There wasn't anyway to avoid the circumstance. What would happen would happen. I sat in my seat, listening to the teacher saying that by the end of the period we would be in our groups and endeavoring on our latest project. It would take extensive research, brainstorming topics, and then after the paper was complete we would do a presentation. I started glancing around the classroom, seeing the thoughts that were already running through my classmates' heads. Who their possible options were.
Some would watch the teacher, but once her attention would shift they'd start making gestures with their heads towards acquaintances they made. My friends however, had already started taking out sticky notes from their pouches and starting to write with their lead pencils. Could I be screwed for this upcoming project? I had a mild guess that none of those notes would be coming my way. Even Heather had never spared a glance in my direction. I considered taking a sticky note out of my binder. Maybe try to enter the written conversation before I was thrown out entirely?
She was on the verge of finishing the presentation. Soon enough the overhead projector would flick on, a page would slip under, and she'd tell us to find our groups and then she'd discuss the presentation further. I racked my brain of who were my possible options if my friends would truly leave me alone. I had some in this class, and though we didn't always hang out I would have liked to work on this project with them. Just work with someone I get along with. This project was a large part of our grade, one of the few that would dominate our finals grades besides the exams.
All right class, I'd like you to find a partner to do this assignment. Once you've found someone, you're free to grab one of the packets on my desk, and write both of your names on the sheet. Now keep in mind that it's one per group."
Some people swooped out of their chairs. Others merely started gathering their stuff and shifting their desks so they faced one another. I saw my friends pair up with one another before I could even approach and ask if they wanted to work together. I had effectively been left out. I stared around the room, wondering which final options were left. My binder hung at my side as I stood awkwardly next to my empty desk. I was able to guess who was left without a partner. I couldn't help but let out an audible groan. Not him. You could not make me work with him. Not with a project of this capacity.
"Ms. Hofferson, do you have a partner yet?"
I slumped into my chair. No point in refusing. It could easily be seen. It was only me and one other person left. Hiccup Haddock. One of the worst boys in school. He never gave a crap about anything, he smoked on school grounds, and rumors were that he carried a Swiss Army knife with him at all times. There was a black leather jacket that seemed to be all he ever wore, and he had never completed a single assignment for this class. I did not want to work with him.
"Haddock, where is your partner?"
"He's right here next to me, can't you see him?" He gestured to an empty seat mockingly.
"I'm afraid you cannot work alone on this project."
"And why not?" The both of us protested.
"The work is far too taxing. The project is constructed so that it requires the work of two people. So that means, Haddock and Hofferson, you're working together."
I snapped my head back to look at him. He smiled smugly, sinking farther back into his seat. There was nothing on his desk, not a pen or paper. Gods this wasn't going to be pleasant, and I was the one who had to move. I begrudgingly clutched my notebook, and moved to sit next to him. He sat in the back of the classroom, and all I could see was a sagging backpack next to the desk. I slid into the desk, wishing I could turn my back on him, but that wouldn't work. The desks weren't constructed that way.
"I think you forgot to go get us a packet." He said.
I immediately glared at him. "Why don't you go do it?"
"I wasn't the one who had to switch seats. You were already up anyway."
I could've sat there debating with him another five minutes, I could have just let the both of us sit without a packet. We clearly were not eager to work with each other. Though I remembered how much this project was worth. If either of us slacked off our grades would take huge consequences. I slid out of the seat and swiped a packet off of the desk. As I walked by my friends I saw Heather give me a look of pity. Pointing to her cell phone when I passed. I dumped the packet on his desk, sitting back down while crossing my arms.
"See, everyone could use a little exercise now and then."
I couldn't help but take in a deep breath and let it end with a scowl. There was a possibility that I would be throttling Haddock by the end of the period. Forcing my gaze to the front of the room, I waited until the teacher had set up her own packet under the projector. She started discussing the project, a blue highlighter poised in her hand to outline important details. My hand was reaching for the packet on Haddock's desk when he slapped it away. He was skimming the packet himself, flipping the pages with minute responses to the details read.
I waited with my hand extended until he finished investigating. I already had my highlighter out by then, and quickly copied the colorations on the teacher's paper before she flipped the page. She gave us a short list of websites where we could look for possible topics. We would need to get her approval by the end of the week. The essay would be due first, then a week later we'd have to give presentations. Suggesting to split the work so the pair would get the same amount of work. I let out a whistled breath of annoyance.
It certainly wouldn't be equal if I had to work with him. There was a lot riding on this. If the work wasn't completed, my grade would surely take a consequence. His could only sink lower. This was the semester that would make it or break it for us to graduate. I couldn't risk being derailed simply because my teammate was a lazy ignorant person. As soon as the teacher finished discussing the project, I turned to Hiccup. Putting on the sternest face I could.
"Look, I know you don't give a crap about this, but I do. So help me gods, you better do your part or I'll make sure you're in more than one piece."
"Heh." He had the nerve to smirk. "I won't put up a debate with you. This project actually seems worth doing."
"It is worth 20% of our grade."
"Yes I think I can read." He gestured to the packet.
I flicked out my cell phone, opening a tab and typing in a link to one of the websites. I took out an index card, writing down a few additional links before passing it to Hiccup. He grasped it with no complaint, but as soon as I returned to my phone he leaned over and slid it into a pocket of his backpack.
"Those are the links you need to look up. Get to it."
"Can't. My phone don't got access to the Internet."
