Well… I had time to write! :D So here's your next chapter!
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The Hard Way To Learn A Lesson
Chapter 2- The Project
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Edward POV
"Psychology, Edward." Mason grinned mockingly at me, running his hand through his dark hair.
"Or you could say torture," I sighed. "I mean, seriously, first day back after spring break and they decide to let that moron loose on us with a new project!"
Mason shuddered and then the bell rang.
"Oh dear, we're late," I said sarcastically as we started to climb the 41 stairs to the psychology rooms. "Bet you five bucks Marshall will be later then we are."
"Bet you he won't. He'll be too eager about the new project," Mason disagreed.
"You got yourself a bet," I said, holding out my hand for him to shake.
"Sucker," Mason said, shaking the outstretched hand.
I simply quirked an eyebrow at him as we reached the top of the stairs. We paused outside the door and then, I slowly opened it. People were sitting on desks, chatting, although that didn't mean anything special in Mr Marshall's class. I peered round the corner at Mr Marshall's desk to see it empty.
"Ha, Mason. You owe me five bucks!" I said, holding out my hand.
"That prat Marshall. Why can't he ever show up on time?" Mason grumbled, putting a five-dollar bill on the palm of my hand. He went over to his usual space next to Sadie Piper, his current girl, and I looked around the classroom for an empty space.
I took the seat next to Jennifer Dean, who looked like she could have died and gone to heaven when I pulled out the chair next to her. I rolled my eyes; couldn't she tell that I was only sitting there to avoid being sat next to Alice's new friend. I was surprised that Bella hadn't died of the shock of having someone actually speak to her, to be honest. Freak.
Then, the door opened and, ten minutes late, Mr Marshall came into the classroom. "Hi class. Sorry I'm late. I just had some last minute preparations to make to your new project…" At this, the whole class exchanged uneasy glances. I saw Jennifer move her chair closer to mine, trying – and completely failing – to be subtle.
"What's this project then, Sir?" I called out.
"Ah, Mr Cullen." He grinned at me. "You may well ask." What the hell? The guy never made sense.
"Are you gonna tell us then?" I asked rudely.
"I am indeed." He switched on the over-head projector and a slide-show came up on the board. The title of the slideshow made me feel uneasy: 'marriage'. Now, don't get me wrong, but commitment is really not my thing. I do one-night-stands, not big white weddings. I really hoped that he wasn't being serious.
"This term," Mr Marshall started, "you shall each be marrying one of your classmates."
I saw all of the girls' attention turn to me and I looked round the class for a girl I wouldn't mind marrying. And I severely hoped that this was metaphorical. After one day, I'd be filing for a divorce.
"Can I marry Mason, Sir?" I said.
"You'll be paired with a girl, Cullen," Mr Marshall responded.
"Well…" I looked round again, "how about… Mercy then, Sir?" I wanted to get a good one before they all went. Mercy's jaw dropped as I said her name and she stared at me, hopeful. I winked at her.
"Actually, Edward, I've paired you all up myself. Now, before I tell you who you are paired with, I will tell you the details of this assignment." He walked up and down in front of the board. "Basically, you will have to live with your partner from Friday – in two days - until the end of term…"
"But that's five weeks!" I protested.
"Yes, I know that, Edward. The third week you will get a break from your partner to see how different your life is. This project is supposed to depict what marriage is really like and is supposed to teach you how to co-operate with other people. Marriage is about commitment and working things out together. Consider yourselves lucky that this project is five weeks long because marriage is for eternity.
"So… as I was saying before Cullen interrupted… you will be living with your partner, as real couples do and…"
"Does that include…?" Mason spoke up this time, but Mr Marshall interrupted him before he could say the word that all non-Biology teachers hated.
"If you are incredibly desperate to include the physical aspect of marriage in this project then I can't stop you, but please be sure to be safe."
I grinned at Mason across the room.
"Now… you will live together and must spend as much time together as possible. I will be giving you a log book in which you will write your experiences and record your feelings…"
"Like a diary?" I questioned.
"Will you two stop interrupting?" Mr Marshall shouted. Then he cleared his throat and started again. "Yes, a bit like a diary. It's not compulsory that you fill in the log book, but a 10 page essay should be handed in at the end of the project, approximately two pages for each week, including the week of separation because you will have to say how you felt being away from your 'other half'."
"Free," I interrupted again, but Mr Marshall ignored me.
"The writing cannot be huge or I will ask you to re-do it. This essay will be graded and, yes, it is important so no goofing off." Mr Marshall looked pointedly at me and then turned his gaze on Mason for a second. Then he cleared his throat again. "Is that clear?"
"Yes Mr Marshall," we chorused.
"Right. Now, I will tell you who your husband or wife will be for the next few weeks. When I call your names, go and sit with your partners." He shuffled through some papers he had in his hand and then read out the first names, "Daniel Jackson and Megan Bailey." I saw Megan blush out of the corner of my eye and Daniel grin at her. I rolled my eyes.
"Seth Hunter and Amy Walker." This time, Amy pouted, looking pointedly at me. All I could say was that I was felt sorry for Seth.
"Kyle Barlow and Gabby Wilmott. Rob Wilson and Calleigh Archer. Samuel Douglas and Emilie Parker."
As far as I could see there was no order to the names, they were completely random. They weren't done alphabetically or anything, so there was no way I could work out who I was with.
"Mercy Jameson and Peter Richards."
Damn. Well, there went my hand-picked girl.
"Mason Roberts and Heidi Pickford."
I grinned at Mason who grimaced. Nothing worse than being paired with an ex.
And then my name was read out. "Edward Cullen and…"
The remaining girls sat up straight and seemed to strain their ears, if that was at all possible.
But the name that left his lips was typically the one I least wanted to hear. This was a situation worse than being paired with your ex. A situation that made me take back what I said about 'not minding Mr Marshall'.
"Isabella Swan."
"What?!" I shrieked, but I wasn't the only one. The whole class fell silent and turned to stare, or to glare depending on their gender, at Bella. Well, blow me down and feed me parts of my own anatomy. Little miss goody-two-shoes had just shouted at a teacher.
Bella POV
No, no, no! Of all of the boys in the class I had to 'marry' that one! What the hell was Mr Marshall thinking?!
"What?!" I yelled without thinking.
A smile that clearly said that this was expected appeared on Mr Marshall's face. "Mr Cullen, Miss Swan. If you have a problem, please see me at the end but in the meantime, please move to sit together."
Unwilling to go against a teacher's wishes, I gathered my books and moved to sit next to Edward, cussing under my breath. I very rarely swore, but this was one of those special occasions.
"What a retard," Edward was muttering to himself. "Putting me with that kiss-ass, suck up, stupid, little…"
"Look," I hissed, "I don't like this any more then you do, okay? So just shut up and deal with it."
He looked shocked that I had spoken to him for a second, but then he whispered, "Has my pathetic sister rubbed off on you then?"
"Perhaps," I sniffed, "or maybe I've just wanted to say that to you since forever."
He ground his teeth together. "As soon as the lesson's over, we're demanding to swap partners."
"That would be my pleasure, Cullen," I spat.
"That's good then, Swan, because I am not pretending to be married to you. Never ever. I'd rather have parts of myself eaten by wild creatures then spend eternity with you. And if you expect me to actually bother doing this for a grade then you are so wrong."
"Oh don't worry. I don't expect intelligence from someone like you," I said.
He glared at me. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
I smiled sweetly. "Oh. Nothing."
He growled and went back to complaining under his breath.
Mr Marshall finished reading out the names and then went on to tell us about other things we had to do in this ridiculous project. Looking after fish would have been so much better than this. Uncharacteristically, I ignored the teacher and spent the last part of the lesson in a glaring contest with my so-called 'husband'.
Finally, the bell sounded. The rest of the class spilled from the room hurriedly, only Mason bothering to look back to where Edward and I stood, fuming, in front of Mr Marshall's desk. I saw him laugh once at Edward and then he followed the rest out.
Mr Marshall turned to us as soon as the door closed behind the class. "Is there a problem, you two?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Edward fumed. "I am not 'marrying' her."
"Sorry Edward, but that's who I paired you with," Mr Marshall said.
"Can't I marry someone I don't despise?"
"No, Cullen. Your partner is Bella and nothing you say, or do, can change that."
Now I spoke up. "But Mr Marshall… that's not fair…"
He looked at me with an amused expression on his face. "I never thought I'd see the day you argued with a teacher, Miss Swan."
"Yes, but this is ridiculous," I said. "I hate him and he hates me. Isn't the idea of marriage to spend eternity with someone you love?"
"Well, you'll have to work around your differences then," Mr Marshall said.
"But…" Edward started.
Mr Marshall interrupted him. "Edward, I really think that this project will help you."
"Help?!" he exploded. "Help me?! Sorry, Sir, but what are you on?"
Mr Marshall chuckled. "Nothing, Edward. I honestly believe that it will."
"But what about me?" I protested at the same time as Edward said,
"Marrying her is not going to help me."
"Okay, guys. Look. The project officially starts on Friday. Next Friday, I will speak to you and if you are still trying to rip each others throats out, then I will consider…"
"Changing partners?" Edward suggested hopefully.
"No. But I will consider a negotiation."
Edward pulled a face.
"Now, go home and make the most of your last two days alone," Mr Marshall said, pointing to the door.
We sighed simultaneously and headed for the door. Edward opened it and went out first, where Mason pounced on him.
"So?"
"Fat lot of good that was," Edward said, irritated, and then he quoted Mr Marshall, "'You'll have to work around your differences.' Ugh, what is his problem?"
Mason laughed at him. "Ah, tough luck Edward!"
"I'm right here, you know," I said in a clipped tone.
"Oh, I know," Mason said. He turned round and winked at me. "So what do you think of being with Edward?"
"Is that a joke?" I growled.
Mason laughed. "No."
"Well, in that case, this grade may be the very first one I ever fail," I snapped. "Purposefully." And then I turned and started down the stairs.
I heard Mason go, "Oooh!" and I rolled my eyes. Prats.
I stormed out of the door and over to my car, but then I heard someone calling my name.
"What?" I snapped spinning to look at who had come up behind me. I tried to keep my bad mood in check when I saw who it was. "Oh. Hi Alice."
"What's up with you?" she asked.
"You will never guess what our new project is in psychology," I said, shaking my head angrily.
"So you're not looking after fish then?" she checked.
I scoffed. "Huh. I wish."
"Wow. Must be bad."
"The word bad times twenty-six does not cover how terrible this really is," I grumbled.
"So it's bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad…" Alice started, counting the 'bad's on her fingers.
"Yes, Alice, I get it," I interrupted. "It is super-bad."
"Well what is it?"
"We have to…" I started, but I was interrupted.
"Oi! Edward's sister!" Mason called from across the lot. "Leave Edward's wife alone!"
I looked over in time to see Edward push Mason to the ground and storm off toward his Volvo stony-faced.
Alice quirked an eyebrow at me, confused. "Wife?"
"We have to pretend to 'marry' a classmate. Just my luck that I get paired with that stupid pig."
Rather than sympathising with me as I presumed she would, Alice squealed excitedly. "Oh my God!" she gasped. "That means you're my sister-in-law!"
"Alice!" I moaned. "Did you hear me wrong or something? I have to pretend to be married to Edward!"
"Oh." She frowned slightly. "Well, at least it's not forever. I have to be his sister for my whole life!"
"He doesn't hate you!" I pointed out.
"He doesn't hate you either," Alice said.
Suddenly, a silver car drew up beside us and the window on the drivers' side came down with a whirr. "Come on Alice," Edward said moodily.
She rolled her eyes at me and smirked. "See you tomorrow." She started towards the passenger side of Edward's car, but then she stopped and turned back to me. "When does this project start properly?"
"Friday," I replied, ignoring Edward's piercing glare.
"Come to our house first. Then you don't even have to pay that idiot any attention." She grinned. "It'll be like a slumber party!"
I sighed. "To be honest, Alice, I'm thinking of just dropping the grade altogether."
"You're not the only one," Edward muttered crossly.
"You won't do that," Alice predicted. "Maybe this project won't be that bad. It's not going to kill you to try."
I couldn't reply to that so I just shook my head and waved at her before turning and walking toward my truck to go back to my house as a single girl for one of the last times.
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So Bella and Edward are starting the project on Friday!! And they are not happy about it :D Lol
OMFC!!!! Guys. I cannot believe the response that this has got! 56 reviews for a prologue and one chapter?! This is insanity. Thank you so, so, so, so much for all of the lovely reviews and well-wishes for the play. It's going well so far. We have done three of the five performances now so… so far so good :D But seriously, I cannot be more thankful for the reviews. So here is the next chapter- your reward :D
What did you think of this chapter and their responses? Anything entertaining? Even in the slightest?
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Thank you so much.
Steph