Summer Before Her (Completed)

16- Second chances

Kirsten's POV

What did I just do? Why did I hug him? He hugged back though.—my brain reasoned.

Ohmygod, why did you do that, dumbass?

I sank into my seat, filled with embarrassment, and hoped and prayed for the earth to open and swallow me up.

I knew that the heat on my skin wasn't just from the hot summer of California, it was most definitely the blush creeping in.

Realizing I was blushing, with nowhere to hide, just worsened my embarrassment.

I could feel his eyes boring into my already tomato shaded skin, and I stupidly dared to sneak a peek at his face, only to find it adorned with the most beautiful of smiles, I further reddened.

"Goodmorning class, I will be handing out your marked projects, please rectify your mistakes and resubmit if needed" announced Mr Cyr and just like that his smile was wiped off, neutralizing his face to the same stoic expression. He should smile more.

Mr Cyr went around, handing out projects and leaving verbal remarks to each group.

Being seated at the last bench, the nervous anticipation was definitely one of the cons, my feet began drumming against the floor as I ran my fingers through the astray strands of my hair.

With each passing minute, he neared us, the growing anticipation turning into anxiety.

Two benches away.

The project was forty per cent of our grades, and after this past month of slipping grades, I couldn't afford anything other than perfect score.

One bench away.

This has to be acceptable, for my sake and for the sake of my friendship with Novak.

"Ah, Bravermen and Bennani, Both of you are my honour students, What's happening? What's wrong? Why did I see no effort in the project? I marked you very leniently but it still didn't make the passing grade"

"Where do we need to improve, sir? Any extra credit work we could do to improve our grade?" I asked dejectedly.

"Can we make a solo project and resubmit?" Novak interjected.

Oh, so he thinks my work was lacking.

"No, No extra credit, No solo projects, I know things haven't been easy for the both of you, so I am giving you a chance to work together and redo the project"

"Oh, Thank you so much Sir" I gleefully responded, Novak, nodded along.

"Remember, if you try to cheat the team aspect of this project, I will know, and stick you with a failing grade"

With that threat, he walked away and began his lecture.

I was dejected at having failed, yet relieved that I got another chance.
I looked over at Novak to find him expressing a similar emotion.

"You should smile more often, it makes you look less like an angry bear" I commented.

At that, he quirked his eyebrow, his lusciously thick yet to perfectly shaped eyebrows and his lips broke into a smile.

"Do I look angry enough about failing the project?" He mocked.

"We failed, not you" I corrected.

"Yeah right, I did my bit of the project without paying any heed to how it would fit in the overall project, I didn't help revise it, and I did not show up for the presentation, I think we both know why we failed," he said, the smile falling from his face, replaced with a look of helplessness.