Partners
1876 Words
I walked out of Mrs. Williams' office without looking back. I didn't care if Adrian followed her. I didn't care if he stayed. I only cared about one thing. The project.
It wasn't the assignment itself that bothered me. I had never been afraid of hard work. What bothered me was the person i'd been paired with.
Adrian Blackwood. Out of every student in Westbridge Academy, it had to be him.
"You walk really fast."
I closed my eyes for a brief second.
"I was hoping you'd go away."
"I get that a lot."
"I doubt that."
Adrian shrugged as he caught up beside me.
"So... partners."
"No."
"You know we don't actually have a choice."
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like this?"
I stopped walking and turned to face him.
"Because I don't know you."
"And?"
"And I don't like you."
His eyebrows lifted.
"You don't even know me."
"I know enough."
"Such as?"
I studied him for a moment before answering.
"You're arrogant."
"Ouch."
"You're spoiled."
"A little harsh."
"You enjoy being the center of attention."
"I can't help that."
"And you've never had to work for anything in your life."
For the first time since we met, Adrian didn't have a witty response.
Instead, he simply smiled.
"You've got me all figured out after one conversation."
"I don't need another one."
I turned and continued walking.
Adrian watched her disappear into the crowd.
It should've annoyed him.
Instead...
He found himself smiling.
"Interesting," he muttered.
---
By the end of the school day, i was exhausted. Chemistry had been unbearable. History had dragged on forever. And somehow, Adrian had managed to appear outside nearly every classroom i entered. Not because we shared classes. Because he kept "accidentally" running into me.
The last bell finally rang. Students poured into the hallways, laughing as they rushed toward the parking lot. Luxury cars lined one side of the school entrance. Buses waited on the other. I adjusted my backpack and headed toward the bus stop.
"You're late."
Mrs. Williams' voice echoed from behind.
I turned. She stood in the doorway with folded arms.
"So is your partner."
Almost on cue, Adrian strolled across the courtyard with both hands in his pockets.
"Sorry," he said casually.
"I wasn't."
Mrs. Williams sighed.
"My classroom. Both of you."
The room felt strangely quiet after school. Sunlight poured through the windows, casting long shadows across the empty desks. Mrs. Williams placed a thick folder on her desk.
"This project is worth forty percent of your English grade."
I immediately reached for the folder. Adrian didn't.
"Your task is simple," Mrs. Williams continued. "Choose a classic novel, analyze its themes, and present your findings before the entire school."
Adrian groaned.
"That doesn't sound simple."
Mrs. Williams ignored him.
"You'll also submit a written report."
I flipped through the pages, already making mental notes.
Adrian noticed.
"You've already started?"
"Unlike you, I don't wait until the night before."
He leaned against a desk and crossed his arms.
"I work better under pressure."
"You work better letting other people do the work."
The classroom fell silent. Adrian's smile disappeared.
"You think that's who I am?"
"I think that's who everyone says you are."
For a brief moment, something unreadable flashed across his face. It was gone almost instantly.
"Maybe everyone doesn't know me."
Before i could reply, Mrs. Williams clapped once.
"Enough. Tomorrow after school, you'll begin researching together."
Together. The word echoed in my mind like a punishment. As we packed up to leave, Adrian spoke quietly.
"I'll be here tomorrow."
I didn't answer.
"You don't believe me?"
"No."
He slipped one hand into his pocket and smiled—not the cocky grin everyone at school knew, but something softer.
"I guess I'll have to prove you wrong."
I simply walked away without another word. But for reasons i couldn't explain...
I found myself wondering if he'll actually would show up.
I should've known he wouldn't let it go. The moment I stepped through the school gates the next morning, I saw him. Leaning against the hood of a sleek black sports car like he had all the time in the world.
Adrian Blackwood. His uniform was perfectly pressed, his tie hung just loose enough to look intentional, and there was an irritating confidence in the way he smiled at everyone who walked past.
Girls giggled. Guys called out his name.
He acknowledged them with effortless charm.
Typical.
I adjusted the strap of my backpack and headed toward the main building, pretending I hadn't noticed him.
No such luck.
"Good morning, partner."
I didn't stop walking.
"I've had better mornings."
He matched my pace.
"I showed up."
"I can see that."
"You said I wouldn't."
"I also said you were annoying."
He placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"You're hurting my feelings."
"I'll survive."
"No, I said my feelings."
I let out a quiet sigh.
"Don't you have admirers waiting for you somewhere?"
"I do."
"So why are you here?"
He looked at me for a second before answering.
"Because talking to you is more interesting."
I frowned.
"I think you need a new hobby."
He laughed.
A real laugh this time.
It caught me off guard.
For a split second, he didn't look like the arrogant heir everyone worshipped.
He just looked... normal.
The thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
No.
I wasn't about to let one genuine smile fool me.
Rich boys were good at pretending.
And Adrian Blackwood looked like he'd had years of practice.
The next afternoon arrived much sooner than i would have liked.
The final bell echoed through Westbridge Academy, and the once-busy hallways slowly emptied as students hurried home. Some rushed toward the parking lot, others toward the buses, while a handful stayed behind for club meetings or sports practice.
I stood by my locker, carefully arranging my textbooks inside my bag. I checked the time. 3:28 p.m.
Mrs. Williams had told us to meet in the library at half past three. Knowing Adrian, he'd probably forget. Or worse, he'd remember and simply decide not to come. Neither option would surprise me.I slung my backpack over one shoulder and made my way toward the library, the quietest place on campus once classes ended.
The scent of old books greeted me as soon as I stepped inside. Rows of shelves stretched from one end of the room to the other. Only a few students remained, whispering over homework or typing on laptops.
Mrs. Dawson, the librarian, smiled as I entered.
"Back again?"
I returned the smile.
"I've got a project."
"You always do."
I nodded politely before walking toward one of the study tables near the window.
The afternoon sunlight streamed across the polished wooden surface.
I unpacked my notebook, laptop, and the project folder Mrs. Williams had given us.
Three-thirty. No Adrian. I wasn't surprised. By three-thirty-five, i'd already highlighted two chapters of the novel list and written down possible themes.
By three-forty, i had outlined an introduction. At three-forty-five, i heard footsteps.
Slow, unhurried footsteps. I didn't bother looking up.
A chair scraped against the floor.
"I knew you'd start without me."
His voice carried that same effortless confidence.
I kept writing.
"You were late."
"I was twelve minutes late."
"Fifteen."
"You counted?"
"I value my time."
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
"So do I."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
He shrugged.
"I just value it differently."
Silence settled between us.
Mrs. Dawson shot them a warning glance from behind the circulation desk.
"No talking loudly," she mouthed.
Adrian lowered his voice.
"So... where do we start?"
I slid the project folder across the table.
"Read."
He looked at the thick stack of pages.
"That's a lot of reading."
"It is."
"You've already done most of it, haven't you?"
"I've started."
He sighed dramatically.
"This is going to be painful."
"For you."
He chuckled under his breath before opening the folder.
For the next twenty minutes, neither of us spoke. The only sounds were pages turning, keyboards clicking, and the occasional rustle of paper from another table. I stole a glance at him, i expected him to be scrolling through his phone.
Instead, he was actually reading.
His brows were slightly furrowed in concentration.
Every now and then, he scribbled something in the margin with surprisingly neat handwriting.
I quickly looked away before he noticed.
Maybe he wasn't pretending after all.
"Found something?"
His voice made me jump slightly.
"I wasn't looking at you."
"Liar."
"I was checking if you'd fallen asleep."
He smirked.
"Disappointed?"
"A little."
Before either of us could continue, Mrs. Dawson approached their table carrying two heavy books.
"I think these will help."
She placed them between us. One was a collection of literary criticism, the other focused on symbolism in classic novels.
"Thank you," I said sincerely.
Adrian nodded politely.
"Thanks, Mrs. Dawson."
The librarian smiled.
"You two make a good team."
Adrian and I spoke at exactly the same time.
"We're not a team."
Our identical response earned a quiet laugh from the librarian.
"I'll let time decide that."
She walked away before either of us could argue. An awkward silence settled over the table. Adrian rubbed the back of his neck.
"You know... we should probably stop trying to prove we hate each other."
"I don't have to try."
"Ouch."
For a moment, i thought i saw genuine hurt flicker across his face. It vanished almost instantly, replaced by his usual easy smile. Still...
Something about that brief expression stayed with me. Perhaps there was more to Adrian Blackwood than expensive cars, tailored uniforms, and effortless confidence. Perhaps, But i wasn't ready to believe it just yet.
- Writer
