When the Lost Return. . .

Project

Project

Anastasia once again sat in Ms. Scott’s Human Anatomy class, hoping this week wouldn’t be what she thought it would. She already had projects from Gregory, Smith, and Martin her Trigonometry, American Literature, and French teachers. She didn’t need anymore; but since this week did mark the end of the beginning of the school year, she was probably right.

“Welcome,” Ms. Scott said ushering the last two students into the classroom, just a moment before the bell rang.

Tyler scribbled in his notebook beside her. She constantly wondered what exactly did he keep in there, but she never bothered to ask, seeing as he always kept it close; she figured it was a secret. Tyler had managed to sit next to her in every class despite the fact that they didn’t usually talk. She enjoyed his silent company and could only assume that he felt the same.

Ms. Scott launched into her lesson about the body; Anastasia wasn’t exactly sure which part of the body, for whatever reason she had an incredibly hard time paying attention in this class. It was probably the whole science thing; she’d never exactly loved science.

Anastasia’s gaze slid around the classroom, and landed on Brittney, who at the moment was staring at Tyler like he was a chocolate mousse on the last day of her diet. It was funny, or so Anastasia thought that she still hadn’t given up. It had been three weeks, and she had four classes with him, so she spent approximately a total of 15 hours with him, and he still hadn’t so much as started one single conversation with her.  Science was a definite no-go for Anastasia, but math she could do any day.

“So now that you all have at least heard of the twelve different organ systems, you will do a class project,” Ms. Scott said regaining Anastasia’s attention. She was right, it was officially project week. “You will need to build a diagram of you given system and present a brief oral report. You will be in groups of,” Ms. Scott trailed off counting the students in the classroom, “two. Well, there will be eleven groups of two and one group of three. Once you get your groups situated come see me for your assignment.

“You working with me,” Tyler inquired finally shutting his notebook.

Looking around, Anastasia said, “Guess so.” She seriously hoped he had absorbed so of the information given, while he was writing, because she sure hadn’t.

Before they could stand, Brittney approached. “Oh this is gonna be good,” Anastasia mumbled.

“Hey Tyler,” she said bouncing on her heels. “You don’t have a partner yet do you? Because I was kinda hoping that we could work together. It’d be a great way for us to get to know each other.” Her smile was high on her face and for some reason Anastasia couldn’t wait to see it fall.

“Um, actually I just asked Anastasia,” he said preparing to rise.

Her gaze shifted to me clearly unhappy. “Well, that’s ok Ms. Scott did say we could have a group of three.” Anastasia was surprised to find that it was not Brittney’s smile that fell, but her own.

Tyler looked at Anastasia as if asking permission.  Anastasia wanted to stand on a chair and yell Hell No. She and Brittney did not mix. She knew that, and Brittney knew that, but unfortunately Tyler didn’t. And she had absolutely no right to deny Tyler a chance to know her, so she nodded, but in her mind she was crying.

“You are not gonna regret this,” Brittney squealed pulling Tyler out of his seat and towards Ms. Scott’s desk, leaving Anastasia to follow them.

Ms. Scott had assigned them the nervous system, and seconds later the bell rang dismissing them to lunch. Brittney followed Tyler to Anastasia’s locker asking questions like How where they gonna get in contact? Do you want my number? Oh and by far Anastasia’s favorite: Are we gonna be at your house, alone?

All to which Tyler managed to dismiss so far. “So Annie,” he called turning to his attention away from the licentious Brittney.

“Don’t call me that. Ever,” Anastasia said rather coldly, before turning to face them.

He reproached, “Ok. Anastasia, where are we going for lunch, today?”

Ever since his first day, Tyler and Anastasia had been escaping campus daily for lunch, his treat. And so far he hadn’t managed to annoy her or bore her. He mostly spoke of his home life, which was fairly interesting considering his mother’s beliefs. Plus, free things, something which Anastasia could not turn down, at least not in this life.

“I don’t know. Why don’t you pick,” She said slightly interested as to where his taste would take them.

He smiled, “So I guess that means I’m driving.”

“Only for today, don’t get used to it,” Anastasia replied. She enjoyed driving and since she didn’t yet have her own car, she took advantage of his whenever she got the chance.

“Oo lunch,” Brittney said forcing them to acknowledge her presence. “You guys don’t mind if I tag along. Do you,” she asked questioning Anastasia more so than Tyler.

Tyler glanced in Anastasia’s direction, his eyes begging her to refuse, throw a fit, and raise hell, if necessary. He couldn’t careless as long as he didn’t have to spend another minute with her.

“Oh yes, we do mind,” Anastasia said trying not to start a full out argument, lunch was only so long. Opening the car door, she looked back and saw Brittney handing a note to Tyler, probably her number, which he had turned down earlier. She walked back towards them and snatched the note out from in between them. “We’ll call you,” she smiled. Then pulled Tyler towards his car and hoped into the passenger seat.

“She is soooo gonna hate you,” Tyler said once they drove out of the school’s parking lot.

He was right. “Not anymore than she did before,” Anastasia said, knowing there was no way Brittney could summon enough energy to hate her anymore than she already did.