Partner Projects// l.h.

Chapter 1: Cocky Right from the Start.

Those snarky, obnoxious assholes. I seriously could not stand the whole lot of them anymore. Well.. I mean maybe all except one. But that's a shameful beyond the point thing. A simple result of my genetics finding his genetics absolutely compatible. It didn't have to do with anything else.. right? Wait. Nope. I'm not questioning this. That's all it was. Genetics. He has good bone structure. I can't help it for liking his good bone structure... and blue eyes.. and that goddamn lip ring.. Shit. I'm staring. Shit. He's staring. I jerk away and refuse to look back, even though I can feel his eyes burning holes into my incredible high cheekbones. They are one of my few good features.

I turned my eyes back to the English board and read the assignment. A partner essay. Wonderful. I glanced towards my friend, Angie, and gave her the 'Guess what, you're so lucky you get to be my partner look' and she just laughed and rolled her eyes. Mrs. Cally got up from her desk just as the bell rang and walked to the front of the room. "I see some of you have taken notice of today's assignment" She stated looking endearingly at me, that woman was like a second mother to me, "And have taken it upon yourself to pick your partner." She said smiling sweetly around the room full of confused students who all hastily looked at the board. After they all read it they picked out their best mates to do the assignment with. The four idiots in the back of the room were chuckling and smirking at each other. Typical. "But that is too bad because I will be choosing who you work with. Randomly. I found this weird pairing generator thing on the internet and I just had to try it out. Congratulations guinea pigs! Hmm now lets see. Ashton Irwin you're paired with Angela Smith..." I looked toward my friend and gave her a small smile. Ashton was tied for being the most outgoing of the four but he actually had a good work ethic. Or so I've been told. So I knew she'd be fine and would actually probably get a good grade. I called those four idiots, they aren't. They just act like they don't give a shit about school but yet all the teachers still absolutely adore them. I just don't understand. Well maybe I understand a little bit. I was spacing out with my little mental rant only tuning in when I heard. "Michael Clifford, Addison Claire.. Calum Hood, Melody Styles.. Jake Purk, Robbie.. " She kept droning on and on and on. She was a third of the way through the class when I heard, "Luke Hemmings..." No no. Please no.. oh gods no.. "Brookelynn O'Dolen" Fuck. I glanced back over at those piercing, beautiful blue eyes. He was already looking at me, of course he was, when I met his eyes he flicked his eyebrows up and gave me a cocky grin. I only rolled my eyes and turned back towards the front with a sigh. I will admit I had the tiniest smile on my face. Which I quickly pushed right off. Luke didn't need anything else to add to his massive ego.

The rest of the class went by with Mrs. Cally explaining how the essay would have to be no less than 10 pages, but that we had six weeks to work on it which would be "Plenty of time to get this thing done." She also stated that we would only have the next two class periods to get our topic and outlines done so she could look it over. After those class periods all work would have to be done outside of class because we were starting our dark romantics unit. Whoo. Poe.

By this time the bell had rang, our hour and thirty minute class literally flew by. It was second period and an A day so I only had one more class and my free block left. I can make it. Regardless if my next class is art, and regardless if I have it with Luke I can make it. I was shoving my English binder into my backpack when Angie came up and waited on me. She was chattering happily at me, which immediately brought me back to my good mood. That was one thing you could always count on with Angie, she is always happy. Well almost always. It was a very rare thing to see her anything but that though.

I found it odd when she suddenly cut off talking about Harry Styles hair (Oh Harry has no relation to Melody, trust me we all got our hopes up that they were distant cousins at first too. But no luck). I glanced up and tried to blow the hair that was covering my face off given that my hands were occupied with the stubborn zipper on my bag. She was looked coldly at something, or someone behind me then she looked down and saw my struggle and only laughed. I fake glared at her and sat up and looked behind me with a grin already on my face. Which almost immediately slips away. Seriously. Why.

"Hey babe" Luke says cocky right from the start. Grand. Also 'babe' really? I get a smirk on my face and say "Hi babe." He let out a low chuckle at me mocking him before looking slightly confused, "Wait is Hi or Hey? Which one sounds better..?" I just look at him for a second before shutting my eyes and shaking my head. Come on I gave him credit for being decently intelligent and now he asks me if it is Hi or Hey? Really? Does it matter? I look back behind me to see that Angie has disappeared but my phone was blinking telling me I have a snapchat, which was probably from her. "Listen Luke I would absolutely love to stay here all day, developing a thesis on whether Hi or Hey is better but I have to get to class." I sarcastically say standing up and hefting my bag onto my shoulders. "Yeah. I know we have the same class darling." he stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world, granted it was but still I rolled my eyes yet again and started walking out the door. Only to be followed by him. I wasn't too surprised at that, but I was surprised when he kept my pace in the hallway. I was trying to watch him out of the corner of my eye and I noticed his head was turned towards the lockers and he was adjusting his hair and snapback. That boy looks damn fine in a snapback and it drives me nuts that I think that. We were in senior year. Too late to really get into a good relationship, besides dating in high school was overrated. He was still looking towards the lockers when I realized that our lockers were just shiny enough that he could see himself. He was using them like mirrors. I'd be surprised if he wouldn't end up flexing at himself too.

I started laughing and he jerked back and looked at me, his cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink. Awh, that's actually pretty adorable. Wait. Nope. I laughed some more and raised my eyebrows at him. "What? Some of us actually have to try hard to look good Brooke." I just giggled at this and since I saw we were almost at the art room said, "Yeah well you don't need to try all that hard Huke Lemmings" Shit. I let my old weird nickname for him slip. And I was halfway flirty. Shit. I stopped smiling and didn't look at him again as I took my seat on the opposite side of the room from him. I could still feel his eyes burning into my face. But I was ignoring him.

Okay guys this is my first time actually publishing one of my stories.. and I'm hoping that as I keep writing the chapters will get longer. This is the shortest chapter I have for this story so far. So bear with me please! Also thank you very much for even reading this thing!