The Note Swap

Chapter 2

I don't know if it was lack of forsight or just sheer stupidity that I ended up with a four-day class week. I wanted an extra day so I crammed all my classes in four days. It was fun to have a longer weekend at first, but having little break time in between classes was a bummer.

The week passed and I was just glad another week is almost over. Just one more class then off to work in the library again. My mind was already on weekend mode and didn't notice the the guy running, trying to beat me to the auditorium door. His body was solid and I ended up falling on my butt.

"Damn it! Watch where you're going!" I shouted as I pick myself up. My notes and books where all over the place.

"Maybe it's you who should watch where you're going!"

Ugh! Mark again! So like a jock to not care about anybody but themselves.

"Jackass!" I muttered under my breath.

"What did you just say?!" He asked.

"I said, JACK-ASS!" enunciating each syllable. "You jocks are so full of yourself you can't even say sorry when you have to!"

He gave me a look like I was an insignificant fly on the wall and just went inside the room. I saw Mark walk to the right side of the auditorium so I decided to look for a seat far from him. The farther the better. No chance of any interaction. I've learned from the past that no good will come from getting close to any jocks or cheerleaders. They seem to think they can do anything to anyone just because they win games. 

I know life isn't fair. I have accepted the truth that you can't have everything. I may have the brains but lacking in the looks... and probably body. While these jocks have all the looks but air for brains. I know, so stereotypical of me. But from past experience, all jocks I have met live up to this cliché

A few minutes later Prof. Garfield went in and started her lecture. I started taking down notes. The topic was about women's role in media and how they helped shape it. Names like Oprah, Kathie Lee Gifford and even Ivana Trump came up in the discussion. I listened intently, knowing I could use this in my thesis as a journalism student.

"So, for the next eight weeks I want you to work with one of your classmates and do an extensive analysis on this topic. Use two to three women in media that you can find parallelism in. This is half your grade so if you've been slacking off, this could pull your grades up. Or down. Depending on the effort you give. No changing of partners. In real life you don't get to choose the people you work with, so I don't want you running to me to have it changed."

As soon as I heard group work, I immediately craned my neck to look for a familiar face that I could work with.

"I've already chosen your partners. I put all your names in a bowl and randomly chose two people. So here it is, Stephanie and Jack..." my heart sank. I was crossing my fingers, hoping I would be paired with someone who will take this paper seriously. 

She rambled on as I waited to be called. The more names called, the more worried I was. I looked across the room and realized Mark has not been called too. Uh-oh, I had a bad feeling...

"and lastly, Mark Foster and Lily White. That's it. The last fifteen minutes of the class I want you to talk to your partner and get to know each other already." and then she just left the room.

What the ....!!!  Oh Lily, you're in big trouble now. The gods have conspired against you! 

I sighed and gathered my books and stood up. I looked at Mark sitting on the other side of the room looking at me with a smirk on  this face. I wanted to slap his grin away. This was a disaster and I knew I was going to end up doing most of the work. He can't even bother himself to stand up and meet me half way. I walk over to him and sit on the chair beside him.

"I can't believe this! Of all... What did..." I was speechless.

"Hey baby, don't go all Alanis on me! It's not like I wanna do this project with you." He answers. 

I look at him and I wanted to bang my head on the desk but we I need all my brain cells for this project and decided to keep my mouth shut. I look at him and I feel sorry for myself. I wonder what evil deed I did to deserve this. I took out my pen and pulled his hand, "Here's my number. Call or send me a message when you're ready to work on it." and I walk out of the room.

One of my classmates, Jenna, caught up with me. "Oh my god Lily! You got Mark as partner! Oh my god! Oh my god!"

"I don't think god has anything to do with this. More like the devil."

"Aren't you a lucky girl! Everybody wants him! He has a face of an angel." she says with that dreamy look on her face.

"Lucifer had a pretty face and look where he is now." I muttered. I was willing to give him up if only we could. Why am I not surprised girls in my class are in love with him. All they see is his face and body, and that's enough for them. Well, I won't be fooled again. This girl learns from her mistakes.

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Author's Note:

How is the story developing so far? Let me know what you think! Feel free to comment and vote.