I Know You

The Project

I glance the board and raise my hand. "Mrs. Stan what's the final project?" "Okay everyone sit down because I've seen the interest in the final project!"
"Ughhhh" everyone says.

Mrs. Stan says "This final project is about bonding, getting to know one another, you will have to go in groups of two."

" You guys need to make collages of your partners favorite things and personality as well as a portrait of your said partner." Someone raised their hand asking if we could choose partners.

Mrs.Stan chuckles saying "that's the best part you will have random partners, it's about time you guys met people out of your friend groups so I've got sticks!"

My heart drops, I think to myself "shit my only friend here is Diana, why'd I have to take art" "Tyler and Frank" Mrs. Stan says.

My hands get sweaty when I see Diana has been picked and the last ones left are people I don't know and Hamzah. I would rather jump out the window.

My heart is beating, then I hear "Evangeline and Hamzah." NOOOO!!! "I turn around to see Hamzah peirce his lips together and rub his hand over his mouth. I look at Diana thinking no way.

I walk up to him and he says "okay so how will we do this Evan" as he raises his eyebrows. As if I'm supposed to do all the work. God his face just made me angry and I snapped. " FUCK YOU STOP CALLING ME EVAN" I screamed.

He said "Okay I'll stop just calm down people can hear you." I've never seen him actually feel bad.

Mrs. Stan heard us and tells us to go to the office immediately. We walk silently and glance as Hamzah has his hands in his pockets and looking down. I said hey I'm sorry I yelled at you it's just you know how to piss me off.

He says yeah you better be sorry that was fucking embarrassing and grins. People must think you're psycho. I blankly stare at him thinking how can he think I'm joking. I keep in my anger and just scoff.

We walk to the office and our hands brush. He says "ew get off me." I say "stop being so fucking dramatic." He says "jeez it's a joke" and laughs.

I've always used to admire Hamzah when we were kids. I thought wow my brother really liked him so I should too. We actually used to be close when we were younger. That was up until him and my brother got caught up in the wrong group.

And I used to like him too but he just was too harsh and I couldn't take it. He changed but there are sometimes where I think if he hadn't changed so much we'd get along.

We go to the office and sit down. Principle Hemming says "you guys cannot disrupt a class like that." I say that we're sorry and that we'll get along." The room gets quiet when we hear Mr. Hemming fart...

I look at Hamzah with wide eyes and he meets my eyes with the same expression. Our mouths fill with air trying to hold in our laugh. Mr. Hemming says "uhm sorry but you guys need to get along." Hamzah says" not you trying to change the topic" as he laughs in his face."  I CANT do it anymore so I say I'm gonna use the bathroom."

Once I get out I let out the biggest chuckle ever and come back inside. Hamzah whips his head to look at me like he's trying not to laugh. Mr. Hemming dismisses us.

We continue to laugh back to class and try to stay composed. I want to relive it again as it feels how close we were when we were younger.

The bell rings and as I leave I hear a fart sound and I see it's Hamzah cupping his hand together and laughing and smiling. I grin and shake my head.