"I am assigning you guys in teams of two. Everyone has until the end of the week to complete and present their projects. And before anyone asks the partners are final. Now lets see here…" Abby crosses her fingers, closes her eyes as the teams are fired off. She hears a mixture of yeses and ah man!
"Marcus Kane and Abigail Clarke." She opens her eyes and groans. She so wanted to be apart of yes celebratory group. She turns to the back of the room where Marcus sat in his ratty, hole ridden shirt, dirt on his face. Likely because of that stupid tree his mom made him care for. The teacher tells them to go sit with their partners. Noticing Marcus not getting up she pushes her seat back and joins him.
"If you want I can do all the work." Abby says in a whisper.
"Why?"
"Why not? I have one of the best grades in this class an…"
"And I have the best. Maybe I should do it!" Marcus snaps. She stares him down trying to determine if he is telling the truth. Him? This working kid with the half crazy mother whom hardly spoke to anyone? He was smarter than her?
"Or we could work together? Long as I can trust you not to screw things up?" She suggests.
"What is that suppose to mean?!"
"Nothing."
"It has to mean something."
"Just I don't know you seem flaky?"
"You don't even know me. I don't understand why you're being so judgmental and a bitch. Sure you look beautiful and I suppose that excuses it. Or least you think so…but rest assured I will not be screwed with!" For the first time ever Abby had respected for him. Maybe there was a hidden strength under that dirt.
"I'm sorry. Let's get to work…"