The Void

Chapter 3 - Partners

(Your POV):
Nothing interesting happened the rest of the week. School was just school, when I got home I finished up my homework then went out to keep peace in the neighborhood and eliminate any targets that my parents requested of me. But I supposed that things being normal was good, while it became mundane and boring, it was better than the added complications that spiced up life.

Of course the following week shattered that blissful peace and I knew my life was headed for a downward spiral when I walked into physics and my teacher said that dreaded word: partners. Usually I would be able to get out of partner work, but with a class that had an even number of students, it was significantly harder.

"I'm sure everyone here has been waiting in anticipation for this day. It's time to apply everything that we have learned so far this year into a competition of who can build the most accurate catapult," Ms. Warren began, causing me to try to suppress a groan from my seat in the back. Everyone knew that this was a group project, there was no way I was going to convince her to let me work alone. And Ms. Warren always stressed out about creating groups so she would just make everything easier by making group assignments partner work and having each student choose their partner towards the beginning of the school year. Which meant that you would be stuck together for the rest of the year.

"Please take this moment now to choose partners for this catapult project and choose wisely because this project tends to require a lot of outside work," Ms. Warren continued and immediately I noticed friends giving each other that look. The look that read 'we are going to be partners or else.' However there were a few loners who glanced around the room nervously, hoping to catch the eye of someone else searching for a partner.

Ms. Warren finally allowed people to move to get with their partners and after a wave of chaotic shuffling, the only ones left without a partner were myself and Parker. Ned, his closest friend, was unfortunately not in this class, having been put into the other AP physics class when this one became too full, which was unfortunate for me.

"Hey, so, um, do you want to be partners? We're the only to left, so I guess we're grouped together?" He approached me cautiously, as most losers in the school did.

I rolled my eyes and raised my hand, "Ms. Warren? I know that Claire, Jessica, and Cindy are all really good friends, perhaps they could work together? I really wouldn't mind working alone, in fact it may be kinder to my potential partner with my busy schedule outside of school. I wouldn't want to ask them to work on the project at midnight because that's the only time available."

She simply shook her head, a rather stern look creeping across her features, "Ms. (L/N), I don't know what you have against Peter or whatever tension is between the two of you, but I'm not going to make exceptions just because you don't want to play nice. I suggest that the two of you work out whatever problems that you have because you are now partners for the remainder of the year."

I slumped into my chair as she walked away, knowing that it would be useless to try to get this situation remedied. Parker tentatively sat down in the desk next to mine and reviewed the assignment sheet for the project.

"So we have questions due tomorrow's class, how do you want to tackle them? I can make myself free immediately after school and we can do them in the library if we don't finish in class today," Parker suggested, carefully easing into the partnership between us.

I shook my head, "I'll start a google doc, you can do the first half of the questions and I'll do the second half. We won't have to work together, we don't have to talk to each other, we can each go about our own business and work independently."

Peter frowned slightly as I took my laptop out of my bag, "why are you so against the idea of us working together? We barely even know each other, despite having gone to school together since middle school."

"Don't take it personally, Parker, I detest partner work of any kind. Any project that requires more than just one person always ends up with one person doing all of the work and the others just leeching off of them," I replied, focusing on my laptop as I created a document for us to work on.

"(Y/N), I'm not going to be leaving you to do all of the work and I'm kind of offended that you think that I would. Why are you always so cold to people, it's like you're purposefully shutting everyone out."

Without tearing my eyes from the screen I replied, "that's because I am."

"Why, don't you want friends? It must get really lonely. I mean, I have Ned, Harry, and MJ but I still feel alone from time to time."

"Friends are a mere distraction, now will you stop with your incessant questioning?" I snapped, whipping my head towards him. At this point I just wanted us to finish these questions now so that I could focus on the other homework that would undoubtedly pile up throughout the day.

He fell silent for a moment, as though respecting my wishes. It was short lived, however, and he turned back to me, "I'm sorry, but I'm too curious. What do you think friends are a distraction from?"

I let out an annoyed sigh, but gave him his answer, "from school, from getting the grades necessary to get into a top tier college, and from becoming successful."

"So what, you just do school work all day everyday and never take breaks to hang out with anyone?"

I shrugged, "I also read, and not all of it is strictly academic reading. Although, it does enrich my vocabulary, I suppose."

"Oh, well I'm sorry for you. You don't have to go through all of that just to become successful, you know. Besides, you will probably want friends for when you enter the workforce, I don't think that you'll get very far by being cold to everyone you meet."

"I am capable of being nice, although it may come as a surprise to you, Parker. But I just don't see the worth in high school. Besides, name one leader of a large company that isn't equally as cold."

"Well, Tony Stark pretends to be arrogant, but he really has one of the largest hearts in the world. And his CEO, Ms. Potts, no one would ever try to describe her as cold."

I scoffed, "just because Stark has a large heart, doesn't mean that he's gotten where he has by showing the world how soft he is. As a matter of fact he wouldn't have, and his father certainly wouldn't have been able to create such a profitable and successful business if he led with his heart either."

"Still just sounds like a lonely life to me," Peter commented, turning back to his own laptop and beginning to work through his half of the questions.

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(A/N): It's happened as you knew it would! I apologize for the cliché partners at school, but I did spice it up and make them partners in physics instead of chemistry, I guess (also it's a great way to throw two students together)! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and feel free to leave any comments! I really enjoy reading them!