The Bad Boy And His Princess

Chapter 4

"Okay, guys today we will be starting a project. It is worth twenty-five percent of your final grade in Literature so I want you guys to work hard and well for this. It's an easy way to get marks if you know you're not gonna do well in the written exam. Now get into pairs." Mr.Dermott finished clapping his hands.

I always dreaded getting into pairs, everyone went to sit with their friends and all the loners were left looking around. I always hoped the teacher would choose the pairs.

I sighed and slumped in my seat. Whoever was left could sit beside me I wasn't going to stress myself.

I felt the chair beside me screech back. Someone sat beside me with a sigh. When I finally looked up, I grinned.

"Jer!"I cheered. He rolled his eyes and rested his head in his hand. I had forgotten he was in this class. It was really hard not to, he was really good at staying unnoticed.

"Okay, now that everyone is in groups, I will explain the project," Mr.Dermott said.

I zoned at looking outside. I'd rather be out there embracing nature.

"Princess?" someone asked, my eyes snapped to Jer.

"Huh?"I asked.

"Do you do that often?" he asked. His eyebrows raised.

I shook my head in awe. His eyebrows looked amazing! I wondered if he actually got them done or if they were just naturally perfect.

"What?"I asked again.

He shook his head. "Let's just talk about the project okay?"

I bobbed my head up and down happily.

"Okay, so we need to think of a plot for the story-"

"Um just before we do that, can you explain what the project is cos I have no clue what Mr. Kermit said."

"Well, he was saying...wait, Mr. Kermit?" he asked confused.

Oh had I said that out loud?

"Okay so I know it's mean but don't you think he sounds a bit like Kermit the Frog?"I whispered. Mr. Dermot had one of does nasally voices and it was so annoying! No offence to Kermit of course.

Jer bit his lip trying to hold in his laughter. "You are something else," he said shaking his head.

I smiled."Thanks!"

"So for the project, we need pick a Shakespearean play and modernize it or adjust it to our lives," he explained.

I groaned, I hated these kinds of projects.

"Don't worry we've got this. I like to read and I'm really good at writing," he told me.

"Oh so modest," I mumbled to myself. He frowned and gave me a look.

"Let's just pick a play". he muttered. I thought for a second before my eyes widened in joy.

"Not Romeo and Juliet!" he stated before I could speak. I pouted and slumped back into my seat.

"Merchant Of Venice," he said after a while. I shrugged not caring.

Mr.Dermott looked over our heads out our sheet where Jer had written the name of the play, he seemed satisfied and moved on.

"Now don't just sit there, I want you to start thinking about the plot, character traits, the differences between Shakespeare's time and now, the similarities. Come on! Get your pens moving." he said.

"Okay, so I don't think we should put as many characters in the story as the real thing cos there was a lot."

"And there were a few unnecessary scenes we can cut out."I pointed out. He nodded.

"So do you want to change the names of the characters?" he asked.

***

After lunch, I stopped Jeremiah from walking to his next class.

"What?" he snapped.

"We need to work on our project after school, "I told him ignoring his snappy tone.

He sighed. "Fine, we'll do it at yours."

I scoffed. "No. My dad would kill me if I ever brought a boy home, project or not."

"Well, we can't do it at mine."Jer countered.

"Why not?"I asked crossing my arms.

His features hardened. "Cos we can't, okay, I can't let you come to my house," he said walking passed me.

I followed him confused. "Okay, but where will we work on it?"I asked.

"The library."

"We can't, it's being renovated."

"The school library."

"I'm banned from there, "I said sheepishly.

He stopped and turned to me. "What? Why?"

"Apparently you're not allowed to sing and skip around the library."I scoffed shaking my head.

He looked at me like I was crazy. "There is definitely something wrong with you." he sighed."We'll have to go to the library in the town over. Are you free after school?" he asked.

"Yep, "I answered immediately. I was always free after school.

"Meet me in the car park after school then," he said before stalking off.

"Bye!"I called.

After school, I skipped down the stairs of the entrance after getting my things from my locker.

I looked around to see if I could spot Jer but when I didn't, I leaned against the stairs railing. I was kinda excited about this project. Jer always frowned and was always angry, I was hoping if I spent enough time with him he'd become a bit nicer. Don't worry, I know, I'm just a typical girl trying to change a guy but I can't help it!

But there are already signs that I'm changing him, even if he's laughing at me, he's still laughing, right? That's something.

"Princess."I heard someone call. I turned to see Jer walking down the stairs.

I followed him as he walked past me. "Hey, my name isn't that hard to remember. You keep calling me Princess. I don't act like one."

"Trust me you do," he asked.

"I don't!"I whined.

"And there's my proof," he called over his shoulder. “And If I’m letting you call me Jer, I get to call you whatever I want.”

I huffed and jogged to catch up with him. I wondered what car he had, or maybe he had a motorbike.

We stopped in front of a black Nissan and I pouted. I had never been on a motorcycle and I really wanted to.

"Will you stop standing there and get in." he snapped.

I quickly walked around the other side and got on the passenger side. “So grumpy,” I muttered.

He got into the car as well and started the engine. I sighed and leaned my head against the window.

"You okay?"Jer asked.

I shrugged indifferently and he sighed. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

My head snapped to him. "For what?"I asked confused. He didn't seem like someone who said sorry often.

"For snapping at you, if we're going to do this project together, I need to be nicer, I guess, " he said reluctantly.

"Oh."I smiled."It's fine."

I knew he wasn't a bad guy, I mean he was the one who came out to comfort me after what Simran had said and he always put up with me even though I knew I annoyed him. He was a good guy.

"We're here," he stated as he cut the engine. "Try not to get us banned. Okay?"

I rolled my eyes. "I guess I'll try."

We got out of the car and walked towards the building. It was much bigger than the one we had in our town but ours was much nicer.

"Come on," he said holding the door open for me. I walked past him and walked to a random table that was vacant.

We sat and brought out our materials.

"So any idea's for Antonio's job?"

“No, but we should name him Anthony instead.”

“Okay, are we changing all their names?” he asked writing in his notebook.

“Um no, I think Portia is okay and so is Nerissa, their names are cute.” I smiled.

“And Bassanio?” he asked.

“Oh, we have to change that. Maybe to um...Ben.”

“Ben? How do you go from Bassanio to Ben?” he asked incredulously.

“It’s completely logical!” I argued.

“How?” he asked.

“B for Bassanio, B for Ben.”

He facepalmed. “We’re not using Ben.

“But-”

“No.”

“But-”

“No!”

***

"Just drop me off here please, I don't want my Dad to see your car," I said.

He pulled over a couple of houses down from mine.

"Thanks for the ride!"I smiled.

"No problem. And I want to get this project done as soon as possible so we will be going to that library every day after school, okay?"

I rolled my eyes. "Ugh, fine Bossyboots. Bye."

He nodded and drove off once I closed the door.

As I unlocked the door to my house, I heard someone call my name from behind me. I turned around and when I saw who it was I grinned.

"Millie!"I squealed.

She was my next door neighbor who happened to be my only friend, unfortunately, she went to a different school. As she ran towards me her braids bounced around her face.

"Hey babe!" she said hugging me. "What’s up?"

I opened the door to my house and we both walked in.

"Okay, so you came running out of your house calling for me and you ask me what's up?"I laughed. “By the way, I’m loving that top.”

The vibrant yellow looked amazing against her dark skin.

She beamed. "Thank you! And okay, okay, I just really have something to tell you but I'm kinda embarrassed," she said twirling a few of her braids around her finger.

"What?"I asked. "Is it a boy?"

She followed me into the kitchen where I grabbed a cup of chocolate pudding from the fridge and a spoon.

"Yes!" she squealed.

"Tell me!"I said smacking her arm.

"Okay so remember how I started taking dance classes?" she asked.

I nodded grimacing. I didn't want to be mean and discourage her but I really didn't think dancing was her thing.

"Well I was struggling in class and the instructor’s brother, who had been helping out for the day, offered to help me out after class." she grinned."And we just kinda hit it off.”

“He actually goes to your school!" she said.

"Really? What's his name?"I asked scooping up some of the pudding and stuffing it in my mouth.

She grabbed a spoon and stuck it in my pudding. "Hey! Get your own!" I whined.

She stuck her tongue and ate it anyway."His name's Ryan Smith ."

I nodded."I think I know him."I told her although I didn't even notice Jer in any of my classes until a couple of weeks ago so who even knows.

"Cool!" she clapped. "I'm so happy! I really like him and I think he really likes me. We're actually moving pretty fast."

"That's great Mills! I'm happy for you."

She grinned."So what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," she said poking my shoulder.

"Come on Rory, you must have something to tell me, you never seem too," she said using my nickname.

"Uh..well, there is something."I sighed.

"What?" she asked excitedly. I and Millie were both pretty perky people and my Dad hated when we hung out around him, he said it was like torture.

"Okay, so I just met this guy named Jeremiah-"

"Hold the phone! A guy?" she asked and when I nodded she screamed."Oh my gosh Aurora, you've never told me about a boy!"

"Well we're only friends Millie, if you could even call it that, but he sits with me at lunch and we're doing a project together."

"Do you like him?"

"I'm not sure. I definitely want to get to know him. He seems really interesting."

"Well I'm happy you're finally making friends in school," she said.

"Me too,"I said grinning back. "Now, how about we watch T.V?" I asked as I walked into the living room. She followed me and we plopped down on the couch.

"Disney?"I asked. I know, I know a seventeen-year-old watching Disney Channel? Well, I don't care. I will love Disney forever.

"Sure." she laughed.