I Dare You

Ch-3 Him? Again?

"Now, I know that your exams just got over but this is a small project, you will be working in teams and you have this entire week to complete it so, I don't think it will take up much of your time", Mr Milton said following his announcement of a science project that the entire class was not too thrilled about.

He pulled out an empty bowl and began making small chits. "The chits have the names of the students sitting on the right side of the class, the left side will pickup a chit and that will be your partner. No switches".

One by one he passed the bowl and the students read the names of their partners. By the time the bowl reached Eliza, it had about four chits left, she fiddled with the pieces of paper in the bright red bowl. She accidentally picked up two chits at first, so she held onto one while she loosened the grip on the other letting it fall back into the bowl.

She unfolded the small piece of paper and let out a disappointed sigh. "Darien Finley". Why? She thought to herself, why him of all people? Why did she not pick up the other chit? She thought about the chit she had let go of, she should have chosen that one. She faintly banged the side of her desk and looked over at her new partner.

Darien who was sitting on the other side of the class scribbling at the back of his notebook promptly looked up at the sound of his name, his eyes met Eliza's as he scowled before going back to what he was doing.

The bell roared and the students swiftly got up and out the door.

Eliza unenthusiastically walked over to the other side of the class towards Darien's desk, he was stuffing his science textbook into what seemed like an extremely overfilled and heavy back.

Eliza reached out her hand to tap his shoulder before changing her mind and lightly tapping the table instead. "umm..so.. for the project..I was thinking...."

"Come over to my house tomorrow, we'll discuss it then, I don't want people to think I know you", he interrupted, his top lip curled and his eyes narrowed.

This guy was getting on Eliza's last nerve and they had only been talking for like two seconds, she began to think how they would cooperate the entire week, how she would bear him the entire week "Why tomorrow? Why not today after school?"

The sunlight which was coming in through the window behind them was obstructed as Darien got up from his seat. His tall figure towered over Eliza. "Because pigtails, we have the entire week to complete this". He reached out his hand and tucked a loose strand of hair on her face behind her ear. Eliza quickly slapped his hand away and he put both his hands in the air as if someone was pointing a gun at him, she used to have pigtails when she was younger.

Eliza made a tight fist of her hand, she took in a deep breath, trying not to get any angrier than she already was. "I will come by your place today, let's get this done as soon as possible"

She walked away without even waiting for his response.

"First the job thing and now this", Chloe Brown said, from the look on her face it was clear that she was trying to control her laughter.

For a split second Eliza had forgotten that she had told her friends about the events of the dinner last night.

"Hard luck Elle, Hard Luck", Jayden Anderson said highfiving Chloe, her friends knew that she couldn't stand the guy.

"Hard luck", Eliza mocked making a sour face.

"Oh my god! You are even beginning to sound like him", Jay teased. Seeing both her friends laughing at her misery Eliza rolled her eyes and also let out a slight laugh.

Jay put his arm around both Eliza and Chloe, "Why do you even hate each other so much?"

"I don't know, he just breathes and it gets me angry."

The three burst out laughing.