Smack!

FOUR - project match

Four

English is my favorite class ever because: (1) Ms. Jones is probably one of the coolest teachers ever in Marysville High. Actually she's substitute for our original English teacher, Mrs. Hopskins, but she was on a maternity leave. So thank you, Mr. Hopskins; and (2) this is the only class I had with Timothy Burr.

"So," Ms. Jones said in her very bright chirpy voice. She's a very small woman who always wore five inches wedges to make up for her lost height. "All of you must be aware that yesterday we've finished discussing about Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice."

She waved her abused copy of the said book in front as everybody waited what she was going to say next.

"And today," she continued, "I want you to group into three to make a book report on this book to be pass next week."

Everyone in class turned around on their seat just like in The Voice to shot an I-Want-You glance on their best friends. Some were even shouting and jumping like they'd just got into X-Factor.

In my case, I shot a glanced at Eddie (because he's the only person I know in this class) who remained still and looking bored on his seat.

"Psst, Eddie," I called him and he cocked his head side wards to glance at me. "Want to be partners?"

He nodded his head like he had no other choice, still looking uninterested as ever.

"Great," I said enthusiastically, grinning at him. I looked around the room and noticed that everyone already settled down their pairing.

"Finished pairing up Emi?" Ms. Jones asked me as she walked around the room.

"We still need one member ma'am," I replied, pointing at Eddie and I.

"Who still don't have a group?" Ms. Jones inquired in her loud clear voice, but everyone seemed to have grouped already. "I think you two will just have to—"

And just like a ray of sunshine, Timothy Burr walked inside the room looking hot as a freshly baked potato.

"Sorry I'm late, Ms. Jones," he said in that suave voice of his. He got his backpack slung on his shoulder with his swimming team varsity jacket tied on it.

"Caught up in practice again, Tim?" Ms. Jones queried, but she was smiling.

Tim nodded, smiling back which made the dimples on his right cheek popped. He handed Ms. Jones his late pass who took it and put on her table.

"Well it's okay, we were just pairing up for a book report project."

Tim looked at his friends at the back of the room; however, they'd already paired up.

"Emi," Ms. Jones said, "didn't you say you're still missing one member on your group?"

Oh my God. This wasn't happening.

"Y-yes ma'am," I said, eyes flashing to Tim who looked really cute standing beside her.

Ms. Jones turned to Tim. "There you go, Tim. You can pair up with Emi and Eddie here."

No freaking away. I have to find a way to thank Ms. Jones for this.

Tim walked towards us. "Hey." He nodded, giving us a small smile.

Tim and I were classmates in English for a long time now, but I never ever talked to him ever in class. Probably because he was always seating on the back with his friends, and never ever been partnered ever in projects like this. To be honest, all I ever do was to throw sneaky glances at him at back of the room and sighed contently at myself.