Chasing Jupiter ✔️

Four

I don't know why part of me was surprised he showed up.

It's not like he was here to see me. He made it very clear his distaste for me. The feelings were mutual. Flashes of the night we met come in my head. Causing my anger to bubble inside me. I still don't understand what his issue with me was.

"Are you planning on letting me in or are we going to do this project in the doorway?" His voice cut my inner monologue off causing me to jump. "Right. Sorry. Come in." I quickly close the door behind him, and lead him up to my room. I'm not sure why I was feeling slightly embarrassed about having him here.

Stupid nerves.

"So how do you want to do this thing?" I was the first to speak after heading up to my room to work. I was met with silence, so I turned around to see Archer looking around my room, deep in thought. It's not like it was anything special. Just a standard white bedroom with black accents to it. "Hello!" I abruptly yell to get his attention. "What? Sorry. Nice room."

What the hell?

"Yeah whatever, how are we doing this thing?" I demand. I really need to stop snapping at him if we're going to survive this project. When he doesn't respond I decide to take charge. "Not a poster that's for sure."

"Thank God! Posters are so lame, like come on anyone can do that." The corner of his mouth lifts into the tiniest of smiles. At least we can agree on that. "I think that's the first thing we have agreed on there." He laughs. He may have said it as a joke but he's right. At least our mutual hatred of posters is something. I guess.

I flop down on my bed reaching for my laptop. "So now that we got the dreadful posters out of the way. Any ideas?"
"What about a slideshow?"
"No, PowerPoint?"
"Isn't a PowerPoint the same thing as a slideshow princess?"
"Shut up asshole. What about an essay?"
"Absolutely not. To boring."
"Okay wise ass, what's you're grand idea then?"
"I do have one. It might sound stupid... We could make a video?"

A video? I hate to admit it, but it was a really good idea. There was only one flaw I don't know anything about video editing. It's something I've always wanted to learn. But never had the time. "That idea actually doesn't suck. One problem, I don't know about you. But I have no idea how to make or edit videos."
"See that's the beauty of it. Here watch this." He timidly sat down pulling up the YouTube app on his phone. It was a beautifully edited compilation of his car. "Back home I used to make videos like this all the time. I still have my video camera and could teach you to edit." I couldn't help the tiny smile on my face. Maybe this project this wouldn't be so hard after all. "That is if the princess can handle actually working for once."

My faint smile dropped to a deep scowl. Yup scratch that idea. This was still going to be hell.

*****

At 10 pm the garage door opened, signaling dad was home. Archer and I have gotten nowhere. Except figuring out we were going to make a video. The rest of the time was spent arguing. The whole point of the project was to learn about our partner. Archer wouldn't budge on telling me anything.

"Stubborn jackass!"
"Spoiled brat!"
"Listen here you brain dead oaf I will not sacrifice my grade because you don't want to tell me anything about yourself!"

"HEY!" My father's voice booms from the doorway to my bedroom. "Jupiter. What in God's name is going on here?" He demanded. "I got paired with this idiot for a project in class worth 70% of my grade and he won't cooperate with me." I scowl at Archer. "Sir if I may. She is asking alot if personal questions I'm not comfortable answering." For the first time since he got here Archer was using some actual manners. Something I didn't think he knew about. "THE WHOLE POINT OF THE ASSIGNMENT IS TO GET TO KNOW YOUR PARTNER ASSHAT!"