Avery. An outsiders fanfiction DarryCurtisXOC

Three

Although I waited for my partner to come find me, no one did. I sighed inwardly, and listened as Mr. Hardee described what the project was about.

"You will be working with your partner to create an acrylic painting, one side representing one person, and one side representing the other. It has to have a common theme, and the catch is you have to paint each other's representation. You have until next Monday. Go."

This time, I heard some people moving and getting up, but to my disappointment when I looked, it was just the people from the middle of the classroom flocking to the back to join in on the fun. I got out my English notebook and continued filling my paper with doodles, when the hooting and hollering from the back was getting really loud.

I turned around and saw a well built senior arm wrestling two, what looked like sophomores, at once. People were placing bets with cigarettes, I could see the little piles here and there. Yuck. I don't smoke but I don't care if other people do. Just not for me.

I was watching for too long to be comfortable in my chair with my spine doing a 360°, so I gathered up the willpower to walk back there and watch from an abandoned table nearby. People were cheering and chiming in, goading the respecting people to win. "You have him on the ropes, Darry! Just a little more!" Someone else yelled "Push back, Eddie! And I can't tell if Scott is actually helping. Try harder!"

In the end, the Darry character beat the two Sophomores, and he was getting claps on the back. A kid with black, middle parted greasy hair said "Great job, Curtis. No wonder you're on the football team."

My mouth instantly dried up a little. So that's my partner? He's dressed in a way I can't really tell if he's a soc or a greaser, but he has longer hair, so I assume a greaser, but there's no actual grease or oil in his hair to speak of. It doesn't really matter.

But yeah, football? Definitely one of Paul's friends. I hope he actually contributes to the project. He seems to be decently popular so I'm going to have a rough time trying to talk to him. I'll catch him on the way out then, if he doesn't have a flock of guys around him.

I got up and went back to my table at the front where my books and pencil lays. I doodled for the rest of class, Staring at the clock, willing it to move its minute hand faster.

Although it took what felt like forever, the bell eventually did ring, only after counting down the last 15 grueling minutes and endless thoughtless scribbles in my notebook. I packed up as slow as I could waiting outside of the class for him. I could tell from how many people knew him that he was decently popular, popular enough to hang around Paul Holden, so now was pretty much my only chance to talk to him. Who knows, though.

To avoid being awkward, I put on a thick layer of confidence and as he stepped out of the class I immediately fell into step with him, not leaving time for him to ask questions, I said "Is your last name Curtis?" He donned a slightly confused expression on his face before answering. "Yeah. That's me. Darrell Curtis. Are you my partner for the project?" He said, his face mellowing out to a nice expression.

"Mhm" I agreed with a quick nod, adjusting my books in my arms. He noticed my slight struggle. "I can carry those for you." He offered. "Nah, I got 'em. You're carrying your own already." I said, trying to reason with him, "Are you underestimating me?" He said with a small grin and a twinkle in his eyes. I knew he was joking.