The Untitled Audrey Project

Untitled Part Ten

"What the hell is a synapses?" Connor asked, trying to break down the word as he said it. "I can't find it anywhere in the book."

He frustratingly flipped through the Psychology book on his lap as he sat in Audrey's desk chair.

"It's that thing that lets a neuron- wait, do you even know what a neuron is?" Audrey asked from her bed where she lay on her stomach, legs up in the air and her own Psychology book in front of her as well.

Connor shook his head and Audrey groaned, turning onto her stomach and lifting her book above her head.

"Do you know anything? Anything at all?" Her voice was muffled by the book.

"Nothing smart." He mumbled and Audrey sat up, adjusting the black beanie on her head.

"Which exam is this?

"The June one. I missed a whole three weeks of school so they just failed me for it." Connor replied.

"June... June..." Audrey got off her bed and walked over to her desk drawer, searching through stacks of papers. "Here it is!" She victoriously held up a booklet that had red markings all over it. One of the markings read 96%.

"Wait, you're really going to give me the answers to the exam?" Connor stared with wide eyes.

"Why? Don't want them?" She lowered her hand.

"No! I do, but I'm just surprised you're letting me cheat."

"It's not cheating 'cos you still have to memorize it." She said, smirking and Connor laughed as he took it from her hands.

"Thanks, you little rebel." He joked and she rolled her eyes before wandering back over to her bed.

Audrey's room was much smaller than Connor had expected, but that was most likely due to the fact that she had so many things to fill the room up. Audrey did not like natural light, so even though it was still bright outside, she had her white blinds shut and fairy lights on. The color orange also seemed to appeal to her. Connor thought that he hated that color, but seeing how Audrey made it work changed his mind.

"Just make sure you don't get too high of a mark, no offence." Audrey giggled and Connor scoffed.

"I'm actually doing an alright job in the mark-wise. Way better than before at least." It was true. Connor had already received four markings and although they were not excellent, they were still a pass- something Connor struggled with until a few weeks ago.

Both teenagers heard the front door close downstairs. As Connor wondered who it could be, they listened for voices.

"Who?" They heard, although it was muffled.

Audrey dramatically groaned and rolled onto her back, spreading her limbs out. "My dad."

Connor gulped as he listened to footsteps emerging from the stairs. He knew he should not be nervous, as Audrey and Connor were not even friends, they were just project partners. But still, Connor knew that the man would be judging him for even being in his house, and it had already taken all he had to warm up to Audrey's mother.

There were two knocks on the bedroom door and Connor discretely flinched.

"Come in!" Audrey called and the door opened a few seconds later. A middle-aged man with slowly graying hair poked his head through the gap between the door and the frame, his lime-green eyes immediately landing on Connor.

"Oh, hello there, you must be Connor." He said, although he did not sound too impressed.

Connor noticed that Audrey's dad had a sad look on his face, and it was most likely caused by the suffering of his only child. He probably still blamed himself for what happened to her.

"Yeah, we're studying." Audrey said as she lay on her side, staring at her dad.

Her dad nodded before awkwardly remaining stood there, as if he wanted to say more before he left.

"I'm buying Indian. What did you want to eat?"

"Just anything mom gets." Audrey replied.

"And you, Connor?" He tried to smile but Connor could see his shattered heart through his eyes.

"Oh, no that's okay I'll have to be gone soon anyway." Connor said, waving his hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, my mom cooked." He lied. Even if his mom did cook, there was no way in hell he would sit at the dining table to eat with his father as well.

When her dad finally left, Connor turned to Audrey. "I better get going, uh, thanks for that." He lifted the paper up briefly, and Audrey rolled off the best.

"Oh, okay. Yeah, that's fine. So uh, the weekend..." 

"Yeah, that's still on. Keith'll pick us up. I'll see you?" Connor had no idea why it was suddenly awkward between the pair as they both hovered around the door.

"Sure, well, see ya." Audrey said and expecting that to be the final interaction between them, Connor reached for the door handle only to be caught off guard by a hug. He did not hug back at first, but when he did, he found himself relaxing in her grip. She smelled like bubblegum, which surprised Connor seeing as he had never gotten close enough to her to pick up her scent. Her touch made him shiver, and he prayed that Audrey did not notice against his chest.

"Thank you." She said but her voice was muffled by his shirt. He had no idea exactly why she was thanking him, but he decided to assume it was for keeping her company.

"Of course." He said, before they finally pulled apart. He was suddenly hit with cool air without her warm body to block it. 

As Connor walked out of the house, he sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair.

He asked himself, what am I getting myself into?