Chapter 9: The Science Fair
I expected worse frankly. After the initial bit of awkwardness, Erik seemed to take the news of my kissing Todd with relative ease. The next day he encouraged me to talk to Todd about it and it was as if it didn't bother him. Or he was a really good actor.
Todd and I were still avoiding each other the week of the science fair. I went to the Library to do some last minute research for my project and he came in shortly after me. Even though there were several empty computers beside me he took one away from me and turned his back to me. It stung to stair at the back of his school jacket.
"Talk to him" Erik whispered in my ear as he passed by to go over to the book stacks.
I was distracted by my thoughts of talking to Todd and how to break the ice when an instant message popped up on the screen. I wasn't logged in to any chat program except the library one so it had to be someone here.
PC09: A pleasure to see you again m'lady. *bows* I almost didn't recognize you without your crown.
My brow creased as I reread the words. Who was this person? It took a full minute for me to remember the Halloween party -almost a month ago. The mobster who I had danced with.
PC05: Is this the gentleman I danced with a month past?
PC09: It is m'lady. How is her majesty Queen Genevieve? *wink*
PC05: Working on a science project to better the entire kingdom. *wink*
PC09: You take on your shoulders m'lady. I fear, then, that I have interrupted your academic pursuits.
PC05: You have, but it does not follow that such an interruption is unwelcome.
PC09: I am glad to hear it m'lady. As much as I would like to stay, I fear I must depart your pleasurable company. For now, adieu your majesty.
I looked up and around, where was PC09? It had to be near if mine was 05. To my right, a few computers down was a boy whose profile might be that of the Mobster James but it had been dark that night and he'd been wearing a hat.
I was busy examine his features with those of my memory when he turned to look at me. He winked and bowed his head slightly in my direction. So it was him! He was a cute mobster. He gathered his things and left the library, turning back once more to look my direction and smile. Oh yeah, he was cute. It wasn't until after he was gone that it occurred to me I could follow him and find out more about him. I sighed and turned back to my research.
The day of the science fair, we all arrived at school early to set up our tables. The sophomores were having their fair during morning classes, freshmen in the afternoon and juniors and seniors the following day. As luck would have it, those of us in Life Studies had also all had our first fake babies - in the form of an egg. So in the midst of setting up science fair displays we had to keep up with our eggs and make sure they didn't have a fake death if they smashed on the floor.
Veronica and Timothy had worked together on their project and as soon as she entered the cafeteria, I could tell she was in a mood. She snipped at Timothy several times as they set out their insect display. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Timothy - Veronica had "forgiven me" for getting her detention but seeing as I didn't feel I needed to BE forgiven since SHE was the one making out in the library, we were at odds with each other still.
"Could you not talk so loud?!" Veronica snapped about an hour into the fair. Timothy had been explaining their project to a teacher when she made her little outburst. To his credit, Timothy finished the presentation before rounding on Veronica.
"What is your problem today?" he asked, exasperated with her behavior.
"You! This is supposed to be OUR project and...." I tuned them out and turned my attention to the teacher approaching my table.
"My project is about the growth properties of Tiberium." I started with a smile. I handed them one of my summaries and started explaining what I had done.
"You're the one who wanted to be my partner! You're the one who asked to do a project together and you're the one who has spent the last three weeks complaining about getting dirty!" Timothy said loudly causing everyone to turned and look at them - including my audience.
Todd, who had a table set up next to mine, turned to look at me and rolled his eyes in response to Timothy and Veronica. For a second it was like we had been avoiding each other for months. But then it seemed to occur to him who he was looking at and he looked away. He started playing with a rubber band and a pen out of boredom and I turned back to the teacher. They finally turned away from the spectacle of V and Timothy and gave me their attention.
I started my presentation again and was about two sentences into it when a pen flew across my peripheral vision, thwacked into my fake egg baby, sending it rolling off the side of the table.
Time stopped as I watched my fake baby fall to it's fake death - and yet I could do nothing about it because in less than a second I was watching it smash into the ground and spilling it's fake eggy guts. I whirled on Todd. "You killed my fake baby!"
"I didn't mean to!" Todd shouted back. If my outburst hadn't gotten everyone's attention, Todd secured the rest of them with his. "It's just an egg!"
"An egg that I now have to explain to Ms. Moore why Erik and I lost out first fake child!" I shouted back, "Why were you playing with that damn pen anyway!"
"Why should you care?! I was bored alright!? And your egg is spreading - perhaps you should clean it up!" Todd said.
"You killed it, you clean it up." I shot back. We both looked down at the egg guts now spreading out to or toes and jumped back. Todd bumped into his table and his own fake egg baby fell to the ground and smashed in among mine. As the two began to combine I started giggling.
Todd started to laugh as well and before long we were leaning against each other "mourning" the deaths of our fake babies with laughter. "We're......fighting....about.....eggs....." I said while struggling to talk, laugh and breathe at the same time.
"I.....know!" Todd said still laughing.
Everyone was looking at us as we seemed to dissolve into madness. Erik came over, surveyed the egg crime scene and then looked at us. Todd and I held back our laughs so that Erik could say something about the demise of his fake baby and possibly our grade. "Egg-cellent" he said with a chuckle. Todd and I couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing again.
Erik walked back over to his own table and turned on the stereo there to drown out or cackling (it was part of his project I swear!). The educational science fair dissolved at that point as students started dancing to the music. Veronica and Timothy stopped arguing at some point and seemed to be talking again as they stood together by their own table. Todd and I leaned against the wall together and slowly caught our breaths. We didn't talk about the kiss or anything else but the ice was broken and we were Todd and Ginny again; best-friends.
End chapter
Chapter 7: Halloween Party
I was dressed in my Halloween finery, prepared to greet the kiddies with sugary goodness, when my first trick-or-treater rang the doorbell. Except it wasn't a cute little kid dressed as Capt. Jack Sparrow - it was Veronica, wearing pink.
"Trick or treat!" she said with a mischievous smile. Then she snatched the bowl of candy from me and stuck it on the front stoop and pulled me out the door! "Mr. Bartlett, I'm taking Ginny out!" she called into the house for my dad to hear.
"Veronica! I have trick-or-treaters to hype up on candy confections!" I protested as she closed the door behind me and dragged me down the driveway.
"No, you have a Halloween party to go to. Your dad is home, he can sugarize the masses." Veronica said pushing me into a waiting car. The car drove us out of town to the Castle in the park which was lit up and surrounded by costumed teenagers. Veronica pushed her way through the masses, dragging me along. Once we were inside the throne room, we spotted Timothy and her costume made sense to me - they were Danny and Sandy from Grease. She grinned at me and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me to find my own dance partner.
I skirted the edge of the room, looking over the crowd. These weren't all students from Carson High - some of them were from Franklin High I suspected. I saw Haiden, Ranna and Andre as I surveyed and smiled in their direction. Ranna and Timothy had spent a lot of time together last year and Haiden was in my math class. Andre I knew by reputation only.
I saw Todd dancing with Crystal - I wondered if they'd come together or met up here. Todd's and my eyes met and Todd looked away quickly. I sighed and continued to survey the room. Erik was dancing with a girl I didn't know. They seemed to be having a good time together and I tried not to feel stung by it but it did sting - more than it should.
"Friends." I muttered to myself. "Friends friends friends." I was so focused on reminding myself of this sad fact that I ran right into a boy dressed as a mobster. "Hmph! Sorry!" I said giving him a quick smile. He smiled back before extracting himself from our entanglement and walking on.
By the time we were untangled, I saw Erik's dance partner at the food table and casually approached her. "Hi." I said, feeling awkward as soon as I said it. I wasn't even sure why I'd spoken - what was I going to say to her?!
"Hi!" she said cheerfully taking a little more food for her plate. She must have seen my looking over Erik's way because, following my gaze, she continued. "Isn't he dreamy?" she sighed and part of me wanted to strangle her right there and tell her he was mine! Except he wasn't so I couldn't. "It's too bad he's still hung up on some ex." she added wistfully. "But he's a great dancer!" she said with a giggle. She was still giggling as she walked away, back toward Erik who saw me watching and smiled my direction.
I gave him a weak wave and finished my circuit of the room at the side door. I made a quick escape and wound through the castle to one of the darkened libraries. I'd been in the castle before so I mostly remembered the way. I could hear the party continued into the large ballroom as well as I passed by the doors. In the library, I sank into a chair to enjoy the quiet. I'd known about this party before Veronica kidnapped me of course - but I hadn't intended to come.
It wasn't long before my silent retreat was interrupted as the door creaked open, followed by a giggling sound and the sound of stumbling feet. I looked over to the door to see Todd and behind him was Crystal - the source of the giggles no doubt. When Todd saw me, his face sobered instantly.
I got to my feet quickly and scooted by them. It was clear they were looking for someplace private to continue their party and I didn't feel like being a witness. I didn't say anything to Todd or Crystal, only gave them an awkward smile.
"Ginny you don't have to..." Todd said as I slid out the door. I turned back to him, he was holding the door open and looking at me.
"No, it's okay - I want to get back to the party anyway." I said backing toward the stairs. "You two have....fun." I said and turned to leave.
Back in the throne room, I made eye contact with Veronica as she danced with Timothy. I wondered again if they'd planned their costumes - were they here together? Like a couple?
Veronica broke away from Timothy with a flirty smile and I eyed them curiously. Timothy smiled at me and then made his way over to the food as Veronica came over to me. "Are you two dating!?" I asked, forgetting my own issues.
Veronica shrugged. "Yes...no...I don't know!" she said.
"Did you two plan your costumes together?" I asked.
"No, not exactly. I mean he mentioned that he was considering doing Danny...." Veronica said.
"So you decided to be Sandy?" I asked with a smile. "Pink looks good on you." I added with a laugh.
"Oh shut up!" Veronica said but she was grinning. "He's cute...and sweet....and funny....."
"Yes I know Veronica - I have met him before." I said sarcastically.
Veronica laughed one more time and then turned to me. "Did you meet Todd's flavor of the month?" she asked. "I saw him leave shortly after you and wondered if you two ran into each other..."
"In passing. And don't call them that." I said biting back a laugh. Todd did seem to be going through girls quickly since getting back to school. "Look, Danny is waiting for his Sandy." I said nudging her. She smiled as she twirled her way back to Timothy. I looked around for a minute and then head for the empty thrones. I wasn't hungry and wasn't in the mood to dance alone. I didn't want to impose on Erik and his partner or V and Timothy.
The mobster I'd stumbled into earlier approached me. He looked down on me and smiled. "You're very dedicated to your costume, your majesty."
I looked around and then touched the rhinestone crown on my head and smiled. "I'm very into my character." I said.
"I can see that. I wouldn't want you to break your character, but would your majesty favor this fair gentleman with a dance?" he asked with a slight bow and offering out his hand.
"Well, I fear refusing would insult the gentleman in question. And as I am not engaged at present, I accept." I said placing my hand in his.
"It would be a fair insult m'lady so I am pleased you accepted." he kissed the top of my hand with a smile and then gently pulled me to my feet and lead me out to dance.
"My name is James m'lady - might I ask yours?" he asked as we danced.
"You may call me Queen Genevieve." I laughed as I spoke. "Or after a dance or two - perhaps Ginny." I added with a wink.
"As you wish Queen Genevieve."
End Chapter
Chapter 8: K-I-S-S-I-N-G
My phone came to life and beeped telling me I had a text. I fumbled around for my cell on the night stand and heard it clatter to the floor. "Whoever it is may just die." I muttered in the darkness. I could see the sky was barely pink with morning dawn. "Yeah...they will..." I said as I felt around on the floor for the phone. Finally the tips of my fingers brushed against it and I snatched it up.
From: Erik
Text:
"Meet me @ the Diner in 20, please."
I raised my eyebrows and stared at the words and then looked at the clock. It was 5:40 in the morning. Why was Erik at the Diner at 5:40 in the morning - why was he even awake at 5:40 in the morning. No one should be awake at 5:40 in the morning. I opened up a reply box and considered telling him he was nuts but simply typed in "K" and rolled over to try and catch five more minutes.
A few minutes past 6AM I stumbled into the diner. It was completely empty except for Mel, the owner who was at the stove working on breakfast and Erik who was behind the counter holding a tray full of coffee mugs.
"Whatever is in that mug better contain caffeine." I said taking a seat at the counter.
Erik laughed and handed me a mug which was hot, fresh and caffeinated. I took a sip and sighed happily. "Okay one, when did you start working here? And two, why am I up at six in the blasted morning?"
"About a month ago and because I wanted to talk about our fake marriage and this was the only chance we'd have before class." he said with a grin.
"Well point of advice - this fake wife doesn't like getting out of bed that early. Could lead to a fake domestic dispute." I said taking another long drink of coffee. We were at the mid point of the project and everyone had to give a presentation on their "status" in class so I let the early wake up call slide for now.
The Diner got busy and Erik and I could only talk as he got a few moments but we talked about the presentation on the way to school after he finished his early morning shift. "Are you going to tell me what's up with you Todd?" he asked as we walked into the school together.
"No." I said with a shrug and a wave.
"Friends tell!" Erik called after me and I chuckled as I walked to my locker. Yeah I doubt he wanted to hear this little bit of friendly news. I was halfway to my locker when I was stopped in my tracks. Todd apparently had already moved on to a new flavor as he and Jayne Madison were making out in the hall.
I sighed and went around them to my locker, grabbed my books and hurried to science class. Veronica had switched seats with Timothy's lab partner and she and Timothy were also lip locked. I sat next to my new partner and smiled weakly. I tried to shoot Veronica a dirty look later for abandoning me but she just looked smug. Timothy had the grace to shrug sheepishly - it would have been more effective if his lips didn't have traces of Veronica's lipstick.
I nearly fell asleep in my morning classes and was cursing Erik, Veronica and Todd under my breath as I made my way to the cafeteria. I grabbed a bowl of soup and a soda and made my way over to our table....but everything was wrong. Todd wasn't there. I sat down and glance around and saw him sitting at another table with Jayne and the other cheerleaders.
Erik followed my line of sight and reach out to me. When his fingers brushed across my hand I nearly jumped out of my seat. I gave him a weak smile and forced myself to look away from Todd - we always sat together.
"Are you okay?" Erik asked quietly.
I shrugged and played with my soup. I wasn't very hungry anymore. After pretending to eat for about 20 minutes, I dumped my bowl and excused myself from the cafeteria. Erik started to follow me but I waved him off and disappeared into the girls' bathroom. I knew if Todd and I just talked about it, the awkwardness would dissolve...logically I knew that.
My fourth period class was researching our papers in the library when I noticed a couple making out in the stacks. I turned away at first, not wanting to disturb, when I recognized them. "Gah!" I said a little too loudly.
Veronica and Timothy came up for air at my little out burst and the librarian and my teacher came to investigate. Once again the lipstick gave Timothy away and the librarian gave them both detention for the afternoon. Veronica glared at me, apparently blaming me for the detention - or maybe she was just blaming me for interrupting. I shook my head and went back to my research. I researched the dirt smudges on the library window for forty-two minutes as I was completely unable to focus on King Lear.
Erik managed to carry me through the presentation even though Veronica was shooting me evil glares and Todd was deliberately avoiding eye contact with me. We even sound like a coordinated, communicative fake married couple and got praise from Ms. Moore for working through our early issues. After the presentations, she assigned the next portion of the project and I saw Veronica making arrangements with Alex after class. As I passed she raised her voice so I could hear, "I can't meet you today after school because SOMEONE got me detention!" she looked my way and glared again. I just shook my head and walked away.
Later that night Erik and I met at the park to talk about the newest assignment. It wasn't due for a week but I desperately needed to get away from my house...and Todd's house. "So apparently all my friends hate me." I said as an opener after we'd spread out or homework on the grass.
"I'm your friend and I don't hate you." Erik said.
"No you're my fake husband." I said with a half-smile.
"But your friend too." He said. "Why do your friends hate you? I find that hard to imagine."
"Timothy and Veronica were making out in the library stacks and I - completely unintentionally - interrupted and managed to get them detention." I said.
"They were making out in the stacks?" Erik asked with surprise.
I just nodded and started doodling in my notebook absently. "And now Veronica has been shooting me evil looks all day."
"Well it doesn't sound like Timothy blames you or hates you." Erik pointed out.
I shrugged. "Probably not but he's so busy making out with Veronica I couldn't get a moment to talk to him anyway."
"And Todd...." Erik prompted. "Why does Todd hate you?"
"Because I kissed him." I said before really thinking about my words or who I was talking to. It took a moment for the realization to hit and I stopped doodling and looked up at Erik.
The playful smile that had been on his face faded as he looked at me, grasping the words that had slipped out. It took him a few moments to recover, as if he'd been slapped. "Having kissed you, I can't imagine that would make anyone hate you." he said in an effort to cover whatever he was really feeling but his voice was flat as he said it, betraying him.
"I was....Um...it's a long story." I said and looked back at my paper. A single line had trailed down from my doodle to the edge of the paper from when I'd made my slip.
"You should talk to him." Erik said standing up and gathering up his stuff. "Communication." he said tapping the open book and giving me a little smile as he closed it.
I stood up and gathered my own things since it was clear our study session was being terminated. "Erik...." I said to his back as he'd started to walk.
"Hmm?" he said turning back to face me.
"It was the night you told me about Val....I was hurting. I used Todd....I used him. So he has every right to be upset with me..." I said in a rush. Communication was key after all. I just hoped it wasn't key to unraveling the fragile friendship Erik and I had been creating.
End Chapter
Chapter 6: Reflection
I'm not sure how long I stood there looking at her grave. Darkness had fallen around me and the air had chilled as the sun slipped away. I shivered but didn't notice the cold creeping over my skin. I hadn't been here in months - since before China at least. I thought I'd come to think but when I looked on her grave, when I placed the flowers in the empty vase, I felt my throat close and tears sting my eyes. If she were alive she would hold me and stroke my hair and tell me how to fix everything. That's what mothers were for. But she wasn't alive...
Todd would tell me how to fix things....if Todd was talking to me. If Todd wasn't part of what needed fixing I could curl up against him and he would stroke my hair and would listen to me. But Todd was avoiding me. I don't think he is actually mad at me exactly. At some point in the last year the line had been drawn firmly - between friends and more than friends - and I'd crossed the line. If I'd done it out of actual interest it would have been different but I was wounded by Erik and had used Todd as a soft landing. So things were awkward....very awkward...between us.
I was still considering the situation with Todd when I heard the leaves crunching and shuffling behind me. Someone was approaching but they stopped a few feet away. I registered the noise and presence but didn't turn to see who it was. "Gin?" Erik's voice was low as if he was afraid to disturb the dead. "I went by your house... Your dad told me you were here." he said quietly.
I didn't reply or even turn to look at him. The wind was picking up and blew my hair gently across my face. I could smell the threat of rain in the air. A storm was brewing overhead and I knew I should go home with Erik. We were supposed to be working on another report for that project tonight anyway. But I didn't move, even as the goosebumps from the chilly night air crept up my arms. Erik - Erik was another problem I wished my mom could solve for me. I knew I shouldn't be upset with him for seeing someone else over the summer...we were broken up. But he came back. Why did he come back if he was moving on? Why couldn't I move on? Maybe that was the real problem...
I heard Erik shuffle his feet behind me and stir restlessly. He was waiting for me patiently, not trying to disturb my reflections or drag me away before the storm caught us outside. The wind caught my hair again and the impending storm smelt stronger - a familiar smell I'd once loved so much.
"I could smell the rain that night too." I said aloud, breaking the silence between us.
If Erik looked confused or was about to question me, I didn't look to see or give him a chance to say anything. "It was eight years ago - almost nine now..." I continued absently running a finger along the edge of her stone. "My dad was working late - he did that a lot back then. Todd was over and my mom wanted to go out. Todd and I suggested ice cream." I turned to look at him. "Have I told you this already?" I asked considering. I couldn't remember telling Erik the details. He merely shook his head.
I nodded. "We went out - Todd came with us. We had ice cream and laughed together the whole time. Todd and I told my mom about something..." my brow furrowed as I tried to remember the story we'd told her that night. "This kid Michael had released the class pets that day. Our teacher spent half the morning scurrying around trying to catch them." I said with a sad laugh. "Anyway, there was a storm brewing as we got back in the car. Todd and I sat in the back together laughing about something or other. We were waiting at a red light and I saw my mom watching us with the rear view mirror. She was so happy that night. The light changed and we started going forward. This big truck ran the red light, we were in the middle of the intersection." I looked up at Erik, having looked down at the ground at some point. "He was tired. That's what he said in court later - he was tired." I shook my head. I turned back toward the grave, away from Erik's sad look.
"Anyway, I heard the sound of screeching breaks and the grinding of metal on metal as the truck hit the front of our car." I started walking, slowly pacing to the other side of my mom's grave. "The impact was on the driver's side, front part of the car. His truck pushed us onto the curb and into a pole. Todd was knocked unconscious but otherwise was fine. When the movement stopped, the silence was....I've never felt a silence that thick since then. It was like the world stopped for just a moment. And then I heard shouting and talking from outside. We were stuck between the truck and the pole in such a way that no one could get the doors open. I heard my mom groaning from the front seat and tried to get to her. I couldn't get my seat belt off so all I could do was reach for her.... It took about ten minutes for the police and ambulance to get there but it felt like an hour. My mom was silent when they pulled her out of the car. I watched from the back seat as the paramedics rushed her into the ambulance. That's when the rain really started falling that night. It wasn't long before they were pulling Todd and I out." I looked over at Erik. "She was dead before they even got to us. I didn't realize it then of course...." I trailed off feeling
Erik walked over to me and put his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. He didn't say anything and just held me tightly.
The rain started to fall then. It started as just a few stray drops but as we stood their holding each other, the rain started to fall harder. We both broke the hold at the same time and without speaking started running for cover. By the time we got back to my house, we were soaked to the core. "I don't know why I told you all that." I said shaking the rain from my hair. "It's just too much - you and Todd and...." I shivered from the cold and wet. "I can't - I can't....if you want to hate me, I'm not gonna fight that anymore."
"Hate you?" Erik asked surprised. He clutched my arms and either side and looked into my eyes. "I don't hate you Gin - I couldn't if I tried." he said sternly.
I must have looked unconvinced because he just shook his head. "Neither of us have handle this very well have we?" he asked smiling sadly. "I promise you, I could never hate you - no matter what happens between us. Now what's up between you and Todd?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing you can fix." I said weakly. "I'm sorry Erik - for how I handled things before. I thought....." I chuckled pitifully. "I don't know what I thought, I thought it would be better if you...left."
"You were right - it's taken awhile for me to acknowledge that but I am glad I went back." Erik said.
I grimaced slightly, assuming he was glad because he had some great summer with the mystery girl he'd told me about.
He saw my grimace and read my thoughts from my face as if I were open book. "Not because of that. Because of my mom and my brother. I wouldn't have wanted to miss that or imagine her being alone for everything that happened." he paused and looked around uncomfortably. "I'm also glad I came back Gin. But I am sorry I was such a jerk. Seeing you was harder than I expected."
I leaned against his shoulder feeling spent. There was so much to say but I was afraid to ruin this moment and what felt like a fragile bridge between us. Erik put his arms around me and rubbed my back and stroked my hair just like I'd imagined my mom or Todd doing to comfort me.
"Friends then?" I asked, still leaning into him.
He pulled back from me and I was terrified that we were about to lapse back into our awkward interactions but he gave me a small smile and stroked my cheek. "Friends." I smiled back at him.
End Chapter
Chapter 3: Failure to Communicate
Two weeks. Two weeks and not a word from Erik. I'd passed him in the hall a number of times and usually he didn't spare me a look. Of course I hadn't said anything to him either but it wasn't that I wasn't talking to him....he wasn't talking to me.
After two weeks of silence, I passed he and Timothy talking in the hall. He looked my way and was smiling. My heart fluttered with hope for a moment before I realized the smile wasn't for me. He was laughing at something Timothy had said. In fact, when his eye caught mine I noticed the smile falter. With a sigh I trudged into the science classroom - I was the first to arrive - and practically threw my backpack on the table.
"You should talk to him." Veronica voice said from beside me.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as I whirled around to face her. "Where did you come from?" I said looking around. I know when I walked in she wasn't here and I hadn't heard anyone walk in. And yet half the class had filtered in as well.
"I've been watching you brood for over a minute now." Veronica said. "And on that note, I repeat - you should talk to him. Break the ice..."
"I'm not not talking to him...he's not talking to me." I said for what felt like the hundredth time. Or maybe I'd just said it to myself a lot.
Veronica rolled her eyes at me. "Right. I'm just saying, talk to him. Ask him about his baby brother...what's his name?"
"Gavin." I said without having to think about it.
"Right. It'll break the ice and avoid the topic of the break up..." Veronica said pulling out her notebook and homework from the night before as the bell rang.
When I came out of the lunch line, Veronica and Timothy were already sitting with Erik. I stopped in my tracks and considered what to do. I was ready to go sit with them when I chickened out and dumped my full tray in the trash and walked out the side doors of the cafeteria. Todd caught up with me quickly. "Ginny!" he called as he came up beside me and slowed his pace.
"If you're gonna tell me to talk to him, you can just skip the lecture." I said looking straight ahead.
"Wasn't going to say anything." Todd said with a small smile. "But now that you mention it...you should."
"Hey, did you pick a car?" I asked changing the subject to something I knew he'd want to talk about. "Or did your dad change his mind?"
"What? Oh no he hasn't changed his mind." Todd said. "And no I haven't picked one."
"Why, again, is your dad buying you a car?" I asked already knowing the answer. We'd talked about it over the summer but it was a topic about Todd and not me.
"He thinks it will make up for the divorce or something." Todd said with a shrug. The fact that his parents were getting a divorce barely phased him. The fact is they'd been fighting for years so Todd wasn't really surprised.
"Is he attempting to buy Meghan's forgiveness as well?" I asked referring to Todd's little sister.
"He bought her a horse." Todd said with a smirk.
I stopped in my tracks and grabbed his arm. "A horse!?" I sputtered. "Has Meghan ever even ridden a horse?!"
Todd shrugged again. "No. He's paying for the stabling as well - anyway if you ever wanna go riding let me know. And don't think I didn't notice your artful subject change there Ginny." he said with a wink. "Erik....talk to him. You'll feel better when you do." he said as the bell rang from the school. We both hurried back inside.
The last class of the way was always the longest for me. I sat next to Erik awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact as Ms. Moore talked about Life Studies. "Life Studies" was supposed to talk about life after high school - real world lessons like jobs, budgeting, relationships, etc.
"Today I will tell you about our semester long project. See as this class is only one semester, this project will make up a significant portion or your class grade so I suggest you take it seriously." Ms. Moore said as soon as class started. "You will do this project with a partner and once your partner is assigned today, there will be no switching under any circumstances so don't bother asking." she said walking to the first girl in the room with a basket holding several slips of paper. Ms. Moore noted something from the slip and then walked to the next girl. She skipped all the boys. It became clear that this was the "assignment" of partners. Inside the basket were the names of all the boys in the class and the girls got to randomly draw.
I saw Veronica look Alexander Roberts' direction and smile, showing him her slip. Petronia turned to look at Todd after apparently drawing his name. They smiled at each other shyly. I was one of the last girls to draw a name from the basket. I pulled the slip out and mentally crossed my fingers for a good partner. 'Erik Langston' was typed neatly across my paper slip. My eyes went wide as I stared at it for several seconds. I heard a familiar tap tap tap and realized I was taking too long to show my slip to Ms. Moore. I showed the slip to her and glanced over at Erik trying to look neutral about it. Ms. Moore wrote down his name next to mine and returned to the front of the class.
"Okay, now that you all have your partners, I will tell you the project. Congratulations, you and your partner are married - at least as far as this assignment goes. Over the course of the semester, you will all be given scenarios which require you and your partner to communicate, work together, and attempt to resolve the problem. Each of you will be expected to turn in reports on the scenario and the resolution. Your responses and manner of handling things will dictate the other scenarios you receive through out the semester so I suggest you put effort into each report as a "couple."" she paused and passed back papers containing our first scenario - the same for everyone. "This project, as a whole, will count as a third of your grade in this class. So work together on it and take it seriously. Now open your books to page 54..." I glanced over at Erik once more as I leaned down to get my book. He caught me looking at him but I couldn't read his expression.
The first report for the project was due on Monday, so I lingered after class to try to talk to Erik. Many others seemed to have the same idea as all the newly "married" couples were chatting. Erik saw me waiting and looked at me expectantly. "So...um..." I opened feeling lame. I looked at my feet. "We should probably..." I held up the sheet of paper with the first assignment.
Veronica walked over dragging Alex behind her. I wondered, briefly, what Tessa (Alex's girlfriend) would think of this assignment. "We're going to the library to work on this, you guys coming?" she asked including Todd and Petronia in the question. I looked over at Erik who shrugged but nodded. We all left the classroom together. Todd and Petronia were chatting happily, Veronica was trying to chat with Alex who looked a little uncomfortable and a cloud of silence loomed over Erik and I.
The others broke off once we got to the library to do their own thing leaving Erik and I standing awkwardly together. We walked back to the relationship books and were browsing the titles and not speaking. "Look Erik..." I started to say when his cell phone started buzzing on vibrate. He reached for it and shrugged as form of apology for the interruption.
I sighed and took a book from the shelf to start reading over things. In truth, a trip to the library wasn't essential to understand the concept of the "end of the honeymoon phase" but it was neutral territory for all the new 'couples'. I sat at a table with Tessa, who had tagged along since Alex usually drove her home - or so she claimed. I think she just wanted to keep an eye on Alex and Veronica.
Erik talked as quietly as he could on his cell, he was getting nasty looks from the librarians. "Val - no!" he hissed into the phone. He looked over to the table and sighed. "Just no. I gotta go." he said clicking the phone shut.
He walked over and coughed to get my attention. "So..." he offered. He watched as I got to my feet looking awkward and looked momentarily distressed. I tried to process it as we walked back to the relationship books to browse. I bit my lip as I browsed the books and tried to figure out what to say to break the ice. "How's Gavin?" I asked suddenly and a little too loudly. I blushed as a librarian hushed me and glared at Erik.
"He's good." Erik said. "Light sleeper..." he added.
I nodded and then floundered on the topic of conversation.
Erik turned back to the stacks and browsed the books for a few minutes. "Look Gin..." he said turning back to look at me. "Why don't we get together later to work on this." he looked around the library. He looked like he was going to say something more but decided against it and started walking down the stacks.
"Erik wait!" I called earning glares from the librarians and curious looks from onlookers.
He didn't turn to look at me as he headed down into the internet cafe section of the library and outside. I followed him away from everyone. "Erik!" I called again from the front steps of the library.
"Look, you do your report, I'll do mine..." he said and turned to walk away again. "It'll be easier that way." he said, barely loud enough for me to hear.
He was half a block away before I blinked. "I don't think that's the point." I said softly. I pulled out the assignment sheet again and key words like "communication" and "compromise" jumped out at me. Veronica walked out and stood beside me then. "So..." she said looking around.
"There is a distinct possibility I'm going to fail Life Studies." I said turning back to the library to go gather my stuff.
End Chapter
