THE WORST POSSIBLE PARTNER
1998 Words
“This has to be a mistake.”
Maya Collins looked up from her laptop and stared at Sienna.
“It isn't.”
“It has to be.”
“Sienna.”
“What?”
“You've been staring at that email for five minutes.”
“Because it makes no sense.”
Maya leaned forward and read the screen again.
WESTBRIDGE COMMUNITY PROJECT — STUDENT PAIRING
Sienna Hart
Luca Bennett
Maya slowly looked back at her.
“It makes perfect sense to me.”
Sienna dropped her phone onto the bed.
“How?”
“You're a journalism student. He's an athlete.”
“That doesn't explain why I have to work with him.”
“He's part of athletics. You're part of student media. The project connects both departments.”
“I know what the project is.”
“Then what's the problem?”
Sienna stared at her.
“The problem is that it's him.”
Maya's lips twitched.
“You mean the hot guy from the car?”
“Don't.”
“The hot hockey player?”
“Maya.”
“The guy you spent yesterday pretending you weren't interested in?”
“I am not interested in him.”
“Okay.”
Sienna narrowed her eyes.
“Why do you keep saying okay like you don't believe me?”
“Because I don't.”
Sienna grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
Maya caught it, laughing.
“You're impossible.”
“And you're in denial.”
“I am not.”
Maya tossed the pillow back.
“Fine. You don't like him.”
“I don't.”
“Wonderful.”
“Then working with him for three months shouldn't bother you.”
Sienna opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Maya smiled triumphantly.
“Exactly.”
Sienna picked up her phone again and reread the email.
Three months.
Three months of meetings.
Three months of seeing Luca Bennett.
The same guy who had teased her about her suitcase.
The same guy who had called her “Suitcase Girl.”
She sighed.
“I'm going to request a different partner.”
Maya laughed.
“They're not going to change it because you don't like his face.”
“I don't dislike his face.”
Maya raised an eyebrow.
Sienna immediately regretted her words.
“I mean—I don't care about his face.”
“Sure.”
“I'm going to sleep.”
“It's eight thirty.”
“I don't care.”
Maya grinned.
“This is going to be fun.”
“For you.”
“Definitely.”
---
Sienna woke up the next morning determined to prove that she could handle Luca professionally.
She dressed simply, packed her laptop, grabbed her notebook and left the dorm with Maya.
The campus was already busy.
Students rushed across the quad with coffee cups in their hands. Somewhere nearby, someone was playing music loudly enough to annoy half the campus.
Sienna loved it.
This was what she'd wanted.
A fresh start.
She wanted to make friends, do well in her classes and build a strong portfolio before graduation.
She didn't need unnecessary distractions.
Especially not a certain hockey player.
“You're thinking about him again,” Maya said.
Sienna looked at her.
“I wasn't.”
“You didn't even ask who.”
“Because I know exactly who you're talking about.”
Maya laughed.
“You're predictable.”
They reached the student center.
Maya headed toward her marketing lecture while Sienna continued toward the journalism building.
“See you later,” Maya called.
“Later.”
Sienna waved before disappearing inside.
For the next few hours, she focused entirely on classes.
By the time she finished her morning seminar, she'd almost forgotten about Luca.
At 12:57, Sienna walked into the Community Outreach Office.
She was three minutes early.
The room was filled with students from different departments, all sitting around a long conference table.
Claire, the senior student coordinating the project, waved her over.
“Sienna! Come in.”
“Hi.”
Sienna took a seat.
Claire smiled.
“Excited?”
“Very.”
The project was exactly the kind of opportunity she'd hoped to find at Westbridge.
A semester-long project involving real community work, and event planning could give her experience that went far beyond anything she could learn in a classroom.
Claire stood at the front of the room.
“Okay, everyone. let's officially begin.”
The door opened.
“Sorry I'm late.”
Sienna looked up.
Her expression immediately fell.
Luca stood in the doorway.
He wore a navy Westbridge hoodie, black athletic pants and a backpack over one shoulder.
His hair was slightly damp, like he'd just come from practice.
His eyes scanned the room.
Then landed on Sienna.
A slow smile appeared.
Sienna sighed.
“Of course.”
Luca walked toward her.
“Nice to see you again.”
“Is it?”
“Very.”
He pulled out the chair beside her.
Sienna looked at Claire.
“Does he have to sit here?”
Claire checked her list.
“Yes.”
Luca sat down.
“I feel welcomed.”
He leaned closer.
“Missed me?”
“Not even slightly.”
He laughed.
Claire cleared her throat.
“Can we start?”
Everyone settled down.
She began explaining the project.
The Westbridge Community Project partnered students with local organizations to raise money for youth programs throughout Boston.
Sienna immediately became interested.
This wasn't just a line on her résumé.
It actually mattered.
Claire continued.
“Each team has to choose a partner organization, develop a fundraising strategy and organize a campus-wide event.”
Sienna wrote everything down.
“Your teams will also be responsible for social media, publicity, sponsors and event documentation.”
Luca leaned over.
“You write fast.”
“I take notes.”
“I noticed.”
“Try doing it.”
“I'll stick to hockey.”
She looked at him.
“That's probably safer.”
He smiled.
Claire continued.
“Sienna, you'll handle the journalism side. Articles, and documentation.”
Sienna nodded.
“Luca, you'll coordinate athletics participation and help recruit athletes for the event.”
“Got it.”
“And because you're co-leads, every major decision has to be agreed by the both of you.”
Sienna and Luca exchanged a look.
Luca raised his hand.
Claire looked at him.
“Yes?”
“What happens if we disagree?”
“You compromise.”
Luca glanced at Sienna.
“That might be difficult.”
Sienna turned toward him.
“Why?”
“You don't seem like someone who compromises.”
“And you seem like someone who thinks he's always right.”
“I usually am.”
Sienna stared at him.
“See?”
A few students laughed.
Claire shook her head.
“I think I understand why the two of you were paired together.”
“Why?” they asked at the same time.
“Because you challenge each other.”
Sienna looked away.
Luca looked amused.
“Wonderful,” Sienna muttered.
---
After the meeting, Sienna packed her laptop.
Luca stood beside the table.
“So.”
She looked up.
“So?”
“We need to choose the organization.”
“I know.”
“When are you free?”
“Today.”
He looked surprised.
“Today?”
“Yes. I'd like to get started.”
“Ok"
He pulled out his phone.
“How about five at the library?”
“Sounds good”
He started walking away.
Then stopped.
“Sienna?”
She looked up.
“Yeah?”
“Try not to be late.”
She stared at him.
“I am always early.”
“We'll see.”
---
At exactly five o'clock, Sienna sat at a library table.
A minute later, someone dropped into the chair opposite her.
“I'm impressed.”
Sienna looked up.
“You're on time.”
“I said I would be.”
“Most people aren't.”
“Most people aren't me.”
He smiled.
“There she is.”
“Who?”
“The girl who thinks she's better than everyone.”
“I don't think that”
“Just me?”
“Definitely.”
He laughed.
Sienna tried not to smile.
She failed.
Luca noticed.
“You smiled.”
“No.”
“You did.”
“I didn't.”
“You're a terrible liar.”
“Can we work?"
"Okay."
They started researching local organizations.
For the next twenty minutes, their conversation was surprisingly easy.
They disagreed about a few things but managed to find common ground.
Then Sienna found a youth sports foundation that provided free programs for children who couldn't afford them.
“What about this?”
Luca leaned forward.
He read the description.
His expression changed.
“This one.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I know what sports can do for someone.”
Sienna looked at him.
He didn't seem like he was joking anymore.
“You started hockey young?”
“Four.”
“Four?”
He nodded.
“Been playing ever since.”
She looked at him differently.
“So hockey really is your whole life.”
“Pretty much.”
“Don't you ever get tired of it?”
“Sometimes.”
That answer surprised her.
“But I never get tired of playing.”
Sienna leaned back.
“What's the difference?”
Luca smiled faintly.
“Playing is the part I love. Everything else gets exhausting.”
She didn't ask what he meant.
But she remembered it.
They eventually chose the foundation.
Sienna typed out their initial plan.
“Okay. I'll contact the organization tomorrow.”
“I'll talk to the athletics department about getting players involved.”
“Good.”
“Then we need sponsors.”
“I'll handle local businesses.”
“I can probably get some support from the team.”
Sienna nodded.
For a moment, neither spoke.
It was strange.
She'd expected working with Luca to be unbearable.
Instead, they were actually getting things done.
She closed her laptop.
“Not bad.”
He smiled.
“Was that a compliment?”
“Don't get excited.”
“I'll take it.”
They packed their things.
Outside the library, the evening air was cool.
Students were walking toward the dining hall, and somewhere in the distance, music played from one of the dorm buildings.
They walked together toward the athletics complex.
“You know,” Luca said, “you're not what I expected.”
Sienna glanced at him.
“What did you expect?”
“Someone who'd spend the entire project complaining about me.”
“I've only known you for two days.”
“Exactly.”
“And you've already annoyed me enough for a semester.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
They reached the path where they had to separate.
Luca stopped.
“I'll see you Thursday.”
Sienna nodded.
“Thursday.”
He started walking away.
Sienna watched him for a second before turning away.
She hated to admit it.
But maybe working with him wouldn't be as terrible as she'd expected.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Maya.
MAYA:
So???
Sienna typed.
SIENNA:
So what?
MAYA:
How was your first meeting with Mr. Hockey?
Sienna rolled her eyes.
SIENNA:
He's annoying.
MAYA:
But?
Sienna stared at the screen.
She didn't know why she hesitated.
Finally, she typed:
SIENNA:
But he's not as bad as I thought.
The reply came almost instantly.
MAYA:
OH MY GOD.
Sienna laughed.
SIENNA:
Don't start.
MAYA:
I'm not saying anything.
MAYA:
Yet.
Sienna put her phone away.
She looked toward the rink.
Through the glass doors, she could see the lights glowing inside.
Luca disappeared through them with his hockey bag over his shoulder.
Sienna shook her head.
This was nothing.
Just a project.
Just three months.
Just a boy she happened to be working with.
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