Boundless Love

Chapter Three - School Project

"The Acropolis of Athens," I say firmly while holding eye contact. 

We stare at each other until he finally relents. "Fine!"

"Yes!" I smile really big and plop down into my chair ungracefully. My back, scraped from when my mother dragged me down the stairs last night, screams from the impact but I keep my smile. 

"Don't expect me to like this though, you spoiled brat," he sat back in his chair and set his face into a frown. 

My teacher, Mr. Nordine, paired Cayden and me together for our Europe project. We had to pick a country in Europe and one structure to do a presentation on. I wasn't wholly enthusiastic about being paired with him, but if there was one thing Cayden and I could agree on, it was that grades were important. I know he'll talk all kinds of crap at me this entire project, but he'll also pull his weight, which I appreciate. 

"I wasn't going to get my hopes up," I roll my eyes. 

"We should be able to get the majority of the research done this class, but if he wants this project done by Friday then we have to work together on this outside of classes too," he grumbles, clearly unhappy that we have to spend the next two days together, not including today. 

I get out my notebook to write down the planning times. "Research now, layout and medium preparation after school?" I asked, trying to find out when to meet up to move this project along. The sooner this is over with the better. 

"I have football practice until five thirty," he glared at me. 

"Can you meet me at Daisy's Coffee after, say six thirty? That's my break. I get off at eight though if that would work better."

"I'll swing by as soon as practice is done. If you're annoying as sh-" I clear my throat at him. "Crap. If you're annoying as crap, I'll leave and you can come up with the layout and medium yourself," he said annoyed. 

He's always the one annoying me though. "Deal."

"Okay. Now shut up and start on research. You look into design and location, I'll look into the history," he ordered, opening his Chromebook. 

"Okie dokie," I agree. Design and location are fun anyway. I open my computer and start my research. 

******

"Can I please get a Dark Iced Mocha?" a beautiful middle-aged woman asked. 

"Yes, Ma'am. Anything else?" I asked, typing her drink into the register. 

"No, thank you," she smiled at me politely. 

"Alrighty then. It'll be ready shortly," I say before she walks to a near table to wait after paying. 

It's been a slow afternoon; we've gotten only a handful of people since my shift started. Just one of those days. I'm even more nervous thinking about how I'll mostly be alone with Cayden soon, as he should be here any minute if he keeps his word about coming right after practice. Carly, my coworker, will still be behind the counter, and of course, a few people are lounging in here, but I've never hung out with Cayden outside of school. He's mean enough in school; I don't want to see how he is outside of it.

Ding! The bell above the entrance jingles to let us know someone's just walked in. Speak of the Devil. 

"Ready?" Cayden asks as he steps up to the counter. I can hear the exhaustion in his voice, probably from just having been at practice. 

"Ten minutes," I reply, glancing at my watch, "Find a table and I'll be there as soon as I can."

He sighed exasperatedly as he went and sat down at a table in the far corner. I watched him from the corner of my eye as I grabbed a rag a wiped down the counter. He was wearing some black shorts and a baggy red t-shirt. I noticed because he'd changed since school. Comfortable clothes to end the day.