Pencils and Pool Water (Complete)

Chapter Five

The first two weeks of school went by pretty fast, and we did pretty much no school work, which was more than okay with me. 

Calvin ignored me, and Molly was always giving me small, apologetic smiles ever since her brother threw a football at my face. She didn't really talk to me a lot during the two week duration, and I suspected that she felt bad. 

It was so annoying when Molly was more apologetic for something she didn't do than the person who did, which is like, all of the time. 

Colin- bless his heart- hung out with me, though. I didn't see Gwen much, because she and Molly always rode everywhere together, and they were best friends. 

I mean, I'm friends with them too, but they're the besties in the relationship. 

Colin was practically living at my house, and Mom said the latest he could stay was until eight, because he was my boyfriend and I was only 15 and all that. 

The second week of school was when things started to be... For lack of a better phrase... Straight up rotten bananas.

"All right, class, settle down." Mrs. Coleson's tone, which was implying that she was going to say something we needed to hear, made the class quiet down fairly quickly. She walked to the front of her desk, brown eyes sweeping over the class. "Today, I'm giving you your first assignment with your partner." 

Calvin dropped his pencil, and I felt sorrow twist in my gut. I felt bad that he was being forced to work with me since he hated me so much, but at the same time, I was happy to make him uncomfortable as a certain sort of revenge. 

But I couldn't say anything sassy or make any remarks since I couldn't really, deeply breathe when he was around. My insides felt like they were frozen, and all my muscles were locked into an uncomfortable, rigid position. 

"You're going to make a tower out of 1,000 or more popscicle sticks with glue." A few kids gasped with excitement while others groaned. "It will have to stay up on its own and it has to be at least two feet tall." 

I glanced at Calvin, who had a neutral yet determined look on his face. 

"I'll hand out a bag of the sticks, and you guys can begin." 

Calvin jumped out of his seat as soon as she was done talking and marched right up to her. He was explaining something, still looking very determined. I frowned. He was probably saying he'd do anything as long he didn't have to be my partner. 

I sighed, taking a deep breath, trying to arrange my thoughts before Calvin was back and I couldn't focus. I pulled out a notebook (Not The Notebook) and started lightly sketching a few tower designs. 

Calvin sat down next to me, and turned his body towards me. I stiffened, feeling like all of the sounds of our working classmates were melting away. 

"Are those some designs?" Calvin asked casually, and I heard his voice echoing in my mind. "Why would I throw a football at Simon?" 

I nod, feeling my throat tighten up. His lips quirk up into a little smile and my heart swells in my chest and it beats a little faster. I made Calvin smile. 

I made Calvin Fritter smile. 

I try for a smile back, but I feel kind of dumb. It's tight and it feels a little forced. 

He clears his throat and I realize I've been staring and smiling the whole time. 

Why did I have no sense of time around him? That had been embarrassing.