"Everyone has to work with their partners for this whole semester to create one large investigative piece of your choice. You have months to work on this, so don't leave it till the last day." Mrs Daniels spoke to the room. "We only have fifteen minutes left of this session, so I want you to make some time with your partner now and talk about ideas. At some point today before our session tomorrow, I want you to have worked with your partner. You need to have a one paragraph idea breakdown to show me tomorrow."

Groans spread through the room like wildfire as the teacher finished her sentence. Both Mia and Billy were one of the only ones who didn't immediately curl their faces up in disgust at the task but rather choosing not to speak to eachother. That was also odd, as most people within a minute of Mrs Daniels instructions had turned to their partners and began discussing.

This was a perfect opportunity for Mia to study those around her. For once their attention wasn't on her and she could watch as the women gossiped leaving the men to sit back and talk loudly to eachother. From the snippets of conversation she could hear she understood that her initial view on the women that approached her was correct. She really didn't want to be friends with them. And by judging everyone else around her, she didn't want to be friends with any of the men either. Everyone seemed too wrapped up their own personal bubbles, their minds filled with fake drama.

Mia could tell that the man next to her, Billy, wasn't the same as them. He seemed withdrawn, not willing to insert himself in whatever was happening around him. People seemed to avoid him, their gazes suggesting nothing but contempt for the man. Mia couldn't understand why. Yeah, he had been quite surly with her but was that enough off of a reason to make the man an outcast?

She was about to find out.

"So... Any ideas for the project?" She tried to start a conversation with him, keeping her voice light. She didn't want any sign of the irritation she felt before to bleed into her words. If he heard her he made no show of it, keeping his head down and continuing to write. "What you writing there? Some ideas?"

Billy huffed, his head down. "You can just stick your name on my work alright? Just let me do it and we can go our seperate ways."

She blinked, "What?"

"I'm not interested in working with anyone. I'll do the work and you can just put your name on the end of it." His voice was sharp as he spoke.

"With all due respect, Billy, that isn't going to work for me." He stops writing but doesn't look up. "I don't let anyone do my work for me. If I'm your partner then I'm all in. I'll research whatever you want to do but I will be apart of it. I'm not a dead weight."

"You can't be apart of it." He states, shaking his head.

"And why the hell not?" She snaps.

"It's private."

"Private?" She scoffs. "I don't know anyone in this town. Who the hell will I tell?"

"How about the bitchy trio you were with before?" He snaps back, looking up at her.

"Them?" She points over to the women who were giggling obnoxiously. "I don't know them."

"I saw you talking with them. They just want some more ammo." His tone was stern as he watched her face contort in frustration.

"Look I really dont know what your problem is. I want to work with you. I'm willing to help you. I've just moved here, I have no one to talk too and I would rather not speak to them again. Do not judge me for their actions. I didn't call them over." She ranted. "I just want to work with you. Not against you. Whatever you want to do, I'll do. I'll be at the library in an hours time. Meet me there if you want to discuss ideas but if not then don't come."

He seemed taken aback by her rant but was too proud to show it, huffing a breath out that made his hair shift. "Whatever."

"Why don't you give me a chance." She said, a soft smile gracing her face.

He opened his mouth as if to respond but shut it again as the lecturer told everyone it was time to pack up and leave. Mia begrudgingly grabbed her stuff and shoved them into her bag, not caring for order.

She didn't pay much attention to anyone else as she stood, tucking her chair in under the desk neatly. She discreetly watched Billy try to get his papers in order out of the corner of her eye, not wanting to openly stare at him as he moved sluggishly. He winced a few times as he bent down to grab his bag, huffing as he lifted it up onto his knees. Everything looked as though it hurt the man, even the slightest movements seemed to send a grimace onto his face. Mia didn't realise she had been watching him for so long, her hands still resting on the top of the chair as he stood ever so slowly.

He had to use the table for support whilst the other wrapped around his stomach. He could barely stand up straight, his body hunched as he tried to regain his breath. He got himself stable for a moment before letting his hand that was gripping the table smack down onto the surface.

Mia jumped, the noise frightening her out of her trance.

"Like what you see?" His voice was much harsher than it had been before. She was taken aback by how menacing he had become.

"I'm... I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare..." She tried to apologise but he cut her off.

"Yeah. They never do, huh?" He let the hand that was on the table move to meet his other, both arms wrapping around his middle as he took hesitant small steps away from her. He didn't look back as he walked, the rest of the room pretty much empty now save for a few stragglers who were enjoying the spectacle. Mia watched him leave, her brows furrowed.

One of the men laughed as Billy approached their desk. Mia felt bad for Billy, not understanding why everyone felt the need to laugh. Clearly Billy wasn't just in a bad mood with her as he kicked the man's bag that was on the floor away from him. There wasn't much force behind it (and she could see even that caused him pain) but it was still enough to make the laughter cease.

"Hey man what's your problem?" The man shouted, standing to meet Billy.

"Hey man what's your problem?" Billy mocked, his voice high pitched and nasal as he pretended to be a whiny child. "Stupid pile of shit."

"What you say to me?" The man threatened. "Conspiracy freak."

Billy pushed the man, albeit weakly, which was enough to get the teachers attention as the chairs squeaked along the floor with the force of the other man falling backwards.

"Hey! Both of you! Break it up!" Mrs Daniels shouted, stepping in-between the men and picking up the discarded bag on route. "Go on. Get out."

Billy stared for a moment, not moving. Mia couldn't see his expression, only the back of his head, but she could tell by his body language that he was tense. She felt relief when he continued walking, her eyes drifting to look at the outraged man who had his bag handed back to him.

Billy didn't hang around, leaving the room without any further fanfare leaving Mia to question it all...

What the hell have I gotten myself into?