No Strings Attached

Chapter 5: After School

"Not a lot," Ari replied. "Ugh, I sure wish I could tune her out like you."

"What happened?" I inquired.

"She was droning non-stop about the American Revolution." she sighed. "I mean, come on, everyone gets it: we dumped their tea into the ocean, the Brits went crazy, and they declared war on us."

James rolls his eyes. "I don't think the British would start a war over spilled tea."

Marco frowned in disagreement.

"Of course they would start a war over spilled tea, James, " he insisted. "They're British."

Packing my backpack, I got up from my desk then stretched my arms. 

"I am so tired," I admitted, releasing an exhausted yawn. 

"Me too." Ari laughed.

"Me three," said James.

"Me infinity." Marco sighs. "I want to have our annual 'Fuck the Prom' right now."

"Okay," James grinned. "Let's celebrate after our project."

"Project?" I ask, raising my direct eyebrow at them. "What do you mean by that?"

As we left the empty classroom, Ari kindly filled in the details for me: "While you were busy reading, Mrs. Fontaine explained that two weeks from now, we need to do a project on what is plaguing our world."

"You know, crime, murder, etc," said Marco, tucking his hands inside their pockets. 

"After we chose a topic, we need to type a two-page report and project board."

"And the project is worth a test grade," added Ari.

Aw, a test grade?  I think.

I can't believe I have missed out on all this.

"Good grief," I moaned. "How the hell am I going to come up with a project in two weeks?"

Marco smiled hopefully. "With some company, Einstein."

James presented me with a yellow piece of paper filled with the project's instructions. 

On the upper left-hand corner, are Ari's, Marco's, and James' written signatures. 

"What's this?" I ask, taking the paper in my hands.

"Well, we are your project buddies." Ari beamed. "So that way, you wouldn't have to do it alone."

Nodding, James added: "I also made a list to buy the project board, so Ari is on art duty, you and Marco are going research some cool topics."

"Alright," I smiled, folding the sheet of paper and tucking it into my pocket. "That seems fair."

"Can we do our project after the party, though?" Ari whined. "I cannot stand this place for one minute."

"I second that," said Marco proudly, strolling down the empty hallways. 

James chuckled, marveling at the dark purple walls. "Okay, I guess we could take a break from school." 

Ari smoothes her pleated skirt then asks me: "What type of instrument do you want me to bring?"

"Maybe a guitar or a piano." I replied, waltzing past a tired woman pushing a baby carriage. 

"How about both?"

I bob my head, swinging my arms back and forth. "Sure, but could you get an instrument that isn't too heavy to carry?"

Ari smiled, "I'll see what I can do."