Chapter 4

Hayley was definitely not looking forward to class today. Usually, despite the fact that it was the only class she shared with Aidan, English class was her favorite. Hayley loved to read and was happy to discover that most of the books on the syllabus were on her list of favorites. But when she was reading over the syllabus last night, she realized that today was the day that they got their partner assignments for their final projects. Hayley wasn't really looking forward to working with any of her classmates.

When Ms. Davis walked in, Hayley could tell by the diabolical smile on her face that she had been right to dread coming to class today. Nothing good could come of a teacher with that smile. It either meant A) lots of group work or B) a shit load of group work; neither of which Hayley was excited about. The teacher started handing out a sheet of paper with what Hayley assumed were the partner assignments for the final project. The syllabus hadn't specified what the final project was supposed to be about, but Hayley had very little hope that it would be at all enjoyable. Just the fact that it had to be done in pairs was enough to make Hayley wary from the start.

"So this is how the final project is going to work." Hayley looked at the paper she'd just received. She turned it over, looking for instructions or names or something. It apparently wasn't the partner assignments, but a blank piece of paper.

"Everybody on this half of the room," she pointed to the girl in the middle of the front row and swept her hand to the right, "is going to write down a theme on the piece of paper I handed out. It can be any theme you wish. But you might want to consider the fact that you'll have to do an entire project centered on this theme that counts for 40% of your grade. And you'll have to find some way to tie that theme into at least 3 of the books from the syllabus." Some of the kids groaned audibly, and Hayley could see them erasing what they'd written.

"The people on the other side of the room, write down your name on the piece of paper in front of you. Now, I'm going to put the themes in one hat and the names in the other. The people on the right side of the room will pull a name. That person is your partner. The people on the left side will pull a theme. That's the topic of your project." You could tell that Ms. Davis was really proud of herself for this great idea of hers.

Why is it that every time a teacher thinks of 'new and exciting ways to get students excited about learning' the students suffer? When are they going to figure out we don't want to be excited about learning, we just want to put in our 13 years and get the hell out as painlessly as possible?

If Hayley was being honest, she had to admit that she didn't really mind school all that much. Quite often, especially in English and history classes, it was actually pretty interesting. She was just fine with school until teachers decided they want you to work in groups. Whatever happened to just going to class, listening to the teacher talk and then going home and doing your homework? That's what Hayley remembered school being like before she was home-schooled. Those were the good ol' days.

Hayley did not have a good feeling about this at all. Not only did she not get to decide whom she worked with, but she also didn't get to decide what the project was about. Hayley tried to think positively, but positive thinking wasn't really her forte.

Maybe I'll get a really good topic and a get a partner that will just let me do whatever I want without bothering me.

Ms. Davis stepped in front of Hayley and held out the hat with the names. There she goes with that creepy smile again. I'm starting to seriously consider the possibility that she's out to get me. Maybe this is the big evil Grandmother was training me for. What's more evil than a group project? Hayley's hand was shaking slightly as she reached into the hat. There was one name in particular that she absolutely did not want to draw. Which meant, with her luck, she was almost guaranteed to draw it. She pulled out a sheet of paper and opened it slowly. She was not at all surprised to see Aidan's name written on the paper.

"Now, everyone get with your partners so we can pull the themes." Hayley got up and walked over to sit next to Aidan.

"Hi Hayley."

"Hey Aidan." He didn't look at her when he spoke, and she didn't look at him. It was pretty obvious that they would both rather be working with someone else. But they held out hope that they would at least get an easy theme. Both seemed to be feeling a tad bit awkward. Absent was Aidan's trademarked king-of-the-world smile and Hayley was having a hard time pretending Aidan didn't exist with him sitting so close to her.

He hadn't said a word to her other than a brief hello since that first night at dinner. He was too worried he'd stick his foot in his mouth again. He'd bet his life that she hated him. The few times she deigned to recognize his existence, it was to give him a look that plainly said she thought he was lower than pond scum.