from what I have seen."

What the hell? I'm nothing like his bitch ass! Mr. Gonzalez must have been smoking some pretty good weed if he thinks me and this little white boy could get along. Caleb looked back at me with disgust and I scowled at him with the same amount. A loud bang made us turn our attention to the front again.

"You two are getting on my last nerve!" Mr.Gonzalez yelled, "You two can't even be in the same room without everyone feeling your hatred towards each other, so you know-"

He had paused to reach across his table to grab a piece of paper and as he was reading a grin spreads across his face. Something about the way he was smiling made me cringe. That was the same grin that Marcus had every time he wanted to black mail me with a picture.

"You know you two are in my class right," He stated, "The same period too."

I was confused. We had classes together before and as long as we didn't get in each other's way everything was fine.  So I don't understand why this is so special. Both of us looked confused but then Mr. Gonzalez continued, "You know I have a full year project right?"

The notorious full year project most senior's last year stressed about. I mean I would see a lot of people start on it the day after it was assigned and they still only received a C. So yea I knew about the project but I still wasn't getting what he was trying to say.

"Can you just spill it out for us please?" I said and his smile grew wider. For a moment I thought his face was going to break.

"Okay mister Mitchell," He said folding his arms again and looking from me to Caleb, "You two are going to be partners."

Just as he said it my whole world came crashing down on my shoulders. Me and Caleb...partners? I must have died because this was most definitely hell. Caleb took the words right out of my mouth as he jumps up from the table yelling, "You can't do this, we hate each other! We will fail if you put us together!"

"Exactly," He said his face now stern, "If you two can't get along for the sake of your wellbeing, do it for your grade because if you fail this project...you fail this class."

"WHAT?" We yelled in unison but I continued to speak, "I need this class to graduate!"

"I do too!" Caleb yelled, "This is not fair!"

"Yes it is Mr. Johnson," Mr. Gonzalez said getting up and walking towards the door, "It will teach you two to work together and not go at each others throats all the time. You're going to have to talk to each other and compromise as well. I'm doing this for your own good. Have a good day and I'll see you in class."

With that he left us alone. I stared at Caleb and he stared back at me. This was not part of my plan.

Present

You see my dilemma now? I'm stuck with someone that hates me just as much as I hate them. Now, we were sitting in class with everyone whispering about us. Caleb's friends were surprised to see us together and he tried to explain to them but Mr. Gonzalez came into the room. Of course all the girls liked him and as soon as they heard his voice. I could hear a lot of panties drop as he spoke, "Okay class! Pick a partner!"

People moved around but some remained where they were. As one of my homeboys came up to me, I shook my head and he mouthed why. Then one of Caleb's friends came up to him but he declined too. They walked away when Mr. Gonzalez told them to choose fast. Once everyone was seated, I could feel all eyes on us. For one, we were together and two we were in the front of the class.

"I see all of you are wondering why Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Johnson are partners right?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest and the class listens in, "Well seeing as these two never seem to get along, I made them partners so they are force to communicate and compromise with one another."

The murmuring begins again and I just wanted to hide. I bet Caleb felt the same way but I don't really care about what he feels. He better feel like passing this class or I'ma kick his ass.

"Yes, so now that we have addressed the elephant in the room," Mr. Gonzalez continued, "Turn to page 34 in your textbook and let's begin."

The first part of the class period was spent with Caleb and I staying silent...until it became lab time.

"No it goes over there idiot," Caleb yelled in my ear and I almost back handed him.

"Dude you are two steps away from getting your head knocked off!" I yelled holding water in my hand. We were doing a simple experiment but with Caleb it was like trying to create a new element. We argued the whole time and I didn't care that Mr. Gonzalez was staring us down.

"I'm just telling you where it should go so that way we won't get the experiment wrong! It seems like I'm going to be the brains of this group."

"Really! I have a higher standing than you do so who's the smart one now?" I asked cocking my head to the side and looking at him with my eyebrows raised. I could tell by the way his eyebrows caved in that he was pissed. I couldn't bask in my victory for long because I felt a cold substance hit my clothes. I realized I had accidentally knocked over the water for the experiment. Caleb begins to laugh and yelled out, "Mr. Gonzalez, I think Darrius peed on himself."

The class's laughter heightens my anger. I was taken back to the 5th grade and what he did to me that year. It was too much to handle so without thinking, my fist met his face knocking him off his feet. I wanted to beat the living hell out of him but once I reached to get another hit in, he kicked me in my leg and brought me down to the ground with him. We were going at it now and I could hear Mr. Gonzalez rushing to get to us from the back of the room. Students moved out the way as we wrestled around on the floor.

"GET UP!" Mr. Gonzalez said trying to rip us apart. He pulled both of us by our shirts and practically almost chokes the life out of us. We sat there on the floor as everyone else walked out after the bell ringed, "YOU TWO BETTER BE GLAD ITS THE FIRST DAY! NEITER OF YOU GET YOUR POINTS! NOW OUT!"

Caleb quickly grabbed his things and I went to go get mine but Mr. Gonzalez stopped me and said, "You stay."

Caleb walked out with a grin and I wanted to punch him again. When he left, Mr.Gonzalez turned towards me and said, "What happened?"

Was he deaf or something? I know he could have heard us all the way in the back of the class room going at it about some damn water.

"Didn't you hear us?" I asked rising an eyebrow and my voice becoming a little higher, "We were going at it before all this happened."

"Oh cut the crap Darrius," Mr. Gonzalez placed his hand on his hip, "We all know this wasn't about some water. Now what made you hit him?"

I couldn't tell him about something that happened so long ago. He would probably tell me to get over it but it wasn't that easy. It was hard trying to get over someone that peed on you in front of the entire school. That was traumatizing; all the kids laughing and the way Caleb looked that day. Ugh, it just made me mad all over again. Without explaining I rushed passed Mr. Gonzalez to get out.

"Get back here Darrius!" He yelled but I ignored him as I walked out. I saw Chris standing at the end of the hallway and as I approached him his eyes went wide looking at my pants and asked, "What happened to you?"

I shook my head and asked, "Do you have any extra pair of pants?"

He paused and said, "Gym shorts but still what happened to you bro? And why does it look like you peed on yourself?"

I gave him a stare that meant that right now wasn't the time to be asking me questions. He threw up his hands as if he was surrendering and we walked to his locker to get the shorts.

Being the persistent and concerned friend he was he asked me again and I just said, "Let's just say, this year is going be one for the books."