Shifting Greer's

Chapter 7//

Song: Alone Together by Fall Out Boy

//

I've been laying with my face smashed into my pillow for over an hour now. Today physically and mentally drained me. After finding out that Kaleb Nixon was my project partner, my day spiraled downhill. After he told me he was going to "figure me out", I couldn't shake it. If Leo knew, I had no doubt in my mind that he would freak out. 

Leo could not find out that was for sure. 

I just didn't know how to handle it now. It wasn't like I could avoid Kaleb. He was my partner after all. Mr. Hammons had said that we both had to participate or we'd fail. Believe me, I'd tried so hard to switch partners right after class. Mr. Hammons said it couldn't be changed though. And that's how he became my least favorite teacher. 

There's a knock on the front door now. I groan. Who would be knocking at my door? I laid there a moment, hoping they'd go away. It was probably just a sales person. Besides, Leo wasn't home and he drilled me about not opening the door for strangers. 

I thought the person had finally gone away when the doorbell rang. I shoved the pillow around my ears to drown out the noise. Seconds later, the annoying presence on my front porch pressed the doorbell repeatedly. 

I bolted out of bed and stomped to the front door. I didn't even bother to check who it was before angrily pulling the door open. Kaleb Nixon of all people stood on my front porch, his finger hovering over the doorbell. His school uniform is replaced with dark jeans and a black V-neck. 

"Kaleb?" I squinted up at him. "How in the world do you know where I live?" 

He shrugs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his trustee leather jacket, "I have my ways."

"What are you even doing here?" I keep my body firmly planted in the middle of the threshold, blocking his view of my house. 

"We have to work on our project, dork." He tells me, his eyes trying to look around me. 

I close the door further, "So, you show up at my house?" 

"Mr. Hammons said we weren't going to have time in class. Which means we have to work outside of class, right?" He doesn't seem to be getting the hint.

"Couldn't we have worked in the library or something?" I asked, annoyed.

"I'm beginning to think that you don't want me here, Greer." He smirks. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, I made you feel that way." I fake concern. "What was your first clue?"

His eyes rake over my form and I become instantly aware of what I'm wearing: one of my dad's old t-shirts and a pair of short shorts. I instantly wish I could cover myself up. His eyes go agonizingly slow up my tan legs, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.