Page 7 of Vexatious Queen

Not that I was nervous, Mr. Sharpe had always been fine with me, but it really felt like he was signaling me out before he walked away.

“Alright, make your groups,” he said, and I turned to Ivy.

“Yes, the answer is always yes. Not only are you my best friend, but you’re the smartest person in the school,” Ivy said, making me smile.

I looked around for Blake, but he was nowhere to be seen. Shit.

“Have you seen Blake?”

“No, not since lunch. Is he in this class?”

“Yeah, he is. I’m worried about him.”

“Me too,” Ivy mumbled. “I feel so torn with⁠—”

She stopped as Zigzag dropped down in a vacated seat in front of us.

“Hey, can I be part of your group?”

“Sure,” I said.

“No,” Ivy said at the same time. We looked at one another, and she sighed. “Okay, fine, you can be part of our group. Just don’t think this changes anything between us.”

He smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, I’m the best researcher in the school. With my skills and Ren’s brain, we are going to ace this assignment.”

He held out his knuckles for me to hit.

I raised an eyebrow.

“So, you want to be in our group because of Ren,” Ivy asked, and I pressed my lips together, wanting to run from the room and this situation.

“Well…isn’t it the reason you want to be in her group?” Zigzag shot back.

“Only half the reason. The other half is that she’s my best friend.”

Ivy crossed her arms, glaring at him.

“Well…it’s only half my reason as well.”

He was blatantly flirting, and Ivy’s cheeks flamed a bright red.

“I’ll be back,” I said, and quickly got out of there before it got any weirder.

Ivy hadn’t said anything new about him, but they’d obviously spoken again. The sexual tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.

When I reached Mr. Sharpe’s desk, he looked up and then back down again.

“Yes, Ms. Davies, how can I help you?”

I almost corrected him, but now wasn’t the time.

“I wonder if you still want me to TA, now that I’m back. If you already have the spot filled, I completely understand, but I would enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to give back.”

He took off his glasses and set them on the desk, then he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. I looked around, but no one was nearby.

“Did I do something to upset you,” I asked, tentatively.

“Where were you this morning for AP Human Geography?”