"Okay class, your science fair project counts for a quarter of your overall grade, so try not to mess it up." Said our science techer. The class looked around eachother with nervous faces.

The teacher knew what we were thinking - "Okay, now I will tell you who your partners are going to be."

"Please be someone good, please be someone good," I chanted in my head as the teacher called out pairs. Clare got Adam; lucky for her I guess.

"Alli with Eli." The teacher called. Clare shot me a glance. I turned around to look over at where Eli usually sits. Oh, he wasn't in today. Great, that meant I'd have to go up to him myself and tell him we're partners - like it wouldn't be awkward enough anyway.

After the bell rang, I caught up with Clare and Adam who were probably making arrangements for their project. "Hey Adam, where's Eli?" I asked.

"He's at home with a fever. He said he'll probably be in tomorrow though. I could tell him he's partnered with you if you want." He offered.

"Sure, thanks." I said. Adam walked off.

"So, do you think you and Eli will work together well?" Clare asked.

"I don't know, is he any good at science?" I asked her.

"I actually don't know..." She said, frowning.

"Oh yeah, how did English with him go yesterday?"

"It was okay, we didn't really talk."

"Meaning you didn't talk at all?" I sarcastically smiled.

"In due time!" She said, followed by us both giggling.

I finally spotted Eli at the library the next day at lunch, while I was taking out some books for some science fair 'inspiration'.

He saw me walk up to him. "We've been partnered for the science fair." I told him.

"Oh yeah, I think Adam mentioned that." He replied.

"So, seeing as you look busy now," I gestured towards the books he had in his hand, "do you want to meet up at the café after school, to sort out what we're doing and stuff like that?"

"Um, sure."

"Okay. See you then." I walked off to meet Clare.

"Do you want to come to my house after school?" She asked, while we ate our lunch.

"I can't, I'm meeting Eli to work on the science fair." I replied.

"Boo." She said, giving me a sorrowful look.

"You should get started on yours."

"I wanted to, but Adam's busy tonight."

"Well, sorry."

"Yeah, whatever." She said, giving me a little smile.

I had been waiting at the café for over fifteen minutes now. "Hello." I heard from behind me. I turned around. Finally, Eli was here.

"What took you so long?" I asked, irritated.

"I forgot we were meeting up." He replied, with no apology.

"Okay. Well, while I was waiting I made us a timetable, for when we're going to work on our project." I handed him the paper, which he then frowned at.

"We really need a timetable? What are we even doing?"

"Well, I was thinking of us making a robot."

"What?" He laughed.

"Hear me out. I did a project like this last year, we just never finished. But if we finish it - trust me, it will be A+ material."

"Ugh. Can't we just do something on how plants grow or something?"

"This counts as a quarter of our grade, you know..."

He sared at me blankly. My patience was running thin by now. Why was Eli being so difficult, didn't he wan't a good grade? But the new Alli had to keep her cool. "Okay, how about we negotiate?" I offered, "Your probably still recovering from yesterday or whatever. Let's cancel today's session and discuss this the next time. Our next session is back here. Happy?"

"Okay, fine." He said, and got up to leave.

"Your order - two milkshakes." Said Peter, placing them on the table. "Oh." He said, watching Eli leave out the window. I looked up at him. "Why don't I take one of these back? I won't charge you for it."

"Thanks, Peter." I sighed. If every session goes like this, I'm going to fail science for sure.