Sorry for not updating in awhile. School started back on Tuesday, the day after we got back from our trip, and I've been extremely busy. I don't think this chapter is my best, but I still think it's alright. Review anyway.
"Hey, Freddy," Summer said in a sing-song voice, as the two made there way down the halls towards the office for their session of 'couples therapy'.
"Hey, Summer," Freddy said in a mock tone.
"Wanna know a secret?" Summer asked, as the two turned a corner.
"How swell," Freddy droned, each word dripping with sarcasm. "Then, maybe after, we could pop popcorn and read the whole Baby-Sitter's Club series!"
"Not quite what I had in mind," Summer said. "I was gonna tell you how much I absolutely loathed you. Is 'loathe' in your vocabulary, or should I stick to three-letter-words?"
"I understand 'loathe', my little asparagus," Freddy said, rolling his eyes. "And its just super-duper that you said that, because your feelings are nothing but returned."
"Thanks for the reassurance."
"I wouldn't want you to worry," Freddy said, tapping lightly on the door marked 'principal' that now stood before them.
"Come in," Mr. Franklin's muffled voice said from inside the room.
The 'couple' entered the room: Freddy, to whom the office was a home away from home, flopped lazily on a chair, while Summer, who had never been in the office except for some sort of award, sat meekly down, infatuated with her hands that were folded neatly in her lap.
"Well, well, well," Mr. Franklin said, eyeing the two. "I thought you'd at least make it through first period."
"Aw man," Freddy said, glancing at the clock. "Two and a half more minutes and we would have made the goal, Summer!"
"Shut up, Freddy," Summer replied, shooting him the nastiest glare she could muster.
Mr. Franklin, however, was used to Freddy's sarcastic comments and continued speaking. "How many questions did you answer?" he asked, as Freddy placed two hands behind his head and leaned back.
"One," Summer said, looking Mr. Franklin in the eye for a split-second before returning her attention to her hands. "Almost," she added quietly.
"Almost?" the principal questioned, one eyebrow raised curiously over the other.
"You see, sir," Freddy said matter-of-factly, "Summer wouldn't let me pursue my occupation of choice."
"I'd never marry a drummer," Summer stated simply. "It's simply not realistic."
"And all of a sudden you find it realistic that we're even married?" Freddy asked, throwing his hands into the air.
"Well, of course not!" Summer said.
"Enough," Mr. Franklin said shortly. "Let me remind you that one-third of your grade rests on how well you get along. I know that Mr. Jones here might not really care, but I know for a fact that Ms. Hathaway does."
"I suggest you both work on getting along. Now, I want you two to report to this office after school every Monday from now until the end of the semester. Maybe being the only two around will boost your relationship."
"I doubt it," Freddy muttered.
"Go to class," Mr. Franklin sighed, ignoring Freddy once again.
---
Freddy and Summer completed their questions that Monday afternoon and did their best to ignore each other for the rest of the week. Then, the next Monday came along.
"Morning, Jones," Zack said lazily.
"Mooneyham," Freddy replied, trying furiously to remember his locker combination.
"24-18-02," Zack yawned. Freddy nodded and fidgeted until the blasted metal contraption opened. He stuffed books in his bag and he and Zack began towards their appropriate classrooms.
"I hate Mondays," Freddy said.
"They aren't so bad," Zack replied.
"Well, not if you're working with the best-looking girl in school. I'm stuck with Summer."
"Summer isn't ugly," Zack shrugged.
"No, but she sure is annoying," Freddy sighed as Zack turned another corner.
"You think I'm pretty," an all too familiar voice sang.
"Eavesdrop often, Hathaway?" Freddy asked, repeating Summer's words from earlier in the week.
"I passed Zack in the halls," Summer said, grinning from ear to ear. "I think I know why he and Katie are so madly in love."
"They could make the gossiping finals as a team," Freddy replied as the two entered Mrs. Bates classroom.
"Sit down," Mrs. Bates said, not quite as welcoming as the week before. "Alright, as I said at the beginning of this project, various challenges will be thrown your way. Today, I have your first challenge."
Carefully, Mrs. Bates reached into a box and pulled out an egg.
"I prefer scrambled, Mrs. Bates," Freddy said, smirking.
"I don't think that scrambling your child would be a very good idea, Frederick," Mrs. Bates sighed, placing the egg gently on her table and swapping it for a stack of papers, which she passed around the room.
"You will all receive an egg, which you must care for for the rest of the week, when you will get a new challenge. You and your spouse will take turns caring for the baby, which should never be left unattended. If for some reason you cannot get around that, make sure the egg is in a secure place. I will be checking the condition of your children during English class each day, so make sure they aren't cracked. This sheet I have passed out is a birth certificate. Fill it out and turn it in by the end of 6th period."
"We have a kid together," Freddy said simply. "How did that happen?"
"Well," Summer cleared her throat, "When a man and a woman love each other very, very much…"
"Ew," Freddy said. "Okay, I know how it happens, but I mean like how did me and you…Oh, never mind." Summer giggled as an egg was laid on the desk in front of her.
"Odd."
"What's odd?" Freddy asked.
"Having an egg for a baby," Summer replied, turning her attention to the birth certificate. "Guess what?"
"Mmm?"
"It isn't purple," she grinned. "This is not a very asparagus-y day."
"You're enjoying my company, then?" Freddy asked, giving her a wink.
"You're the one who thinks I'm beautiful," Summer said, smiling sweetly.
"That gets more and more exaggerated every time you say it," Freddy sighed.
"Whatever, Romeo, you know you love me," Summer sighed, picking up her pen. "Boy or girl?"
"Boy."
"Girl."
"Boy."
Summer's hand shot up in the air, waving like mad. "Mrs. Bates, can we have twins?"
"I suppose, if I have an extra egg." Reaching into the box and revealing an egg, Mrs. Bates set another egg on Summer's desk.
"I don't get it," Freddy said.
"A boy and a girl," Summer replied, smiling.
"Clever."
"Very. Let's name them, Romeo."
"Are you going to call me that from now on?"
"If you can call me an asparagus, I can call you Romeo."
"What if I quit calling you my little purple asparagus?"
"Then," Summer said, "I'd just feel even better every time I called you Romeo, Romeo."
"You're annoying," Freddy sighed, snatching the sheet away from her. "What were Romeo and Juliet's kids names?"
"Romeo and Juliet died, you idiot," Summer replied, snatching the paper back.
"But they were like married, right?"
"Being married doesn't automatically mean you have children. They had been married like a total of three days when they died."
"Romeo and Juliet."
"What?"
"Let's name them Romeo and Juliet."
"Aw," Summer sighed, clasping her hands together. "He's named after his daddy!"
Okay, kind of a random ending...Anyhoo, don't be expecting any updates in the next week. I'm stage-managing a play which I will have to practice for every day from 3:30-6:00 and I'm also in another play, swimming, dancing, and school-ing. So, I'll be kind of busy. Review to lower my stress level.