Love Or Hate

Chapter 21

It's now testing week. Felix kissed Daniela on the cheek. She blushed. Daniela waved goodbye to him. Louis stood next to Daniela. "Let's go." Louis grabbed Daniela's hand and walked with her to their testing room. Daniela sighed. Felix broke up with her last week after they had planned out who gets Daniela. He had no choice but to have to break up with her to make it fair and so she wouldn't feel awkward with the both of them. Since Daniela knew Felix's reasons, she kept strong and played along. Now Louis and Felix are treating Daniela with lots of love. They entered their test room. Louis sat in front of Daniela, Joan and Rick sat next to her, and Nina sat across from Daniela.
        "Okay everyone," the teacher announced. "For the first part of the state test, you all will have to read a small story and answer the questions that follow it. But first I have to read the instructions." She read out loud the introduction in the teachers instruction packet. When she finished, she wrote the time up on the board. “You all have thirty minutes to finish the first quarter of day one of the state test. You may begin now.” the teacher instructed. Daniela picked up her pencil and read the story. She bubbled in letters in her answer booklet as she read along.
         “Time’s up. You all may put down your pencils and close your answer booklet.” the teacher announced. Thirty minutes to read one story and answer  ten questions, seemed like too much to me, Daniela thought. She put down her pencil and closed her book. “Now you all may take a five minute break to go to the bathroom, to sharpen your pencils, or to stretch. If you are going to talk, whisper no yelling. There is another class next to us still taking the test.” added the teacher. Everyone soon got up and started to walk around.
         Daniela stretched her arms. Louis turned around to face Daniela. He smiled. Daniela smiled back. Joan nudged Daniela with her arm, “So how’s life? Are you still having boys come after you?” Daniela blushed. She looked at Louis. "Maybe." Daniela replied. “What do you mean by that?” Rick asked, budding into the conversation. “It’s nothing Rick, don’t get into our conversation.” Joan scold Rick. “Fine then, I’ll just start a new conversation with Daniela.” Rick stuck his tongue out at Joan. He grabbed Daniela’s wrist. Daniela quickly turned around and faced him. Rick let go of her wrist and reached his hand out to touch Daniela’s shoulder. "Daniela, how’s it ­-" Rick stopped talking. “Can you let go of my arm,” Rick pleaded painfully. Louis grabbed Rick’s hand before he could touch Daniela’s shoulder. “I don’t know, should I?” Louis asked everyone else. Joan and Nina shook their heads. Louis smirked, “I guess I won’t.” “But you're squeezing my hand really hard.” Rick complained. “Well, you shouldn’t be touching her.” Louis said sternly. “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.” Rick cried. Louis let go of his hand. Rick’s hand was red. “You know Rick, Daniela doesn’t want to talk to you.” Nina acknowledged. “Yeah just leave her alone. I was talking to her first so back off.” Joan added. Rick glared at Joan and Nina.
        “Your five minutes are up,” the teacher said. “Open your booklets to page six. For this part of the test, you all will be writing a story based on the topic that is given. You all have another half an hour to do this part of the test. Your time begins now. Everyone picked up their pencils and wrote efficiently on their answer booklets. Daniela didn’t have an idea on what to write about. She thought about different stories she have read. Daniela then quickly picked up her pencil and started to write thoroughly in the answer booklet.
         “Time’s up. You all may put down your pencils and close your answer booklet.” said the teacher. Daniela quickly shot her head up. I was in the middle of revising, but I guess it’s alright, Daniela thought. She sighed and closed her book. "As I said before, there is a five minute break before the next part starts." repeated the teacher. Everyone got up and did whatever they needed to do. Rick had got up to go to the bathroom. Louis stood up and sat in Rick's seat. "So Dani, what was your story about?" Louis asked. "Um it was kind of long so I'll just give you the, kind of short, summary." Daniela told Louis. He nodded, "Okay."
          She took a deep breath, "A girl named Cassie can't find her way home. A boy named Nathan finds her and helps her find her way. Cassie gets kidnapped on the way there. Nathan comes to the rescue. They soon develop feelings for each other. When they finally reach her home, no one is there. There is only a note that says if she ever came back, they would be in France because of a job transfer with her father. Cassie is devastated. Nathan feels bad for her. He holds her and comforts her. Nathan tells her that she can live with him. She smiles and accepts." Daniela finally finished. "I know it's kind of a confusing summary, but at least I was able to summarize it." Daniela sighed. "Can I tell you mines?" Louis asked. "Sure." Daniela smiled.
          "A guy named Nate. He is walking home from school when he sees a girl crying. He asks her what's wrong. She says that her family has abandoned her and she has no other family members to live with. Nate feels bad for her. He asks her what her name is. It's Katy. Nate decides to let her stay at his home. Katy doesn't feel comfortable to live in a house alone with a boy. Nate tells her that he lives with his sister and that his parents died when he was little." Louis stopped talking. Daniela waited for a moment. "And?" Joan asked overhearing their conversation. "That's it." Louis replied. Daniela raised an eyebrow. "Really that's it?" Nina asked, also over hearing. "Yes, I didn't have enough time to finish." Louis sighed. "Wow, just listening to both of your stories, I know that you two stuck at writing." Rick laughed. He was sitting in Louis' seat. Daniela frowned. "Hey don't be rude." Nina scold Louis. "It's alright." Daniela sighed.
         "Five minutes are up! Get back in your seats and turn to page ten in your answer booklets." the teacher announced.
*             *              *              *
         "My hand hurts!" complained Daniela. "Too much writing." She shook her hand in the air. Louis laughed. "You should give your hand a rest." he suggested. They walked up the stairs to their lockers. "Your right." Daniela smiled. She opened her locker. "Hey I missed you. How's it going?" Daniela turned around. Felix was standing in front of her, grinning. "Hey Felix." smiled Daniela. Louis closed his locker. "Are you ready?" Louis asked. Daniela quickly gathered her stuff. "Um yeah." she replied and she closed her locker. "Louis, have you made your plans yet for next week?" Felix smirked. "Of course I did. How nice of you to ask." Louis answered sarcastically. "Let's go." Louis grabbed Daniela hand. They both walked down the stairs.
        "Daniela! Louis! Nice to see the lovely couple." Frank smiled. Daniela and Louis blushed. They sat in their seats in science. "I'm confused, what's your relationship status right now?" Kate asked. "Single." Daniela replied. "So why -" "It's nothing. Just think of it as 'Its complicated.'" Daniela assured Kate.
        "Louis, did you sort things out with Felix? Did you figure out what the plan is for next week?" Frank asked. Louis took out his notebook. "I guess. I mean, it wasn't really a friendly talk, but yes we were able to sort things out." Louis nodded. "Felix won the argument on taking Dani out on Saturday and so that left me to take her out on Sunday." he added. Frank put his Louis' shoulder. "So where are you taking her? A park, a walk, the movies?" he asked. Louis laughed and removed Frank's hand from his shoulder. "I taking her somewhere better." smiled Louis. "Where?" Frank inquired. "Not telling you until after the date." Louis crossed his arms. "What? I can't wait that long." Frank whined. "You and Daniela are too close. I'll tell you after." Louis bit his lip. "What is us being close have to do with anything?" Frank asked. "You might tell her and I want it to be a surprise." replied Louis. Frank raised an eyebrow. "Fine." Frank slumped in his desk.
         "I have a message from Felix to you." Melissa told Daniela as the bus arrived in their neighborhood. "What's the message?" Daniela asked. "For your date with him, he's gonna take you to the water park." Melissa replied. "The water park?" asked Daniela. "Yes the water park." Melissa confirmed. Daniela smiled. "That sounds like fun." Melissa nodded. "Your so lucky." she sighed. Daniela blushed, "I don't know." "It makes sense that Felix is taking you to the water park." Melissa laughed. "What do you mean?" Daniela got up and left the bus. Melissa followed her out. "Because he gets to see you in a bathing suit." Melissa smirked. Daniela's face turned red. "You think?" Melissa nodded, "Of course." They split apart.
       Daniela walked along the sidewalk thinking of what Melissa had said. That may not be the reason Felix is taking me to the water park now, but what if it is? Daniela thought. She shook her head furiously. No, it can't be. She felt a hand go on her head. "What's up with you?" Daniela turned around. Drake removed his hand from her head. "Calm down." he said. "Also, why is your face so red? It's not that hot out here." "It's nothing." Daniela turned back around. "You sure?" Drake asked. "When did you become so caring? You're scaring me." Daniela started to speed up. "Hey!" Drake shouted. He started to walk faster as well.
          Daniela ran to the door and turned the doorknob. Drake caught up to her and slammed his hand on the door before she could open it. "You're the one who is scaring me." Drake confessed. "What do you mean?" Daniela asked. "You've been acting weirder than before. You seem so deep in thought and at times your face would turn red. What's worrying me the most is seeing you so depressed after school. Is someone bothering you? " Drake explained. "What's wrong?" Daniela sighed, "No one's bothering me." "Then why are you acting like this?" Drake asked. "For once you're right on if it's boys whenever I do these things." Daniela sat down on the porch. "What?" Drake inquired. He sat next to Daniela. "Here let me explain what's going on to you. From the beginning." Daniela took a deep breath.
          She told and explained everything from the first day of school to now. Drake's eyes widened. "What?? So now Louis and Felix are going to see who gets you?" Daniela nodded. "Wow, I never knew this was happening to my little sister. Is there anything I can do to help?" Drake asked. "Can you not tell mom or dad, and take me to the water park and the other place that Felix and Louis are gonna take me?" Daniela asked. "I guess." Drake scratched his head and got up. "Thank you." Daniela smiled. She hugged Drake tightly. "But I don't know if I can promise that." Drake sighed. Daniela quickly let go of Drake. She opened the door and slammed it shut. "Hey! Open the door!" Drake yelled. "No!" Daniela shouted. She left the door and went her room."Why not?" Drake complained. There was no answer. "Daniela!" Drake shouted.