The Project

Chapter 7

Kate's Point of View

"You have 4 more days to finish the project," Mrs. Peters informs to the class.

A crumpled paper suddenly hits me in the back and I huff, turning around and picking it up.

It's, not surprisingly, a note from Benny.

"I haven't started the project."

I turn around to give Benny a shocked expression. Then I turn back around to write a response.

"Oh my God, how are you gonna write a 20 page script in 4 days??"

I sent the note back to him. It's not my project but since Benny had absolutely nothing done, I felt worried.

"Now, for today, we'll be beginning our persuasive essays, so everyone take out a lined piece of paper," Mrs. Peters instructs.

Benny passed me the note again while I tried to take out a blank piece of paper.

Most of the lined paper I had went into the notes Benny and I passed almost everyday in class.

"Good question."

I chuckle, crumpling up the note and putting it in my backpack.

It's only then that the door opens and Johnny walks in late. Mrs. Peters pauses her lesson, watching Johnny silently walk over to his desk.

"Johnny, care to explain why you're late?" Mrs. Peters questions, raising an eyebrow, hands on her hips.

"Uh, I fell..." Johnny starts, and I finally notice the bleeding cut on his lip, "off my bike."

Everyone in the class is looking at him now and his face is red from smeared blood and blushing.

Mrs. Peters looks concerned. She walks over to her desk, jotting something down on a slip of bright paper.

"Take this pass and go to the office," she says, walking up to Johnny's desk and handing him the pass. "Kate, go with him."

I stand up.

"Really, I'm okay, I don't need to go," Johnny assures, bringing his finger up to his lip. Blood appears on his finger.

"C'mon, it's fine, Johnny," I urge.

Johnny sighs, giving in. The two of us walk out of class, everyone staring at us as we left the room.

It's quiet between us as we walk down the hallway. I want to ask what really happened. I'm not dumb enough to believe he just fell off his bike.

I don't say anything, and as we approach the office, he speaks first.

"Sorry you had to come," he murmurs, wiping the blood off his lip with the back of his hand. It keeps bleeding anyway.

"Don't be sorry," I reply. "At least I got out of class."

Johnny laughs softly.