Chapter 29: The Project
845 Words
The project officially stopped being annoying and started being dangerous.
Not physically dangerous.
Academically dangerous.
Which, at Kingsley Academy, was basically the same thing.
A week after receiving the assignment, every group was expected to submit a progress report. Unfortunately, the teachers had apparently decided that ordinary suffering wasn't enough. Now students needed additional research, interviews, presentations, and a written report long enough to make everyone question their life choices.
The complaints were immediate.
"This should be illegal."
"I haven't slept properly in days."
"I miss being happy."
Ava agreed with all three statements.
Unfortunately, she had bigger problems.
His name was Ethan Blackwood.
---
After school, they met in the library again. By now, they'd claimed the same table so often that other students had unofficially accepted it belonged to them.
Not that either would admit it.
"I finished the interview section."
Ethan looked up from his laptop. "Already?"
Ava smirked. "Some of us don't procrastinate."
"I don't procrastinate."
"You absolutely do."
"I planned my schedule."
"You watched football highlights for forty minutes."
"That was research."
Ava stared.
Ethan stared back.
Eventually she shook her head.
"You're unbelievable."
---
The project was becoming harder, but strangely, working together wasn't.
The arguments still happened.
Daily.
Sometimes hourly.
But now they spent more time discussing ideas than insulting each other.
Mostly.
At least fifty percent.
Which was probably progress.
---
Two days later, they were conducting interviews for their research when disaster struck.
Ava's recorder stopped working.
Right in the middle of an important interview.
She stared at the device.
Pressed the button again.
Nothing.
Pressed it harder.
Still nothing.
"Please work."
Nothing.
"Come on."
Nothing.
"This thing is about to meet God."
Ethan nearly laughed.
"Violence won't fix it."
"It might."
The recorder eventually survived.
Barely.
The interview survived too.
Somehow.
By the end, both were exhausted.
"Why does this project feel like a full-time job?" Ava complained.
"Because our teacher enjoys suffering."
"Fair."
---
The next week brought even more work.
Research meetings.
Draft reviews.
Practice sessions.
Corrections.
More corrections.
Then corrections for the corrections.
At this point, Ava was convinced the project was reproducing by itself.
Every time they completed one task, three new tasks appeared.
---
One afternoon, Noah dropped into a chair beside them.
"Wow."
Neither looked up.
"Wow."
Still nothing.
"Wow."
Ava sighed. "What?"
"You two spend more time together than actual friends."
Ethan and Ava immediately spoke.
"We're not friends."
Noah grinned.
"Sure."
---
Liam appeared moments later.
Unfortunately.
"I think they're becoming domesticated."
"What does that even mean?" Ethan asked.
"No idea."
"Then why say it?"
"Because it felt right."
Ava rubbed her forehead.
Jace walked past, looked at the group, and immediately kept walking.
The smartest decision anyone had made all day.
As the days passed, something continued shifting between Ava and Ethan.
The rivalry was still there.
She still wanted to beat him.
He still wanted to beat her.
Neither planned on changing that.
But the anger wasn't as sharp anymore.
The arguments felt lighter.
The silences felt easier.
Even the teasing felt different.
Which was weird.
Very weird.
One evening, they stayed late finishing part of the report. The library had almost emptied when Ava pushed a folder toward Ethan.
"Check this section."
He scanned it.
Then nodded.
"It's good."
Ava blinked.
"That's it?"
"What?"
"No criticism?"
"No corrections?"
"No sarcastic comment?"
Ethan considered it.
"I can make one if it'll help."
Ava laughed despite herself.
"Don't."
For a second, both smiled.
Then immediately looked away.
Because absolutely not.
---
The following week, every group submitted their progress reports.
Students filled the classroom with nervous energy while the teacher reviewed each team's work.
Some groups looked confident.
Others looked terrified.
One group looked ready to fake their own disappearance.
---
Finally, the teacher reached Ava and Ethan's report.
The room became noticeably quieter.
People always paid attention when their names were involved.
The teacher flipped through several pages.
Then several more.
And several more.
The silence stretched.
Ava hated it.
Ethan hated it.
The entire class hated it.
Then the teacher looked up.
A smile appeared.
"Oh."
That was either very good or very bad.
There was no middle ground.
The teacher placed the report on her desk.
"I have to admit, this is impressive."
The class reacted immediately.
Ava glanced at Ethan.
Ethan glanced at Ava.
Neither said anything.
---
The teacher continued.
"The research is thorough, the organization is excellent, and the quality of work is among the strongest I've seen so far."
A few students groaned.
Noah looked proud for reasons nobody understood.
Liam looked disappointed that the project hadn't exploded.
---
The teacher nodded approvingly.
"Most importantly, your teamwork is excellent."
That got a reaction.
A big one.
Several students laughed.
A few nearly choked.
Ava looked horrified.
Ethan looked offended.
"Teamwork?" Ava repeated.
"Excellent?" Ethan added.
The class burst out laughing.
The teacher smiled.
"Whether you like it or not, you're working very well together."
Neither knew how to respond to that.
And somehow, that was the most disturbing part.
- Writer
