Chapter 3: Science, Social Studies, and English

"So what are we working on tonight?" Mom asked as I put out some chips and stuff for Tam and I. This was going to be the first time I ever invited anybody over from school. I was pretty excited about it! We planned to stay up all night work on all our projects over the weekend.

"I don't know what Tam will want to start with. I know she's in love with literature so she'll probably want to start there," I mused. I was hoping that she'd actually loosen up a bit this weekend. Tam and I click but she seems so much older than me. She never talks about normal stuff it's always something to do with school. I don't why but for some reason I wanted to know more than school stuff about her.

"She likes literature huh?" My mom seemed intrigued.

"Yep, she writes sometimes in class and I try to peak over her shoulder most of the time I'm not successful but from what I've been able to read she's pretty good … she good at everything really," I confessed it was kind of an annoying thing sometimes. "Can we order pizza later?"

"Yeah, only if you order me one," Dad chuckled as he grabbed a couple of chips. "Let me know when she gets here I would love to put a face to the name we've heard so much over that past two months." Dad walked toward his office and mom sat on the couch and was smiling at me all weird.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing I just think it's cute you setting up and everything for your little sleep over." I rolled my eyes mom treated me like I was eight. This was serious stuff if Tam and I didn't do well on this projects we wouldn't pass the eighth grade.

"Okay mom, just promise me you won't look at me like that when Tam's here will you. She'll think you have problems or something," I pleaded and then heard a knock on the door. I watched as Taylor let Tam in. It was the first time I'd seen her in regular clothes. She was wearing jeans … black jeans with blue v neck sweater. I hopped up to greet her in the foyer. She was looking around the area and then she smiled at me. Tamera had the coolest smile. It like changed the whole dynamic of her face when she did it.

"Nice place!" She greeted me.

"Thanks," I said as I took her backpack off her shoulder. "I set up in the living room if you want to get started." She walked in front of me and she had her curly hair pulled back in a ponytail and it made me realize how long it was. It almost touched her butt I smirked it was made cool.

"Fire Doritos," she said surprised and smirked at me. I wanted to say yes Tam I know they're your favorites that's why they are here. "You shouldn't have," she placed her hand on her chest and batted her eyes playfully. "I actually got you these," she mumbled as she rifled through her purse and pulled out some SourPatch Watermelon gummies.

"You know me so well," we both laughed at our stupidity. "What do you want to start with?"

"Science, because I hate it," she said as she pulled her bright purple laptop from her bag. Just then my mom cleared her throat she'd seen Tam a couple of times but hadn't talked to her or anything.

"Oh mom this is my Tam … I mean my best friend Tamera Black." I noticed Tam roll her eyes at me. "And Tam you know this is my mom." Tamera extended her hand and said her how do you dos. She was so damned formal.

"Thank you so much for allowing me to spend the weekend. I hope that Teddy and I will be able to finish all of our projects successfully."

"And have some fun," I added and Tam sighed.

"If time allows," she revised.

"I'm sure you two are very smart you'll have time to watch a movie or utilize the game room." Tam nodded but I could tell she wasn't but so interested in games. She was always anxious about making the grade I was sure that she would become more excited once we worked on something.

"Well, I'm going to get out of your hair. Let me know if you two need anything." Mom gave me that smile again and she promised she wouldn't. Once mom was down the hall and out of sight I refocused on the task at hand.

"Cool, I have some ideas for the science project," I started and she sat down and listened. She seemed really to one of the ideas but wanted to make a couple of changes and that was cool.

"Okay so I guess we're going to need clay. This is going to be kind of fun I have played with clay since I was like … eight," she snorted.

"Yeah I've got everything for that one it's in my room." I started to get up and grab it and then paused. "Did you want a tour of the house or whatever?"

"Okay," she got up and we walked toward me. "Oh and my dad wanted to meet you. Come on." I grabbed her hand and led her to my dad's office first. Dad was engrossed with whatever he was staring at on his computer. I went to enter his office and Tam stayed back. I looked at her confused.

"He's obviously busy," she whispered and motioned for me to come back.

"Not too busy for company from my son's favorite person," Dad declared. He stepped from behind his desk and stood there with his arms crossed. I was expecting Tam to swoon. Most girls did whenever they saw him.

"Sorry for the interruption Mr. Grey, it's nice to me you. My dad talks about you a lot." She extended her hand and my dad took it. He seemed … impressed I think.

"Oh really what does Mr. Black have to say about me," Dad inquired. She arched her eyebrow at my dad and chuckled to herself.

"My dad thinks you're an opportunist and an egomaniac, but the only reason I think he feels that way is because you keep sending him proposals to buy his business. I don't think that's ever going to happen by the way."

"I've heard worst said about me." Dad gave a little smirk. "You kids have fun I just wanted to see the girl my son keeps talking about." My eyes widened in horror did he realize how that sounded. We walked out of dad's office and after I showed her around we ended up in my room. I went into my closet and grabbed the stuff for the science project. I heard the mattress spring as she sat down on my bed. I turned to look at her she was looking at the picture of mom, dad, and me.

"You were a cute baby Ted," she said making small talk.

"Mom keeps that picture in here," I took it from her focused because it was kind of embarrassing.

"I was looking at that!" She huffed and went to reach for the picture and I pulled it away.

"Not much to see I think you got the point." She reached for it again and I held it away. This was kind of fun angry Tam was hilarious.

"Teddy! Stop being rude!" She was standing in front of me and I had the picture behind my back. She was struggling to get to it. "Just give it to me!" She whined. It was then that Mrs. Taylor came in seemed a little alarmed. She scanned the area briefly.

"You kids should probably head back downstairs," Mrs. Taylor seemed worried about something. I wasn't sure what.

"She's right we have wasted enough time let's get to work."