A Penny For Your Thoughts

Chapter Two ~ The Science Project

  “So how long have you lived in here Maryland?” Tiffany asked as they walked onto her driveway. “Officially? One week,” Michelle replied. “Wow really?” Melanie asked. “Yep,” Michelle said, “My dad’s job got transferred here from California.” “All the way from California?” Cassidy sighed, “Man that sucks! I would have loved California.” “I know I did,” Michelle admitted. “Well maybe we can show you around here in Baltimore,” Tiffany offered. “Really? That would be great,” Michelle said. “Yeah we could go to the mall tomorrow and –

  Right then Cassidy’s phone rang. “Sorry,” she said until she saw the caller I.D. she gaped, “What?” She walked away but soon was yelling at the person on the other line. “Who was that Cassidy?” Melanie asked, “You never get mad like that.” “It was the devil himself,” she almost cried. “Whoa! Babe what happened?” Tiffany asked. “It was Luke,” she rolled her eyes, “With his whole wanting to get back together thing again. Like does he not get that he hurt me and I want nothing to do with him?” Melanie bit her lip, “I’m sorry. But he’s just stupid and selfish and you don’t deserve that.” “What did he do?” Michelle asked. All three of them shot her a look. “Sorry if that was totally personal information.” “Nah it’s fine,” Cassidy wiped away a tear, “Luke LaVale he just … you see he came onto me like three months ago at a party and told me he wanted to hang out. So we did and within two weeks we ‘fell in love.’” “Two weeks?” Michelle raised an eyebrow. “Yeah,” Tiffany said, “But anyways let’s try to move onto a different subject.” For the rest of the night they talked about where they were gonna go tomorrow night.

  The next day Michelle walked into her Science class and put down her stuff. “Hey,” a voice said next to her. She turned around, it was of course—Luke LaVale. “Oh hey,” she replied unamused. “So I haven’t seen you around lately,” Luke said. “Yeah but you saw me like yesterday at lunch,” she said. “True but I was kinda hoping I could see before then,” Luke said. Michelle furrowed her eyebrows. What did he mean?

  “Don’t get me wrong I’m not hitting on you,” he said. “Oh yeah,” she over exaggeratedly brushed away, “I knew that.” Deep down (way deep down) she was a bit hurt that he did not take interest in her. “I just wanna make sure we’re okay on things,” Luke said sincerely. Michelle looked up at him. “Because I don’t want you to think that all the jocks at Kennedy are idiots, even though most are,” he ran his fingers through his hair, “I’m not.” She bit her lip, he seemed sincere. “Yeah,” she breathed out, “It’s fine. I haven’t really been thinking about it until you brought it up.” “Cool,” he smiled, “Because I can’t have someone mad at me on their first day. It’s a bad reputation to have.” Michelle scoffed. “I’m totally joking,” he smiled. “Yeah I’m hoping,” Michelle laughed. “Nah I’m not that big headed,” he laughed. “Sure you aren’t,” she teased. “Ouch,” he whistled and covered his heart, “That hurts.” “Shut up,” she stuck her tongue out at him.

  “Alright class,” Mr. David, their science teach said, “For the next two weeks starting today we will be doing a plant anatomy project. You guys can chose your group of partners, but only two in each group. So Sarah can you begin handing out the pots?” One girl got up and took a large box with bean sprout pots in them and began handing them out. Everyone was shuffling to desks next to their partners. “Wanna be partners?” she heard herself say to Luke. Shoot! Did she really just ask that?! Luke pouted his lip as he thought for an answer to that question. “Oh come on! Just say yes!” she rolled her eyes. “Haha okay,” he finally said, “I suppose I can be partners with the new girl.” “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” she gaped. “It means that I can and will slightly put down my rep to be seen with well a nobody,” he said pretty seriously. “Ok I am officially done talking to you,” she put her hand in his face. “I am kidding,” he laughed. “Yeah alright. But seriously we good on being partners?” she asked with her best manly voice. He looked away and smiled, “Sure. But I hope you’re good with your grades because I’m not.”