Wishing For Something More

Chapter 8: The Project

*Hunter's POV*
       I almost told Sydney everything last night. Thankfully, I shut my mouth. Sure, I consider Sydney a friend, but I don't think she feels the same. I don't want her to think of me differently because of some issues in my family.

       Leila barges into my room. "Oh good. You're awake. Mom is making breakfast. She wants to talk to us about something." I jump out of bed, as Leila makes her way back downstairs. My hair is a mess. I put my contacts in and then change into a T-shirt and some jeans. I put my leather jacket over my arm and walk downstairs. I see everyone seated at the table, looking at me expectantly. Crap. I look at Leila and remember the secret Sydney told me. I wonder if she likes him back.

    "Honey, please take a seat." My mother says, as she passes me a plate of food. I stuff some eggs into my mouth, as my mom says, "Hunter, we noticed the recent decline in your grades. Is there something wrong?" That little rat, Leila told. I shoot Leila a glare as she shrugs her shoulders. "I have a tutor. I will pass, you guys do not have to worry. Okay. May I go now?" I say, gradually standing up from my chair. My dad nods.

    First period begins and I don't see Tyler, so I sit by Sydney. She has her entire focus on her notebook. I hit her pen out of her hand, causing her to shoot me an evil glare. "Hello, my Flower." I say, shortening her nickname. "What do you want, Hunter? I am doing homework." She says, looking severely annoyed. "Why are you doing homework? Didn't have time to get it done? That's a first." I say, surprised. "Actually, this is homework for tonight. I won't have time since I have rehearsal after school and then I have to go to your house, so.." She trails off, looking back at her notebook.

   "Alright. Put the books away. Today we will start a new assignment. Look to the person next to you," I look over to see Sydney, "That will be your partner for this assignment. It is called the "Around The World" project. One person from each pair will be randomly assigned something. This is worth 20% of your grade, so don't slack. Okay come up here." Mr. Hursney finishes.

    Sydney immediately groans, and stands up to grab the worksheet. I smirk at her, making her more unhappy. Why is she so angry at me today? She comes back with the worksheet, a devilish smile on her face. She begins to laugh. "What is it, Flower?" I say, a little scared. She shows me the worksheet. It reads, "For your assignment, you will have to write a song and perform it in front of the whole class. The song can be about any important topic in the world, currently. Good luck." Well this could not suck more. "No way am I doing this." I say, shoving the paper back at her. "We have to, Hunter. You can't back out. I can't wait to hear you sing." She laughs. "Ditto." I reply. "You know, I actually am a singer? So prepare to be amazed." She says, waving her fingers.

    We discuss that it will be a duet. I do not know how she convinced me to make me sing as well. We cannot decide on a topic, so we will decide tonight, instead. The bell rings and we part ways.

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   Tyler never showed, so I either have to walk home or I can wait for Sydney to be done with rehearsal. I decide to wait for Sydney. I walk to the hallway of the Fine Arts. I have never been down this hallway, but it smells like paint and sounds echoey. I sit outside the Drama room, and I can hear Sydney's voice. I see a poster for  Sweeney Todd across the wall. So that must be the show they are doing. The poster has a list of names, Sydney's being the second. She was casted as Mrs. Lovett. Is that the lead? I hear a voice boom as they sing. Is that Sydney? "Alright. That was amazing. See you guys next week." Oh right. It's a Thursday, which means there is a big game tomorrow. How could I have forgotten? I am the quarterback after all.

     Sydney walks out, next to Leila. She must have got a part. Sydney immediately stops walking. Leila says that she will see her at home, then walks off. "What are you doing here, Hunter?" She says, blinking to make sure it's real. "So who do you play?" I say, not answering her question. "Oh, I am the female lead, Mrs. Lovett. Your sister is Johanna, another lead. You should be proud of her. There were so many other contenders." She says, smiling. I nod, "Can I have a ride?" "Is that why you waited? For just a ride?" Sydney says, almost laughing. She nods, taking me to her car.
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     "Okay, so do you want to study tonight, or just work on the project?" She asks, as she plops onto my bed. "Just the project. Was that you singing in the Drama room right before rehearsal ended?" I ask. Her face heats up and she nods. "Well, then why are we doing a duet if you sound that amazing?" She stands up and walks over to my closet which has been opened a crack. That is when she spots it. One of my most prized possessions. My guitar. Abort! Abort! Abort. "Wait, you play?" She says, excitedly, pulling the instrument out. I avert my eyes. She strums at it, probably to annoy me. I stand up and take it from her. "Yes..." I say, placing it back in the closet. "Well, do you sing a bit too?" She asks. I shrug. "Let's try it out. I decided that we shall do our song on abandoned children all over the world. Sad, but it fits, and I like to write sad songs." She says. My face goes red. I remember my father. I shut my eyes to block out the memories. "You okay, Hunter?" She asks, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Just fine, Flower."
    I grab the guitar back out of the closet. I begin to strum giving her a rhythm to write to. She likes it an begins to sing.

"Children everywhere. Crying faces. Why isn't anything done? Is it so unimportant? 'Something else matters'."

   She surprises me. "That was amazing. We are guaranteed to get an A." I say, looking at her directly in the eye. "Great job to you, too. Who knew the football quarterback could play?" That reminds me. "Are you going to the football game tomorrow? I would really like you to come." I ask, hoping she says yes. "Yeah, of course. Leila practically promised to drag me if I wouldn't go. I don't like to be dragged." She says, laughing at her own words.

   "So are we done here?" She says, after a moment. I have a weird pang in my chest. I don't want her to leave. "Maybe we can study for a bit. My parents found out about my grades and to say they are angry, well, that's an understatement." I say, hoping that I am not too much of a bother. "Oh okay. What subject?" She says, smiling. Her sudden change in mood, from school to here, has my wondering things about her. "How did you get so happy? You acted mad at me at school. I don't understand." I say. "Well, simple, I have a rep to protect." She says, laughing. "No, but really, school is a number one priority for me. My parents don't have as much money as you obviously do. I need to work hard, so I can get a scholarship. I am extremely stressed and these afternoon sessions help me relieve that stress." She says, shyly. "Oh... You should have told me.. So how about Calculus?" I say.

   She begins to help me study. I get a couple right, but she comes to a question that I have literally no clue about. "Idiot..." She mutters. "What did you just say, Flower?" She puts her hands up in surrender, "I didn't mean it." I take a pillow from my bed and fling it at her. Next thing I know, I'm in a full-fledged pillow fight with my flower. Did I say my? I meant the flower. She then hits me extremely hard with a pillow and I end up cowering over her. This is an awkward position. I stare at her. "Hunter..." She says, waiting for me to get off of her. I look right at her lips. If only I moved an inch clo-"HUNTER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Leila says, seeing the awkward position we are in. I immediately scramble off of her. Sydney's face is super red. I laugh. Sydney gathers her things and says that she will see us tomorrow. Leila throws me a smirk. What was I thinking?

A/N: I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS OVER 100 VIEWS! That means everything to me! Comment and vote and share! :)) next chapter will be Leila's thoughts and before the game, and the chapter after that will be the football game in Sydney's perspective! :)