----- I hope the story picks up the pace soon. Here's the next chapter you asked for! ----

"Alright students, here's what's going to happen." Says Mr. Kane, voice booming. Lillian and I share uneasy glances. All of us are leaning against the wall, our books bundled in our arms as we shift our weight uncomfortably from foot to foot. He's forbidden us from sitting down. Now we have to stand while he drones on and on.

"I'm going to assign you a partner. Don't beg, don't plead, I already matched you all up last night. Drew names from a hat, I did." A groan goes throughout our whole class. Not me – I've been warned. "I told you. No complaining. Now, as you can see the desks have been split into rows, with two desks next to each other. You and your partner will sit next to each other. That will make working together much easier." He adds.

More groans, and this time I groan too. Kennedy didn't tell me about that. "Enough!" Mr. Kane roars. We zip it. Quickly.

"When I call your name, sit down somewhere with your partner." Mr. Kane says and begins. He calls Melissa, Lillian, thier partners, a few other girls, and then – me. "Niomi L. with Max K."

What the frig? Who the hell is Max? I look around, there are only a few guys left. I know all of them. There's George and Dave and Pete and Edwin and…oh. Edwin. I'm an idiot. Wait a minute – I have to work with him!?!

I say the last bit out loud. "Yes Ms. Lem," says Mr. Kane disapprovingly, "You have to work with Max. Fate has decided."

Max or Edwin or whoever grins somewhat pridefully as we sit down. All I can think is, Fate has decided? Bologna!

"Look," I hiss, "Don't think I'm going to talk to you. We do the project, we ignore each other." I can't believe I got this idiot in my geography class and my homeroom. Why me? It's Kennedy who likes him! "When did you decide?" Max/Edwin inquires, his voice barely past a murmur. I frown, "Decide what?" "To hate me." He smirks.

"I don't hate you!" I huff. Except, because he's accused me of this, I kind of do. "Oh really?" he asks skeptically. "Really." I say surely and then add more to myself, "I think." "Convincing. Truly." Edwin/Max mutters sarcastically. "Whatever! Can you just tell me one thing?" I question. "If you're going to ask me what the project is on, I don't know." He mumbles.

"I already know what it's about." I say victoriously, "I was just wondering what your real name is."

Max (or possibly Edwin) grins, "My last name is actually Kullun. I was going to tell your friend that Edward was my first name. I thought that'd be pushing it." He replies. I scowl. "Kennedy would believe anything you say. She's head over heals for you." I roll my eyes. "Why are you so quick to spill your best-friend's secrets?" he inquires accusingly. "Because." I answer. "Because?" he prods.

"You can read Kennedy like a book. Her facial expression, body language, it's all a dead giveaway. Besides which, I'm a good judge of character." I answer – sure of myself. "Oh?" he challenges. "Yes. You have acute hearing, likely because of your tendency to eavesdrop. You're new to school so you focus your attention on one group – my friends and I. You like being ahead of the game, therefore knowing things others don't or wouldn't expect you to – that's why you said your name was Edwin Kullun. You have a good memory for faces, which is how you remember Kennedy from the video store and why you associate my group as people you know." I tell him firmly.

Max's face pales. I grin successfully. Mr. Kane begins to talk, "Your geography project will be on a country that I will assign you. You must figure out…" That's when Max starts to talk. "I can tell you a bit about yourself, too." He whispers. I raise my eyebrow and throw him a try me look.

"Alright. Your favourite show is Criminal Minds. You hope there really is such thing as the BAU so that you can join it some day. Your pet peeve is having your name spelt and pronounced correctly – common in most people with uncommon names and spellings. You don't like dependant, wimpy people – which is why you hate me so much, because of how Kennedy obsesses. And why Bella is far from your favourite character in Twilight, because of how she acted in New Moon. You like to be correct. That's why you were so sure my name wasn't actually Edwin. You have a good memory, which is why you were so fed up with Mr. Kane's name game – you already knew everyone, and how they were. And, you already knew everyone because of your little BAU dream."

I gulp. Max has got me almost dead on. Then I glare at him.

"The project." I say. "And nothing else."