Interstellar

Partners With No Choice

"History Of Art is a class where we focus on objects made by humans for visual purposes," Mr Rosé said. "It's a form for aesthetic purposes, also."

Landon was surprisingly very focused.

"Each table has two people at it," Mr Rosé said. "And you both will decide on what human visual to do your report on. This is an at home project, the two of you should get together this weekend to decide and work on it. It's due Monday."

"Wanna go to my house?" Landon asked, after class. On his Instagram, he has pictures of him and siblings standing in front of a huge house.

"Uh, sure?" I said.

"What's your number?" He asked.

"My... My what?" I asked.

"Your phone number," Landon said, repeating himself.

"Oh," I said. I put my number in his phone and he texted me his address.

"See you," Landon said. I watched him walk off. Oh my god.

                                   ~***~

Later that night, I heard my phone buzz. I rolled over, and groped around for my phone. A soft breeze blew over me, reminding me that I was outside on my trampoline. I picked my phone up.

Landon was asking to FaceTime. I pressed answer.

"Hey," Landon said. "Wait, where are you?"

"I fell asleep outside," I grunted. I cleared my throat and sat up. My back ached. I peered at my phone screen and saw a messy haired, shirtless, Landon. I averted my eyes and put my phone down.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Just reminding you," Landon said. "Come by ten in the morning."

"Yeah, I remember," I said, rubbing my forehead.

"And don't bring any of your animal friends, princess," Landon said. I rolled my eyes.

"Bye," I said, hanging up on him. I flopped back on the trampoline, and saw a light flicker in the kitchen. I rolled over to watch the back door. Mom was working the late shift again.

The back door swung open. I closed my eyes and sighed. I heard her carefully walking over to the trampoline, and quietly try to unzip the zipper of the trampoline.

She then lay down next to me. I could smell her perfume.

"Hey, mom," I said.

"Oh jeez, you startled me!" She cried. "Oh my god, I was about to wake you up."

"Eh, Truffle called me," I lied. "He woke me up."

"Aren't you two close," Mom said. "Okay, which ones Draco?"

"Well, Ursa Minor's right there, mom," I said. "So, right there." I pointed at Draco, and air drew him out.

"It's right between the Little Dipper and the Big Dipper," I said. "And that's the Draco's lozenge."

"And that's Polaris?" Mom asked. I nodded. She playfully smacked my arm.

"Soon I'll be better than you," Mom said.

"Lies," I said. "You tell lies." I suddenly remembered Landon and the project.

"I have to go to my partners house," I said. "Mr Rosé assigned us a project and we're doing it at his house."

"His?" Mom asked. "Who is this he?"

"Landon Westbay," I said. I could see her grin in the dark.

"He's popular," Mom said. "I'm friends with his mom on Facebook."

"Wow," I said. "I sure hope he's a good influence on me."

"Honey," Mom said, patting my knee. "He has sex. And sometimes drinks alcohol."

"How would you know?" I asked.

"His mom tells me everything," Mom said. "She And I went to high school together. We just both ended up in New Hampshire together."

"That's so wild," I said. "How is she okay with him?"

"She's not okay with him," Mom said. "But he's changing."

"Good," I said. "That's really good."