Keith

Perfect, perfect, perfect! I crowed inwardly. It was the end of history class Monday afternoon and I had just found out Jana and I were going to be working on a project TOGETHER. Just the TWO of us, for two weeks!! I almost couldn't believe my good luck. I felt like, for the first time over the year or so I'd been at Wakeman, running up and giving Mr. Naset a hug. What a great teacher!

Just then the bell rang, signaling the end of class, and I had barely gotten to my feet when Jana was standing beside me, smiling.

"Hey, Keith. We'll have to talk about when we can get together to research and stuff. The Second Punic War's a pretty big event- we'll have to start pretty soon or we'll never get done," she said, shifting her books.

"Er, um, yeah," I replied, feeling a slight blush creep up my face. I loved being around Jana, but it always made my head feel kind of light, and I would forget certain things for awhile. And good grief, the Second Punic War. Thank goodness she'd said that or I wouldn't have known what we were supposed to be working on. I'd kind of tuned out after Mr. Naset said our names together.

I realized I was just standing there, stuttering like a dork, so I hurried on. "Oh, definitely. The Second Punic War is definitely a big one. We'll probably have to go to the library first."

An amused smile spread across her face and her eyes got that kind of sparkle people get in them when they're trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, we'll definitely have to go to the library first. Unless you have some books on the subject. I don't, but maybe I'm just weird."

I forced a laugh, and shook my head. Boy, she must really think I'm an idiot now. Oh well, I thought. I have two whole weeks to show her I'm the most interesting, worthwhile guy at Wakeman.

"I gotta go," she said suddenly, reaching out and touching my shoulder gently. "See you around."

"Yeah, see you." I echoed, picking up my books off the desk, my shoulder still tingling where she'd brushed it. Almost everyone had left the classroom by now, and I realized I'd have to really hurry to get to English Lit in time.

"Hey, Masterson. You look pysched, what's up?" Tony Sanchez asked me, when I slid into the desk next to him in Ms. Dickenson's room a few moments later. I grinned at him.

"Nothing. We just got assigned a project in History class."

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, there's certainly a reason to celebrate," he said sarcastically.

"We got partners," I continued.

Tony looked blank a minute, then he smiled. "Aha. So I take it you got someone good."

"Yup. VERY good. For two weeks."

"Well, who?" Tony pressed. "Hurry up, Ms. Dickenson will be starting soon."

I glanced around to make sure none of Randy's close followers were nearby before answering. "Jana Morgan."

Tony raised both eyebrows this time. "Well, yeah, I'd have to say she'd be a good one for a partner, but I wouldn't care WHO I was paired up with- school projects are the pits."

I shrugged and grinned. "She's hot."

"I'll say, but-" Tony replied, then he looked at me closer. "Wait a minute. Things are starting to click into place here. Could it be possible that you have a crush on her... still?"

I shrugged again.

Tony groaned. "May I remind you of all the trouble that got you into last year, *and* the fact that she's dating Randy Kirwan, who in case you haven't noticed, still does not enjoy being in your company... to put it lightly. And hey, I thought she didn't like you either."

"We made up- over the weekend," I started talking quicker, as Ms. Dickenson had just finished writing on the board. "She's 'buried the hachet', as she put it."

"Has Randy?" Tony asked. Oh please! I thought.

"Ha! That would be the day," I snorted, causing Sara Sawyer, who sat in front of me, to turn around and give me a weird look. I leaned closer to Tony to reply. "He hasn't, but that doesn't matter as long as she has."

Tony frowned. "I still don't think you should try to steal his girlfriend."

"I'm not exactly trying to... steal his girlfriend," I said slowly, trying to think of a nice way to put it. "I'm just..."

"All right, class. Settle down," Ms. Dickenson called out before I had a chance to finish. Tony sighed again, and I leaned back in my own seat. Well, who cared what Tony thought anyway. Not like he was a saint. I didn't even want anyone's approval. I didn't need it for one thing. I would do it all on my own, whether people liked it or not. I just hoped Tony wouldn't tell Randy anything I'd said. Randy was going to be mad enough I was working with his precious Jana on the project. Oh well, I smiled. Not like he could do anything about it.