Kapitel 8: Chapter Eight

Poppy pov

The ugly cat I saw on the street make me irritable. The normal traffic to school and the line at the café where I got coffee made me irritable. The crunching of the dead leaves beneath my feet made me more irritable. But the thought of Colin made me more irritable than all these things put together.

I could still remember his punchable smug face when he threw that ball at me in gym class. One thing I knew is that I was going to get him back for sure.

I had no idea why Mr. Mike put us together. Despite my protests, he was firm about me not changing partners. I was beginning to question the credibility of his certificates he kept on his office desk since he made bad decisions so well.

One good thing about today was that Liam promised to take me out on a date after this. So, I guessed I had something to look forward to.

I slid through the doors of the library, weaving through other people either reading or making research. Some were drinking coffee while others ate noodles out of a cup.

One hour. Just one hour a day till the end of the week was all it would take to get this project done and over with. After this, we would not have to see each other again. Unless somehow we managed to have another project together, which was highly unlikely. The thought made me shiver and my shiver turned into a shudder as I found Colin seated at a nearby table.

He saw me and asked, "You cold poppy?" I just nodded in affirmation. I did not need to explain anything to him. He rolled his eyes at my response and gestured for me to sit at the table. I almost laughed. As if I needed his permission.

"You are late," he said satisfactorily.

I glanced at my watch and I rolled my eyes. "With just one minute."

"That's still late." Colin spoke again, "Okay, so we have to start this stupid project. We are supposed to use this whole week and submit Monday, right?"

"Yes. We need to collect all the necessary information about how calculus was used in ancient cultures for our cover story and make it into a journal of our design. For our other story we could talk about real life applications of the Pythagorean theorem. Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah. Got it. Although, I am not really sure what Mr. Mike really wants?"

"He just wants us to show some individuality and teamwork. If we are going to have big co-operate jobs someday, we need to be able to work well in a team setting."

"Yeah, which is why he put us together." His sarcasm was not lost on me.

"Could have fooled me," I said despite myself. "He obviously does not care about our personal preferences. He just wants to make sure that everyone does the assignment."

"I'll give you that. But this…," he gestured with his hands, "I don't know- thing we have between us isn't doing us any favors. So why don't we just put whatever is standing between us aside and work on this project? The sooner, the better so we can move on with our lives."

"Finally we agree on something," I mumbled.

We spent the next hour researching books and deciding who was going to take over certain aspects of the project. We both agreed that I would compile and edit all the necessary information while Colin would design the magazine. I was never gladder to leave a meeting more than I was at the end of the hour with Colin.

"So I guess that's it," I said stretching my arms that had become sore. "Let's wrap it up and we'll meet here tomorrow, same time."

He shoved his book in his backpack. "Fine by me."

I started walking towards the door and then I noticed he was walking behind my back. I don't know why, but it felt weird. Maybe it was the awkward silence.

"Hey Dan is coming pick me up with his car. You need a ride?" he said.

Why was he asking me? It was not like we were close.

"No, thank you but my boyfriend is going to pick me up," I said. Maybe it was just me, but he seemed to have deflated after hearing that.

"Oh ok. Bye then," he said. He walked ahead of me towards the library entrance and got in to what I presumed to be Dan's car

I waited outside for about fifteen minutes and Liam was still nowhere in sight. Frustrated, I texted him.

Me: Where are you? I've been waiting for more than fifteen minutes now. It's getting late. Hurry up!!

I put my phone away and few seconds later I got a text notification.

Liam <3: Family emergency. Maybe next time. Sorry.

That was it? He didn't even ask how I was going to get home? I imagined lots of things when Liam asked me out, but I never imagined this. I mean he was sweet, but for some time now, I felt like he had been indifferent towards me.

I hardly got to spend time alone with him, even in school. Or maybe I was just paranoid. I mean he is a senior and on the football team. The chances of him not being busy were extremely low. Besides, he said it was a family emergency and I believed him. So, to avoid any drama, I just texted him back.

Me: ok then. See you in school. Hope everything will be fine at home.

With a heavy sigh, I started walking towards the bus stop. I received more texts notifications and then I saw they were from Lucy and Sarah in our group chat. The three of us met when we were in second grade and have been tied together ever since.

Lucy <3: What happened? Need details a.s.a.p.!!!!

Sarah 💣: Did you guys chop each other's head off? ✄ ✄

Lucy <3: Get into a fist fight while others watched? ☺

Sarah 💣 : Cursed at each other???

Lucy <3: Something had to have happened. ☹

Sarah 💣: You are reading the texts. Answer now :/

These girls would be the death of me.

I started texting back.

Me: Don't be so dramatic guys. You watch too many movies. It was not so very bad. We were…civil.

Sarah 💣: Group video call now!!

I saw that Sarah had already stated the video call. I answered and Sarah dramatically had her mouth open. "Did the sky fall or something or did you just give him a compliment?"

I rolled my eyes. "How is 'we were civil' a compliment? He's still a jerk face but not enough that we would 'point knives' at each other. It's just he loves to annoy me on purpose. I can't stand him."

Lucy had a naughty look on her face. "Sounds like the beginning of a crush to me. There is a fine line between love and hate. An enemy to lover story. How romantic." She squealed and acted like she was swooning.

"This is ridiculous," I said. "I have a wonderful boyfriend and I'm in a happy relationship." Sarah scoffed at that. "Why, do you have something to say?" I narrowed my eyes.

Sarah had never hidden the fact that she doesn't really like Liam. Although, she acted like she did for my sake. She told me that he felt 'slimy'. Sarah has a good eye for reading people, but this time she was definitely wrong about Liam.

"Yeah a boyfriend that never seems to have time for you. I mean, why are you guys even dating? I get that he is popular--"

"And handsome," Lucy interjected.

Sarah continued. "Besides those points, I rarely even see him around you. You might as well be single. Have you even tried to find out why?"

"Well he is busy, you know with senior year and stuff," I said and even I can't convince myself of that. Just at that moment, the bus arrived. "Oh got to go, the bus is here."

"The bus," Sarah said with a shake of her head. "Wasn't your boyfriend supposed to pick you up?"

"He had an emergency," I said.

"Typical excuse," Sarah muttered.

"I heard that. Can't you just give him a break, at least for me?" I looked at her with pleading eyes. My friends' approval really mattered to me more than anything in the world.

"Yeah, Sarah. " Lucy said. "He's not that bad. He's actually really sweet." We both look at her with eyebrows raised and she added hurriedly, "So I've heard."

Sarah made a sound of defeat. "Ok, ok. I am sorry. I won't say a bad word about the love of your life again and I will continue trying my best to like him. Happy?"

"Thank you. You are so full of it," I said jokingly. "Talk to you guys later bye."

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