Playing Princess

Part Four: Partnering with the Perfect Person

Part Four: Partnering with the Perfect Person

Science class was always a bore for me. Telling my mother that I joined a science study group was probably the biggest possible lie I could have come up with. And now I needed to get my grade up somehow so that my mom didn't get suspicious.

"Okay, class," my teacher announced loudly. He was pretty young but seemed way older because of how seriously he took science. "Today we will be doing a lab."

A colossal groan came from the class and I couldn't help but join in. Luckily, all juniors were required to take Environmental Science so I was able to secure Quinn as my lab partner. But everyone had to turn in a separate lab report so I was screwed anyway.

Damon caught my eye from a few lab stations ahead. I noticed that his lab partner was absent and I stuck my tongue out at him. He grimaced in reply.

A second later his head whipped back around and his eyes were bright with an idea. He mouthed something long and complicated to me that I could not understand. I giggled, amused, and just shook my head at him.

"You will be observing the various bright line emission spectra emitted by elements as they are excited by high voltage electricity," the teacher droned on and on. He picked the most obscure, uninteresting labs. And then expected us to write a three page paper on it.

The teacher handed out the lab manuals and gave us the page number. He barely had the last number out of his mouth when the class burst into chatter.

Damon immediately came over to me.

"We need to switch lab partners," he whispered to me. Quinn was busy gathering our supplies.

"Nice try," I shoved him away from me. "She's all mine."

"Please?" he tugged on my sleeve and gave me puppy dog eyes.

"What's the matter here?"

I cursed as the teacher came up behind us. Damon began to respond and I inhaled sharply, knowing nothing to come out of his mouth would be good.

"Actually, sir, there is a problem," he started. "This young lady here is trying to switch lab partners with me, which is a clear violation of... section 231... of the, uh... student handbook."

"I see," the teacher rubbed his chin, believing Damon's ridiculous story. "Miss Adams, I'm afraid you'll need to work with your own lab partner."

"But she–" I stuttered.

"But the problem, sir," Damon interrupted. At this point daggers must have been coming out of my eyes. "Is that Lizzy's lab partner isn't here today."

I looked helplessly from Damon to the teacher to Quinn, who was still busily gathering supplies.

"Fortunately for you, Miss Adams, another student is also in need of a lab partner," the teacher gestured to the front of the room and we followed his gaze.

Damon burst out laughing before I could see who it was. As soon as I did, though, my jaw dropped.

"No– you can't... you can't mean," I looked around frantically but the teacher had already walked away.

"Have fun," Damon was still chuckling.

Quinn finally came back and Damon informed her that they were working together. She squealed and threw her arms around his neck.

"Yay," she said. "For once I'll have a partner that actually helps." With one last victorious glance towards me, the two of them got busy.

My jaw dropped again and I stomped to Prince's lab station in a fuming mess.