Prank Masters

19: Partnership

"David and Fin."

Two students stood up and moved to the other side of the classroom.

"Maryanne and Van."

Another two students stood up and moved.

"Juliet and Kadin."

I stood up, shocked. What? Am I partnered with Kadin?

Mrs Davis was reading out names for a chemistry assignment. As much as I didn't like group work, random names from a hat were even worst.

I glanced down at Kat and frowned.

"You're going to be fine," Kat smiled, trying to cheer me up. "If Kade lacks off, let me know and I'll teach him a lesson."

"Ah, thanks," I replied and headed to the other side of the room.

Settling down to a desk, Kadin smiled as he sat down next to me.

"Looks like we're partnered up, just like the old times," he grinned at me.

"Yeah..."

"So how should we do this?" Kadin asked.

Deflated that I'm not partnered up with Kat, I sighed.

"What's up with the sighing?" Kadin questioned, frowning at the same time.

"I thought that Mrs Davis would let us chose our partners for this assignment."

"Does that mean you don't want to be partnered up with me?" Kadin asked, looking a little sad and offended.

"No. That's not what I meant," I defended. "I was hoping to work with Kat since I'm new to this school."

"I see," Kadin nodded. "I'm new too, so we're pretty useless if we want to know how Mrs Davis prefers things when scoring extra marks."

"Exactly."

Kadin looked down at the assignment sheet and sighed, "I guess we're in the same boat then."

"Yeah."

"Well," Kadin looked at me with shiny green eyes, "we can compensate our newbieness by starting the project earlier than everyone else."

"If I remember correctly, you're pretty good with procrastination," I stated the fact.

Back in my previous town, I knew Kadin through a group project as well. He was in the same English class as I was. Our Year 8 English teacher decided to pair us up for a creative writing assignment. From there, I learnt that Kadin was great at procrastinating. He just gets distracted too easily.

"Ah," Kadin scratched his head, "that was when I was a kid. It's been years now. I've changed, Jules."

Jules? Not that nickname again.

"Don't call me that," I gave him the daggers.

"How come?" Kadin frowned. "That's my personal nickname for you."

"The only name I allow people to call me is either Julie or Julie."

"What's the difference?"

"That's the point," I rolled my eyes. "There's no difference."

Kadin chuckled, "I see. You're still the same as ever."

I narrowed my eyes at him, debating whether I should take his statement as a compliment or an insult.

"Anyway, we're getting side-tracked." I changed the subject. "Let's get this started so that we can get it over and done with."