CHAPTER 14

"So what do you think we should do for our project?"
"Huh?" I had completely spaced out.
"What. should. we. do. for. our. project?" He repeated, speaking very slowly and looking at me like I was a total idiot.
"Oh! Right, sorry! I was just off in my own little world then." Actually Ella's words were still spinning around in my head and I couldn't stop dwelling on them.
"Too right you were. How am I supposed to work with you on this project if you're gonna be spacing out all the time? Seriously Lucinda." He sighed and shook his head in an exasperated manner. But then he smiled cheekily at me (oh lord that smile) and I knew he was just joking around.
"Well anyway, I was thinking we should do something on genetics..."
He looked at me like I'd completely lost my mind. "Um Lucinda you know the reason we get on well in bio is because we're kind of on common ground... meaning it's not exactly a subject either of us excel in... So, um, genetics? Isn't that a bit too complicated?"
I rolled my eyes and laughed. "I don't mean we should do DNA experiments and all that kind of thing. I DO agree with you on the fact that we, as you put it, don't exactly "excel" in biology. So no, I was thinking we could research and collect data and stuff for a report on inherited characteristics."
"Hmm okay, it's sounding more in my capability range now. So how exactly are you thinking we go about this then?"
"Okay my plan was we write up an introduction on who discovered DNA, what DNA is exactly, and how genes work and then collect data on our family and neighbors to prove that, I don't know, brown eyes are more dominant than blue or something."
Aiden was smiling. "Perfect. Thanks Lucinda; I think you might just have ensured us an A on this project!"
I laughed. "You'd better not have spoken too soon Aiden. We haven't even started yet."
"So, let's get started then!" He rubbed his hands together as he said this and then looked at me expectantly as if waiting for me to jump up and crack on with the process like some bio-whiz robot- which I most definitely was not.
So I just sat there and stared straight back at him. I scratched my neck. He bit his lip.
Finally he opened his mouth. "Um, where exactly do we start then?"
"I really have no idea."
And then we both burst out laughing. Minutes later when we had calmed down sufficiently enough to communicate Aiden turned to me and said, "I guess the best place to start is with a pen and paper."
"You know Aiden; sometimes your intelligence just AMAZES me." I said in mock awe, but smiling so he knew I was joking.
"Hey," he replied, hitting my arm lightly with the pen he had just retrieved from his bag, "YOU didn't think of it so don't insult it."
"Oooooooooh!" I teased. "Is Mr Soccer Player getting touchy? Does he want his mommy?" I continued in a fake baby voice, leaning into him while his back was still to me as he delved into his bag for some paper,
"Shut up." he managed to say between laughs. Suddenly he produced a notepad from the backpack and turned around to face me. And his nose almost hit my own. I don't think either of us had realised how close I was leaning in.
He looked at me. I looked at him. I was lost in his eyes. Again. Those beautiful, soulful brown eyes... I don't know how much time passed but we just continued to stare at each other. His breath fanned across my face. It smelt fresh and minty- obviously he was a guy who took care of himself. He had long eyelashes I noticed. Much too long for a guy. But they were gorgeous... as was the rest of him. He was perfect- his body, his laugh, his smile, his eyes... his lips... Oh my god, his lips were amazing. They were plump and red and so, so temptingly kissable.
"Um Lucinda are you looking at my lips?" His husky voice suddenly broke through my reverie. There were something odd about his voice, it sounded kind of out of sorts, a bit shaken...
"No." I was quick to deny it and noticed my own voice sounded slightly too high pitched and breathless.
"Are you sure about that?"
I quickly flicked my eyes up from the juicy redness of his lips and stared straight into his eyes again.
"Yes."
Neither of us moved. It was like we were in our own world in each other's eyes. We were so close that I could see my own reflection in the warm depths of his own.
A sudden thud of a book on the desk we had chosen startled us and we both visibly jumped. I looked up. A vision of icy royalty greeted me.