The Project

Chapter 5- Over It

Sierra's Pov

Sierra tried to focus on her other classes, but unpleasant thoughts of her upcoming English class plagued her mind. First, she was upset about having to compromise and sit in the middle, Second she was annoyed that she had to sit in the middle AND sit next to Dean. She imagined hell was waiting for her in English.

Sierra took her time getting to English. She wasn't as eager to get to class as she once was and Dean had ruined that for her. She walked in and found Dean already sitting in a seat in the middle of the classroom. She reluctantly made her way to the empty seat next to him. She sat down silently, but Dean did not move to even look at her. She felt like she could sit here all semester and ignore him, hoping he would do the same to her.

Professor Holt began her lecture shortly after Sierra took her seat. Sierra sat up attentively and took notes, ignoring Dean's presence.

Dean's Pov

Dean entered the dreaded English class and found a seat in the middle of the classroom even though he preferred the back. He waited for class to start and while he waited he was thinking of the equipment he was going to use in the gym later. His thoughts were interrupted by Sierra sitting down next to him, but he decided to pay her no mind since that seemed like that's what she was doing to him. He fought back his instinct to confront her about the comment she made yesterday to her friend. He kept looking forward and for the first time he was happy when the professor began her lecture.

He quietly listened to Professor Holt, but felt no need to take notes. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sierra taking notes diligently. Dean instantly rolled his eyes at her.

Dr. Holt finished her lecture and dismissed the class. Sierra turned to Dean, "Are you still good for 5:30 at the library?" Dean, not even looking up from his bag in his hand said "Yeah, I'll see you there." and he walked off. Sierra scoffed in response.

Dean headed to his dorm to pick up his gym bag and after he headed straight to the gym with his roommate since Thomas was shadowing a live sports broadcast on campus. They headed to the gym on campus. Dean was excited to be in the gym since working out was his way of letting go of his troubles and getting rid of pent up aggression and frustration. He also pays close attention to his physique, he wants to stay in shape.

He took off his shirt to change into his gym tank and he revealed his many black tattoos. He had dates, the pi symbol, a dragon, a butterfly, a snake, the outline of a moon, a sun and others on his tattooed body. He only got tattoos that mean something, but he hasn't revealed the meanings of most of his tattoos to others since most are pretty sentimental despite what they are.

After Dean and his roommate finished at the gym they headed back to their dorm. Dean quickly ate the leftovers from the dining hall he got earlier that day and headed to the shower. Dean quickly showered and got ready again so he could be on time to meet Sierra so she wouldn't have something else to hold over him. But it was futile since he was late anyways.

Sierra's Pov

Sierra arrived at the library promptly at 5:20. She didn't expect Dean to be there at 5:20 since he seemed like the person to not care about punctuality. She was right when Dean arrived at 5:39. As soon as Dean arrived she gave him a condescending smile.

"Yeah, just go ahead and say it." Dean said in an exasperated tone. "Say what?" Sierra responded. "Just go ahead and be annoying about me being late, even though you have no idea why I was late or whether it was on purpose or not. You seem like the type." Dean said.
"Oh okay, I wasn't going to say anything, since I expected you would be late, but irregardless we should get started." Said Sierra. "Irregardless" Dean muttered under his breath while pushing up his imaginary glasses. "What was that?" Sierra asked, unaware of what Dean said but sure he said something. "Nothing. What do you know about Ernest Hemingway?" Dean responded.

"Well since we have to dissect at least four books by Ernest we should share how many of his books we've read. Also since we only have to do at least three slides of background knowledge about him we should focus on that last." Sierra said. 

"I've read A Farewell To Arms, The Old Man and the Sea, The Sun Also Rises, Death In the Afternoon, and The Garden of Eden." Dean stated.

Sierra was shocked that Dean had read five novels by Hemingway since he did not seem like the reading type. She was even more shocked since she had only read three which meant he's read more of his novels than she had. She planned to just move on and continue to take charge and plan out the project to make it easier for the both of them, but mostly her. Until Dean slyly asked how many Hemingway novels she had read and she woefully responded.

"I've read um To Have and Have Not, A Farewell To Arms, and Islands in the Streams." Dean cracked a small smile and nodded at her answer. There was a tense silence between the two for about thirty seconds, but it felt like minutes. "Well since we have to dissect four of his novels and we have both read at least two different ones we should each write long and detailed notes on two of the books so we can collaborate on the slides at a later date. 'Kay? Sierra said sharply.

Dean's Pov

After hearing that Sierra only read three Hemingway books, one of which he's already read he was ecstatic. He felt as if she was always putting him down and felt superior to him. A recent example was him being nine minutes late because he came from the gym and didn't want to show up to their meeting sweaty since that would be rude. He finally felt that he had a one up on her, he had read more Ernest Hemingway books than her. Before he could think of anything to say, which would most likely be a smart comment about how he's read more books of his than her, she spoke up and took total charge of the project, being in his eyes bossy, he didn't like that. Not to mention her sassy and condescending " 'Kay?' " like he had no choice in the matter, but best believe, if she'll take control he'll make it difficult.

"Well since we have to dissect four of his novels and we have both read at least two different ones we should each write long and detailed notes on two of the books so we can collaborate on the slides at a later date. 'Kay? Sierra said sharply.

He just stared at her for a few seconds. First she's read less books by Hemingway and then she is going to take charge of the project like she knows more than he does. He decided to provoke her even though they weren't supposed to be immature towards each other.

"Sure I guess that works. I'll have to decide from the five I've read which one's to write on, that'll be SO hard." Dean said with a childish grin. Sierra's composure fell, then she quickly regained it and Dean could tell she was trying to take the high road. "Well you have fun with that. How about we make the notes a minimum of twenty-five pages. If you can handle that. I'm sure that's far more than you can handle." Sierra said as she gathered her things to leave.

Dean was aghast when she said twenty-five pages. He would have to reread the books to be able to write that many notes about those books and reading between the lines of books was close to being his kryptonite (1). He couldn't falter and prove Sierra right so he kept a straight face and said, "Yeah that'll be no problem, it's not like we have other classes, but I'll be fine. Good Luck with that 'Miss I've only read three books' Sierra scoffed as she walked away confidently.

Sierra had really fucked Dean over by challenging him to writing a combined minimum of fifty pages for two book he hasn't read in over three years. He was determined to not prove her right by not being able to handle it, he deluded himself into thinking it would be more of a struggle for her since she was freshman and hasn't even adjusted to college yet. He had a whole year of college on her. He went straight to his dorm to start rereading Death In the Afternoon, which he luckily still had his copy of from high school with him.

Notes/In case you don't know!:

(1): Kryptonite- The substance that can harm the indestructible Superman. In modern terms it is used to describe an everyday person's weakness. "Ugh I'm lactose intolerant but ice cream is my kryptonite, I want to eat it everyday."