me and had learned how to stand up for myself. But never had someone outright jabbed at my family’s character like that. How dare he. “My parents have made a living for our family by giving people healthy options.”
“Yeah, and my family’s made a living doing all the things your family says is wrong.”
The bell rang, and he turned, continuing toward video class, and I watched the back of an enemy I never even knew I had.
Five
I slipped through the door and quietly sat next to Jordan. She gave me a questioning look, but I simply shook my head. Explaining Ray’s behavior would take more than a few whispered sentences.
“Making sure you were acquainted with the equipment and software was fun,” Mr. Davis said to the class, “but now it’s time to see what talent we’re working with.” He picked up a whiteboard and began writing. “One three-minute video, made with a partner using Premier, featuring a day in the life. Of what? Your choice. It’s your chance to be creative. Pick a bug or a teacher or a friend or a profession.” He capped the marker and set it back in the tray. “I’m excited to see what you come up with.”
I turned to Jordan. “Partners?”
“I will assign partners,” Mr. Davis said, giving us an apologetic look, “since some of you were in this class last semester and I know how you work together.” He looked down at the legal pad he’d brought in with him and started calling off pairs.
I tried to make eye contact with Mr. Davis, tell him not to make the grouping I desperately feared he would, but he kept looking at his sheet as he read, “Ginger Nash and Ray Sadler.”
I should have been more worried about the disappointed look on my face, but when I turned to look at Ray, he seemed just as aggravated. That just made me even more mad.
Jordan nudged my arm and gave me an inconspicuous thumbs up. She thought I was partnering with my crush. So much had changed since yesterday. I gave her a shake of my head, to which she returned a confused look.
“We’ll talk at lunch,” I muttered.
Mr. Davis asked us to sit with our partner to begin planning, and I walked right up to Ray where he sat at the back of the room, farthest from the teacher.
He held up his hands. “Don’t shoot.”
I glared at him. “We’ve barely said two words to each other the last four years, and for whatever reason, you’ve made it pretty clear you have a beef with me.”
“Look, Ginger, if you have a problem with me, you can walk your pretty little feet up to the teacher and ask for a new partner.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t patronize me.”
“What am I to do?” He lifted his arms helplessly. “I’m just a dumb country boy.”
That was all the motivation I needed. I stood up from my chair and marched to Mr. Davis’s desk.
He glanced up at me, smiling, but his grin quickly faded. “Everything okay, Ginger?”
I glanced back at Ray, who seemed to lack all the care in the world, and turned toward Mr. Davis. “Look, can I have a new partner?” I had to think fast. No matter how much I already disliked Ray, I didn’t want Mr. Davis to see me as petty. “See, I want to work with a partner who will challenge me, you know, help me grow?”
Mr. Davis gave me a small smile. “Maybe you can be that for someone else.” He winked. “Just this time. And I think you might be surprised at the insight he has to give.”
I plastered on a smile—it took all my willpower, but I did it—and turned back to Ray. The amused expression on his face did nothing for the heat flowing through my veins. All the true crime episodes I’d binged might just come in handy after all.
“Why do you look like you’re plotting to murder me and hide the body?” he asked.
I lifted my eyebrows. “Maybe I am.”
I ignored his chuckle and sat in the rolling chair next to his. Someday I may have to work with someone as annoying as Ray. This was just practice for me to be as professional as possible. I could do that. “So, what are you thinking?” I asked politely. “Any ideas?”
“Everyone knows that you’re the queen bee at this kind of thing. Why don’t you just tell me what you want?”
Part of me was flattered, but another part was